The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-09
THE OLD SETTLER.
Els Interesting "reminiscences Of
Many Bear Hunts.

''Majo said Sol, the landlord. one
evening after the Old Settler had got
himself nicely fixed in his customary
corner by the big fireplace, ''its ben
more'n coon's age sence I've heerd a
bar story, good, bad. or t'otherwise.
What's the reason we can't give US a
leetle bar hist'ry might? You've
ben consld able 'mongst bar, l take it.
You've handled 'em some, hain't yep
Handled 'em some!' exclaimed the
Old Settler Handled bars! Why,
consarn it, Sol, if one-quarter O the
! bars that I've handled an shuck the
| everlastin' gizzard out of could come
| back to-day, either with their hides an
| taller on or jist ez spool1s, I'm afcerd
| they'd hef to crowd theirselfs wuss'n
| folks goin' to a circus fore they could
find room enough in the hull durn
county, b'gosh, to set their feet on!
I've handled bars some! Wull, mebbe!
An want to tell We, I've handled 'em
pooty rough, too. ] feel sorry some
times when l git thinkin' how l usety
clutch 'em an rattle 'em an shake 'en
outen their boots. It's wonder they
don't come back, some on 'em, an ha Mt
me till / can't sleep Yes, Solomon.
I've ben consid able 'mongst bar, /
think. l ben 'mongst 'em worse'n
| hurricane 'mongst the hemlocks,
b'gosh! If We ever happen to meet any
loose bars around the kentry an
wanter hev some fun jist asst 'em if
they ever heerd o me, and the way
them bar II drop their tails an pull
for kiver II most kill We larfn'!''
"Ye don't meaDter say that the
bars know We, major" exclaimed the
landlord
"Wull, Solomon" replied the Old
Settler. bars hsin't no durn fools, an
things is handed down from gineration
to gineration 'mongst bars. Now. 1
hain't handled no bar fer ten
year. Ye mow't "a noticed that
bars is heap plentier now
than they was ten year ago.
usety handle the ANCESTORS CT good
many o the present gineration O bars,
an the way l usety do it has. been
handed down, an cOnsekently hain't
been forgot Do tkcy know me? I'll
tell we sumpin', Solomon, and then yc
can jedge fer yerself wuther they know
NE or not. Only t'other day Bill Jatfy
came to my house, an he says to me:
Major says he, we've saved my
lifer
Gosh, Billr I says eyein' him
pooty sharp, fer l thort he were a
little fingered. BILL says, hope We
hain't ben tamperin' with rum and
tanzy agin? says.
Not durn drop says Bill.
Though not but what I'd be willin','
says he.
Then says /, what We comm
here with sech a crazy sayin' ez that
says l, bout me savin' yer life?'
"'Cause ye hev,' says Bill. I'd "a
ben Get by bar if it hadn't ben fer
you.' he says
William says I, ''splain yourself.
b'gosh, says l. 1 hain't tuck no hand
with bar fer ten year says l.
'Mebbe We think so, says Bill, but
We hev. An We took durn good hand
with me only yiste'day, says he An
when l meet We at the tavern, says he,
I'm gointer treat ye to the best tina is,
says he
'Wull. William says I, wantin' to
humor him, fer / thort sure he'd ben
tuck loony, I'm goin' right over that
way now says /.
I hain't got tine now says Bill,
but ] must tell We hcw We saved my
life. I'd ben seem signs o bar over
on the creek says he, an yisteday
shoUldered my gun an went over 70
gether him / run agin him sooner'u
| 'spected, SAYS Bill, but | pliul.ed
him enc, au' fore ! could pink him
ag'in he were inter ne fer rassel.
had 10 'conmodate him says Bill.
but we hadn't scattered things around
fer nore'n minute fore I fou1d that
/ were wrong in my ca'c'lation. an
that 'sted o ne getherin' in the bar,
the bar were gointer gether me in. In
another minute says Bill my o.
woman d ben widdir.' SAYS he. but
suddenly l happened TO think o. sum
PIN, en- SAYS 10 myself that I'd try il
an see how it'd work. So saws Bill.
1 jist made one swash an broke loose
from the bar an holIers out:
Glory" boilers Here's Sic
Giles"
Major, says Bill. when hoIlered
ont your name ike that, We iist crte-
sec tina: bar He jumped back. az his
hair stood on end. an his eyes hung oct
like knobs OF a bureau he shivered
an shucil,' says Bill. an thcn he list
wiltcd right down. kivercd his face
with his paws an belIereG right out, ez
tzucA ez to sav: "'Taint no use; I'm a
EoaeE uowl7 Major SAYS Bill J fslt