The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-27
THE BOY KNIFES A BEAR.
6JT HIS FATHER MoDESTLv Ar-
pnOPRlATES THE CREDIT.
A Tale Which Involves the Loss OF n Fine
Buck, the Death Of Good Dog and tho
Anger of Abner Grimes-Irs True Story,
aud That's Its Chief Trait,

Abncr Grimes IS the politician OF the
ridge He has been constable. postrnas-
ter, town clerk and justice OF the peace.
He has his eye now on the legislature.
Statecraft is his hobby, but he minglcs II
with lumber. agriculture and a general
country store. His only recreation is
chasing the deer in the wildwood and
hunting coons. He has a son Uriah.
Uriah is rising 10. and is a stub-and-twisi
specimen Of the true backwoods boy.
"'Riah," said Abncr Grimes the Other
day. from the way the weather looks !
believe there's deer over back Of the
mountain. Seems to me as if it was q
buck, too"
DWELL, pop" said 'Riah, "let's take the
dog and go fetch the deer in"
"Why. that's SOL exclaimed Abner, as
if the suggestion was a sudden revelation
to him. 1--WE can do that, can't WEI
So he took down his gun, called the
dog. and he and Uriah started Cor the
mountain. three miles away. 'Riah car
ried no gun, it being his duty TO handle
the dog and drive for deer. while his
father stood on the ridge at runway
and put lead in the deer when it came
bounding by him. But Uriah had big
hunting knife in a sheath at his side.
"Start a buck. 'Riah, or n big doe,
said Abner. Don't waste time on any
fawns."
'Riah went off with the dog, and he
| hadn't gone more than a hundred yards
when the dog struck a trail and away he
went. 'Riah followed, and in less than
ten rods came up with the dog. 1t might
have been a deer track the dog had
struck. but if it was it had led plump up
against a six foot bear, and the six foot
bear had his back against a rock and his
eyes on the dog. The latter, emboldened
by the presence of his master, pitched
into the bear.
The bear welcomed the dog 10 his EN-
brace. gave him a couple Of squeezes,
and tossed him oil with such vim and
precision that his limp and almost des-
sicated carcass just missed 'Riah's head.
| The dog was extremely dead.
"S-a-a-a-yw said 'Riah, speaking to the
bear in a tone Of remonstrance. "By
Jim. That was pops best dog. and, ]
tell you, he'll be madder'n thunderl'
Just then Abner's voice, mellowed by
distance, but very distinct withal, came
down through the woods from the run
way up on the ridge. 1t said:
Hay, 'Riahl Come up here with that
dog. quick"
"Well." said 'Riah. still speaking tC
the bear, "if he 'spec's me to carry that
dog up this ridge he's mistaken But
won't he be madder'n thunder!
All this time the bear stood with hi'
back TO the rock, his eyes swapping, ans
his jaws dropping foam. 'Riah looked
at the unioiuted body Of the dog, an'
then surveyed the proportions Of its un
terrified uniointer. The latter got tire'
Of waiting. and moved forward to clea
; the woods of 'Riah. 'Riah unsheathe'
f his hunting Knife and braced himself.
S Hay, 'Riahl' came the voice of Abne
. down from the ridge again, and TIN
! time there was impotence in it. "Wh,
don't you come up with that inferno
{ dog:"
X II hain't got time TO explain that {
DOB lust now" said 'Riah, in coniiden
i tial tone to the bear. land / hain't goii
: to scare you by hollerin' back at him.
The bear didn't seem to care whethe
q Riah had time for explanation or not
= = and evidently was a good way from an
! intention of being scared. tie reache
out for 'Riah with one fore paw. Ria
hinged forward and socked the lon
blade of his knife in bruins neck. Brui
countercd on Riah's chest and sent Inn
! sprawling on the ground.
+, The blood spurted from the hole tn
o. knife had bored in the bears neck. \
'Riah fell the voice of the hunter wa
again heard on the hill.
+ "Hav. 'Riahl' it said. "Why in thur
der don't you come up with that dogi
al 'Riah was too busy to answer Jul
+ then. for he had all he could do to get
Il his feet before the bear climbed on hin
The boy and the bear had lively tussl
but il was a short one. The first sta
the bear received was fatal, and tw
other thrusts, equally good, let out sti
more blood, but when the bear fell IN
death struggle 'Riah was tired out.
'e He leaned up against tree to get h
a. wind. Then he heard his father comm
k down of Of the ridge, crashing throue
l. the brush like wild steer.
= "Ie's-mad!" painted Riah.
# "Hav. 'Riah!' Abner shouted as
l. came down the hill. "What in thunder
r the matter? Where's that dog? WI
n don't YOU come up with him? \ bu'
m bigger than heifer went by me, al
here hain't got any dog? It'll be wa
h. twenty votes for me if get that buc
n Why don't YOU come up with that doc
G. When Abner hove in sight he disco
tol cred 'Riah leaning against the II
We sobbing for wind. lie didn't see Il
a bear that lay few yards the othsr sid
~ "What in the name of Nimrod IS q
=. matter with your" he gasped.
he 'Rah pointed to the bear.
"Holy smoker yelled Abner, and
We made for the nearest tree.
I'd "Iie's-he's-dead, painted 'Riah. -
IN is-the dog. That's the-reason-l did,
n come up-wth him."
of Then Abncr looked the bear over al
- mourned for the dog.
nd I'VE wasn't hunting bear, Riah, sa
ne. deprecatingly. Deer was what
a. started out 70 get Still, well take hon
m our game. But you should have con
le up with that dog. 'Riah, and, great Ces'
10 what buck we'd have got; wuth TWEEN
nd votes to me"
! Abner and 'Riah toted the bear hon
tn and then Abner went out among
friends and said:
IN "Why don't you come over and see
ch slammin' big bear me and 'klah kihee
as Sole Ridge Cor. New iorl; ENeni
ia Sun.
- al Black and white.
Its always difficult 10 make people app
-. a.. t..t ,vIieh IL certainly Fac