The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-06

! animal with his leg clutched for DAYS
between the long, sharp teeth of the
trap, driven perhaps clear to the bone.
But Mr.. Nj is humane man by ma
turc and visits his traps often, SO that
his game does not suffer long Tho
bear Is usually too weak, if he has
been held in the trap u day or two, to
show much fight. One moro often is
dispatched with club than with n.
gun.
The best time to get a.good shot ut n
bear is when the acorns and blue bcr-
ries are i'll season. Tic is eXtrayapant-
ly fond of both, as we'll us of hive of
wild honey, which he devours regard
less of whole swarm of furious bees
attacking his impcrvious sides. II he
cannot find ncorns enough on the
ground for his brealSfast-for, like
most wild animals, the carly morning
is the time when he wants his chief
meal of the day-hc climbs the oal,
trees and will break off or twist toward
the trunk of the trees limbs six inches
in diameter This he does with his
fore legs, which are immensely power
full. His whole strength seems TO be
concentrated in them. His manner
'HS'A OtoSCSAiy Is uuCn more
gentle, in fact, quite human. 1t is n
sight never to be forgotten to see
bear picking the delicious mountain
blueberry, that is, if you are at the
proper distance, shy, on one side of a
ravlne and the bear on the other. It
is then that Sir Bruin resembles Mr..
Homo. He sits erect on his launches.
reaches out his arms, for now thew do
not seem legs, and closing them round
good thick cluster of the bushes.
draws them up to his breast, and pro
cceds to pick the fruit rs daintily as n
lady eating strawberries with & fork.
1t IS in the season of berries, acorns
and other autumnal fruit, with an oc
casional tree of honey, that he laws on
store of fat for his long winter nap
in some cave or rocky den, which he
seldom leaves before early spring.
Although Mr.. M seldom has to cx-
crcisc his skill in shooting n bear, he is
probably the best shot in the lower
ranges OF the White mountains. His
only rival is boy now about fifteen
years old. The remarkable thing in re-
gard to this boy is that he has but ono
sound arm, the other having been par.
alyzed from birth His left arm hanps
like SOFT limp rope, yet it is wonder
ful how much he can help himself with
1T. lie will swing il around rake
staff or fork handle and do almost ms
much work as if he had two arms
And with shotgun or rifle he is fri.
umphant over beasts and birds; on tho
wing, IN tree, on ground or water, no
bird or animal can escape his quick and
unerring aim.
1t is singular how often the criDpled
and manned undertake the very thinrs
that seem the most impossible for
them, and usually with success. There
is distinguished artist in Antwerp
who, having no arms, paints with his
toes.
People who live in the lowlands. in
towns and cities, know little of the life
OF the boys and girls of the mountains.
The girls help their mothers and early
learn all the parts of houseworl1: thev
also help in the bayfield,, and general
~ know how to milk Il COW. perhaps
IT VIII interest some girl to know that
III the earliest language of our race.
the Aryan, daughter meant millmaid.
The boys work in the fields and woods
ana know how to handle n gun or
set traps by the time they arc ten or
twelve years old. At sixteen thew can
tell more of the habits and haunts of
oirds and beasts and all sorts of Gu
rious woodcraft than can be found in
books. They are familiar with every
nook and corner of their own terri
tory. The one-armed lad referred TO
has already gone beyond, into the
haunts of the bear, and probably will
not be happy or think himself quite n
man until he has killed one. There are
plenty of mon and boys in the White
mountains who occasionally shoot or
trap bears just for the sport or to get q
few extra dollars. In this amusement
they learn many interesting things and
acquire health and hardness, together
with good stories of their adventures
and exploits At White mountain
fircsidc you can be well entertained of
an evening listening to these rccitals
III the quaintcst language, interspersed
with tales of strange, mysterious hap
penings, of which every neighborhood
has good store. For mountain dwell
ers are credulous, n bit supcrstitious,
and easily astonished. Though brave
go wv AiSc VI fedi uaHBer, ana even
fond OF hazardous adventures, they
have this contradictory characteristic
OF being alarmed in a moment by any
mysterious sound or sign, any strange,
unusual event
The occasional bear slayer always
has the story to tell; it is an event in
his life and that of the neighborhood.
But Mr.. M. whose business is the
destruction of bears, seldom enlarges
upon his captures. He hassno admira-
ton or respect for bruin. He thinks
him dirty, cowardly beast, his skin