The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-01-28

ne WAS returning lIOLu OHS VI IHSS'
expeditions he noticed numerous
mink and muskrat tracks along thu
bank of his trout brook. The mex
day he borrowed some steel trap!
from an old man who in his young
er days trapped and fished altogeth
er for living. Oma agreed to givs
the old man one-third of all b;
caught, provided he would prepare
the skins for market. Before many
weeks had passed our young hun
ter had secured several mink and
muskrats, and one large otter, which
the old man said was worth eight
dollars.
The farmers of Benton were los
ing many of their sheep. Some &C
cused their neighbours dogs of kill
ing them, while others attributed
their disappearance to a large she
bear that had often been seen
prowling about the outskirts of the
village.
One Saturday afternoon a party
of men and boys started for the
woods for the purpose of capturing
it if possible. Oma went with them /;
not with the idea, however, that he,
a small boy, could be of any use in
capturing a bear, but for the pur-
pose of shooting a partridge or two,
for his customers. When the party
arrived at the woods Oma left them
and made for an ash swamp where
he knew game always abounded.
When well into the swamp he
came to a large, hollow log. From
the tracks around it he knew that
some animal had recently crawled
into it. Thinking it was raccoon
Oma took off his coat and hat and
crawled into the log, pushing his
gun in before him. At the farthest
end of the log he saw two fiery eyes
glaring at him. Aiming carefully
at the glowing orbs, he fired and
then scrambled out of the log. His
exit was none too soon, for a large
bear came rushing after him.
He ran behind stump and when
Bruin came snuffing up to his hid
ing place, gave him the contents of
his rifle again.
Bruin staggered, fell and then got
up on his feet again, and seemingly
with redoubled vigor, rushed at our
young hunter; but before he could
reach Oma he tumbled over dead.
Oma lit a torch and re-entered
the log to get his hunting-knife
which he dropped in his haste.
Great was his surprise to find mes
tied in the back part of the log two
little cubs. He picked them up in
his arms and carried them out. AS
they were quite young they neither
bit nor scratched him. Several OF
the hunting party now put in an
having been drawn to
the spot by Oma's firing. On see
ing the bear lying dead, they cheer
ed loud and long. Then volley af-
ter volley was fred from the guns
until all the hunters were gathered
about the dead bear.
A litter was made out of two
long poles on which was placed
Oma, the bear and the two cubs.
Twelve of the strongest men put
The litter on their shoulders and
the rest of the party fell into pro-
cession behind. Thus they march
I'd into Benton. A courier was
sent ahead to notify the Benton
band which quickly convened and
oined the procession as soon as it
entered the village.
Approaching the hotel and post
office where a large crowd was
the band struck up "See
,he conquering hero comes" Oma,
seated up on top the bears back,
was the object of thousand eyes.
At the fort of Main street the
procession stopped and the bear
was put on a wagon and hauled 10
he home of the old trapper to be
stripped of its fur coat and to have
.he oil extracted from its body.
The next morning Oma took the
lead to the town treasurer and got
,he $40 bounty the town paid, and
A few days later he sold the oil to
Dr.. Hathaway for like amount. A
lorse -trainer gave him eight dol
ars each for the cubs.
'The fur dealer was along yester-
lay and l sold him all the fur"
'ang out the old trapper one morn
ng just before Christmas as Oma
vas going to school.
"Oh, was he? am glad enough
or L need the money very badly.
What did it all amount tor"
1.-The mink skins came to ten
lollars, the muskrat and raccoon
O fifteen and the otter sold for
.welve. The bear-skin was fine
me and he gave me eighteen dollars
or it. 1t amounts to fifty-six dol
ars in ALL"
"Then with your one-third out l
rave left 1874.
"You have and here it isl said
he trapper, as he passed him the
,risp bank notes.
That night Oma counted his
lash and added up his bsnk &C
count and found he had 1920. With
l Joyous heart the next morning he
vent to the village, drew his money
md paid the lawyer what was due
On the mortgage. Christmas morn
ng Mrs. Wellington found it under
ler plate with twenty bright silver
dollars and a note saying, Christ
mas gift to mother from Oma."
Sensible Advice.
President Whites farewell adj
dress to the students of Cornell
was replese with com
Snon nnnnn hut thnro ,.nr ono hit Of