Evening star., 1902-08-30

Dear Children: Having opened our let
box. let Us see what we have that will
terest all Of us Here IS a letter from
b ed Hahn. aged nine. telling US about
ar in school Can any Of my young
hders tell me whether they think this an
ginat or a copied story? 1t is worth
ading. whichever it may be.
Dear Madam: Please find below a story,
titled The Bear in School,
Far away in the new part of our country
e farmers found that bears would come
night and do much harm in the corn
lids
we must stop this they said. So
ey all met and went out on bear hunt.
fter a long chase they killed two bears.
Tith one of the bears was a cub, and
|hen the old bear was shot one of the
unters took the cub home to his SON
''TEe cub was just like a fat young puppy,
Fith black hair and thick. clumsy paws.
was fed and brought up about the house,
nd soon became as tame as dog.
"Jack-for that was the name they gave
im-was very playful. He would follow
Is young master all around. After a while
used to go with him every day to
fhool-
"At first the other boys were afraid of
hck. but before long he became great
Ayorite. He would play about in the
FOODS near the school till recess. then the
.hiIdren would give him a good share from
heir lunch baskets. Some would give MIN
! n apple others a cake, others piece OF
3naple sugar. He was a great pet.
in winter Jack was let in at recess TO
harm himself by the stove. He knew very
keU where the lunch baskets were hanging
IN pegs in the wall. and If he did not get
lis share Of the good things he would help
himself
lime. but one day Jack could not be found
| ssHad he met some Of his bear friends in
he woods and gone away with them
That was what the children thought, and
for many a day they looked and Ionseo
|or their playmate to come back
Ten years passed away. The old teacher
HAS dead; the boys and girls were now
ben and women. Jack was forgotten. But
he old school house was still there, though
new set Of boys and girls filled its seats:
zone cold winters day. when the scnooi
house door was opened at recess, In walked
great black bear. Then what a scare
here was, Some boys ran to the door.
bthers jumped up on the desks TWO or
|hree little girls hid themselves under the
able. One big boy jumped out OF the
Eindow.
But the bear did not harm any one. He
k-alked quietly up to the fire and warmed
himself He seemed to be very much at
home and he was as pleased as could be:
After sitting by the fire a short time he
kalkea up 10 the wall where the lunch
baskets we're hanging. Raising himself on
his hind feet he put his paw into a
basket ard helped himself to an apple and
| piece Of maple sugar. He munched him
jeIf and smiled a bear smile Then ne
kalked quietly out Of school.
| MILDRED HAHN,
Brooklyn. N Y,
Age Nine Years"
Letter No. . IS from some one who is not
l child. but who knows what interests chill
hren Ii IS a story of pet squirrel.
we rescued the little fellow from the
EaWuiug jaws Of pussy. who. having dis
lowered the young squirrel when II had
|ust climbed down from it's nest in the tree,
WAS preparing 10 spring upon ii. For our
trouble in saving the creature from certain
heath We got a severe bite with teeth so
sharp that they penetrated 10 the bone. But
this cold reception did not deter us from
pnectiuZ the capture and carrying the
fright-E-d squirrel in our handkerchief to
the house. It's little heart beat so rapidly
that Its sides seemed to swell In and out
like a pair Of bellows 1t would not touch
food 90 drink. and We left Ii in a box over
night with some feelings Of cOnpuncti1u-
THE next morning we tried again to coax
the creature 10 eat, and after an hour Of
patient work we succeeded The squirrel
nib5led part of a nut. and. liking this so
well. Il concluded To eat the whole Of it.
After that il would eat nuts whenever pre-
scented - it. While eating its dinner we
would rub Its furry back and head, and,
at first a little timid, It soon
showed evident joy al this demonstration of
our friendship.
'Such was our first acquaintance with
fyinS squirrel as a pet. But the experience
broadeued and deepeued in the next few