Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-10-29
Mchancdown Frederick County, Maryland Thursday 0cnbeT e. 1884,

'llc-Hc uIuh U S'SH o'ot IVA WIN ho"
fshpole.
A little bird was singing blithely in
a tree overhead, but BERTHE could not
see anything in this beautiful world to
he happy.
Suddenly he stopped. as he was
crossing the berrypasture. Three little
black and white creatures were :laying
beside hole under the stone wall.
oh, what pretty kittens he thought
and crept up to catch one-but he did
not do it..
He clasped his hands eyer his eyes
ms cad, and ran 5llndly on, screaming
with establishment and pain.
The pretty kittens were baby skunks,
and they understood very we'll how to
defend themselves from troublesome
boys.
Mamma, oh, mamma! walled Der
tie, again and again, but mamma could
not hear him. and he could not open his
eyes to see where he was gong.
1t wash t half as much fun to do Just
rs he wanted to as he thought 1t would
be.
Soon he stubhed his toe again, but
he did not tall into the pond this time
he landed in a nice, thorny black.
berry patch instead.
There were no sweet berries there, but
there were plenty of sharp, cling:ng
briers, which scratched his face and
hands and tore his clothes.
BERTHE opened his smartlng eyes and
looked around.
He was sure that he had never seen
such a place before, and that he never
wanted to see it again.
A man and woman were seated near
white covered! wagon, only Il little oft,
and that WASH all.
A great. black bear was coming
slowly towards him, with cunning.
twinklng eyes.
BERTHE could not run, bnt he could
scream, and he called for mamma as
loudly as he could.
But mamma so far away. and besides
he was not mammals boy now.
What a nice little boy - what lit.
tbs boy! lie shall 20 with us and take
the pennies, said the woman, in coax
ing way, as she came between him and
the black bear.
She did not tell him that they were
gypsies and that tie bear was tame and
would mt hurt anyone.
She led him to The wagon; the man
harnessed sorr, looking horse to it,
hitched the bear behind, and on they
went.
Where were they going ? Where was
Mamma Benner and would he eyer see
her again
The sun was sinking in the west. and
he had eaten nothing since he had
turned from his despised oat meal and
milk. He could not even cry, but his
eyes were smarting yet, and bis head
seemed on fire.
The man and woman sat upon the
seat akI talked in a low tone they did
not notice him at ALL.
Could he-dare he brave the bear,
and slip out behind?
Berthe leaned forward and peeped
out-thcn caught his breath.
A house met his gaze, cozily nestled
among cool, green trees. There were
other houses near, but he saw only one,
with woman standing in the doorway.
That's mamma! he said, with lit.
ii. sob, and she's looking for me-!
Hi, what'd you say? Keep quiet
there, youngster,' growled the man, and
Berthe was very quiet until he and the
woman were talking busily again.
Then he crept nearer and nearer to the
wagon, shut his eyes 80 that he could at
see the big, black bear, and slipped to
the ground. H..
The bear growled a little. but the
man and woman had not seen him.
Oh, how fast he ran towards the
house among the trees But when he
got there and felt that he was sale at
home again, his manner changed.
He approached the house with slow
dignifed walk, went up the back-stalrs
to his own little chamber, and sat down
to think it over.
Soon Nelghbor Allen came up the
walk.
Those pears BERTHE stool in awe of
Neighbor Allen.
oh, dear, he s after me most know
he is. he breathed. I'll go to the
barn and stay till my day is done so
that I'll be mammals little boy again.
He opened the window and graspe'
the water pipe to slide dOWn-then