Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-12-17

y
older than !, and we attended school
together" grandma resumed after
short pause There was no road be-
tween our home and the schoolhouse,
but father had marked out course for
US by blazing trees at short intervals
along the way. Then he accompanied
us few times. to and fro, until he
thought we were sufficiently acquainted
with the route to be trusted to go alone.
In those days school kept very
nearly all day, and before we reached
home it was quite dark. Our way led
through a deep, dark forest and we
were very much afraid as we trudged
along in the silence and gloom; and
every little noise, such as the rustling
of leaves or the cracking of bushes,
filed us with terror.
Its no wonder we were afraid when
we knew there were bears and
panthers in the forest, and expected
every day TO be attacked by one of
those fe-ocious beasts ! think you
would be afraid under such circum-
stances"
Grandma looked around on her audi
| ence with smile, which deepened a
little as she noticed the serious counte-
nances before her
We'll, . she continued. II will come
to my story now, and tell you about
my ad venture.
One evening, as brother and l were
going home through the forest, we
heard rustling and cracking among
the trees up on the hillside above US.
and pretty soon a large, black animal
| trotted into the road a few steps be-
| hind US. 1t was dusk, AID we could
not see the creature very plainly, but I
| was confident it was bear. and l was
| assured of it when it stopped and
reared upon its launches, and began
/ shifting the air
Were you scared, grandma" Jim
Martin asked. while the whole COM
pany involuntarily drew closer to-
| gether.
! Yes, l was frightened almost out of
/ my wits grandma replied, land SO
was my brother. That bear was not a
/ pleasant looking object, l assure you,
and l suspect older people than my
/ brother and | would have been fright
ened by his appearance
| 1T was more than a mile to our
/ home, and there was no other house so
near, so no matter how much we called.
we could not hope to bring help
| For a moment we remained staring
| at the bear, and he in turn stood fixed
/ ly returning our gaze, He showed no
| inclination to advance upon US so long
as we showed no inclination to run
| away.
when. however, we had sufficiently
recovered from the shock caused by the
| bears presence to beat hasty retreat,
! bruin Immediately gave chase and com
| ing up with US followed closely in our
| tracks.
You may believe we ran with all
| the speed we could command, and !
| don't believe my feet ever flew so rap
| idly before or since At almost every
| step Isaac, my brother, sent up a deaf.
| ening scream, while / gave vent to a
series of hysterical shriel1s, thinking
all the time that every step would be
my last
Il don't know how far we ran before
I thought to throw away the dinner
bucket, but when l did think of it l
dropped il at once When bruin came
up with the bucket he stopped. and
scratching the cover off began to eat
the portion of our dinner that was left.
That gave US little time and Isaac
Immediately awaited himself of it to
climb a tree with low-growing branches
which stood near the road
Not knowing what else to do, ] at
tempted to follow my brothers exam
pie, but l had never climbed trees, con-
sidering it tom-boyish act that girls
should never indulge in, and l failed in
my efforts as often as / tried to ascend. -
| ''Oh, Isaac, Isaac clied at last,
| help me. quick
II can't he replied Climb up
| yourself There he comes now. Climb.
| quick, or he'll get you
Il glanced around. and sure enough
| there the bear was almost upon me.
made one quick, frantic effort to climb
/ the tree, and. failing. took to flight.
/ Bruin gave pursuit again. and for d
| little while there was a lively oh ase
| between US.
Il had not gone above thirty yards
when l stumbled and fell l supposed
/ the bear would pounce upon me at once
| and proceed to tear the flesh from mv
| bones. so ] made no effort to rise but
| lay perfectly still thinking of those at
| home. and waiting for the end. l don't
! think l could have risen if / had tried,
! for ! was terrorized out of the use of
! my limbs,
Brain came up and srnelled over
me. and I shut my eyes. but l felt his
hot breath on my face, and though l
shut him ont of my sight / could not
shut him out IF my thoughts He
seemed to be in no hurry to devour me,
for he continued TO sniff me deliberate
" for some time, after which he rolled