Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-06-26
The Good Bears
Temptation
Uncle Hiram Relates the Era ~
Deacon Todgerts Pet. n


our town laid the blame 10 whisky
l couldn't agree with them.
Whisky properly applied, ! said
TO Deacon Todgers, trying to CON-
fort him over his loss, never harmed
man or beast. But a combination of
Tom Wilson's joy producer, nitro
glycerin and a Jealous and eyil-minded
snake would bring 10 a sudden end
the career Of the most cultivated
bear that ever trod the pike 10 fame
THE deacon had caught the bear
when il was a cub and had trained it
carefully in the way good bears
should 60. There's no denying that
he made a success of his experiment
When il approached the period Of
adult bearhood that bear had for
gotten more than any other bear in
the county had ever known He
could appreciate the excellence Of
good whisky and play several games
Of cards. Besides that, he would run
errands for the deacon, act as watch
dog at night and see that the good
deacon didn't get che worst end Of it
If he got mixed up in a little scrap
OF any kind.
zone little fault that bear Of mine
possesses, the deacon used TO say,
admiringly, though with just a little
touch of regret, but / haven't the
heart 10 blame him, seeing how few
men who pretend TO intelligence can
ever be taught 10 play the national
game properly.
"But if the bear was Exhibit A in
the ursine family, Tom Wilson's pet
blacksnake could cash in nearly as
well at his own game. A good many
people thought she snake knew as
much as Tom himself did. OF course,
Tom wouldn't quite agree to this
proposition. But he was monstrous
proud Of that snake, just the same.
Poor Eve Tom used 70 say, in
sort Of a regretful manner. If the
original serpent in the Garden had
the intelligence Of this cultivated
animal OF mine, / don't wonder she
yielded to temptation. Ever since !
began to appreciate the ability Of a
properly trained snake, have felt
that she had been blamed too much
for that apple affair
"The good old deacon, thinking |
that he really needed a little slim
ulant 10 keep himself in condition
for doing his duty in an efficient |
used to drop down 10 Toms |
tavern quite frequently in the even
ing. Naturally he took his cher
ished bear with him.
Ordinarily the snake was asleep /
in the back room in the evening.
But one night he happened to be
performing in the barroom when the
deacon and the bear came in. After
the snake had finished his exhibition
almost every one applauded.
The snake swelled out what chest
he had and looked proud and happy,
ike a snake who has done his duty
and more than his duty But the
leacon shifted sort Of scornful
"'For a crawling reptile, he said
sarcastic like. I'm not denying that
snake Of yours does fairly wen. But
# course, he is not e be mentioned
n the same breath as my bear when
t comes to real animal intelligence.
"Tom Wilson sneered at this and
allowed that the only place where
here was any belief in the bears
,bility was under the deacon's own
lat.
az good bear. well-meaning
,ear. he observed, scornfully, but
or true culture not TO be mentioned
With my snake
"The deacon was almost dazed with
lonest indignation at this attack on
he pet he cherished like a son. He
flowed that the snake wouldn't be
me. two. left at the post, if the bear
eallv showed what he could do.
40 make things interesting he put
IL pretty good wager with Tom
wilson on the relative merits Of the
,ear and snake. Then he cleared an
pen place on the floor and put the
ear through his tricks.
Il don't know that the bear was
eallv any smarter than the snake,
Though. Of course, their talents lay
n different directions. But every
.odv loves a good bear and maybe
hat preiudiced the boys little. At
nv rate. when the bear finished, the
unanimous opinion was that the
make had been beaten.
tom paid over the bet, though he
idn't show any cheerful alacrity
bout doing it. The defeated snake
rawled away in humble manner !
Int there was a look in his little
aedy eyes that didn't promise any
hristmas presents for the bear if ]
r.. snake ever saw any chance TO get
ven.
"A couple Of days later Tom VIII
on went to q corner of the barn
here he had some nitroglycerin
tored. The snake was lying on the
oor. Tom. being sort Of vexed at
he snakes defeat Of the former t
ipbt aimed kick at it.