The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-09-18


home the COWS. saw the beast on the
lake shore. licking up fish roe Mother
Sospatra also saw il the next morn
ing. grabbing for eels at the mouth Of
brook near by. The woman had
gone there 10 dig for eels herself. and
was somewhat discounted 10 find her
ishing-place Jumped" 80 to speak.
by so formidable a claimant.
In all their movements the Romirs
now felt obliged to be on the lookout
for their ugly neiglbor. but had no
thought Of attempting To- hunt or kill
II. About the beginning Of July. how
ever. a different complexion was nut
on their attitude toward the bear. \
loud bawIing was heard in the dirrc-
tion Of the enclosed pasture and fmme-
diarely the two cows appeared run
ming in terror To the she'd. followed
by i've Of The cosSstS. One sheen was
missing. and on Fastening 10 the pas-
ture WaSsell aud Pelagia found where
the coset had been killed. They passed
timidly through a zap in the hedge
and came I'm sight Of the bear. eating
the sheep. among willow clumps near
the brook. They say that it gave vent
70 several Lideous roars when il per
ceived them. ard came shutting toward
them. rs front covered with bits Of
CORY wool
Inc young Doukhohor and his sis
ter beat n hasty retreat and thence
forth the family We're in great trou-
hl" and perplexitv. They dared not
turn their cows and sheep OUT 10 feed.
and were Obliged TO cut fodder for
them Worse still, the bear. having
tasted mutton. was not long content
TO leave the cossets undisturbsd I'm
the shed near the house.
Fearing IN attack. Wa.seH had cut
poles and strengthened the shed as
much as he could. driving large stakes
into the ground and laying n close
wall Of poles between them. but when.
Que night rot long after. the bear was
minded 30 taste mutton again. in canc
and tore down the fence with noise
THAT struck terror To the hearts Of
the peaceful immigrants The below
ING of tie atfri=hfsd cows seeking cs-
cape from the she'd added 20 the alarm.
ana roGef her the family passed "a had
niGut.lamnutIu- tha loss Of their stock.
yet not daring t1 venture forth i'm de-
fence Of it
When mouur came they found thar
the cows and four rf the sheep had
escaped to the bushes along the lake
shore. but fuar Ono sheep had been car
ried of 10y -he ue1r.
Except three other DoukhObor fam
lies. living at little distance. there
was no one tO whom WasseH could
apply for aid, aud these neighbors
were rs much AT a loss as the Romigs
how TO deal with the beast Of prey.
For time they could think Of moth
ing better than 10 make the fence
stronger. and tried hard to do So. but
the bear. now with - raging appetite
for mutton broke into tha shed rp-
peatedly. TIL but one Cosset remained
Of rhe little flock.
Ih" fence having proved uuira fur9D-
able Of resisting the bears predictions
strength. they hethoughr themselves
Of protecting the shed with deem
ditch around 10. I'm digging rhfS. the
industry OF the entire family and their
ueighbOrs was -5rikuxIv pxmpIiaaJ
They eXcavated iu two days trench.
or moat. iu the deep black SOIL ten
feet iu width AMI nearly rs deep. On
closing the shed Uu 900 sides.
The ditch had nearly porpandirular
sides. and tbe bottom soon became
m.rr. and % foot on more Of water
was collected d. ir To carry fodder
iud water fD rho cows and sheen Iu
fle shed. W8--eIl wa- Obliged to
cross ou lo- which served as fem
norarV NriIz.