The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-29
Betsey and |.
BY ANDREW BUCHANAN.

Betsey, VINO setIieu III ouo VI wy
States among the forests which at that
time covered the country. They had
built a house with logs, covering the roof
with bark iu place of shingles. They
toiled from day to day, clearing away the
trees and brush, and grubbing out the
stumps in order to prepare the ground
for raising crop of grain with which to
supply their daily wants. Thus they
labored to prepare comfortable home
where they might live together in peace
and happiness, hoping that some day the
log cabin would be replaced by more
commodious and elegant mansion, where
they could spend the evening of life in
peace. They toiled on in this way, Bet
sey faithfully doing her part of the work,
and checrfully bearing the hardships and
privations of frontier life. Everything
went we'll for time, until one evening
after they had partaken of their frugal
meal and retired to enjoy the we'll earned
rest of honest toll, they were aroused by
the sound of footsteps and of scratching
and shifting outside the cabin. The
man, who was one of those who are brave
when danger is long way off, whispered,
"Betsey, Betsey, get up and light the
candle, there's bear outside !" Betsey
did as she was biddeu, and, taking the
gun, proceeded to ascertain the cause of
the disturbance and see what could be
done to remove it, followed by her hus-
band, carrying the candle in his trem-
bling hand. They soon discovered that
the bear had climbed upon the roof and
was tearing away the bark covering with
his paws. He soon made small open
ing through which he thrust his nose to
see if there was anything inside that
would make him good supper. Betsey
advanced, placed the muzzle of the gun
close to bruins inquisitive nose, and
pulled the trigger. There was flash,
followed by loud report, and the bear
rolled down the roof and fell upon the
ground dead. When the report had died
away and all was still outside, the man
yentured to remark, "I guess we have
killed him." The worthy pair again re-
t;rod IN rest and were undisturbed the
remainder of the night.
The next morning the man, now bold
in the absence of danger, fastened to tell
his neighbors the events of the previous
night, telling each one that he met that
"Betsey and killed bear last night !"
being careful, of course, to convey the
impression that he was the principal
actor. Betsey and her humble partner
have long since been laid beneath the
sod. The bear, together with his dusky
companion of the forest, the Indian, has
been driven back before the advancing
march of civilization, until they are only
found among the wild crags of the Rocky
Mountains and in few coveted spots on
the Western plains. The log cabin has
been replaced by the large and commo-
dious mansion, surrounded and adorned
by marks of refinement and art. Where
once stood the Indian village now stands
the populous city with its elegant man;
sions, busy factories, massive warehouses
and stores, its churches, school-houses
ard colleges. The dense forests, whose
giant oaks had stood the storms of
century or more, have fallen before the
woodmau's axe, and in their place are
seen the fields of golden grain and rich
meadows In place of the winding forest
paths which are spread over the land like
a vast network, furnishing the means for
conveying from one part of the country
to another the products of the factory,
ths field and the mine.
But amidst all this advancement in
civilization, art and refinement, the bear
has not been left without representa-
tive. A bear still remains. He is of a
different species. He is larger, iercer
and more blood-thirsty. He is not
native of this country, and in fact, it is
hard to tell to what country he does nat
urally belong. 1t is recorded that one Of
the same species attacked Noah soon
after the flood, and we frequently hear of
their depredations since that time in al
most every country on the globe, espe.
cially among the more civilized nations.
The early settlers of this country,
although knowing much of the savage
disposition of this animal, brought with
them pet cub to be company for them
in the solitud of their new home, and
to make sport for them at their feasts and
social gatherings. He was petted and
caressed by all classes. and, being fed on
the best the country afforded, he soon
grew fat and strong, and occasionally
showed the ferocity of his nature, by
killing some of those who became too
familiar with him.
Notwithstanding this, he was fed and
caressed, and grew stronger and fercer
from year to year, committing more de.
predations every year, until he now de-
stroys sixty thousand of the pride and
flower of Americas sons every year, an
swering with savage growls the cry of the
fathers, mothers, widows and orphans of
those who have been so cruelty destroyed.
But at last the noble spirit of modern
Betsey has been aroused by this cry OF
sorrow and distress, and actuated by love
for her country and suffering humanity,
she has risen up and lighted the candle
of truth, aud gone forth to seek the cause
and find remedy for this distress. At
first she tried by kind persuasion, and by
pointing out the danger, to save those
who were rushing into the grasp of the
monster. Finding that these means
were inadequate, she has seized the old