Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-11-22

started rabbit. II ran into a fodder /
stack in an old corniicld. one OF the /
boys went 10 the stack 10 kick IL and /
scare the rabbit ou,. The other two |
stood ready with their guns 10 shoot |
1t when II jumped ont.
The d, r. Kicked The rabbit jumped |
out on one side. hut neither boy shot |
it, Tor on the o,ner side OF the stack |
a BIG bear tumhled our and surveyed |
the youthful hunters i'm establishment !
The rabbit got away. SO did the boys. |
They came across Farmer Weaver
In the course ~ their flight. ard paused
long enough 10 ;eu him about the bear
they had disturbed ia the farmers
fodde. stack. Farmer Weaver hurried
away to f0l Jim Wagner. the bear
hunter. liza lived just beyond the
1cld where The bear had come ont OF
the stack ana scared the three boys
but Farmer Weaver took a wide cir
cult around The field AMI came 10
Wagner's house from the far side
When he got There hc found that Wag-
ner was ont hunting
Farmer Weaver left Wagncr's great
j. disappointed. ami had not got as far
as the road when Mrs. Wagner saw
him tearing back and into the house
and siammng the door behind him.
The bear .s comiu'r' he cried.
Mrs. Wagner looked out of the win
dow. ana. sure enough. the bear was
slouchiu- leisurcir across the door
yard. headed toward the garden. Wac-
q heavy block OF wood. with long
upright handle fastened in 't. used FOR
pounding clothes in the wash Armed
with this She rushed from the house.
took a short cut around and came ont
ahead OF The bear Erun stopped
when he scw her and put up a savage
front. showing hiS teeth and snarling
rad swapping lis jaws Mrs. Wagner
was not turned from her course by
the fierce demonstration made hy tho
bear. ana shr advanced rapidly toward
him. her formidable weapon raised
above her head. ready to fan upon the
bear when She cot within reach.
Tho bear. seeing that De had not
frightened his enemy. and evidently
not liking the appearance OF the up
lifted cl0tAcs-pounder. turned and
shufiicd quickly back toward the house
Mrs. Wagner had not stopped TO shut
the door when she rushed from the
house 90 Intercept the bear. and the
latter. seeing IL open. and perhaps i'm
aginiuc that 81 promised him refuge
within. made straight FOR 81.
Farmer Weaver. Ga his excitement
and establishment "a the sudden move
nent OF Wagner's wife against the
bear. had stood still by the window
watching the proceedings outside and
had not thought Of the open door.
when De saw the bear approaching the
house he moved and started for the
bear The bear was SO close. then.
I thou-h Thar Weaver did not venture
20 go ont OF the door. and. not even
7 stopping long enough 10 shut il. he
Z rushed Cor door az the other side.
made his escape from the house and
I'm his haste left that door open behind
I him. The bear entered at the one
I door. but Mrs. Wagner was close on
/ his trail. and he hurried right ON
4 through and out ~ the door az the
other side Of the house. Wagner's
wife. with her weapon still aloft. close
behind him. Farmer Weaver had rur
toward the barn and had nearly
/ reached 10 when the bear went hurry
ing ont OF the house. Weaver looked
over his shoulder. saw the bear headed
straight ia his direction and only thre,
rods away: got the barn door OpeI
and rushed inside. closing the door bc
hind him. There was no fastening I,
the door and {, would not stay shut
and Farmer Weaver made doulie-Quicl
time mp the ladder leading TO the hay
NOW.
There was a high fence TO be cllmbe,
whichever way The bear turned. nm
less he turned toward his pursuer. an,
that cid not seem 10 De the thing d
wanted 20 DO. lie would not hav
time either. 10 scale the fence befor
his enemy would be upon him wit
that ponderous weapon. Whether th
bear reasoned that way or not. h
chose 10 take the chances of enterin
the barn and ne did Mrs. Wagner 10
lowed him so close that he had 20
only little way up the ladder leadln
10 the NOW. and with one sweep q
her clothes FOUNDER she knocked hii
sprawiing back 10 the floor. AZ III
same moment Farmer Weaver got IN
NOW window open. dropped from
20 the ground ana hurried homewar,
Before the bear could gather himsel
from the blOx- Mrs AVagpe~ had .,f,.c
him she followed Il with another whic
, crushed his skull. and when jim Wa;
ner came horne from his hunt, an hor
, or so later. he found a nice. fat bes
: | WING dnnd In tho hnrn