The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1905-05-04
RESPONDED TO LOVE
FIERCE BEAR MADE FRIENDS
WITH LONELY CHILD.
Shared Food and Bed with Boy, and
Refused to Harm him-companion
ship Existed for Many Days Before
Discovery Game.

" About two hundred years ago rich
and powerful nobleman named Leo
pold was duke OF the province of I.or.
raine. says the Scottish-American.
The duke was fond of animals, and
among his savage pets was a. great
bear named Marco. This bear was
housed in rough hut in corner of
his royal masters park. lie was sup
piled with the best of food by the
i. keeper. of the animals, and on state
occasions he was led out by big
chain and made to dance for the
amusement of Duke Leopold's friends.
Marco was fierce, and when he
swung his shaggy head out of the
door of his hut and .nowed his white
teeth in an ugly snarl no one dared to
20 near him, for one blow of his paw
would have Knocked a man senseless,
and those white teoth,of his were very
arp.
One cold winter night Marco, hav-
ing swallowed his supper in few
gulps. shambled back TO the furthest
corner of his hut and Gurled himself
up to Sleep. He was Just at the fall
ing off, point when he heard sound
''at his door He, started up, and what
should he see but a small boy, hop
ping first on one foot and then on the
other, shivering with cold. The poor
child was homeless, had lost his way
in the dukes forest and had run into
the bears hut for shelter. Marco did
not know who this new conner might
be, bue he was so surprised that he
forgot to growl.
Then a strange thing happened.
| The boy ran over to Marco and peered
into his shaggy face. crying in glee,
why, you are the dukes funny bear
| that ! saw dancing the other day.
| Won't you be my friend? | need you
| so much" The bear Marco did not
understand what the boy said, but he
understood the kind hand that stroked
his head. That hand meant Il love
you;" and Marco had never been loved
in all his rough, bearish life--at least,
| not since. the days before he had been
caught in the deep forest, frightened
baby, screaming for his mother. So
now great answering love filled his
heart He allowed the little lad to lie
down beside him, warmed by his furry
coat; then together they slept through
the night. In the morning the boy
went away, but came. back to his new
friend in the evening. This happened
for several days. Marco shared his
food with his visitor and they became
great cronies.
~ One day the keeper was surprised to
see that Marco left his supper un'
Il touched, so, instead of hurrying away
to feed the other animals, he stayed
to watch the bear, which sat in the
door patiently waiting for his boy
The keeper offered to take away the
food, but he received such fierce
look that he set It down again and
hid behind a tree 70 see what would
happen next. Ina moment, to his
horror, a child ran up to. the bear
ard, when the keeper tried to snatch
him out of harms way, the boy threw
his arms about his faithful friend ant
in twinkling they finished the wait
ing supper together.
Duke Leopold was brought to tn,
hut to see this wonderful pair ant
soon the story of the boy and thu
bear spread throughout the land
Duke Leopold gave orders that th'
poor child should be brought to hi
nalace IN he educated and cared for