New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-24
THEY WE'RE BOTH GOOD RUNNERS.
BUT HAD THE BEAR CAUGHT THE BOY THERE
WOULD HAVE BEEN NO GOVERNOR
pLAISTCD AFTERWARD.

General PlaIsted. Ex-Governor of Maine tells how
he once caught a bear 1t OF course. good
many years ago. for the General was at that time
only sixteen years Old and his father was clearing
farm on the hlsdes of New-lIampshire
"You may be sure said the General that that
part of Ncw-Hampshre has changed good deal since
those days. At that time our farm consisted OF
cocdly stretch OF land lot OF stumps where we had
been making clearngs, a log house which We built
ourselves and a small log smoke house. That WAS
about all there the farm. with the exception OF
a few sheep which we had. There were not more than
half dozen families in the neighborhood.
al was called down from the hill one day by
creat shouting and noises of confusion | arrived
inst I'm time 10 see a monstrois bear pulling himself
toward the woods and dragging along the quarter OK
a sheep lie had gone to the smoke house. where the
quarter hung had smashed the house and seized the
sheep. The cries frightened him away
~ was young theh.' continued the General, WIN
a smile and more enthusiastic over bears than l
should be Besides. and my younger brothers
we're possessed Of good, old fashioned mountain boys
apDetites, and, to tell you the truth, mutton was
something OF luxury. II made me mad 10 see that
bear taking OIL sheep, and selling p!tchfork
started after him.
"Thc bear had a good start me- and did nos
overake him until he had almost reac he'd the lass
stump OF the clearing on that hill As came painting
up to him brandishng my pitchfork, the big fellow
turned and snarled at me.
1.-THE value Of that quarter Of sheep diminished
suddenly. you may be 1t didn't seem worth
saving after all. | did not like that bear, but
soon discovered that he did like me. In TACT. ne
stood upon no ceremony, but started for me as IL
he would like to give me hug Of welcome by one
Of those strange revolutions Of circumstances IL was
who was now being chased. That bear was oe''er
runner than l., and ! gave up straight course :
took TO the stumps. There weren't hsi cnoe-
stumps 10 suit me. We went around theH o'or
them. lodged them and played tag around .''en''
never saw anything like the agility OF ths' ocar.
"while the bear and were rvaung Tue VIM -
travellers horns were blowing at the house ana S,ey
one WAS shouting the settlers IN t"c
Tnos beoan 70 appear armed with axes, pitchIorks.
shoyes cubs-any thing that coud ser.e d. cR,n,
They c,me mnnning up the slope shouting ana ysins
a. Tho hear 70 fl1ghten him away, WINE inc HOTTIE
oundea dismay below But the pear was too oo,s
-, nay anv attention TO them. lie seemed 70 %
W pa ea,iv Interested In the chase. ana was go"hhs
any im.atrhcd my chance and then made 0ash Io'
,,. ,."cwing party, Mr.. Bear close upon my nogIs
ulo iSnaiiv I circled a stump, the bear loIowine
va, I'D then there was a din in my ears FIcuorks
sun AYES went into the bear from all sides lie msno
Anu 10 erht but numbers conquered him. Aha.
eo had An unusually good appetite for supper tet
,htnr ever enjoyed meal more. The steaks weN9
INN ,n,cr and tender you know. Ard then as ate
30 IS help congrauating myself that II was wS
s lou doing the eating. 1t came very near oe'ns
different, you See