Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-04-06
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
INTERESTING READING FOR THE
YOUNG PEOPLE.
The Bear Came 10 Grief Because ne
DID Not Understand the Laws of
GravitatIOn-CreRtu That Fall
Upward.

n SoupAc VI US were splitting SINUS
in the Madawaska woods along in the
fall, when. all Of a sudden, the head OF
the maui flew of, as this ere one did.
Bill, however-Bill Goodin was the
name OF the fellow with me-wasn't so
lucky as you were in getting out OF the
way. The maui struck tree, glanced
and took Bill on the side OF the knee
1t keeled him over so he couldn't do
any more work that day, and l had TO
help him back to the camp. Before
we left, l took u bit Of cod-line out Of
my pocket, ran it through the eye Of
the maui, and strung the maui up to Il
branch so II would be easier TO ind
when l wanted it.
1T was maybe week before went
for that maul-a little more than a
week, | should say; I'D then, il being
OF a Saturday afternoon. when there
was no work to do, and Bits leg being
so much better that he could hObble
alone, he and | thought we'd stroll
over to where we'd been splitting, and
bring the maui into camp.
when we got pretty near the place,
and could see through the trees the
maui was hanging there where we had
left it, Bill all Of sudden grabbed me
sharp by the arm, and whispered,
Keep stillr'
49, What IL Iii? said l, under ny
breath. looking all around
Use your eyes If you've got any,
said he; and l stared through the
branches in the direction he was look
ing. But there was a trunk In the
way. As soon as l moved my head
bit. l saw what he was watching
There was fine, young bear sitting
back on his launches and looking at
the maui as II he didn't know what
TO make of IL. Probably that bear had
once been hurt in trap, and so mad
grown suspicious That there maui
hanging from the limb Of tree was
something different from anything he'd
ever seen before Wondering what he
was going to do, we crept little near
er, without maxim any noise, and
crouched down behind Il spruce brush
The bear was maybe a couple OF
yards from the maui, and watching II
as ne thought 1t might get down any
moment and come at him. A little
gust OF wind came through the trees
and set the maui swinging a bit He
didn't like this and backed of a few
reet. The maui swung some more, and
ne drew on still further; and as soon
as II was quiet again he sided around
II at a prudent distance and invest.
gated 1t from the other side OF the
tree.
The blame fool Is scared OF H.
whispered Bill, scornfully; let's ding
rock at him.
No, said /. knowing bears. pretty
well; let's wait and see what he's
going to do
We'll, when the maui had been
pretty still for minute or two. the
Dear appeared to make up his mind
IL didn't amount to much after all; he
came right up 10 1t as bold rs you like.
and paved it kind Of inquiringIy. The
maui swung away, and, being hung
short, 1t came back quick and took the
Gear smart rap on the nose.
Bill and | both snickered. bnt the
bear didn't hear US, He was mad right
of, and with a snort he hit the maui a
pretty good cuff; back 1t came like
creased lightning and took him again
square on the mOut with a whack that
must have made him just see stars.
Bill and | could hardly hold our
selves; but even If we had laughed
right out l dOu't believe that bear
would have noticed us, he was 90 mad.
You know bears snout Is mighty ten
der. Well, he grunted and snOrted and
rooted around in the leaves a bit. and
then went back at the maui as IL he
was just going to knock 1t into the
other side Of tomorrow He stood IN
TO IL, and he did hit It so hard that Il
seemed to disappear for half second.
1t swung right over the limb and.
while he was looking for IL, II came
down on the top OF his head. Great
Scott! how he TOared, And then
scratching his head with one paw. he
went at II again with the other. and
hit 1t just the same way he'd hit IL
before. | tell you, Bill and pretty
near burst as we saw that maui ay
over the limb again and come down on
the top Of his head just like the first
time. You'd have thought It would
nave cracked his skull; but n bear's
head Is as hard as they make them
Ihis time the bear, after rubbing
his head and snOut, and roofing some
more In the leaves, sat back and seem.
ed TO consider. In second or two no
went up to the maui and tried TO take
mold or It with one paw; Of course ii
slpped right away, and you'd have
thought 1t was alive to see the shnrn
way 1t lodged back and caught him
again on the nose 1t wasn't much Of
a wilack this time, but that nose was
tender enough, then! And the bear got
desperate. He grabbed for the maui
with both paws; and that way. Of
course, he got 1t. With one pull he
snapped the cOd-line and the victory
was his.-Charles g. d. Roberts In Feb
r1ary st. Nicholas.