The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-11-14
LIKED FRESH BREAD.
Franks of q Clever and Mischiev-
GUS Bear Cub.
"Billy," the Pet-Ho Lived and Thrived on
Strictly Vegetarian Diet -Learnlng
to Dig Potatocs-A Coup d'Etat
In the Kitchen.

Ben's little girl, about eight years
old, took q fancy to bear cub, cap
tured by q backwoodsman named
Ben Lawson, and saved as pet for
his children, and called him Billy"
Billy, says Tappan Aduey in St.
Nicholas, looked like o big New
foundland pup, black and shaggy,
but with a tail conspicuous by being
''hardly a tail at all, as Ben said. He
was as playful as q young dog or
kitten, and used to romp on the floor
with the children, hugging and pre-
tending to bite them.
But the good woman Of the house
viewed the little fellow with sus-
picion, and was not easily persuaded
that all bears were not equally dan
gerous. It was plain from the first
that even baby cub was hardly
welcome. So Billy was provided
with o small leather collar that tcould
be let out as he grew, and small
chain, which, however, was never
used. He was fed at first on milk,
and afterward on bread and buck
wheat pancakes. Indeed, be was
confined to strictly vegetable diet,
because they thought his savage NO.
ture might be developed by eating
meat.
Billy throve and soon needed
bigger collar. 1t was never thought
necessary to keep him chained up,
because he was so gentle. He had,
therefore, the run of not only their
own farmyard, but those of their
neighbors as well. He was bent upon
every sort Of mischief. Summer
came and passed. In the autumn,
when Ben dug his potatoes, Billy
followed behind, watching what was
going on, and, it is said, as the chill
dren picked the potatoes up, Billy
himself learned to look for them and
paw them out of the soil. Be this as
it may, every bear uses it's paws with
great cleverness- and Billy was
clever bear.
When the days grew colder, at the
approach, of winter, he commenced
to dig a hole Under the side Of the
barn, and soon had o great cavity
under the floor OF the cow stable.
Into this den he began to carry all
sorts of stuff, and Ben thought Billy
was getting ready for winter In his
natural way.
One day when bread was being
baked Billy hung about the kitchen
with q make-believe Indifferent air.
After the bread was carefully laid
away under a white cloth upon the
pantry shelf Billy waited until the
mistress back was turned. In an
instant the cub made for the pantry.
There was shuttle and rattle of
claws, followed by scream. 1.-The
bear, quickl The BEARS got the
bread!" cried the wife in distress, as
she turned in time to see the rascal
running out OF doors with several
fine loaves In his arms.
Ben, as 1t happened, was close by,
and heard the hubbub. He spraug
to the door of the house Just in time
to intercept Master Billy. Billy
reared on his hind legs, and, as Ben
caught him by the back of the neck,
he growled savagely and struck
back at Ben with one free paw, but
never quitting his hold Of the bread.
Finally, after getting good shak-
ing and cutting about the ears, Billy
broke away, carrying off the middle
loaf of the three. He disappeared
into the den, where he ate it at
leisure. i
Sona4or Hills ove AFEair