Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-11-19
The Talking Bear.

49, NAs0 Wk-M
casting a glance outward. she Z
ceiv@d 4 great crowd of men. wo.
and children coming fro u tho ~
D OF the village, and in the mlds ]
them a black bear led by n ka0,'
The latter Wore a large whita ,os'
"te' In which he was able 10 N.Y.
himself twice; a very short vest \
papfaloons. the worse for WAR
boots stood in want Of repair. and
gray hat had for a long time lact1
Part OF its brim. Beside him var
brngry-!ooking lad, dressed in r,,.
Praying a large ~tageolet and be.,,ns
t~anbour.ne.
Arrived before the Red Lion !,
only hcstelry in the vlIaoa
mouatcbank paused. lie made :
Gle about hlm and ordered his ho..
stand upright. Then. fiourishin,
baton over the head OF the ANNA, !
began to dance with him. ,aking g.
AID poses which the bear INIT.
One might believe the iphabitan."
iiopiield happy. FOR the crow
laughed heartily.
\ ventriloquiSt. who was stonnin, !
the Red Lion. regarded from n ,vio1a
thiS spectacle of buifoonery. Arrirtnl
that morning. he had already had ! I
porttinltieS of recognizing the ,Letaetp
OF tie inhabitants OF the place m
idea, therefore. occurred 10 him
amusing himself at their expense
He descended among the 81 ,,.o.,r
and, protiting by a moment when ~
tageolet and tanlbourine were sIl,a1
lie approached the mountehauS
NO doubt your bear can talkY
said TO him.
The man regarded him fixedld
shrugged his shoulders ana replej
OruSquely.
Question him, and you win fyI
out"
This was what the ventrilouuist .
pected. He made a step toward il,
bear and said. in a mccking voice.
"fou dance like a member Of 4
opera cotupahy, and | compliment ygl
From what country are you, my gpI
tienan!"
From the Alps, Switzerland"
L viii not attempt to describe n
dismay that seized the crowd. The
were all struck with astonishnent snI
alright. but the surprise OF the bear
owner was the greatest of all
opened his large, dull eyes, his cayeu
u mouth, and remained. imaovs6j
as il bis feet We're rooted to the SPOT =
The yentriloquist turned towau
him.
Your bear speaks very good End
lisl,' he said. Then 10 the anipa
"Iou appear 10 be sad?"
The air of Hopctield has made I'd
splcnetic," replied the bear.
Here the crowds began to retired
and the ve%ntriloquist continued.
Have you belonged for some tial
TO your masterg"
Sufficiently long to be weary
him."
lis he not kind 10 you:"
Yes; kind as a blacksmith with
anvil
Would you like to revenge yours
upon him.
'One OF these days | will eat him.
one eats breakfast"
At these words the aifrighted crow
retreated still further. The dis nayi
keeper wished TO draw the bear ;sa1
TO him. but the animal, tired Of wal
ing. uttered a surly growl. The ye
trilcquist stayed no longer, but turne
away and took his curse toward
inn. The crowd initiated him, az
rapidly dispersed.
The vcntriloquist. having reached
door OF the Red Lion. looked back az
laughed at the fugitiyes: while the
conscious cause of all this dlsofue
TRANQUILITY seated in the road. seem
to throw a careless and philosophh1
glance upon the terror he had OCT
stoned.
The same eveaing the veptrlloaul
met some OF the villagers. VINO =
gathered at the inn TO discuss
mornings adventure. with many =
Publications. and comments, rs v
their amiable custom. He thoushi
joke had been carried far eh"us
aud laughingly explained now
trick had been done. They l!stehru
tentiyely. but when he had thaeu
older men shook their heads WIN
air of incredulity.
This is very well to tell tae s ~
dren.' said Grandfather ''rihy'
we are persons of experience.
not the first time that animals J"
spoken, for one remembers ba, ~,
ass. BESIDES. the almanac pr
this event in announcing mat IN
August, three days before CT ~
days after. a marvellous mus :"
t%ranspire in the world. ash
The yent-iloquist insisted ana Msh
to give proof OF what he ldVihen ,.,o
the crowd departed with suspnS
persuaded that he wished 70 o0
them.
The ;nnkeaper. who had obs Hs%
with a watchful eye II ~ "a
smile. approached the discoihn'''
triloluist. aso
Milford" he said, "do not pe R
ished mt what has happened.
nance Is always more welcom shsd
crowd than reality. You WISH hsv ha
TEST with these rustics, but thsy nS n
taken the joke in earnest ,sofs
will now convince the lnnapI M
Hoptield. who love the marveou Droy
the bear has not spoken. lnis rlrd
one thing. We should beware u II
,a.;nn sto,v which is false. ~