Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-09

up with his gun quick es Hash. aimed at his eyes an let Ter flicker. Blew a lot O smoke an bird shot an paper waddin' right up int his face. The panther he lost his whiskers an one eye an got his hide full O shot an fell off the, tree like ripe apple an run fer his life. Thought he'd never see nuthin' c'u'd growl an spit S pow erful es thet boy. Never c'u'd bear the. sight uv man after thet. Allwus made him gag an spit t think O the man critter. Went off tew his own folks an tor O the boy at spit fire an smoke an growled so't almos' tore his ears oil. An now whenever they hear a gun go of they allwus think it's the man critter growlin'. An they gag an spit an look es if it made 'em sick t the stomach. An the man folks they didn't hev no good 'pinion O the pan thers after thet. Hain't never been frien's any more. Fact is man he can be any kind w beast, but pan ther he can't be nuthin' but jest panther"
 Then, too, as we lay there in the firelight Uncle Eb told the remarkable story of the gingerbread bear. He told it slowly, as if his invention were se- verely taxed. And here is the story:
 "Once they wuz boy got lost. Was goin' cross lots t play with mother boy an he'd t go through strip O woods. Went of the trail t chase butterfly an got lost. He'd his kite an cross gun, an he wandered all over till he was tired an hungry. Then he lay down t cry on bed O moss. Purity quick they was big black bear come along.
 "'What's the matter? said the bear.
 Hungry says the boy.
 "'Tell ye what I'll dew says the bear. If yell scratch my back fer me I'll let ye cut piece O my tail of t eat
 Bears tail, ye know, hes lot O meat on it-hearn tell it was gran good fare. So the boy he scratched the bears back, an the bear he grinned an made his paw go patitty pat on the ground-it did feel so splendid. Then the boy tux his jackknife an begun t cut off the bears tail. The bear he flew mad an growled an growled so the boy he stopped an didn't dast cut no more.
 < Hurts awful says the bear. Couldn't never stan it. Tell ye what I'll dew. Ye scratched my back, an now I'll scratch your'n.'"
 Gee whizw said I.
 "Yes, sir, that's what the bear said," Uncle ED went on. "The boy he up an run like a nailer. The bear he laugh ed hearty an' scratched the ground like Sam Hill an flung the dirt higher'n his head. ia. =
 "'Look here,' says he as the boy stopped, T jes' swallered . piece O mutton. Run yer hand int my throat, an I'll let ye hey it.
 "The bear he opened his mouth an showed his big teeth"
 "Whew-' I whistled.
 "Thet's eggszac'ly what hs done" said Uncle Eb. He showed 'em plain. The boy was scairter n weasel. The bear he jumped up an down on his hind legs can'. laughed an hollered an shook himself.
 "'Only jes' foolin'," says he when he see the boy was goin' t run ag'in. What ye 'fraid uvY'
 "'Can't bear t stay here.' says the boy. Hess yell keep yer mouth shet.'
 An the bear he shet his mouth an p'inted to the big pocket n his fur coat an winked an motioned t the boy.
 'The bear he reely did hev a pocket on the side uv his big fur coat. The boy slid his hand in up t the elbow. Wha' dye s'pose he found?'
 Dunno" said I.
 "Sumthin' t eat" he continued. Boy liked it best of all things"
 l guessed everything I could think of. from cookies to beefsteak, and gave up.
 Gingerbread" said he soberly at length.
 Thought ye said bears couldn't talk" I objected.
 "Waal. the boy d fell asleep, an he'd only dreamed O the bear," said Uncle ED. "Ye see. bears can talk when boys are dreamin' uv 'em. Come day. light. the boy got up an ketched crow; broke his wing with the cross gun. Then he tied the kite string on t the crows leg. an the crow hopped along an the boy followed him. an bime by they come out n a cornheld. where the crow d been used t comin' fer his dinner"
 What come O the boy!" said I.
 Went home." said he. gaping, as he lay on his back and looked mp at the tree tops. An he allwus said bear was good comp'ny if he'A only keep his mouth shet-jes' like sohe folks I've hearn uv."
 "An' what come O the crow?"
 Went t the or crow doctor an got his wing fixed" he said drowsily.
 And in a moment I heard him snor- ing.
 We had been asleep long time when the barking of Fred woke us. could | just see Uncle ED in the dim light of the fire kneeling beside me. the rifle in his hand.
 "I'Il nll ye full O lead if ye come any nearerr' he shouted.