Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-04-04
& Bear Story.
To the Editor fthe Alexandria Gazette:

10 tHe CutlO " eHe dLeIuHT tu OuSote0.
1 have been very much entertained By the
bear stories recently published In the Ca
zETTE and send thl5 OF mine to be put 10
oompstition With them:
A great big old bear that had lived I'll his
lie In the mountains of Virginia In an old
hollow tree for house, and eaten nothing
but roots, ants aud honey that he robbed the
bees of, and though fat, and had lived q
long time in that way. became disconnected
and concluded that be must have finer
house and nicer things to eat. So he left his
old home and roamed about In search OF a
new one. He was ashamed to travel in the
Cay time 30 he slept Gil day and travelled all
night. He bad not found much and was
getting hungry and cold, when he saw q
great big white house with light shining
through the window. "All right" ssys he,
Ing against 1t until at last he found q soft
place and the door flew open, then he walk
ed In and found nice warm room with
good fire burning in great big stove.
''This Is the very kind of house want but
must have something to eat, for l am hun
gry," 40 be paved at the door Of the side
board and when the door opened he found
In 1t great big ham of bacon, great big
plate OF bread and great big can OF mo-
lases He sat right down and didn't
stop estisg until all was gone and
he had licked ell the plates and dishes
that were lying about everywhere on the
shelves. You see dame Agnes always put
them away from the dinner and supper
without washing, saying that one wesHing
day was enough for people, plates and ev-
erytbing else. When he had 6nished eat-
iug he laid down before the fire ard went
sound asleep. Just before day, dame Ag-
mes shock the old man and told him to 'get
up and put some wood on the fire." He
was sleepy headed old fellow and did not
stir until she had shaken and shaken him.
aud called him over and over again. "a lag
good -for-nothiDg old thing" At last be got
up and eaytng, when a man merries, hls
troubles begin,n stumbled ABOUT 10 the dark
and found the wood, but when he went to
put 1t on the fire, he fell over something and
struck bis head against the stove; then he
was mighty mad sod oommeDced abusing
his wife and asking her, "What did you bun
d up oil your old clothes for aud put them
before the FIRE for me to stumble over.
won't put stick OF wood oo." So he start
ed back to bed (thie timesienping very high)
| when bis foot landed right on the middle of
| the bear and the hear gave growl. Tbeu
| be knew something was wrong snd ruaoiue
| ont OF the house, never stopped running ~
] til he got TO Same and the D .ctcs's housSa,
woke them up and the party came back
| with doge and guns. Dame Agnes heard
bin slam the door as he went out and no.
lsred to bin. "Stop! stop You are toe
good for nothing to live" A. last, 6udius
he was gone cure enough, she got up ard
! went to put the wood on for herself. When
she got near the stove she, too nbed over
the bear and fell sprewling. The bsar, civ
log two or three big grunts, jumped at her,
but she was too quick for him; up che jump
ed and off she ran up stairs like lightning
and slammed the door 10 the bee,'t face, just
as he was catching hold of toe end OF her
nish.gowp, end ell he got was just little
piece OF it, The bear was mighty mad this
time, but be thought, "She wont stay up
there very long, and will coon be coming
back 20 get her clothes snd things," 90 he
laid down again 10 walt for her. About
| this time the men came, and peeping
| In the window saw him lying down
| before the fire. The old man said: There
| he Ia and my vile is sate; almost wish he
| had eaten her up, she abused me 3d."
Quickly the men commenced shooting at
the old bear, and wishing be had never
LETT his home in the old hollow tree, he fell
down and, with loud gruut, died. The
| men then came ip, dragged him out and
dressed him to eat-he weighed upward OF
400 pounds Jost as the old man was going
to call his wife down to cock some of him
for breakfast, she halooed cat Come here
and get this pan to put the fat in. and be
sure you get ell of 1t, for want to make
| lard OF 1t and don't want any foolishness
about It." BEE BEE
Markham, Va, April 8, 1891.