Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-17
Artie and His 7 eddy Bear
BY Maud Walker

orders / know what I'm about Now.
get on your pegs and come into the woods
with me. I'm going to show you the metal
I'm made Of. Wen likely have many
strange and blood-curdling encounters be-
fore we are ready to return to the con-
fines OF the town"
AS Teddy Bear made this long and
threatening speech Artie felt his heart
pounding inside his warm little jacket, and
his poor knees knocked together till they
ached from the severe contact with each
other Oh, to be at home again in his
mothers arms the safest place on the
earth. Artie thought now.
''Come, get a move on you. feilah." said
Teddy Bear. leaping from the bench to
the ground and turning his cleaning eyes
on Artie. Then he opened his mouth, show
ing two rows OF white, sharp teeth, tipped
one ear forward and winked an eye boldly.
Come, no hanging back, friend. Be game,
or withdraw to the nursery again"
Artie felt a blush creep up over his round
cheeks. To thus be made sport of-and by
a made-believe bear-was too much. II
hurt his pride.
I'm not in the nursery now. II you
please, SIR" he demonstrated, trying to put
on a brave face. IT haven't been there
for two years. I'm seven years old, am.
SEVEN! Do you hear that, Teddy Bear?''
well, you are as afraid of adventure
as a little girl of Ave." grinned Ted, again
winking that awful eye. 'If you weren't
you'd get a move on you and come along
with me. No, you're a sort of girl-boy;
the kind that likes to sit in mammals lap
and hear fairy stories. All. 1 know your
kind, Scared. afraid! EDWARDS"
I'm not a coward" declared Artie, al
most beginning to cry. II am a brave boy
mamma says So"
prove it to me-" said Ted drwly. "Come
into the woods with me and learn how
to be NOT AFRAID"
'But-but-Fm hungry" faltered Artie,
trying to find some excuse for going home.
Suppose we go home first and have some
milk and cakes then to the-the-woods,
if-IF you still want to go hunting danger A."
mo, we go to the woods first, then, like
the hunters OF old, after our adventures,
we'll return to our home and enjoy our
meal as we tell those who gather about
us all the wonders Of our hunt" declared
Ted. emphatically. EITHER you go with
me now. or I'll think you a little sissy. a
SCARED BOY. Understand
Artie got down from the bench as II to
accompany Ted into the woods. But all
the while he had It in his mind to give
the bear the slip and run for home as fast
as his legs-which still trembled so--could
carry him. 'All right, Teddy Bear" he
said In a faint voice. you lead the way
and I'll try--try-to-follow. But mind
He had meant to say Don't lead me into
any danger" but he saw the look of scorr
in Ted's eyes and did not complete the
sentence. go on" he commanded, falter.
ingly.
you take the lead young fellah," ordered
Teddy Bear, in a commanding voice. &c
straight toward that wooded hill to oul
left. Don't follow the beaten path-therer r,
no adventures TO be found in beaten paths
but take through the underbrush and deaf
leaves. Ten to one Wen find a panther oil
q lion before we've gone many miles
Then we'll have some excitement
/ It will be the best one win Wen have tC
: fight with all that's in u.s.
Artie heard the words OF Teddy Bear a.
though they had been Numbered from the
heavens. Pantherl Lion! Fight! He fe,
his little round cheeks grow cold and hi
heart humping against his warm littl'
jacket. What was this awful bear goinl
to lead him into3 Oh. that his papa haC
given him a toy engine or an expires,
I wagon Instead Of this animal! II he eve
| got safely home again he'd see to It tina
1 this Teddy Bear should be given away, yes
given away.
Not daring to run homeward now, Artie
turred in the direction or the wooded hill
I Ted had pointed out as their destination
:, His legs cramped and ached as he dragged
h himself through the weeds and dead leaves
= that impeded his progress At every turn
n he watched for a chance to escape from
y his follower. but not onee did Ted leave hi