The record-union., 1893-09-25


Shot on the Roof = The Proprietor
Takes Refuge in the Cellar.
Jabez Comfort and his wife live on
farm along Bear Creek in the Sinnema-
honing region of Pennsylvania. The
Bear Creek district is APPLY named. says
writer in the New Y ork San. for bears
have been more or less numerous there
abouts as long as anyone can remember.
The other day Mrs. Comfort went to
neighbours on an errand, half mile or so
distant. Her husband was busy at his
haying. Mrs. Comfort was gone but an
hour. but when she returned homo she
found the kitchen door open and bear
standing in it blocking the way. The
bear was apparently as much surprised
at the appearance Of Mrs. Comfort on the
scene as the latter was at seeing the bear,
for it stood stock still and gazed at the
farmers wife. The latter did not scream
nor faint nor run. A good many sheep
had been missed in that locality this
summer, and Mrs. Comfort had an idea
that perhaps this bear might have had
hanu or rather paw in causing their
disappearance. So as soon as she recoy-
cred from her first surprise she resolved
to prevent the suspected sheep THIEF from
escaping if she could. Grabbing up
basin Of water that stood on the porch
she dashed its contents full in the BEARS
face. Bruin, shifting and shaking his
head and blinking his eyes that the water
had filed to overflowlng, quietly backed
out of the doorway into the kitchen, and
when he got to the middle of the room
Mrs. Comfort closed the door and shut
the bear inside. Then she hurried over
to the bayfield,. where her husband was
at work, told him how she had just
cooped up bear in the house and Sug-
gested that he better GO home and kill it.
Farmer Comfort thought we'll OF the
suggestion and he called his hired man.
They hurried back with Mrs. Comfort,
but when they reached the kitchen the
farmer suddenly stopped and looked
queer.
you've cooped up the bear, sure
enough, hain't you, Polly ?" said he.
"Tight as wax ~ said Polly.
"Well, you hadn't orter done It'll" said
the farmer.
"Why?" asked Polly.
"Cause you've cooped up my gun with
it ~ replied the farmer.
POLLY THINKS OF HER CLEAN KITCHEN.
Here was a complication that threat
ened to block the little game of killing
the bear just then, for the nearest other
gun in the neighborhood was John Rays,
at the Forks, two miles distant, and, be-
sides, Ray was out hunting with that one.
The hired man peered through the win-
dow. The bear was nowhere TO be seen.
The gun was on its peg on the kitchen
wall, and Farmer Comfort thought he
would be able TO sneak in and get it be-
fore the bear could come out of the cellar
or sitting-room, in either one Of which
retreats he must be, the door of each be-
ing open. So the farmer opened the
kitchen door softly and went in. He tip
toed across the floor to the other side of
the room, where the gun hung, and was
taking tho weapon down when the bear
came slouching out of the sitting-room
and made toward the open kltchen-door.
The farmers wife saw the bear coming,
and it's possible escape. and the prevent
ing oft being uppermost1n her MIND, she
sprang forward and pulled the door shut.
This left the bear standing between the
door and Farmer Comfort, and the latter
found himself, in turn, cooped up with
the bear and the gun.
Holy pokers. Polly" he yelled.
"Open that doorW
''Shoot him Shoot him ~ Mrs. Com
fort yelled back. He'll run away if l
open the doorW
LET him run an be darned to him ~
the farmer shouted. ST hain't no bear
fighter! An s'pose do shoot him? Do
you want this kitchen all mussed up with
BEARS grease an gore?"
That phase of the case hadn't presented
itselfto the farmers wife before. and
she opened the door in jiffy. All this
time the bear had been standing near the
door, his eyes turned on the farmer,
u, Afro
Comfort opened the door the bear was
still too much interested in the appear
ance of the farmer and the gun to notice
the avenue that was offered him to eS-
cape through. He kept his eyes on the
farmer and showed his teeth and growled
all the more. Farmer Comfort got tired
of this, and made up his mind that he
would have to shoot the bear in close
quarters whether or no.
Polly" said he, hauling up his gun
and aiming at the bear, run for cover,
for Tve either got to muss up this kitchen
with that bears grease and gore or he'll
muss it up with mine! Git out of range,
Polly !"
But the tidy housewife would not hear
to anything of the kind.
Don't shoot, Jabez" she shouted.
run down cellar and let him come outv
The hired man had been passive and
not a little scared looker-on during this
part of the proceedings, and Mrs. Com
fort suddenly remembered him and cried
out to him:
"What be you standin' there like
shiverin' houn' pup fer? Go in and
drive out that bear fore JADE shoots him
and muses. the kitchen all upp'
BRUIN EXPLORES THE CHIMNEY.
But his wife's suggestion that he run
down cellar and let the bear come out I'M
molested had struck Farmer Comfort as
an excellent one, and he at once pro-
ceeded TO carry it out. He made dash
for the open cellar door and disappeared,
slamming the door after him and taking
the gun. Then the hired man and Mrs.
Comfort retreated to safe distance and
waited for the bear to come out But the
bears intentions seemed to have been
changed by the hostile demonstrations
that confronted him, and he didn't come
out. He walked deliberately back
into the sitting-room, and after Mrs.
Comfort had waited long time for him
to come back and leave the house, and he,
not having made up his mind that it was
well for him to do that, she ordered the
hired man to reconnoiter and see what