The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-05-05

This was also brightly lighted, and
considerable number OF men were loung-
ing about the door or seated upon the
broad stoop.
ALI this was strange and curious to un-
sophisticated Ben, and he wondered
what it could mean, as he sat in his cage
on top of the load, and noted lights sud
denly flashing upon the sight from the
cabin windows scattered about here and
there, now half obscured by the trunk
of some huge tree left standing, now
silhouetting the dark form of woman
in the open door as she peered with
shaded eyes into the gathering gloom
for lettering husband or son sent long
enough ago to the store for quarter of
a pound of tea.
The wagon was driven into the stable
yard, and left standing with its load I'M
removed, Ben's cage and all, while the
horses were taken off and put into the
stable. Ben was given his supper OF
danties he had never tasted before, and
left for the night.
II the morning he excited considera-
BILE curiosity among the loungers when
his cage was taken down and placed up
on the ground. His master wanted to
/ dispose OF him, and would be obliged to
remain at the post several days at any
rate, and it was proposed To the land
lord, and acceded to, that Ben,
being perfectly tame and harmless,
should have q chain and collar, and be
given greater liberty in one corner of
the yard, where post was planted, to
which he was fastened.
Here Ben received his motley visitors,
who fed him on ali sorts of choice things
candies, cakes, raisins, etc.-which
tickled his inexperienced palate, while
his vanity was gratlfied by his being tue
object of SO much attention. Poor, vain
Ben He was scarcely ever alone dur
ing the day, but constantly IN the pres
ence of greater or less number of per-
sons Ben was delighted with the new
order of things, and, being natural
wag, and kept i'll good humor by graft
fed appetite and vanity, he grew TO be
very popular. The landlord, seeing
what an attraction he was, bargained
for him with the boy, and Ben, 60 his
entire satisfaction, was fixed III his new
quarters, and, without a sigh. allowed
his old master TO return TO his forest
home.
In his new situation Ben was as indf-
ferent to the feelings of his recent mas
ter as he had been before TO those of his
poor mother and little cub brother.
Sweet cake and such things instead of
his former plain fare-corn dodgers and
the like-with plenty of good fellows to
feed them to him and laugh at his antics,
were ample recompense for the loss of
his young masters tender care. Like
most pleasures, however, an over or un
wise indulgence brought its penalty for
the bear. The rich food he now en-
ioyed. though pleasant to the taste, was
/ not conducive TO health, as was mani
fest in his altered disposition. He soon
became cross, morose, freaky, or, as his
enemies would have it. treacherous. He
lost much in popularity in consequence,
OF which he was aware, and that made
him all the more irritable.
About this time the hostler, very
decent, well-meaning fellow, whose duty
it was TO take care of Ben, was promot-
ed to the box-in other words, made
stage driver-and another found to fill
his place, who proved to be quite diff
terent character, much more disposed to
attend to that which did not concern
HIM than to perform faithfully his legiti-
mate duties, one of which was to look
after the bear, attend to his wants, ETC.,
though not to teach him tricks to render
him still worse than he had already
power TO be. At first he took no par
ticular interest in his charge, and fed
him regularly enough but, after a few
days acquaintance. seeing Ben in his
better moods, he discovered his true
character, and told the stable-boys and
loungers that there was fun in the brute
and he was going to get it out of him.
Accordingly, when his duties were
done, he procured some molasses in
which he poured n quantity of whisky,
and set il before the unsuspecting Ben,
who, innocently enough, Tapped it up
with great delight This was only for
the sweet, however, for rs yet bis civil
ization was not so complete as it after
ward became The result of the exper-
iment was just as great, Notwithstanding,
and Ben, to use vulgar but most APP
propriate expression, "got as drunk as
a fool.
OF course Ben was not this time re-
spOnSible for his condition, or many
ridiculous capers he cut; nor could it be
Justly said that he was ever responsible,
for what did the poor. ignorant bear
know of the world outside of the stable
yard or of its morality His teachers
and examples were human. Gould
mere brute ask any higher authority?
Ben was but beast without human in
telligence to guide him or human in
centives to sobriety, so he allowed him
self to be led on to the daily degradation
even of his brute nature.
As Ben's example seemed popular,
and was pretty generally followed by the
men, the landlord permitted this to go
on, if he did not abet it, seeing, of
course, that all the liquor was purchased
at his bar, including that for Ben, who
meanwhile was rapidly perfecting him
SELF in the art Of drinking whisky. Ho
could already dispense with the swee.
inducement, and take it clear, solely for
the "fuddle." Even the brilliant young
man, with his superior education, who
had now become Ben's frequent COM
panion, could do no more, when whisky
was furnished both, "just for the fun Of
seeing them together"