Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-05-21

arms and saw, just at this moment, o
'arge, black bear walk slowly into
sight and come down the path toward
her. lazily swinging his head from side
to side.
''Oh, Sarah Ann, did you ever see
such great, big, black doggie?" she
cried out joyfully the moment she
caught sight Of the bear.
At the sound of her voice bruin
stopped and looked at the little girl
curiously. He could not remember of
ever having seen or heard just such an
animal as that before. He wondered if
it would taste good and determined to
find out at once. so he put himself again
in motion and slowly trottcd up toward
the girl.
Maud, who was very fond of dogs and
not one bit afraid of them, was over
joyed when she saw the bear approach
| ing; for she did not dream that the
great animal was anything but a very
| large dog. ooh, doggie, you'll let my
Sarah Ann ride on your back, won't
you? An we'll s'prise my pa" she
| cried, jumping to her feet and tightly
hugging Sarah Ann to he r bosom in an
ecstacy of delight
The bear, which by this time was
| only few feet from Maud, stopped and
| again looked at the little girl inquis-
| itively, as if doubling whether or not it
| would be best to approach nearer to
! this looking little animal. But
| q delicious scent, which now assailed
his nostrils, soon cow inced him that it
| would be wise to cultivate a closer ac-
| quaintance. So the great beast trotted
| up to the little girl and cautiously
u II r.,
warm, red cheek.
Maud, who thought the bear meant
this for n kiss of welcome and who
could never endure to see Sarah Ann
Sighted in the least, at once held the
doll up in front of his bearship. exclaim-
ing: Here's Sarah Ann. kiss her. too. :"
The bear, as if he understood the
words. pressed his nose to the face of
the rubber doll, but quickly took it
away again with u grunt of disgust. AS
he did so his eyes caught sight of the
lunch basket. In an instant he had
poked his nose into it and, with grunt
of delight. began to devour its contents
Here at last. he had found just W h at he
was searching for
Maud was too much excited over the
"big doggie" and Sarah AIMS expected
ride to notice for time what the bear
was up to. But the moment she caught
sight of her fathers fast vanishing din
ner. she made a grab for the basket,
crying out angrily: stop, stop. you
big, naughty dog! Stop. that's my pas
dinner! You sha'n't have it,
But bruin paid no attention what
ever to the words of the angry girl. He
held the basket firmly between his
huge forepaws, with his head bent close
down to it. while his great. red jaws,
full OF long, sharp teeth, made quick
work of the generous lunch within.
In vain little Maud pulled and tugged
at his long, shaggy hair in her endeav-
ers to get his head out of the basket.
In vain she threatened and cried. She
was as helpless as a leaf in whirl
wind. The bear cared not at all for
her pulling, her threatening. nor her
cry ing. He was having a glorious feast.
and never for moment did he pause
until the last mo rsel of Mr.. Overs din
ner had vanished down his capacious
red throat Then with contented
grunt he stretched himself out on the
ground for nap. Doubtless he had
been on long journey and was very
tired.
Maud by this time had pulled and
tugged until her arms and legs ached,
and had cried and scofded and threat
ened until she could hardly speak
for WEAKNESS So what did she do
when the hear stretched him.