The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-04-07
THE VISITING BEAR.


Willy James came home from Sun
day school that crisp winter after
noon in the best of spirits; not only
had he been invited to a party the next
Saturday, but he had also received an
invitation to spend the afternoon with
his Sunday school teacher, a rare treat
So, as Willy went to his room he
sang and threw his hat upon the bed
with a shout.
The next minute a cry rang through
the house: Mamma mamma. helpi
Mercyr'
There, at the front window of his
room, was the strangest sight Willy
ever saw. A big black bear stood upon
its hind legs Juggling at the window
shade, pulling with all it's might and
growing furiousy.
As Willy shouted, the bear turned
around, bowed low, and came walking
toward him with outstretched paw.
ooh, mamma, mamma, come quick"
shouted Willy, half dead with fright
It's q bear!"
Mrs. James came flying through the
hall just in time to meet the bear face
to face in the room, and together she
and Willy crouched into the corner,
while the bear advanced closer and
closer. isn't it aWful?" WHISPERED
Willy, tremblingly. ''Will he eat us,
mamma?'
But the bear had no intention of eat
ing anybody With a deep bow he sa-
luted Willy and his mother, and then,
turning away from them, he danced
gaily around the room. coming back
and bowling low. In spite of their
fright, Mrs. James and Willy laughed.
isn't it funny?" said Willy. softly.
But, mamma, I am so afraid of him.
Look at his teeth!'' Gradually thew
crept to the door but the bear was
there as soon as they. He walked on
all tours now and looked up as much
as to say, You can't go without me-"
Downstairs all three went, Mrs
James and Willy keeping their eyes
fixed on the bear. while His Bearship
trotted after them like a great con-
tented dog.
At the foot of the stairs the bear
stopped, lifted himself to his hind legs
and, between the stairs and the front |!
door, executed another dance. Was
the like of it ever seen before? He |
twirled himself around on one hind leg, |
placed his feet together, and made deep /
courtesies; and then wound up by MINI /
bly, Waiting in the little hallway. FL |
nally, when he had finished. he seized |
a hat off the hat rack and passed it to |
Willy and his mother.
Of course, they had nothing to put in |
It, and the bear waited. What does
he want, mammal" asked Willy.
He wants penny, think" said
Mrs. James
At this the bear began to growl and
Willy turned pale. 'Oh, mamma, he
will get angry if he does not get a
penny" said he, feeling in all his pock-
cts.
Here is a. candy, mamma; shall I
give it TO him?"
Laughing in spite of their fears.
Willy dropped the candy in the hat and
The bear walked away contented. After
his he danced again, and after he had
hanced he turned a someTsault and lay
Town quite dead
Il guess he has gone to Sleep said
Willy. Get up, Mr.. Bear; get up"
AT this the bear leaped into the air
md came down upon his feet. fright
sning Willy and his mother to death
or the thousandth time since they had
irst found this strange guest in their
Dom upstairs.
Finally. tired out, the bear walked
WAY, and they could hear him in the
lining room as he overturned the
hairs.
Now, Willy, run quick next door for
dr. Green" said Mrs. James. Tell
lin to bring a gun"
In a few minutes Neighbor Green
|
the antic1 Of the bear who
lad begun to perform.
Seems a pity to shoot him." said I
leighbor Green; Il guess we better
hut him up in the wood house and see
anybody comes after him" {
So Bruno, as Willy called him, was
ed away and shut up in the wood
ouse.
Willy wanted to see him dance again,
~ icI n cot ! !
lot to disturb him. An hour later ;
ghen WHY'S father came home from ]
is Sunday afternoon walk, he had to I
ear all about the strange visitor and
f course, he had to be taken out to the
7Oodhouse to see Bruno dance.
That evening Bruno dined on bread
nd butter and hickory nuts, because
either Willy nor his papa knew what S
ears liked to eat; and the next morn '
lg they gave him a basin of milk, {
'hich he drank as though he were a
uppy. t
About - o'clock the next day there i
anne a wagon driving hastily down the
Dad and a slender little man hoped 2
ut. Heard you had His Majesty
ere" said he; Il mean the bear. He c
OF away yesterday and we lost track I
f him. We hunted all night in the t
pposite direction. You see, he's part
f big travelling show. Performs {
very night on the stage with my little t
oy." +
And then Willy knew why it was
nat Bruno had been 80 fond of him at G
rst sight. i
They were sorry to let His Majesty q
o, but the menagerie man owned him
nd had a right to him; and after His y
Tajesty'' had gone through with all his 4
ticks again, they said goodbye to y
i'm, and away he went, peacefully sit +
ng in the back of the wagon. :