The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-05-12
A CIVILIZED BEAR.

that was his name. You wonder why
that name was given to him Well,
that may have been for various reasons.
This, for instance. When Ben was a
very small cub he hadn't much in this
world, not even name nothing but
an old she-bear mother and little cub
brother Like himself-no more.
There was q party Of hunters or trap
pers camped upon the bank of Western
river, and among them half-grown
boy, who, having finished his break
fast one morning before the others,
hoy-like wandered off in his restlessness
to see what he could find. And what
he did find were these two little cubs.
They were too young for him to have
any fear Of them, and so, without a
thought Of any other bear in the world,
he picked them up by the napes of the
necks, one in each hand, and started
back for the camp. Though the little
cubs were unable to defend themselves,
or resent this liberty with their persons,
they could still invoke help, which they
did by squealing Justify, and aroused
the sleeping mother near by.
Rendered desperate by the danger of
losing her cubs, she gave chase right
into the enemy's camp, with a set of
great white teeth fully exposed in the
open mouth, ears laid back and ewes
glazing with rage. She was formida.
ble-looking object, and the boy lost his
presence Of mind altogether. With des-
perate instinct he clutched the cubs as
If his life depended upon his retaining
his hold upon them. AS he approached
the camp ut flying speed he made him
self the subject of much future merri-
ment by bawling out 10 the party, still
seated at their breakfast, right in his
path, "C-l-e-a-r tie track Here
we come Me and the bars
just at this critical moment-for the
old bear was right at his heels-he
stumbled and dropped one of the cubs
as he fell headlong to the ground, terri
bly, frightened. The bear, glad to re-
cover one of her lost darlings, stopped
for moment to caress him, while the
boy regained his feet and escaped to the
camp with the other. AS soon as the
men could snatch their rifles they hur-
ried off in search of the old bear and the
remaining cub, but the bereaved mother.
who had reiterated to the rocks end Sc
creted herself and her baby in some fs-
sure, could not be found. In telling his
adventures afterward at the camp the
s6cste3 boy remarked: eff [ hadn't
dropped that cub / would have been
would havo been" he didn't quite
know what he would have been, so he
didn't tell but one of the hunters inter-
ruptGd him by saying "You would
have Ben, and so you hung on to him.
| reckon that the cubs names Ben"
That is probably the reason he was so
called.
At all events his name was Ben, and
by that name / introduce him to you.
Pen soon forgot his poor old mother
rs well as his little brother, adapted
himself to his new surroundings and was
metamorphosed into a " tame BEAR"
that is, knew no associations but hu.
man, was not afraid of man nor were
men afraid of him as a rule. More's
the pity, for this fearless intimacy with
man was the ultimate ruin Of pocl heed
less Ben.
When the camp broke up, little Ben
was placed in wicker cage improvised
by the boy, and thrown rather roughly
into the wagon with the skins, traps.
salt venison, ETC., and carried off to the
settlement where he was petted through
the fall, and slept through the greater
part OF the winter, as is the nature Of
his family.
lnthespring, when the journey had to
.oe made to the trading post for ammu-
uition and other supplies, Ben was fur
nished with more substantial and ne
cessarily much larger cage-for he was
now quite half grown-and placed on
the wagon with which his master was to
make the tedious journey of three or four
days duration. It ended Just at night of
the fourth day, and Ben saw by the fad
ing light an old block house formerly
built for safety against the Indians, and
tavern which seemed mostly bar-room.
though Ben knew nothing of that as
yet. He only saw one large room more
brilliantly lighted than the rest, full of
bolsterous men, and large log build
ing used as a store, and containing
everything needed in a new country.
This was also brightly lighted. and a
considerable number Of men were louno-
ing about the door or seated upon the
broad stoop.
All this was strange and curious toun-
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
sllhouetting the dark form of woman
IN the open door as she peered with
shaded eyes into the gathering gloom
for offering 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 tba
horses were taken off and put into the
stable. Ben was given his supper Of
dalnties he had never tasted before. and
left for the night. -
Ia the morning he excited considers
bic curiosity among the loungers wfan
his cage was taken down and placed up-