Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-15
4 Lille Baby Bear.

II / gave you ten guesses you would
use them all, and still not be able to
tell me what l saw today. Do
you give it up? Well, it was
a tiny baby bear. A hunter had
caught him in the woods and brought
him to town in his arms. AS soon as l
heard Of him l invited the baby to
spend part of day with me, and we
had great fur playing together.
Long ago used to have picture OF
Santa Claus, fat little man, all
dressed in a fur suit, and when l saw
the baby bear l could almost believe
that my picture had come alive. He
had the same short woolly legs and fat
roly-poly body; and there, too, was the
droll, grave face looking as If he were
trying to keep from laughing. He
came right into the house, as If he had
life; and walked about under the chairs
and tables, for he was no larger than a
big cat. His little pointed black nose
went into everything that he saw; but
as soon as he had got good smell he
trotted away ard put his nose into
something else. He seemed to be hunt
ing for some smell that he had known
in the woods, where he was born and
had lived so cozily, snuggled up to his
mothers nice black fur. When he got
through with the legs of things, he
went higher. Right up to the tip-top
Of a great armchair se climbed, and
hung himself across the back as II he
were hanging himself out to dry. There
he rested a little while; then, drawing
himself into ball, off he rolled on to
the floor with such thump that
thought he must have hurt himself
But he thought not, for without even
waiting to rub his knees, he ran across
the floor to stand up on his hind feet
in front of my bookcase. He reached
out one of his soft paws, and patted the
backs Of the books, as If to say: Il
like you very much, but I have not
time to read you just now"
am sure you would have thought
him very cunning if you had seen him
tipping about on his hind feet with a
tiny yellow orange in his arms. He
Rugged it tight against his breast and
set a row of wee baby teeth in the skin.
But 1 did not catch glimpse Of his
tongue until l gave him the hand mir
ror. The moment he saw the baby
bear in the glass, pink tongue, like
a curled rose-leaf, came out and made
loving little smudges all over the
bright glass.
Again and again he lifted up the
glass and peeped underneath to find
the baby bear behind it. suppose he
wanted a good hug besides the kisses;
and I don't wonder, for he was soft
and nice to squeeze.
When his dinner time came I gave
him his milk in bottle with rubber
top. When he saw it he reached out
and whimpered for it just as hungry
Ibaby does. He stood up and took the
bottle between his front paws and,
tipping it up, sucked away SO fast that
soon there was no milk left.
Then when he saw that 1t was all
gone he lifted up his little black coat
sleeve and wiped off his milky mouth.
On his way back to his home the
children got about him on the street
and laughed and jumped about him,
clapping their hands; but he seemed to
like the fun and made them laugh
louder by standing up on his hind legs
and walking like a cunning little man.
He wanted to stay out in the street to
play some more when he got home.
but you see it was past bear bedtime,
and he had to be taken in. l am glad
to be able to tell you that he did not
cry at all as he trotted in and found
his own little bed, that must have
seemed nice and home-like, all ready
for him in the corner.-Louise H. Wall,
l.. .o1,o 81