The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-02-11
THE BLACK BEAR.
The story of Rudolph, the Wood
Gutter.

| Written for The Junior.
Once upon time. there lived i'll the
| depths of great forest poor wood cut
| ter.
He was honest and industrious and work.
| ed early and late cutting down the giant
| oaks which were sold for wood in the
meighboring town, and by this means
supported himself and family
His family consisted of himself, his wife
] and a little daughter by the name of FL
I freida, though she generally called
| Freida for short.
One evening, the wood cutter was
returning home after very hard days
work. he heard a little way off in the
woods a terrible moaning, of some one
in the greatest distress fastening to the
spot from whence the sound seemed to
come. he soon arrived at large hollow
tree, and stopping down and looking in he
saw u great shaggy black bear, who was
grooming and rolling its head about if
in the greatest pain.
Rudolph, which was the wood cutters
name was very brave. and did not feel the
slightest fear. and moreover being very
kind and tender hearted, could not bear TO
see anything suffering, even an animal
without doing something to relieve 1t, so he
said to the bear:
My poor creature, what is the matter!
! Can / - anything for your
The bear when it heard the kindly tones
of the wood cutter, turned its face towards
him and held up one of its front legs from
which the paw was dangling heiplessly.
Il See" said Rudolph, "some huntsman
has wounded you-has broken your leg
YES" said the bear, 1.-The king and his
courtiers were out hunting this morning.
! heard their horn and the baying OF the
hounds, while | WAS drinking at the
stream. l tried to get away before they
saw me, but was not quick enough. for one
of them caught sight of me and let fly an
arrow which hit me, breaking my leg.
managed to escape though and by plung-
ing into the stream and swimming quite a
ways, threw the dogs off the scent Then,
with great pain and difficulty dragged my
self here, where L have been ever since.
VIII you not help me to some place where
l can hide securely until l get well of my
wound. for if l remain here until morning
the huntsmen will surely find me and put
me to DEATH"
We'll" said Rudolph, at Is not very far
to the place where l live, and if you can
contrive to hobble there we will take care
of you and that no harm comes TO
you until you get we'll
So the bear crawled out of the hollow
tree and limped along by the side of the
wood cutter until they arrived at his
house.
Now when the good wife saw
her husband coming home IN
company with such a fierce look
ing animal she somewhat
alarmed. but as soon as she heard ms
story, ami saw his poor broken leg. her
kind heart was filled with pity, and she
hustled about and made down nice soft
bed in a corner where he could lie com
fortably. Then bathing his wounded leg,
bandaEed it up. putting on am excellent
salve that she made, and which YVES the
best thing in the world for curing all kinds
OF bruises and hurts.
The bear was most graceful for such
kindness. ana feeling very much easier
was soon fast asleep in his corner
He is evidently IA tame bear" said the
woodcuttcTs wife, when, for the second
time Rudolph told OF finding him IN the
hollow tree, land he must belong to some
great nobleman. who prizes him very high
ly for did you notice what beautiful ing
he had on one OF ms claws when We were
bandaging his leg2'
Yes said Rudolph. at any rate, we
will take care OF him until some one comes
to claim him, or until he gets well enough
TO wan. TO leave us
Ia "a few days time, such were The heal
ing qualities OF the good wifes salve. tue
bears wound was so far healed mat ne
could frolc with the little FreIda-and a
capital play fellow he made. letting her roll
and tumble over his shaggy sides. taking
her in his great paws in quite gentle hug
for a bear, and growing IN the irlendlest
way Imaginable.
Indeed they all became very mucn at
tached to him, so that at last, after he rad
beeTi with them for over a month AID bis
wounded leg had long since gotten wen,
when ne announced his intention Of leaving
them. they were very 10th to part WITH
him. The woodcutter offered to Keep him
always, but the bear answered. NO" II at
he must be going.
"i3ut believe me- he said, Il am not un-
grateful Tor ali you have done for ne, Tor
you nave surely saved my life, ana some
day may be able TO prove to you my gIat-
itude. Take this ring, which you see on my
paw. and wear il always in remembrance
o. me. anG some Gay it may serve you a
good turn"
No- long after This the king died and his
successor. a cruel. hard king, oppressed the
poor to such an extent that there was
lamcntiug throughout all the land.
At last the woodcutter ana his wife de-
termined 10 leave and go TO some far-off
place. So one bright morning in e3rly
spring taking his on his shoulder and
accompanied by his wife and the little Fret
da. he set out on his journey.
After travelling many and many weary
ME they came to a most beautiful cCun-
try and here they decided to stop and make
their home.
Rudolph took up his former occupation CT
] woodcutiing. and they lived very happily
in tnGfr little home in the forest While
/ Freida grew up to be most beautiful Eaid-
en-. Ars not only was she beautiful, hut
she was as good well. Very obedlcnt 10
] her parents and indust rious in the house.
/ Now there was a great baron who lived
/ on the other side or the wood and he was
/ a very Wicked, bad man. He SAW treda
while ne was ourhunting in the forest, and
+ he determined to take her of 70 live with
J him i'm his castle.
So one day he came with some OF J is toll
.--sv.
- N "W ELL"
/ E-.SzSs---- caiI tha