The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-02

and making the people laugh at me-
said the elder in severe tones The
bear really isn't SO much to blame as
you, but If he shows up at the meet
ing tomorrow l will fill him with
| buckshot'
Tom sort of laughed at this and
| treated II as big joke. The intelligent
| bear, who was standing nearby, heard
! the elders words and 1t was plain that
they didn't appeal at all to his sense
OF humor. 1 warned Tom Wilson that
hard.
The Elder and Uncle Allison Foote
can't bring shotguns to the revival
meetings as regular habit, | told
rom, but 1t is almost certain they will
tomorrow. Let the good bear take a
| day off at the laughing game. Then,
II you make sure they have left their
guns at home, send him to the meet
ing the following day. Hess too good
q bear to take chances with.
But no. 1t was the bears duty to
| laugh at the elder and he must do his
duty. even if he got filled with lead. If
the bear was shot, Tom declared, he
! would bring suit for damages and may
be get more than the bear was worth.
When the bear heard these unkind, un-
| grateful words, he looked at Tom in a
/ u6dTLDrOken II.
You'll drave that good bear away
| from you, / warned Tom. For years
he has served you faithfully and your
ingratitude is sharper than a serpent's
tooth, If you expose him to danger
rather than let him take day off.
But Tom was set in his ways. The
next afternoon he led the bear over to
the revival grounds. When they were
near them Tom pointed to the bear the
way he should go.
THE bear gave a pathetic, saddened
look at Tom. Then he hesitated. But
| the habit of obedience was strong. He
trudged sorrowfully toward the revival
grounds.
But as he left he turned around and
gave look back at Tom. And it was
plain from that look, while not yet
sour, was curdling fast under Tom S
cruel treatment.
"A moment later, we heard shot.
Then the bear came racing back. He
was bleeding, yet it was evident he
was not badly hurt. But he was a
very mad bear. Uncle Allison Foote
had not waited for the bear to break
up the camp meeting, but had giver
him a dose of buckshot as soon as
the bear showed his honest, old face
hear the revival grounds.
My cherished pet cried Tom
come to my arms while see how
badly you are hurt and what are the
chances for a damage suit
"The bear was coming all right
though not exactly the way Ton
meant. 1t was plain that he blamed
Tom rather than Uncle Allison FOL
his injuries. He dashed right at Ton
and when near him gave blow witt
a big paw that ripped half of Toms
| scalp off.
"Then, with the tears streaming
down his cheeks, the bear hiked in the
direction of the mountains. He didnt
mind his wounds, but his heart wa!
broken by mans ingratitude ant
heartlessness. He was plainly turning
ing into exile.
AFTER a little Tom Wilson came to
The intelligent bear was just disap
pearing out of sight.
"I've spent years teaching tina
bear Tom murmured, sorrowfully
and now he belts me over the heaC
and runs away. Ingratitude, tn!
name is black bear"
g II you hadn't exposed that faith
full bear to wounds and possible death,
1 said, severely, he would have neith-
er belted nor abandoned you. Yol
betrayed your pet for the sake of {
| paltry fake-off'
Tom was too banged upgto care Il
argue. But he looked hurt. 4. -s.-.....
Don't accuse me unjustly' he an
swered jin saddened tones. The wax
was running it, there wasn't anything
| paltry about that rake-off.