The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-06-21

4HO UGdE, WHICH, ny GuIS GLLu0 "oo
only a few feet from Maud, stopped
and again looked at the little girl
inquisitively, as if doubling whether
or not it would be best to approach
near to this Strengthening little ami
NAL. But a delicious scent, which
now assaulted his nostrils, soon con
WINGED him that it would be wise to
cultivate a closer acquaintance. So
the great beast trotted up to the little
girl and cautiously pressed his cold,
black nose against her warm, red
cheek.
Maud, who thought the bear meant
this for a 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, *,
claiming: Heres 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 a 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 a
grunt of delight, began to devour its
contents. Here, at last, he had found
just what he was searching for.
Maud was to much excited over the
big doggie" and Sarah AIMS ex-
pected ride to notice for a time what
the bear was up to. But the moment
she caught sight of her fathers fast
vanishing dinner, she made a grab for
the basket, crying out angrily: "Stop,
stop, you big, naughty dog! Stop,
that's my pas dinner! You shan'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 vainlittle Maud pulled and tugged
at his long, shaggy hair in the en-
deavors to get his head out of the
basket. In vain she threatened and
cried. She was as helpless IS q leaf in
a whirlwind. The bear cared not at
all for her pulling, her Threatening,
nor her crying. He was having a
glorious feast, and never for a mo-
ment did he pause until the last morsel
of Mr.. Ovel's dinner had vanished down
his capacious red throat. Then with a
cOntented grunt he stretched himself
out on the ground for a nap. Doubt
less he had been on a long journey and
was very tired.
Maud by this time had pulled and
tugged until her arms and legs ached,
and had cried and scoldod and threat
ened until she could hardly speak for
WEAKNESS So what did she DO when
the bear stretched himself out to go to
sleep but throw herself YEARLY down
by his side, saying: You big, naughty
dog, I'm goin' to stay right here til my
pa comes an tell him on you an he'll
whip you. Won't he, Sarah Ann?'
and closely hugging the doll to her
bosom the curly head of the tired girl
sank down, even as she uttered the
last words, upon the shaggy side of the
great, black bear
In the meantime Mr. Ovel was bus
lily at work in the ''south clearin'."
The noon hour came and went, but it
did not bring his little girl with the ex-
pected warm dinner Mr. Ovel had
worked very hard and was very hun
CRY. At last he seated himself on the
trunk of a tree which he had just felled
and, wiping the pe~rspiration from his
brow, muttered: Il swun, I guess if
mother knew how hungry [ was she'd
hustle up a little more" Then he took
out his watch and glanced at it. One
o'clock an Maud not here yet. Some
thin must have happened I'd better
90 to tn house an see what's the mat
ter; besides I'm alfred hungry an 1
can get my dinner then" and the man,
with an anxious look upon his rugged
face, picked up his ak and fastened
down the path which led to his home.
He had almost reached the oak tree
when, suddenly, he stopped stock still
and stared straight before him, while
his face became as white.as milk, He
saw a sight that would make any faith
er's face pale. At the foot of the tree
lay a large bear sound asleep and by
his side, with her golden curls ming
ling with his rough, black hair, lay
Maud, asleep or dead, the Mortified
father could not tell which from where
he stood. What to do the poor man