The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-06-21
U ADVENTURE.
A Little Child's Wonderful Deliverance
From a Bear.

Mother, guess I'll not take nv
Dime with me this mornin' I'm goin'
to chop in tn south clearin'; it's onIv
bout a mile from tn house, an YOU
can send Maud over with it bout noon.
She knows tn way an nothinIl harm
her. Then you a send long tn little
jug full o'hot coffee. Twill taste good
after a hard forenoon's work" and
John Ovel glanced across the table at
his wife who was just turning out his
last cup of steaming coffee.
We'll, if you think it's safe. John.
Maud's rather young yet to go SO far
alone; though, as you say, I don't
spose nothinTl harm her an I can
send long some hot biscuits an you
can have almost as good an warm a
meal as though it came right off tn
hot stove" replied Mrs. Ovel, as she
handed her husband the coffee.
John Ovel and his wife had now
been living in the pines of northern
Wisconsin for over two years. They
had one child six-year-old, and it was
to her the father referred as Maud.
Mr.. Ovel finished eating his break
fast, and then, pulling coon-skin cap
down over his shaggy hair, shouldered
his ak and strobe away toward the
scene of his days labor.
Mrs. Ovel, softly hUmming a tune
she had learned in her eastern home,
busted herself about her household
duties. The Ovel family were indus
trious people and the hands of the
father or mother were never idle.
With swift dizziness she put away the
breakfast dishes, tidied up a little and
had just placed a great chunk of dough
upon a broad pine board preparatory
to kneading it, when the bedroom door
swung softly open and a little white
rObed figure stood on the threshold
calling: MA, ma, I want to be
dressed!'
"All right pet. Wait till ma washes
her hands" and Mrs. Ovel turned to q
basin of water and carefully removed
the %adhering flour and dough before
dressing the child.
Did you know, Maud" she said, a
few moments later, as she seated the
little girl at the table before a generous
bowl of wholesome bread and milk,
that you are to take your pa his
dinner to day! He's chopin in tn
south clearin' an wants his Maud to
bring him a nice warm dinner. You'll
go, wont you, pet?'
Yes, I'll go, if you'll let me take
Sarah Ann with me. She never seed
my pa chop wood" replied Maud, as
she glanced with a look of maternal
fondness towardt the rude lounge where
Sarah Ann, a very much dilapidated
rubber doll, was reposing.
Mrs. Ovel smiled, and promised her
that Sarah Ann should go. Maud
could hardly wait to finish her break
fast, so eager was she to tell Sarah
Ann all about their expected journey
and the wonderful sights she would
then see.
At half past eleven Mrs. Ovel filed
the dinner basket, not forgetting to
put the hot biscuits and the little jug
of hot coffee, and then, tying a sun
bonnet over maud's sunny hair, kissed
the roses on her cheeks, and giving
her the basket, babe her to be sure to
go straight to papa, and not stop a
moment on the way.
Maud felt very important, as with
the doll on one arm and the we'll
loaded basket on the other, she re-
turned her mothers kisses and set out
down the path which led to the "south
clearin'."
About half way from the house to
the clearing the path ran by a great
oak tree When Maud reached this
place the arm which carried the basket
was very tired; so she put the basket
down at the foot of the tree and seated
herself in it's shade to rest,
Don't s'pose you ever dreamed
trees growed so big, Sarah Ann, did
you9" she inquired, holding the doll up
so that it's rubber eyes might have an
unobstructed We've of the scene. Maud's
own bright, blue eyes, at the same
time, looked out from between her
appraised arms and saw, just at this
moment, a large, black bear walk
slowly into sight and come down the
path toward her, lazily swinging his
head from side to side.
ooh, Sarah Ann, did you ever see
such a great, big, black doggie?" she
cried out joyfully the moment she
caught sight of the bear.
At the sound of her voice bruin