Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-05-03

mOnla 10 It's ulS uoIi"'H VI Z" . W. S'N'~
grandfather.
"I didn't smell it, but started tor home
with Old Blacky and father on my mind
Old Blacky, to see if l couldn't find her
and get that three dollars, and father, be-
cause l wanted to get back as quick rs L
could.
at seemed rougher going back over the
hill than it had coming-I suppose be-
cause l was little tired. Sometimes the
way was through pastured lots, but mostly
it was over fallow ground, bushy and
stumpy, and plenty of rocks, but not
many trees. There wasn't any roadway.
81 hadn't got near 10 the summit when
| saw something that made me stop short
something behind rocks and bushes,
down il. kind of little hollow. There
were no leaves on the bushes, you know;
SO l could see something through them
that looked like black hair.
81 went 4 little nearer and looked a
little harder, and then of with my cap
and swung it around, and sung out:
"'Hurrah for that three dollars O. yours,
Squire Plummer!' Then called: "Co'
boss, CO. boss, CO. boss Come, Blackey,
comet
"But the old thing wouldn't stir. l
picked up some little stones and Shied 'em
at her to hurry her up. didn't want TO
lose time, but 1 did want to drive her
home with me for fear some one else
might get ahead of me if | left her and
then came back. l hollered TO her and
kept on throwing; but still she wouldn't
bulge an inch.
''Then thought I'd slide down the side
of the hollow she was in and set ahead Of
her and drive her out. tried rolling
down q lot of stones and gravel first, al
most over her head, to sec if that wouldn't
start her; but it didn't. So began slid
ing myself down.
"But just then heard growl-such q
growl a5 no mortal cow ever made yet, L
know. And there began such scratch
ing of gravel and such scramblins up
that bank, mixed up with growls all the
time, that / scrambled myself up pretty
lively and started and run, | tell you.
"When got little piece off, looked
back, and just getting to the top of the
bank was Old Blacky; but i. wasn't a
black cow. 1t was 4 blacl, bear, sure's
you live"
Tom paused n moment to enjoy the little
ripple of astonishment and dismay which
came in just here.
you'd better believe ran. But it was
hard work-up hill, and rough, too. |
tumbled over logs and jumped through
bushes, and he trotting after me all the
time, mad, suppose, with the pummcl-
ing and stirring up I'd given him, growl-
ing like young thunderstorm all the
while.
"'Soon | began to feel how tired my
walk had made me, and to wonder how 1t
would be with me if got clear tired out
before the bear did, as seemed very likely.
"When knew / couldn't hold out much
longer | made for tree and climbed up
it quicker'n ever clim' 4 tree before or
since.
"Then l tried to catch my breath and
think bit. was glad to be out of reach
of the bear; but wondered how long he
might keep me up that tree before any
one came to look for me, and thought OF
father wanting the medicine, and if you'll
believe me, thought, too, about that
blamed old cow and the three dollars |
wasn't going to get for finding her.
"But it don't take long to think, you
know, for I'd thought all that before lie
got to the foot Of the tree, and it was a
mighty little while. too; and when he did
get there he walked round II, ana smell
ed n little, and the first thing | knew he
was clawing away at the bark aud climb
ing up after me, fierce.
''Thcn l began to think harder than
ever. I'd read of boy who was up
tree, with bear after him, and he clim'
out on some weak limbs, where the bear
had sense enough to know he couldn'tg go,
and lie kept the poor little chap there,
growing ut him Il mean the boy, till
some one came and shot him (shot the
bear, mean). But this wasn't that kind
of tree. The limbs were stubby, and
knew the bear could 60 most rs far as
could.
81 looked down TO see what chance I'd
have if swung myself down and got
new start Of him; but the tree was tall
one, and it was all stony under the branch
where | was. If | should get 4 sprain or
a hurt it would be all up with me. So
nv only chance was to keep out Of his
way the best | could. put my hand into
my pocket to get out my knife, for l
wasn't going to let him get the better of
me without a tussle.
''Then, what do you guess 1 felt: and
what do you guess 1 thought? Why, /
felt that bottle Of ammonia, and thought
of that time in church. And cracky if |
could help laughing right out, as /
thought if could only get it on that bear
as I'd got it on myself long ago. If all
that man said was true, perhaps 'twould
send him kitin' down as good as If he'd
been shot.
81 poured lot Of it on my handkcr-
chief, most all there was, looking out TO
keep back little for father, till more
could be sent for. / tried TO keep from
getting a smell Of it myself, but the wind
whitfield some of it into my face, and do
the best could it handled me 20 | came
mighty near dropping.
81 held the handkerchief tight in my
hand. and reached il down lust as he pOked