The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-22

mother had forbidden his leaving the
cave while she was away. There is
danger lurking in the woods" she had
explained to Babe. Danger. the sort we
fear, is always on the outlook for such
creatures as we are. So, while mamma is
away you must stay close indoors, or
some evil might befall you"
And with this warning still In his ears,
Babe sat pouting and bemoaning the fact
that the sun was warm and bright and
the wind blowing freshly over the noun
tain side, while he, poor little cub, sat In
the dark, cold cave, awaiting his mothers
return.
After while Babe decided to go to
the cave door and look out. There
could be no possible danger In his doing
that All he wanted was a touch Of
sunbeam and breath Of the breeze he
coveted SO much. So he got both; and
then the desire for more took possession
of him.
'I'll go into the yard-where the sun
pours down so warmly" he said. And
I'll stay close to the cave door. There
can be no harm In my getting outside
few moments"
So, into the yard he went and pretty
soon he was tumbling about in the warm
sunshine, playing ball with round stone
he found close to the cave door. He
tossed the ball into the air; then he
would catch 1t in his fat paws. Again,
he would roll the ball down the side of
the mountain for a few PAGES, rushing
after and rescuing 1t before 1t had time
to get far away. But as he played with
the round stone-about the size Of an or
binary rubber ball that boys play with
he forgot to keep close to the cave en-
trance, and once when the ball rolled
farther away than had been his intention
to let 1t go, he ran after 1t and failed to
get 1t, for 1t tumbled over a little precip-
itous bank on the steep mountain side.
For a moment Babe watched the ball at
the bottom of the mountain crevice.
Then saying to himself. '.Oh, what does 1t
matter If run round by the path and 60
down the mountain side to reach the spot
where my plaything has rolled? ! may
be disobeying mamma-but little thing
like that Is not very naughty"
Once so far away from the cave, Babe
decided 1t was great sport to go out by
himself, and knowing that 1t would be
sometime yet before his mother would
return home, he ran about on the noun
tainside, making a loud noise. 'Ha, ha,
hal" he cried, gaily, tossing the ball
about. Just as he was thinking 1t time
to return to the cave, a soft football
was heard behind him, and, turning
about, Babe beheld a great tall mana
creature that was strange to him. and
who frightened him terribly. With lit
tie wall of fear the cub ran down the
mountainside as fast as he could go,
getting farther and farther away from
the cave at every step.
The great tall man who had frightened
Babe SO much followed after him, carry
ing gun over his shoulder. He tried
repeatedly to get a good aim at the nee
ing little bear, SO that he might bring
him down with a bu4iet; but Babe dart
ed from one boulder to another, then
behind clumps of bushes and trees, so
rapidly that the hunter could not get a
good chance at him.
After running till almost out Of breath,
Babe stole n glance behind him, and, to
his great relief, the horrible hunter was
nowhere in sight. Evidently Babe had
outrun him, and now he was somewhere
on the mountainside, still looking for