Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-03-07
A MUSICAL BEAR.
The Novel Experience of Cali
fornia Girl
Her Piano Playing Attracts the Alton
tion of Bruin, and He Falls In Love
with the Young Lady and
the Instrument.

Mary Carter was practicing her music
and was all alone in the house. But for
some reason she was always alone when
she did so. AS soon as she struck the
first note of her exercises everybody
went outdoors and staid there regard
less of the style with which she went
over the scales. Mary, according to the
Elmira IN. " Telegram, was San
Francisco girl who had gone to spend
the summer with her sister, who mar.
ried ranchcr that lived away up in
tho mountains near the hCadwatcrs OF
American river. Her hrothcr-in-law,
Mr.. Matthews, was wcll-to-do and fixed
the little house to which he took his
bride in fine style Things were 50 Gle
CANT it was hard to imagine that the
place was nearly fifty miles from civili-
cation. When he was buying furniture
he WAS persuaded to take splendid
grand piano, which in due time arrived
at the ranch, and it was on this that
Mary was practicing. She did not like
the idea OF being alOnc Mt first, but as
she found it impossible to persuade her
sister to stay with her she had to make
the best of bad job. She went over
the scales carefully every few minutes,
taking look out into the garden to
see that her relatives did not get too far
away. After finishing one piece she
rested Il moment, thinking of what she
would play next. Suddenly she heard
shutting sound, and, turning around,
she saw large, brown bear standing in
the doorway leading to the back part of
the house. She was paralyzcd with
I'D ln her
chair nor scream.
She saw the bear como nearer, and she
trcmblcd like leaf. Oh, how she
wished she could faint. But she was
strong girl and couldn't, and the bear
kept coming closer, and soon had his
paws around her. She gave herself up for
lost as she felt tho grip, which she
knew was deadly, tighten around her
and the warm breath of the creature on
her face. Looking through the window
she could see her relatives lOunging
around peacefully in the shade of the
pines and tried to call them, but her
| tongue would not move and she closed
her eyes, expecting to open them in
that happy land of which she had been
taught from childhood. But what was
this? Tho bear was not hurting her.
He held her gently but firmly in his
paws, and was actually licking her
face, like q pct dog. She opened her
eyes, and the world was the Same as
usual. She could not tell whether she
was frightened or not, but somehow
she did not try to scream. She just
kept quiet, hoping something would
happen to end tho agony, which sho
did not understand. The bear did not
| l.. 1 I 1,,,,,
it seemed ages to the girl. lie did not
want to hold her, for he throw her on
| the floor. She was still frightened and
expected tho beast to jump on her
and dCvour her ut his leisure But in
stead he turned around, commenced to
claw the piano and was evidently dc
lighted with his performance, for he
kept time with his feet and looked
around approvingly. The people out
side heard the cluttcr but did not pay
any attention to it, as they afterward
said it was not unusual Mary has
never forgiven them for this The bear
began to play furiously, and Mary, sec
ing a way to escape, took advantage of
it and ran away screaming from the
room. Her relations ut first refused to
believe her story, but hearing the clat-
| @CC@ANNA ~@S'
Bruin was still Mt it, and by this time
Ihad become so cnthuscd that he was
performing q sort Of can-can to his own
accompaniment. lie was in the height
of his glory and had found out where
the bass keys wcrc, and with these he
was particularly delighted The deep,
lcoatinuous rumble seemed to afford him
the greatest pleasure, and he would
ho1 ~ Sn11nIn1 the
dcnza of IA Storm at Sea"
He howlcd and jumped and whincd
and at last concluded his concert by
getting on the piano on all fours and
executing Jig. At this time Mr.. Mat
hand, and he ran into the room
with an AK, as that was the
only weapon available. The beal
did not seem surprised, but got
out of the way, and had there beer
room would have loft the house. II,
was struck several times with the az
but did not show fight, and the mai
thought he must have found u tame
bear, although no could not imagine
where it came from. He then changed
his tactics and tried to capture it, as i
did not appear dangerous. He got hole
cover. But at this the brutc's wild ma
= ture showed itself, and it got ready t.
make an attack. Before the man coul(
realize what was coming he heard
deep, angry growl, and the next mo
ment was clutchcd angrily by the mon
stcr The beast could havo killed hin
o but it did not want to. 1t just CAV
him good squeeze and threw him vic
lently against the wall. After looking
, at him a moment the bear went out tn
door and walked lcisurcly into the yard
Mrs Matthews and Mary rushed il
and soon had Mr.. Matthews back t
consciousness. He got up and locke
!. out of the window and saw the bca
' walking quietly over the hill in the d
rection of the mountain.
ThawIng Out a Field.
So much trouble has rarely bee
taken to prepare athletic grounds for
match as at Cardiff not long ago. Th
occasion was u football match for tn
oboupiopebip of ENGLAND and Wales