Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-12-23
LITTLE B14AcK1E BEAR.


gether. One day Mother Bear sale
to Little Blackie, you are old enough
now to go out into the Great Wood:
and find your own food"
Very we'll. mother" said Blackie
But first tell me, please. what Is
| good to eat"
Rabbits, wrens, muskrats, and men
will do to begin with" answed Moth
er Bear. So little Blackie kissed his
mother goodbye and started out into
the Great Woods.
He had not gone very far when he
met rabbit
"Ho!" said Blackie. II believe you
are good to eat!"
"Oh, mol" said the rabbit, II am
not at all good. to eat until have
run mile"
well, start of them" said Blackie
ut is growing late. I have had nc
breakfast this morning and am get
ting pretty hungry"
So the rabbit started of and Blackle
after him, and they ran and they ran
until they came to little hole under
a big stump. and then, quicker than
you could wink, the rabbit slid into
1t and was gone. And, although Lit.
tie Blackie waited a long time, he
did not come back again. But after
while a little wren hoped almost
under his nose.
"Ho!" said Blackie, II believe you
are good to eat!"
ooh, no." said the wren, II am not
at all good to eat until have flown
to the top of that tall tree"
Very well. then" said Blackie,
"hurry up and fly there. It is grow.
ing late. and am very hungry. for
had no breakfast this morning"
So the wren few over the tree-tops
and was gone, and although Little
Blackie Bear waited long time. she
did not come back again. But pres
entity he saw muskrat on, the edge
OF nearby stream. and he ran over
to him and exclaimed
81 believe. sir. you are good to eat!'
"Oh. mol" said the muskrat. II am
snottat all good to eat until have had
a SWIM" And he slid into the water
and in few moments climbed up on
the top sof his house In midstream
and sat there.
After a while Blackie called out to
him.
well, Mr.. Muskrat. aren't you good
to eat YETI"
ooh, yes," said the muskrat. 1T
am good enough now. but it would
spoil me to swim back"
"Dear me-" sighed Blackie, there 1t
is way past dinner-time. and l have
had no breakfast yeti" And he turn
ed away from the stream feeling very
sad. But he had not gone very far
when he saw man with gun over
his shoulder, for he was a great hun
ter.
"Ho!" said Blackie, and 1t sounded
very much like a growl when he
said 1t. "Ho, believe you are good
to eat!"
"oh, no." said the man. q am not
at all good to eat until 1 have run
long way" So he threw down his
gun. for he was a great hunter and
knew Just what to do. and started to
run, and Blackie after MIN; and they
ran and they ran until they came
to little house beside road. The
door was open. so the man ran right
in, and by the time Blackie got
there he had climbed up ladder and
through hole in the ceiling and
pulled the ladder UP after him.
"Ho," said Blackie. come down
here! You are good to eat now!"
YES" said the man, 81 believe I
am very good to eat, but don't care
about being eaten. However, If you
are hungry, just step into the pam
try and help yourself to whatever
you find there. The door, you will
find is open"
So Blackle ran into the pantry. and
there he found pies and cakes and
bread and meat and jam. and lots
Of good things, and he began to eat
at once; for he had had no breakfast
and was nearly starved.
Then the man sent his wife down
stairs s(for he was great hunter,
you will remember, and knew jus.
what to do), and she shut and lock-
ed the pantry door so quickly that
Blackis was a prisoner before he
knew 1t. But he. did not mind at all.
for he was very busy eating up the
pies and cakes and all the good
things he had found in the pantry.
When he could eat no more, he
stretched out on the floor and was
very soon fast asleep.
In the morning he was awake
bright and early, hut not before the
great hunter; for. when he opened
his eyes, there he stood looking
through the little pantry window at
him.
'Ho." said Blackie. shall eat you
this morning?"
ooh, mol" said the hunter. "And you
need never trouble yourself again
about looking for food in the Great
Woods. for am going to put you
in cage and sell you To the circus
man. and he will feed you every
day!"
So he put little Blackie Bear into
a cage and sold him to the circus
man. And now. whenever you go to
het circus you may see him there:
and possibly some day you may get
there in time to see the circus man
feed him.-Elizabeth Gale, in Good
Housekeeping.
MISS ANTS TOILET.
insects are usually connected with
unoleanliness In the minds OF most
persons. yet many insects are ax-