The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-20

~SSS the starting
ground of his quaint and dispensable
career, and indeed no one seemed to
care; but every one that came within
his range was impressed with his odd
personality. He wns tall and gaunt
and grizzled; his eyes were afflicted
with wntcry sleepiness, but sudden
~ became eager ut the sight of dol
lnr. He kept sort of roadhouse,
which he designated as Bear Park, near
the town of Hot Springs. and made his
living by administering to the thirst
and catering to the amusement Of the
wayfaring man. The amusement con-
sisted of black bear, old, lazy and
heabitten- This animal, advertised as
OF most furious disposition, was kept
chained to tree in back lot and at
evening, when the accommodating
dusk threw q hiding shade over the
bears most striking faults, e., lazi-
ness and fleabites, old Steve would an
nounce to his guests that he wns now
about to engage in the dangerous feat
of wrestling with the ferocious monster
from the Mississippi swamps- Those
who knew the trick drank their beer in
unconcern, but those who did i,ot paid
twenty-five cents and passed nto tho
back lot to see the desperate en-, ounter.
One afternoon, when old Stve was
sitting on his veranda, O man FIR om the
mountains came along, drivini, red
mule and white steer hitched to q
shaky and creaking wagon. In the
wagon there were few small cab
bages and black bear.
Say" said the mountain man. stop
ping his team. don't you want to buy
the finest bar you ever seen?''
NO" Steve replied; ''got all the bar
want"
But you amt got no such bar as
this here one"
mo, and don't want no SIGH kit
ten of u thing as that"
Nov look here, mister, that amt no
way to do-insult mans bar. haye
Travelled seventy-fve miles with this
bal, and you air the fust man that has
offered him a insult. That amt OBJ
servin' the common courtesies that is
due bar that amt never done you no
harm But putin all that to ono side,
let me ask you seriously if you want to
buy bar"
81 told you that I've got all the b'ar
want" old Steve sharply replied
The mountain man gathered up his
hickory fail as if he would drive on;
but then, with the appearance Of hav-
ing changed his mind. stretched his
long neck toward old Steve and said:
when you say you've got all the
bar you want, reckon you mean that
mouse-gnawed and bug-eaten invalid
out yander in the back lott
Steve got up, and through the force
of custom acquired in earlier life,'
busted the seat Of his trousers The
mountain man again had gathered his
hickory for decisive blow at his mule,
but a hoarse command from old Steve
"a command unintelligible as to words,
but full of meaning, nevertheless COM
PEELED his attention. Steve, mastering
his anger, and attempting to speak in a
quiet way, said: Ell have been living
here good while, and have Earned
how to be smooth in my manners; but,
when man that amt never pestered
In no way comes along here and will
fully insults member of my family,
why, it's time for me to act"
81 don't know nothin' about yo' fami-
1y, and wouldn't ther'fo' insult a menu
Der of it," the mountain man replied.
"You said that this hero bar is kitten
of thing, and then / said that bar over
yander in the lot is bug-eat; and am
willin' to leave it to any jury that can
be raked up in this town that I am
right know what it is to be bug-eat,
and don't blame the bar, for don't
reckon he could help it. had dog
once that was bug-eat-as kind-hearted
and gcntlcmaniy dog asyou ever seen