Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-01-02


getting education. but that has moth
ing to do with the story. I'm sure.
II had . brother who was q year
older than I. and we attended school
together" grandma resumed after q
short pause. There was no road be-
tween our homo and tho schoolhouse,
but father had marked out q 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.
I'm those days school kept very
nearly all day, and before we reached
home it was quite dark. Our way led
through q 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. l think You
would be afraid under such circum-
stances
Grandma looked around on her andi-
ence with smile, which decpened n
little as she noticed the serious counte-
nances before her.
We'll" shs continue d, II will come
to my story now. and tell you about
my nd venture.
"One evening, as brother and I were
going home through the forest, we
heard a rustting and cracking among
the trees up on the hillside above us.
~ nd Nv 1or III. ,a1
trotted into the road q few steps be-
hind us. 1t was dusk, and we could
not see the creature very plainly. but
was confident it was q bear. and 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, I was frightened almost ont Of
my WITS grandma replied, land so
was my brother. That bear was not a
pleasant looking object, assure you,
and l suspect older people than my
brother and l would have been fright
ened by his appearance.
at 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 n 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 u 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 l
don't believe my feet ever flew SO rap
idly before or since. AT almost every
step Isaac, my brother, sent up deaf
ening scream, while ! gave vent to a
series of hysterical shrieks, 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
dropped it at once. When bruin came
up with the bucket he stopped, and
scratching the cover Oft began TO e at
the portion of our dinner shat was left.
That gave MS a little time and Isaac
Immediately awaited himself of it to
climb a tree with iow-2rowing branches
which stood near the road.
Not knowing what else to do, l at
tempted to follow my brothers exam
pie, but had never elm bed trees. con-
sidering it a tom-boyish act that girls
should never indulge in. and failed in
my efforts as often as tried to ascend
"'Oh, Isaac. Isaac l cried at last,
help me. Quick!'
~ can't he replied. Climb up
yourself. There he comes now. Climb,
quick, or he'll get you
II glanced around, and sure enough
there the bear was almost upon me. I
made one quick, frantic effort to climb
the tree, and. failing, took to flight
Bruin gave pursuit again. and for a
little while there was 4 lively chase
between us.
II had not gone above thirty yards
when stumbled and fell. supposed
the bear would pounce upon me at once
and proceed to tear the flesh from my
bones, SO I made no effort to rise. but
lay perfectly still. thinking of those at
home, and waiting for the end. l don't
think could have risen if ] had tried,
for was tcrrorized out of the use OF
my limbs.
"Bruin came up and smeIlcd over
me, and ! shut my eyes, but felt his
hot breath on my face. and though I
shut him ont of my sight I could not
shut him out Of my thoughts. He
seemed to be in no hurry to devour me.
for he continued to sniff me deliberate
ly for some time, after which he rolled
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