Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-12-25
Grandpa Colonel. tell us a story :"
BY ELEANOR 9. GARDNER.


We'll. we'll suppose tell you
about bear
sixty or more years ago. In the days
when California was only poor farofY
Mexican California and nothing more
and was very young officer in I'm.
rle Sans little army once found my
self stationed at n certain inland town.
II II collection Of adobe or mud huts
deserved the name. situated about six
~ miles distant from the then scarce.
~ larger village Of Yerba Buena. the
now mighty city of San Francisco.
I'VE were doing garrison duty. sin
gle company under old Captain Jack
b.. an easy going commander. who
gave US little TO do aud plenty Of time
to do II In.
so. as the hours hung somewhat
heavily upon our hands. Captain Jack
and 1.-THE only officers ut the post
took to hunting and shooting. with
now and then little fishing by way
Of change to vary the monotony Of our
soldier life. Countless hocks OF wild
geese. brant and lesser waterfowl
came by thousands to banquet upon
the wild oat fields and make their
reedy homes among the wide marshes
which separate the firmer land about
sonoma from the spreading bays that
terminate In the Golden Gate.
I'VE had goose for dinner. brant for
breakfast and cold duck for supper
and lunch till old Jack declared his
belief that he should quack IL we ate
any more such fare.
"One morning had been very sue
cessfnl at duck shooting. and when
! tired OF the sport proceeded TO
shoulder my piece and secure my
game for the homeward tramp OF three
or four miles.
AS | lost sight of the shooting
grounds and began to enter the live
oak groves scattered here and there
along the higher ridges bordering the
marshy edges Of the bay found my
self suddenly developed In one OF
those dense mists which sweep up at
certain seasons from the sea. like the
ocean vapors OF Newport summer
afternoon.
"As had no special path aud was
travelling only by familiar landmarks.
now rendered inds,inct by the hoary
haze | was Obliged to move more slow
Is and soon felt satisfied that ! had
missed my way.
"Reaching at length u space open
upon three sides. the fourth being thin
~ wooded. but without n particle OF
underground. paused for moment
{" survey. so far as my limited horizon
would permit. n tract Of country which
was new 10 me- Moreover. | hoped 10
hear the sound Of running water.
which. as knew the general direction
Of the streams. would serve To guide
me In taking what sailors call fresh
departure.
while listening iniently ! heard
from the wooded side Of my narrow.
visible world sort of pounding, as
II some man with large boots and no
coriis had found his feet unpleasantly
cold and was endcavoring 10 warm
them by stamping In u manner which
betokened an utter disregard for shoe
leather.
Then came wheeze like that OF II
gruff giant troubled with the asthma
aud finally mixed compound Of
rriInching and mumbllng as II huge
hog were eating hard corn My atten
tion now being thoroughly aroused by
80 remarkable combination OF sounds.
peercd into the gloom until fancied
could perceive the vague. misty form
Of some creature stirring up the fog
within twenty feet of the spot an
which | had halted.
1T is-no. IL can't bc-yes. but u Is
grizzly. Don't ! wish ] was at home.
That's what ! thought. You sre. ]
hadn't come bear hunting. ! was duck
carrying home a bear even II should
kill one. and the more looked AZ Mr.
Grizzly the better satisfied ! was that
he had every convenience for killing
and carrying me.
"All had ever heard or read of his
ukis, WY St7thi'7u W toEh $500
my mind
"If I had been examined on this sub
ject In natural history just then ]
should have gone up 60 the head OF
my class Immediately.
Eve stood looking nj each other. II
was evidently surprise on both sides.
stared very hard at the bear with
wide open eyes. while the bear stared
very hard at me with wide open mouth.
IL think the bear got over his aston
ishmenf first. and. what Is worst. ]
rould see he wasn't at all alarmed. He
stopped eating. gave sniff and a sort
OF interrogatory who are your grunt
and then took step toward me.
"As l am ~ retiring disposition
ard have never hren willing to In
trude myself into company where
have not been invited. ] felt some dell
cacy IN continuing 10 be witness Of
his rcpast and was accordingly with
drawing In ms transformations way as
rood manners world permit. when II
=. n. Aa...s - eolI