The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-08-23

great grandfather Tidy knew no bears
had been seen about there.
She had not much time to think, how
ever, for Lightning, quivering in every
limb, dashed over the fence Lightning
who had not leaped fence for twenty
years!-and with Tidy clinging for
dear life to his neck, went on a dead
run across the pasture, over stone
wall on the other side, through the
brook, and halfway up the hill, where
he stopped exhausted.
Tidy slipped down to the ground.
She thought the bear, at that distance,
was preferable to Lightning in his pres
ent state, which might lead him to dash
OFF again at any moment, for Light
ning's terror had not abated. He was
only exhausted.
Tidy thought of the cows with
dreadful sinking of the heart and looked
about her for help. But there was not
house or a person in sight.
She stole softly down to the stone
wall, as if she expected the bear to ap-
pear from behind any bush by the way,
and peered over. The COWS were still
huddled together in distant corner of
the pasture. Against the bars she
could see the huge outline of the bear.
Gould bear climb fence ? Tidy
had forgotten the teachings of 'Bime-
lech's natural history books on that sub
ject, but she thought it more than prob
able that he could. But he certainly
did not seem to be making any attempt
to do so. Slowly, and with her heart
in her mouth, Tidy climbed the stone
wall. She was very nimble, and she
was sure she could get over it again
before that unwieldy creature could
reach her, and she might by some
means save the cows. If she could
only drive them over the stone wall!
She walked slowly toward the bars,
armed with large stick.
The bear did not seem ferocious; per-
haps she could drive him away. She
stopped at respectful distance and
stared at him; she dared not go very
near, although the bars were between
her and the huge creature. As she
stood gazing at him very strange
thing happened. The bear rose on his
hind-feet, looked over the bars at her
in friendly fashion, and held out his
paw as if for cordial shake!
This proceeding was so entirely for
eign to Tildy's previous ideas concern
ing the habits of bears that she did not
know what to think But when the
bear, finding his friendly overtures dis
regarded, began to dance slow and
stately minuet, Tidy felt like the little
old woman on the Kings highway, who
cried, 80 lauk a-mercy on me, this
surely can't be / p
'Bimelech's S natural history books said
nothing about this kind of a bear He
seemed to belong in a fairy book. He
looked at her as if he really wished her
to admire him. Tidy remembered a
fairy story she had read of Prince
who was turned into deer by wicked
fairy; perhaps somebody had been
turned into this queer bear.
But being a shrewd, sensible little
Yankee girl, Tidy soon came to the
practical solution of the mystery. And
suddenly there flashed into her mind
story that Jonas had told of per-
forming bear he had seen at circus.
She had almost forgotten it, because
she had been SO much more interested
in the other wonders of which Jonas
told--the baby elephant, the giraffes
and the talking hyena; but Jonas had
said that the bear was perfectly harm
less-''as gentle as baby"
This was certainly q trained bear.
and he seemed harmless. Tidy had
ceased to tremble now, and she took
long look at him. He was muzzled!
Tildy's courage arose with astonishing
suddenness. 1t was not easy to believe
in the gentleness of bear after read
ing those dreadful stories in 'Bime-
lech's books; it was comfort to know
that this bear could not bite if he
wanted to. He might hug the breath
out of her body with those great shaggy
paws of his, but he did not seem in the
least disposed to any such violence, and
Tidy began to feel as brave as lion.
''What silly COWS, to be afraid of
tame creature like that, when he didn't
try to touch themr' she exclaimed, for
getting how her teeth had chartered
ten minutes before. -
There was a collar around the bears
neck, and from it hung a stout rope. If
she only dared to take hold of the rope
and lead the bear home, what a sensa-
ton she should create! thought Tidy.
She extended her hand over the top
bar, and the bear Immediately placed
his paw upon it and gave it a little
friendly shake. It was such huge,
shaggy paw! Tidy felt cold chill
creeping over her, but she did not finch.
He certainly was very sociable bear.
Tidy took the bars down slowly,
watching him narrowly all the time.
She took the rope in her hand, and he
still looked at her in the mildest man
ner possible She might lead him home
with safety, she thought, but she could
not leave the cows behind, and their OBJ
jections to the bear could not be easily
overcome. But she resolved to try an
experiment; she led him down the road
out of sight, and, she hoped beyond the
scent of the cows, he following her
with the docility of dog. She fasten-
ed his rope to q tree, and then went
back and drove the COWS out into the
road. They were little wild and un-
ruly, being evidently still in terror of
the bear. but once in the road they
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