River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-05-05
ABDUCTED BY A BEAR.
A True Account of a Little Child's
Adventure.

The little drama herein related was
enacted a long time ago. when was a
boy but seven wears IF age; but as
knew the actors wen. and grew MP al
most side bv side with them. | am in
position 20 vouch for the entire accu-
racy Of the tale. the scene of which
was a partially cleared farm. not far
from the one on which I myself was
born
This farm was owned and occupied by
man named George Morgan, who,
three years before the date of nv story,
had removed, with his wife and two
children, from the state of Ohio. and
bought the then wild tract. put mp a
log house and barn. and gone 90 work
with the indOiuita bile energy of a back
woods pioneer to make himself a home.
All went well with the sturdy settler:
he now had thirty acres of fertile land
cleared and partly under crop: his son
Robert, at this time fourteen years Of
age. was daily becoming more helpful;
while BABY MadEe. four wears old.
was the delight and pet of the house
hold
By the middle Of August i'm sbis wear
0sSU all the produce IF the little
fields except Indian corn. late oats and
potatoes had been safely harvested.
and very early on . certain morning
the thrifty farmer set ont with his OK
team aud wooden-shod sled there being
no sven thing rs "a wheeled vehicle in
the neighborhoudI 10 convey u a small
grist mill. ten miles distant, a few
bushels of new wheat in order 10 pro-
vide the family with enough flour to
last until the early SHOWS should come.
This P'scIous gram had been la
boriouslv thrashcd ont by means Of a
ancient hand fail and winnowed in
ratures tanning mill. the free winds
OF heaven. and ii is not surprising that
bread made from il should seem to
taste taS old-tImers strenuouslv in
sistl far >,veeter than any which can be
produced from our modern. double re-
fined. patent process flour. out Of which,
in truth. the life l. too often ground
A. Mr. Morgan would have TO wait
his turn az the primitive water-Power
mill he was not expected To return
until late AZ night. perhaps not before
next day. and his wife was thus left
with only Rob and little Madge for
company. But, 50 far as she knew.
there was nothing IN bc afr.id of, the
few Indians still remaining IN the
country being All friendly, and none of
the wild animals then Astounding in the
woods being at all liaely, she Thought
10 make a descent upon the clear
ings" at this season. Besides, Rob was
in himself strong tower of defense.
not many grown men eNcelling the
stout active lad in voojcraft OF adj
dress IN the use Of firearms
lie had been all that day engaged in
n field close at hand, binding up into
sheaves a quantity of oats previously
''cradled" 10y his father; but about FIVE
o'clock i'm the afternoon he broke off
Tor the purpose ~ hunting mp and
bringing home the three mich cows.
which were allowed % roam the woods
at will
Before starting on this errand. how
ever. he turned into the house for a
drink. and was taken quite abacl when
his mother said:
What. all alone. Rob- What have
you done with little sister,"
4 have seen nothing of baby since
dinner time. mother. Is She not hcre9"
replied the boy
Not seen Mai-ee Why. Rob. She
went eut nearly an hour ago 10 help
poor bruddrr work. as she said She
must have lain down somewhere and
dropped of 20 sleep.
Surprising that they would find the
child taking a nap. a. she had once or
twice before done. under the shade Of
some hazel bushes growing between
the house and barn. mother and son
strolIed leisurely ont u brloE her in;
hut. t. their great surprise. She was
not 20 be found, nor did repeated cal
elicit any reply.
The little mischief must be fast
asleep on the haymow," hopefully Oh
served Mrs. Morgan. walking on to-
ward the barn.
But neither here was any sign II the
wlniercr 70 be seen; and now. really
alarmed the searchers separated and
tOOk different directions. the mother
goinx down the bank Of the creek and
Rob along a rail fence leading 70 the
edge Of the woods. about one-fourth Of
mile away; while from both. re
iteruted but alas, all unanswered
shouts Of. '.NadCe, Madge, Baby;
Baby broke in upon the peaceful hush
Of the quiet summer eve.
Now n many places. in the corners
Of the snake" fence mentioned. there
had sprung up clumps Of wild raspberry
and blackberry bushes. and. as many
Of the latter were still laden with ripe
fruit. Rob expected every moment 10
come upon tire missing innocent. her
little hands and mouth stained with the
red juice. lying asleep after having
eaten her I'LL Thoroughly exploring.
As he went, every patch Of these vines