The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-17

in the oven had been hot; therefore
the little pantry which opened from
the kitchen needed current of fresh
air, and Mrs. Parmenter sent Benny
to raise the window, and keep it
open by sticking nail into the
woodwork of its frame. When the
family went upstairs to their bed
rooms under the roof the window was
forgotten. However, it was unlikely
that any United States bank cashier
would come down all the way from
Canada for the purpose of making a
forced loan of Mrs. Parmenter's pies;
and, on the other hand, if no robbers
were to be expected, neither we're any
guests to be looked for.
This seems almost incredible; but
SO it was. Mr.. Parmenter had no
vagabond brother; Mrs. Parmenter
no rich uncle in foreign parts; they
never had disowned child or quar-
relied with a relative. Reconcilia-
tions and pathetic home-comings
we're impossible; nobody was angry
and all were there, cheerfully await
ing the dawn.
The twins were soon asleep. Jack
lay awake. for the golden orb of the
November night-the moon l mean
this time, not the squash pie-cast a
beam of light across his pillow.
Hope sha'n't be moonstruck," he
thought to himself. Then he heard
noise out of doors on the turf, some
thing like the heavy steps of stout
person walking with clumsy rubber
boots. Jack was out of bed in min
ute and at the little gable window.
Putting forth his head he could see a
large black figure that resembled a
fat man in fur coat, peeping in at
the window of the pantry, which was
directly beneath the window where
Jack was watching. He looked be-
yond; few yards away from the
house where two smaller personages
similar in shape to the intruder at
the pantry. This visitor leaned in at
the window, then took out the best of
those pies and dropped it upon the
ground, where it broke in pieces. Now
the smaller creatures came running,
and each possessed himself of share
of the pie. 1t was black bear with
her two little cubs.
Bears in northern Maine are rather
good -natured neighbors. They have
a way, it is true, of borrowing ears of
corn and honey comb and fruit, and
they are forgetful as to repaying of
the loan; but every one has known
that sort of neighbor upon two feet
instead of four. These bears rarely
attack any person unless provoked;
and who would think any better of a
bear who would see his wife shot and
his babies carried into captivity with
out using his natural weapons of de-
fence?
But Mrs. Bear ought to have asked
leave of Mrs. Parmenter before
borrowing those pies. So thought
Jack, and he fastened to awake
his father, who, having heard
the story, came from his bed
room with his gun, and fol-
lowed by the boy went noiselessly
down the stairs into the kitchen.
By this time the bear had divided
two pies between her cubs before
helping herself to any. She heard
the footsteps on the kitchen floor
and made with one paw an odd
signal to the cubs; and the
chubby little fellows toddled and
tumbled away as fast as they were
able. The mother bear did not fol-
low them Immediately. There was a
chance of danger, she knew; but
there was also chance of more pie.
When she saw Mr.. Parmenter and his
son she began to think the situation
serious. She dropped upon all tours
and moved off, with her numbering
gait. distance of about dnzannaces.