The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-29

heart when he found his pet black
bear. that he had pointed to with hon
est pride as the only praying bear in
Pike county, was leading double
life" said Deacon Todgers sorrowful-
". 'Praying and prize-fighting don't
90 together, even in black BEARS the
good man told me. The bear that
pretends he can combine them is a
hypocrite and a furry deceiver. A
viper that I've cherished in my boa-
ON, only to have him hand me out a
bunch of uppercuts, as the worldly
say.
j never heard of even a worldly
viper who was strong on uppercuts,
but / didn't want to intrude on the
good minister's grief, so | let it go
at that.
The ministers had caught his pet
when it was q cub and had brought
him up as one of the family. When
the cub began to arrive at years OF
bear discretion, the good man always
had him in to family prayers. Train
up a cub in the way he should go and
he may be a missionary bear the
ministers used to say. Who knows
but that cub of mine has call to show
the beauties of holiness to benighted
bears sitting in damp caves and dark
ness? The pious expression on my
furry pets face, when | am expound-
ing religion, shows that he under
stands what am saying a good deal
better than some two-legged sinners
who fall asleep under my eloquence.
1T may have been only his faculty
for imitation, but the actions of that
deceitful bear would have misled
sharper men than the good minister
At family prayers the bear would
waddle over to a chair and kneel down
the same as the rest of the family.
When the minister came to the end OF
his prayer, the bear would let out a
solemn little grunt, which the minis
+ ter described as heartfelt, bear
amen when they sang from the hymn
book. the bear would wave his black
body from side to side, keeping exact
time to the music, and grunting sort
of low, deep-toned bear ACCOMPANY
ment. That bear was the pride and
admiration of religious people all
around these parts. But in the end
he showed himself in his true colors
as black reprobate, who cared more
for worldly excitement and the CLAM
our of the prize ring, than he did for
grace.
'When the minister's pet was near
ly full grown the good man noticed
that he used to get restless in the
night and want to wander up and
down the valley. But the minister
wasn't worried at this.
''That's good bear, and honest
bear he used to say, an animal that
l can trust to wander over the hills
and da1es of Pike county, and feel sure
he won't fall into temptation. Even
if he should meet other bears they
will be all the better for their ac-
uuaintance with my spiritually minded
pet. I wouldn't wonder a bit if those.
night excursions of his were really
missionary trips for the purpose of
rescuing the souls of riotous and sim
full black bears, who have never en-
joyed the previous privilege OF night
ly attending family prayers
"One evening the bear wandered
down to Tom Wilson's tavern. All the
boys knew the bear by sight, being
accustomed to seeing him follow the
minister to church, for, while the bear
didn't go inside, he never missed ac-
companying the minister as far as the
church door. So none of the boys
were afraid of the bear and they start
ed to have some fun with him. Some
OF the crown IldU OSNh bOAihSS civ OAiA
Wilson. needless of the fact tnat he
was starting pious bear on the down
ward path, put on the gloves and be
gan giving the bear a few soft
punches, more in fun than in any
thing else. The good bear stood it for
a minute, then he let out suddenly
with his left paw, caught Tom on the
side of the head and the bear had scor-
ed the first Touchdown. When Tom
picked himself up he looked at the
bear with increased respect"
Properly trained said Tom in
sort of an admiring way that bear
would develop more accomplishments
than grunting soulful amens to pray
ers, or the choruses to gospel hymns.
ANY creature, bear or man, who can
cross-counter with the suddenness
the minister's pet did is too swift an
article to blush unseen in the capacity
of a missionary to other Pike county
bears. With proper tuition and few
lessons in the manly art of self-defense
that animal could hold the black bear
middleweight championship against
all cOmers.'
'Tom fed the bear honey, and raw
meat. and petted him. so that the poor
deluded animal would come back the
next night. Sure enough, the follow
ing evening, about 9 o'clock the bear