The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-08-16
"'Yes, father said. and felt just

VciA' odiu ic, 4 pose IL WOulun
make much difference if only one OF
us planted taters to-day?'
mot a bit, said l. III it don't make
any difference to YOU
mo, 1T don't says he. You're sure
you got fishworms enough?
Plenty, / said, starting to set my
pole.
"'And you're sure the trout are bit
ing goodT said he.
They were never biting better
said |.
IAN right said he. 4 guess I'll
take the pole, then, and go down to
the creek and see what luck I'll have.
You go on planting Eaters as if I
wasn't here, and get in as many as you
can, for it's good day for planting. If
you get that field all in to-day you can
go fishing yourself all next week
Il was trif1e set back, but couldn't
help admire the preponderance of the
business idea in my father. 1t wasn't
fishing that he cared SO much about.
1t was the getting in of the Eaters, and
you'll notice that he didn't make up
his mind to go fishing until he found
| could get along with the planting all
right. My father was remarkable
man in good many respects, and it is
with feelings Of great thankfulness
that look back now and know that he
let business overpower indulgence that
day.
Along back in March that year I
was out trying the maple trees, with
an eye to see how sap was running,
when out of the brush, off to one side
Of me, an old she bear came rushing.
She Rugged cub to her breast in each
arm. and terror actually rolled out of
her eyes. She saw me and came almost
to my feet, where she crouched down
and turned her eyes up at nae with an
appealing look that almost made me
sob. Isoon knew what was the mat
ter with her, for out of the brush
sprang tremendous big panther. He
stopped when he saw me, and glared
at me and the bear family. The old
bear trembled and moaned, and the
baby bears cried painfully human-like.
grasped the situation at once. There
was nothing in the woods that panthers
dotted on as they did on fat, juicy
spring bear cubs, and they never hest
tated to snatch em right out of their
mothers arms, If they couldn't get 'em
any other way. This panther had got
on the train of this particular bear
mother and her little ones, and had
made up his mind to have meal or
two on the cubs. She had fed from
him, and seeing me, had thrown her.
self and family on my mercy, and was
there appealing to me to save her chill
dren, just as plain as plain could be.
II don't suppose it is necessary for
me to tell you that she brought her
cubs to the right market for safety. /
stepped between that glazing panther
and that trembling, wailing family of
bears. I had my ak with me. The
bears crouched at my heels and moaned
and whined. The panther dashed his
tail and glared. He knew what was
there for. and made up his mind to
show me how little he thought knew
about it. He lifted up his voice and
yelled Then he lifted up himself and
leaped straight at me. swung my AK.
The ak and the panther met in midair
The panther's blood few around and
mussed me up considerably, but I
couldn't help but feel pleased over the
way that ak had slid through him,
from his nose clear to the very tip of
his tail. One-half of the panther fell
on one side of me and the other half on
the opposite side. A butcher with his
knife and cleaver couldn't have carved
him in two any prettier. Twas pleased.
l was, indeed. And the old bear tried
to lick my hands and feet, she was SO
but l stood her away, and she
took herself off with her young ones,
her eyes beaming with gratitude as far
as could see her.
That's all right said to myself.
I've saved them cubs, now, but they'll
grow up. I'll have some fun with 'em
one O. these days
$50 I went home and thought no
more about it.
1.-The field we were planting to ia
ters had three acres in 1t.
ST get it all planted to-day can
go fishing myself, all next week, can
~ 1 said to myself after father had
gone. 'lt'll take two men two days to
plant this field, so guess won't go
fishing next week
Wonderful head for business my ia
Their had! Wonderful! went to
dropping and covering Eaters and had
planted about half of one row, when a
bear about as big as a shepherd dog
suddenly before me. 1t
scooped out hole in the ground with
It's paws, then went on three feet and
scooped out another one, straight
ahead, and right in the later row.
While was wondering yet what the
sassy young cub was trying to get