The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-05
WANTED A CHANCE TO THINK.

"'Twa'n't no use meastauin' up agin that
mad bear, with that there cub a sQuealin'
on my back, an didn't have no time to
throw the resky thing out. So l made for
the nearest big tree, to give me chance to
think. The first branch was bout ten feet
up, and if could git to it l was goin' TO
fling out the cub; the boys could better
ford to loose him than their old man.
I'D shinnied half way up when the bear
she come along up after me, growlin' fierce
an gainin on me- Purity quick felt her
old nozzle at my feet, an it made my spine
sort o. cold. There we was; a huggin' the
tree with my arms an kickin' her in the
head; maxim my legs 60 like q thrashin'
machine. Then the old critter took a new
idee', an seed I'd have to do the same.
She come around the other side of the trunk
an begun climbin' again, intendin',
reckon to hug me an the tree together.
There want no chance for me to do
nothin' but drop, SO dropped The bear
didn't have no notion of lettin' me Off that
way, aud slid after me. Then | seen I'd
have to fight, an pulled out my knife.
well, sir, cut the straps holdin' the
basket an it tumbled of with the cub, jest
as she come up, on her binders, a-pawin'
the air.
Il used to think huggin' match couldn't
be too tight, but l changed my mind when
she got holt of me. As we went a-spra wlin'
on the ground, though, run the knife into
her tween the ribs, an guess 1t didn't feel
no better'n a Jab in the eye with burnt
stick, neither. Howsomedever, it took two
or three more 20 settle her.
"Then tied the cub that had been dauc-
in round while | skinned its mother, an
AFTER that took the pelt an some good bear
steaks an the cub over to camp. Boys,
twas a pretty close shave jest kind o.
drew my life through a knothole with that
knife; an tell you. don't you ever go no.
where's without a knife; faint SAFE"
"oLD zEPH" SPEAKS A PIECE.
Both congratulations aud libations fol-
lowed the narration Of Martins exploit,
when, after brief subsistence, Zephaniah
Keeler, more commonly dubbed "Old
Zeph," to distinguish him from an aspiring
scion of the house, spoke out in piping
voice:
"Speakin' of bears kinder sets me thinkin'
how me and my old 'ooman catched ore
onct; pears to me twas six years ago comm
next Octoby. when we was Twin over to
Round Pond.
about three rod back of the house l he'd
an open woodshed, and there was a barl
a settIn' out there at one end, half full of
soap.
Zone day come round the corner sorter
student. Well, you could knocked me
down with a match, was TINT took back
l swan il there wa'D't an old bear half into
that bar'l, with his snout somewheres down
into the soap. First l was goin' to the
house to get my rifle; then a good idee
struck me. z abbed that barl with all
my stren'th, and turned it over onto him.
Well, you believe me. jest held on; be was
a wigglin' an a howlin', an was yellin'
'Aramanthyl Aramantby 'Manthy Keeler 2
to bust my lungs. When my wife heard
me she thought was kilt sure, ard came
runnin' down.
"'Gerushy Zephaniar Keller says she,
what be you raisiu' such noise forF
well, my old 'ooman weighs nigh onto
220, an she an me we set on the bar' It'll
that old critter was drowned in soap.
guess he'd been purity clean IL he'd ever
he'd chance 70 wash arterwGrd. 'Manthy,
she was tckled all over; twas just nuts for
her, If ahe did lose the soap.
"'W ell, now, amt that honey cooler
says she; an been wonderful ever sence II
she found it purity good eatin'.
Some one wanted % know whether, when
the barrel was removed, Mrs. Keller had
found her soft soap converted into bar
soap, but the audience promptly suppressed
such inquisitiveness.
THE DOCTOR TELLS TALE.
aSince the "reminiscences this evening, I
may as we'll relate. said the doctor. "the
bear experience Of some friends Of mine
who camp on the Upper 81 Regis.
mote. gentlemen, ! say the bare ezperi-
enoe, without enlbroi1ery, though u turned