The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-12-06


We had fastened the heavy wooden, in
side blinds, and thick darkness shut out
the face ofthe wondering children. Then
| said in low voice, Children don't
moveIor stir-there'sa bear in the yard"
The children only too well knew their
danger. and save soft rustic as some
little one crept nearer an older brother
or sister no sound broke the stiffness ex-
cept SANS step as he stole into the tiny
woodshed and fastened the back doo=
with its heavy bar. Then he mounted
guard at the front door, where through
chink, he could watch the movements Of
the bear.
An hour passed thus. Every moment
the feeling of horror grew more unbeara-
bic.
Once Sam came in to say the bear was
still roaming around, but had made no
movement toward the schoolhouse.
Another uneasy half hour assed and
as sat revolving hundred wild plans
for our deliverance Sam again erept soft
ly to my side.
"He is getting restless" he
whispered, "and I'm afraid if he comes
nearer he'll find out We are here, and you
know the lower psnnel of the door is
cracked and it won't stand much pushing
so Pm going to slsp out the back door
and go through the bushes and get help"
"oh, Sam |" gasped, "dont; he'll hear
you and then" l paused, shuddering
at the thought
"No, be won't" said Sam resolutely,
"the bushes will hide me and see here"
thrusting something cold in my hand,
there is my pistol. I've carried it in
my pocket all the term, without you
knowing it. If he tries to get in-he
can't anywhere except in frOnt-fire this
right in his face. 'Tain't likely you'd kill
him unless you happened to hit him in
the eye, but you might brighten him off,
II amt more n balfa mile cross lots to
Mike Mullen's and I'll be back with him
and gun less n no time.
"Oh, Sam shuddered, 81 can't fire
a pistol off. l don't know which end
goes off,"
Was there a shade of contempt in
Sans voice as he showed me which was
the business end or the pistol, and told
me how 10 hold it? If there was was
too cowed to resent it.
With many prayers for his safety,
let the brave boy out Of the back door,
and barred it behind him, then sat down
to my weary waiting. Suddenly heard
a loud snufiing at the front door, then
heavy steps, and low growls making
circuit of the schoolhouse, then
a ''thump" on the front door that made 1t
crack, and the growls grew louder and
sngrier.
A time of terror followed-the bear
ran round and round the house, shaking
the doors, dashing his great paws through
the windows, whose heavy inside shut
tiers held fast, and roaring with the pain
OF the cuts the broken glass gave him.
At last the sagacious brute seemed to
realize that the only weak spot in our
defense was the front door, and concen-
trated AL his fury there.
All this time the brave children had
made no sound. As for me-though
knew unless help came quickly or
some OF my little charge must surely
perish was never calmer in my life.
Without emotion thought of my dis
tant home-I saw the golden fruited hop
vines-the grape vine swinging in the
woods-the maple trees before the house
Il wondered what my sisters ", re doing
and 1 wondered ifmy mother sat in the
Boston rocker knitting.
felt vague regret that l had not
mended the tear in my dress that morn
ing instead of reading a novel until the
last moment.
Some of my Sunday-school lessons
came to my mind-amOng them the
story Of the bears that deyoured the
mocking Jewish children. But my dear
little children were not mocking, nor was
such a very wicked girl if did read
novels instead of mending my clothes
and sometimes went to sleep in church.
And then flood ofselfpity came over
me, and hot tears rained silently down
my. cheeks. Then split, crssh,n the
rotten panel had broken, l flew to the
entry door-the bears hideous head was
in the hole, and he was trying to crowd
his body through. A feeling of despair
came over me, then a sudden anger
should quietly submit a terrible death
for myself or the little ones in my care
Desperate rage overwhelmed all other
feeling, and grasping the pistol rushed
into the entry. Just then another piece
of the door few of with a hard crack,
and the bear roared with almost human
triumph.
Until now perfect quiet had reigned
inside, but one child, frantic with re-
pressed emotion, shrieked wildly. A
wave Of fear swept through the school
room, and the children ran around
screaming frantically, begging their
parents, their friends, me to save them.
How did Sam say the pistol went?
grew frantic with anger, all feeling but
an intense thirst for the blood OF the hor-
ribIe brute went from me. and wild with
rage dashed the pistol in his face. It