Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-04

the country Aaowi4g of their bear: they
had heard in the aAiplning town about the
picnic and had walked the six miles be-
tween there and Peacehaven in the hope
of earning a few pennies.
Agnes was much interested in Bruno. as
the bear was called, and eager to see his
tricks; she and heT sister walked on with
the showmen. and bhe little girl kept them
until the woods weTe7reached.
Have you ever been in the woods on
very warm June day. when the sun was
shining brightly doYsn on field and meadow?
If you have you remember how delight
fully cool and shaq6yft was In there, with
the green moss and waving trees, and how
the robins were singing and the wood
peckers pecking Away for dear life. And
perhaps even in your cambria dress. Sit
ting under the shade tef tree with nothing
to fret you. you thought how dreadfuliy
warm 1t was. Butsuppose, instead OF
cool dress, you worH a heavy coat of fur
and had been stolen from your home and
friends and made to walk miles and miles
over dusty roads no matter how tired you
were, and suppose, ';besides all that, you
had a thick iron ring through your nose,
with long rope fastened to 1t, which your
master pulled very hard when you would
no. obey him! All this Is what poor Bruno
had to endure year: after year. You will
not wonder that by the time they had
reached the picnic grounds he was almost
overcome with fatigue and heat; he lay on
the ground painting for breath and Agnes
thought he was going to die, but some
kind-hearted boys brought him a bucket
full of cool spring water. and In a little
while he was well enough for the perform
ance to begin.
One of the showmen twisted the rope
firmly about his wrist and said: "Leddies
and gentlemens, / have mere zee great
trick bear. Bruno, and / will now show
you how 1t eez possible for a bear to
dance" Then he gave the rope a twitch
and began to sing-"tra-lee -la-Iee-la. ira
foo L. - L. 1o1r o1o14 n~I hn
sang Bruno actually did get on his hind
legs and gravely dance around the ring.
OF course, when the man twitched the rope
1t pulled the ring In Brunos nose so hard
that he really danced with pain, but none
of the audience thought of that
They laughed much ard thought It SO
droll that a bear should dance that he had
to do 1t again and again.
When they had made him go through 1t
for the fourth time the man said: But
look, you have killed ma poor bear! dead
Bruno. dead!) and down dropped Bruno,
as though he had been shot. His master
called him. beat him. kicked him, did ev-
erything to bring him to life, but nothing
was of any use. There he lay-dead! Until
his master called. up. Bruno. up" Then
he opened his eyese and scrambled to his
feet quite nimbly. After that he climbed a
tree. kissed his master and played on a
violin.
The performance ended by Bruno's going
with his keeper among the crowd, his little
red cap In one paw, to receive their cOntrl-
buttons.
Every one gave him something. and the
last Agnes saw of him he was going slowly
down the road on his way to the next vii
lage. where he would be obliged to go
through all his tricks again.
She kept sharp lookout for her hairy
friend when she returned to her city home
in the autumn. but she never saw him
again. and l for one hope he is dead by
this time and free from that cruel iron ring.
but he may not be. and If you should ever
chance to see him be sure and put some
thing in his little red cap.