The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-04-10
The Good Bears
Temptation
Uncle Hiram Relates the End of
Deacon Todeer's Pet. Z

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Us NJ UGH promising career as
wi Deacon Todgers' bear had
before him." said Uncle Hiram
Remsen, mournfully, when it was
cut Off, or rather blown to
bits. The temperance people Of
our town laid the blame to whisky.
| couldn't agree with them.
Whisky properly applied ! said
to Deacon Todgers, trying to com
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 evil-minded
snake would bring to a sudden end
the career of the most cultivated
bear that ever trod the pike to fame
The deacon had caught the bear
when it was a cub and had trained it
carefully in the way good bears
should 90 There's no denying that
he made a success of his experiment
when it 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 the 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 little
touch of regret but ! haven't the
heart to blame him, seeing how few
men who pretend to intelligence can
ever be taught to play the national
game properly.
but if the bear was Exhibit \ in
the ursine family, Tom Wilson's pet
blacksuake could cash in nearly as
well at his own game \ good many
people thought the 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 to say, in
sort of a regretful manner. II the
original serpent in the Garden had
the intelligence of this cultivated
animal OF mine, | don't wonder she
yielded 10 temptation. Ever since l
began to appreciate the ability of
properly trained snake, ] have felt
that shn had been blamed too much
for that apple affair
The good old deacon, thinking
that he really needed a little slim
ulant to keep himself in condition
for doing his duty in an efficient
manner, used to drop down to Toms
tavern quite frequently in the even
ing. Naturally he took his cher
shed 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
like a snake who has done his duty
and more than his duty. But the
deacon shifted sort of scornful
For crawling reptile he said
sarcastic like, I'm not denying that
snake of yours does fairly well. But
Of course, he is not to be mentioned
in the same breath as my bear when
it comes to real animal intelligence
tom Wilson sncered at this and
allowed that the only place where
there was any belief in the bears
liability was under the dcacOns own
hat.
"a good bear, well-meaning
bear he observed. scornfully, but
for true culture not to be mentioned
with NV snake
"The deacon was almost dazed with
honest INDIGNATION at this attack on
the net he cherished like q son. lie
allowed that the snake yvonIdn't he
one. two, left at the post. if the bear
really showed what he could do.