The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-30
BEAR THAT BECAME A PRINCE.
a FAIRY STORY or TODAY.
BY Charles Battel Loom,s.

they loved to take walks together DO
cause both were interested In botany. Now.
don't put the paper down and say. mo.
thanks, III learn about that when It come.
in my school course Botany is awfuIy
interesting, and l notice that people VINO
take 1t up seldom drop Il, but l never
took It up, so you've nothing to fear from
me-
Harry lives on Staten Island, not far
from New Brighton, and he was one OF
the first boys 10 see the Raleigh when
she came back from Manila In fact,
Il was the day offer his walk with Joe
that she came through the narrows. But
that hasn't anything 20 do with botany.
either.
The two boys walked inland hunting
for specimens of-the name escapes me,
so you see I'm not trying to give You
a botany pill at all. In the course OF
their walk they came upon a perform
ing bear who was dancing to the music
OF hand organ in the hands of a weather.
beaten old Italian. Now, as IL happened
Harry had been reading about the Prince
that was turned into a bear--Ive fotgot-
ten the name of the tale-and he turned
and said to Joe: 81 wonder IL that bear
was ever a Prince2"
The bear turned his poor. old. beared
eyes at him and said in mufied voice:
Standing here / suppIicate.
Save me from my dreadful fate"
Harry rubbed his ears, and again the
bear said the same words:
standing here | suppicate.
Save me from my dreadful fate"
Harry was delighted that the bear should
have enough confidence In him TO ask TO
be saved, and he said. Are YOU a prince?"
Il am indeed. said the bear. Il be.ong
10 the royal family Of England. and | was
turned into a bear 10 satisfy grudge of
an anarchist Save me, and grandma viii
never forget it,"
Harry didn't realize who grandma"
was, although her picture is on millions of
coins all over the world. He looked at Joe
and then at the organ grinder. Either they
had not heard or else they could not I'M
derstand bear talk. Joe was picking
dandelion, or maybe It was daisy / can
never tel them apart. l wish ! had stud
led botany.
Harry gave five cents to the organ
grinder, and said to the bear in an under
tone. How can l save your"
"'rake your jack knife and rip my hide
down the back and then wisn me back to
my former estate. You believe In fairies
and all that sort Of thing, don't your
Now. up to that minute, Harry had not
really believed in anything of the sort He
had read the blue fairy book and the red
one and Grimm's and Andersen's, but he
mad supposed they were only meant to
amuse one-as a sort of antidote to school
books-but | leave II to you II you wouldn't
believe a thoroughly respectable bear who
confided his woes 10 you In perfectly good
English?
What will the organ grinder saw"
said Harry. He was thoughtful child,
aud he knew that the bear was of great
value TO the man, but after all a right
Is right and a wrong is wrong and IL
couldn't be right TO keep a prince in such
a dusty bears skin even II releasing him
did ruin the poor Italian.
Don't worry about him" said the bear
"TIe has made a fortune out of me. and,
as you see. he doesn't give me enough to
eat. and often he beats me when 1t is
rainy and business Is poor, so l don't
think you need worry on his account"
Harrys last scruples vanished. The or
gan grinder was bent over his organ,
changing the tune. Joe was climbing
bank after some red buttercups, and
Harry whipped out his knife and opened
Il in a fifty, and with a firm a hand as
he could master he ripped the bears hide
down the back and-a young, handsome
boy stood before him. He was not dressed
Ike a fairy story prince, because real
princes don't dress that way except at
private theatricals, but he was attired
IN modish suit that was becoming and
in good taste, and Harry took liking TO
him as soon as he saw him.
When the Italian looked up and saw the
young man he gave a shrek and then
crossed himself Then he slung his organ
over his shoulder and ran off In the direc-
ton of New Brighton.
Harry called to Joe, but he had disap-
peared He was a very enthusiastic bota-
mist. and probably he had found a new
breed Of violets or something or other, and
was busy Analysing them.
Harry didn't waste any time looking for
Joe lie was anxious to do something for
the prince at once He really hadn't bet
tered his condition much because as
bear he was supported by the Italian, but
as a prince he had only few coins that
had happened to be in his pocket when he
was changed into a bear a few months
previous.
Did you say that you're related TO
Queen Victorian" asked Harry.
She's my grandma" said the boy, sim
ply.
"Een, I guess my father can get you
home to your folks all right. He has
good deal of influence. He's a lawyer. I
know he'll be willing to telegraph over 10
your grandmother that you have stopped
being a bear. and she'll probably send you
a ticket home And guess you can visit US
until she does"
They walked toward Harry's house,
which was about a mile away Suddenly
Harry wheeled around. Say" said he, 1T
would be bully fun TO send that message
In the Police COurt-Tried and JudS-
ment in lis Favor.