Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-02-26
THE CCoN'S WARNING
J a2uhlc Tor Eear That Refused .
Ta"e : dV te "a Change Ills Hon,
lNcgv York Snr1

The coon was fast aslccp in Lie
low tree when he was awakened
scratching on the trunk below -
looking out and down he percoi,ed
bear at the foot of the tree. Hnrr.,'.
down. he said:
Good GraciCua, Eut who would ba...
expected 10 soc you here, Wbr
haven't seen bear around bcr. o..
over two years" ~
I've come 70 make my homo b,..
foI the winter" replied the boar .a.,
Ecng told by tie wondchuck tha, ,.,'
occupied this tree, thought IA ,r,L4
you up and have a little talk with ynn
How are things around here. anyhny.
! llNcd hcf" one winter four or MI,
years ago. but there are many cb.na..
since then. 10 YOU think IN N zaf. vi
the winter"
NY dear friend ! am glad Won car,,.
% me- said tine coon. as he took J Nh.
I ~ 2 log. 'Whcn you lived hero VA.
I ago there Was only one farmer aho,..
ana trc forest was all around Nh.
| }cu can see for yourself that there o..
/ I'VE farmers ANA that the woods ba,.,
almost been cut away. it will be dan.
g"r1us for you to stop FOR even nno
day. just the minute a dog finds VIM,
iIacIls the farmers viii turn ont T.,
hunt you down"
f"Aut I'm not afraid OF dogs or farm
crs." said the bear. Il can XIII = dar
#.th one blow Of my paw. and aftor 7
have cl1wed and bitten one farmer :
g.l(ss the others will leave me aiora
EesiGcs. | shall be asleep most of tba
time. You know how il is with hea,a
rs soon as the real cold weather co.nos
On We curl W somewhere and gla.,
most Of the winter. If I don't stir I'M,
bow are they going 10 find my trarks7r
But you viii move about when !
warm Gay comes. Don't YOU thin, ~
stopping Ground here. am onlv rcon
and my p,lt IL worth hut 80 cents and
yct hey aro after mo All the time Ym,r
Ieit Is worth $lo and If YOU don't boc1
WnAt ! SAY somebody win make \ rur
NJ il before spring comes"
Tho bear was obstinate and ridicpIa3
thc idea. and within An hour he W.
hunting for home AS he could fnd
no cave hc made his lair I'LL the top i,
4 fallen tree, ana the weather coming
on very cold he went to sleep for sew
,ral days ANA Was not heard OF. After
abput week, however, a thaw set in
and he started out for a ramble. There
was Snp" in the ground. and he left
broad trail wherever he went. He was
wondering if he could not run across A
O. II or pig To breakfast. when all al
I ~.
the shouts of men. and it was only
moment before the coon came scurry-
ing alonG rs hard as he could 20 and
called out:
Il told YOU how it would be. They
have found your tracks and are after
You. and now You must run for your
life"
The boar turned and ran. while TIE
coon climbed the nearest tree. 1t was
not a long racc The dogs soon over
hauled the bear. ana he had to stop
ana fight them. While thus engaged
two farmers Win guns came hurrying
up. ana though it took five Or six but
lets to Kill the bear they kept firing
away till he was dead. That night as
the fox was wandering about, he met
the coon and said:
How foolish Of the bear to wander
out AS he did, Didn't you warn him Of
the danger"
"0f course I did" replied the coon.
but he would have his own way about
it. You see the result Of obstinacy. If
he had taken advice he would have
been live bear tonight As he
wouldn't his skin is nailed on barn
door to dry, and there are no mourners
at his funeral"