The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-08

but is naked variation of the species,
since the true kangaroo hops, whereas
this one never does. Still it is curious
and interesting variety, and has not
been catalogued before. AS discover
ed it, | have felt justified in securing
the credit of the discovery by attach
ing mine to it, and hence have called
it kangarooum Adamiensis.
THREE MONTHS LATER.-The kan
garoo still continues to grow, which is
very strange and perpleXing. [ never
knew one to be so long getting its
growth. 1t has fur on its head now; not
like kangaroo fur, but exactly like our
hair, except that it is much finer and
softer, and instead of being black is
red. 1 am like to lose my mind over
the capricious and harrasing develope-
ments of this unclassifable geological
freak. If I could catch another one
but that is hopeless ; it is new va
riety, and the only sample; this is
FIVE MONTHS LATER.-It is not a
kangaroo. No, for it supports itself
by holding to her finger. and thus goes
a few steps on its hind legs, and then
falls down. 1t is probably some kind
of a bear; and yet it has no tail-as yet
and no fur, except on its head. 1t
still keeps on growing Is cur
ious circumstance, for bears get their
growth earlier than this. Bears are
dangerous-since our catastrophe
and I shall not be satisfied to have
this one prowling about the place
much longer without muzzle on.
have offered to get her kangaroo
if she would let this one 60, but it did
no good-she ia determined to run US
into all sorts of foolish risks, think.
She was not like this before she lost
her mind.
A FORTNIGHT LATER.-I examined
its mouth. There is no danger yet; 1t
has only one tooth. It has no tail yet.
1t makes more noise now than it ever
did beforehand mainly at night. 1
have moved out. But I shall 60 over,
mornings, to breakfast, and to see if it
has any more teeth. If it gets a
mouthful of teeth it will time for it to
20, tail or no tail, for bear does not
need tail in order to be dangerous.
FOUR MONTHS LATER.-I have been
off hunting and fishing month up in
the region che calls Buffalo; [ don't
know why, un less it is because there
are not any buffaloes there. Meantime
the bear has learned to paddle around
all by itself on its hind legs, and says
"poppa" and mama" 1t is certainly
a new species. This resemblance to
words may be purely accidental, OF
course, and may have no purpose or
meaning; but even in that case 1t is
still extraordinary and is thing
which no other bear can do. This i'm
itation Of speech, taken together with
general absence of tail, sufficiently in
dicates that this is new kind of a
bear. The further study of 1t will be
exceedingly interesting. Meantime
will 20 off On a far expedition
among the forests of the North and
make an exhaustive search. There
certainly must another one somewhere
and this one will be less dangerous
when it has company of it's own spe-
cies. I will 60 straightway; but 1 will
muZzle this one first.
THREE MONTHS LATER.-It has
been very, weary hunt, yet have
had no success. In the meantime,
without stirring from the home estate,
she has caught another!! never saw
such luck. I might have hunted these
woods hundred years, never should
have run across that thing.
NEXT DAY. have been comparing
the new one with the old one, and it
is perfectly plain that they are the
same breed. 1 was going to stuff him
for my collection, but she is prejudiced
against it for some reason or other; 80
I have relinquished the idea, though
I think it is mistake. It would be
an irreparable loss to science If they
should get away.
Ten YEARS LATER.-They are boys;
we found it out long ago. It was their
coming In that small, immature shape
that puzzled US; we were not used to
it. There are some girls now. Abel
is good boy, but if Cain had stayed
q bear it would have improved him.
After all these years I see that l was
mistaken about Eve in the beginning;
it is better to live outside the Garden
with her than outside 1t without her.
At first thought she talked too much,
but now should be sorry to have that
voice fall silent and pass out of my
life. Blessed be the chestnut that
brought US near together and taught
me to know the goodness of her heart
and the sweetness of her spirit!