Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-03

a lark they CHANGED to pass by the
house Of Grandpapa Bruno. They
stopped to inquire about the veneer
able old bears health anu to say few
pleasant things to him, for though
they were mischievous and venture.
some lot of fellows, they were good at
heart, and held the aged Bruno In rev.
erence.
Grandpapa Bruno was sitting In
front of his house, smoking his pipe,
when the youth approached him.
Good evening, Grandpapa," they said
all bowling and smiling cordially and
respectfully. How do you find your.
at its full and can be seen through the
pines if you'll just take dozen steps
to your right" "Ah, good even'n to
you, young friends replied Grand.
papa Bruno. I'm as we'll as one Of
my years and possessing but three
feet can possibly be. AS for taking
the dozen steps to see the moon -
we'll, I'll wait till she comes over my
head and looks down upon me. It's
a task for lame man to walk-even
a dozen steps, you know. But-where
are you youngsters of to this night?
It's pretty late for youth to be abroad
especially If they are of mischiev.
Gus turn of mind"
"Well, Grandpapa. it's this way
explained one OF the youths, bright
faced fellow, and leaoer Of the band.
Were anxious to see something of
the world outside our own mountain
woods. We're off to hunt for adven-
lures on yonder great mountain the
one to the south"
"Ah, yes, I've been there-once,"
said Grandpapa Bruno. "And had a
most wonderful adventure, too. If
you'd like to hear about it I'll tell you
now. The evening is fine and you can
sit on the ground about me. My pipe
is done for tonight and I'm in story
telling mood. But remember this ::
Every word 1 tell YOU tonight is as
true as truth. And had exactly the
experiences I'm going to tell you
about"
"Ah, thatll be interesting" declar-
ed the half dozen youngsters in a
breath. "And We'll sit very quietly
here on the ground, Grandpapa and
listen to every word you speak. We've
always known you were an exception
/ dl UedI Ill your SouIu, duO WO 1CCi
fattered that you will take us into
your confidence. 1t proves to us that
you are not so strait laced and par.
ticular about young fellows going on
adventurous trips as are so many OF
our older bears. And now, we're all
seated and you may begin"
"Well, my young friends, L was
very much of the sams turn as your
selves when I was your age" began
Grandpapa Bruno, putting his pipe
and tobacco pouch on a convenient
stump.
All, we knew It," cried two Of the
young bears.
eyes, I was forever hunting adven-
tures," admitted Grandpapa Bruno.
"And I found it over on yon great
mountain toward the south-the one
you have planned to visit this night.
Well, it happened in this way. my
| finding the adventure of which I shall
tell you. had been curious to see
| the world outside my own domain, and
I went off against my fathers and
mothers wishes. I had beautiful
young wife and two cubs, and they
went with me. My young wife was
opposed to our going, but seeing that
| l was determined, she was too faith
full to allow me to go alone. So, with
our two little ones, we set out one
fine morning just as the sun was COM
ing into sight. All day long we trav-
eled, only stopping now and then to
eat honey from the wild bees hives,
or to quench our thirst at some brook.
And 1 remember we did pause long
enough to allow our little ones to take
a nap. Then, on and on we went, ever
toward that great mountain which
seems to hold such temptation for
venturesome youth.
"Well, toward evening we reached
the very heart of that mountain, and
on the way we passed several paths
not made by bears or other four-footed
creatures. There were strange look.
! ing footprints, and felt sure we We're
to meet with something exciting and
novel. But nothing happened just
then. And as the cubs were tired out,
and their mother bit weary, we de-
| cided to lay us down to rest and
sleep. l fell into deep slumber al
most Immediately ana so did the cubs.
But my wife said she felt SO thirsty
|
side and drink from spring we had
passed on our way up.
"But hardly had she left when.
heard a noise more sudden and sharp
than thunder and saw "a flash like
lightning. Then heard my dear
wife's shrek and groans. I ran with
all possible speed to her, and there
saw her lying, welterilg in her own
blood. ran to her, but as I was
about to lick a great ugly wound dis
covered in her side, and thus stop the
bleeding, another Of those terrific re
ports sounded in my ears, and heard
something go whizzing past my head
ran into thicket nearby, for knew
that whatever the cause of my dsaI
Mrs. Bruno's wound, it was also aim
ed at me, and it was my duty to my
cubs, and to their wounded mother, to
save myself. If possible. So behind
the cluster Of bushes hid, and saw
several tall. two-footed creatures come
to the spot where my poor wife was
dying. I could tell from the groans
which escaped her and the look in heI
eyes that she would soon pass out Of