The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-11-17
Graudfather's Bear Story.

Harry Turner was just II years of
age, and on his birthday his mother, who
was much attached to her bright boy
thought it would be very nice for Harry
to invite few Of his boy friends in to
spend the evening and have what Harry
called "a jolly young bachelors social"
1t proved to be very joyful and pleas
ant evening, but as you all very well
know there will come a certain time in
the midst OF ali the fun when YOU begin
to ask one another, what will we dc
next?' This proved to be the case dur
ing Harrys party. The boys had played
almost every game they could think Of
| and also some that Harry's mother and
father had to think of for them. But
the time ut last arrived when there was
nothing else to do, and as last resort
Harry's grandfather, who was doing in
front of the cheerful fire in the dining
room, was appealed to by the boys to tell
them Il story.
"Oh! yes, do!' cried one of the BOYS
Tel us great big bear story
well, children,' said he, ''it's pretty
near my bedtime, and l think a little
later than most of you young men are
accustomed to being up: but if You really
want to hear story | suppose there's
nothing left for me to do but to rack nv
old BRAIN for something interesting that
will keep you all awake little while
longer.
remember a little incident that hap.
pcned to me when I was about-let me
see, Well, l must have been a little older
than Harry here; yes, l was not far from
ID, and good-sized boy for my age. You
see When l was young we boys didn't
nave the advantages You young men
1l,>.1
work pretty hard, and l don't suDposf
we liked it any better than you boys do
out It had to be done nevertheless, when
we dld get a vacation it was only for ha If
u Gay, and we generally made use of it
by taxing our guns and going off in the
woods to hunt rabbits and squirrels. This
was always a jolly and exciting exc,1r.
sion, and was looked forward to for davs
ana weeks before. l remember on one
occasion in particular that this incident
happened that l am going to tell Won
1T was one Saturday in the fall of the
year, when it was just beginning to ept
colG' that we started out in high spirits
ieeilng confident that we could slay the
biggest animal that YOU could find pic
t tu IN the geography. There were
four OF us i'll the party, including two
nelghbor boys, my younger brother James
and myself. | being the oldest boy in the
crowd. Well, when we struck the woods
we didn't have to 90 very far. as the
country at that time was nearly all woods
we got in Indian file, owing to the path
Delng very narrow, and began our march
INTO the jungle: each one carrying his
trusty rifle or shotgun over his shoulder
We marched along in this manner 70,
perhaps fifteen minutes, getting deeno,
ana deeper into the woods. Occasional
~ we would sight rabbit or chipnunk
and bang would go the guns. until wei
added perhaps dozen victims to on,
game bag. The boys were all pretty
handy with the gun and quite friendly
rivair! existed between us as to who was
the best shot. A little further on we
came to clearing in the woods, in the
cabin. formerly used by some lumber
men. but now standing quite deserted
as we thought. Everything was as
quiet as could be, not a sound to be
heard. and our hearts began to thumr
Mt quite lively rate. We were actually
getting scared.
'Say, boys, let's go in there and eat
cur grub at last spoke MP one of the
some thing to do. so the rest of us
thought. but we at last decided to make
the attempt, and as I was the oldest
why. they made me take the lead. Very
quickly we approached the cabin, anC
when about twenty feet from the door
we all stopped, afraid to go any farther
Now, the biggest boy in the crowd dom
like to be thought coward by those
who are younger and smaller than he is
ne rather likes to be considered hero
and that's just the way l felt. boys. So
after carefully looking to see that my CUR
was in good condition and ready for ac
ton. | began to advance toward the door
of the cabin, leaving the rest of the boys
standing ready to come to my assistance
in case should need them. The closer
approached the building the more eau
tious l became, and often looked back
TO see that my soldiers were still in posi-
ton AT last ] reached the door, and
gently pushing it inwardly. I looked into
the cabin. One look was enough. There
sat two of the largest bears I had ever
seen
II didn't stop to find out what kind OF
bears they We're. l even forgot that ]
carried gun. Giving one yell, Bears!
I made dash for the woods, forgetting
all my former bravery. When the boys
heard me yell they, too. scattered for the
woods. each one taking a different direc-
ton. 1t was some time before we got
together again. and still longer time be.
fore we got over our fright. We at last
held kind of council of war, and de-
cided to 90 home, which we did. On ar
irving at our respective homes our first
act was to tell of our very narrow es.
cape. A searching party was at once Or
ganiZed by our elder brothers and fa-
Tiers and they Immediately set out for
the scene Of our recent exploit. They re.
turned late that evening and brought
with them the two bears that had come
so near making meal of us. They
proved to be the largest bears ever
caught in that section of country, and we
boys ate hear meat for long time after
ward. The skin of these big animals
were made into rugs, and that's one of
them you are standing on now" The
boys all gave a jump and then began t.
laugh. Grandparents bear story had been
very realistic. Dispatch.
Pnts,'s First Ride.
Patsy had never had a ride on the cleo,
ric .cars,--never in all her poverty strick.
T. d. Il. Is.