Democratic messenger., 1911-10-14
BRUINS BANQUET.
It Was Long Drawn Out and Only
Whetted His Appetite.
THE FINISH WAS EXCITING.

After the Pork Course Gave Out
Dessert Of Cold Lead Ended the
Feast, and the Unwilling Host Vowed
Mover Again to Fool With Bear
A teamster in the employ Of one OF
the big tanneries In the west had
laughable yet trying adventure with
bear while on his way from the woods
with a load of bark. AS he emerged
from the woods with his team he
stopped TO give the mules a breathing
spell and 10 eat his dinner. which he
carried In a tin bucket lie had
scarcely opened his bucket and begun
to eat when bear came out Of the
woods Oh one side of the road, only
two or three rods in the rear Of the
wagon. Bruin sauntered along. paying
no attention to the team. but the team
ster. desirous of seeing what the bear
would do. threw bit of salt pork in
his way. The bear stopped. smelled at
the pork and gulped it down greedily.
Then the animal, noting the source
of the morsel. came toward the wagon
and rose on his launches as IL to say
that another bit OF pork would prove
acceptable.
The teamster laughed and tossed out
second piece. which bruin dcvoured.
and then he posed again But the
teamsier wanted the rest OF his dinner
himself and paid no attention TO the
shaggy intruder. The beggar. seeing
that the tcainster was no longer aware
Of his presence. snorted sharply two or
three times and walked back and forth
across the road as IL accommodating
the situation. Presently he grOwled.
but the teamstcr. thinking that the
beast would 20 away IL he got nothing
further. continued his meal.
The bear ventured near and finally
hind end Of the wagon The man was
unpleasantly surprised at this move
ment of bruins, as he was wholly
unarmed.
Accordingly he threw bit OF pork
into the road, at the same time yell
ing to the bear to direct It's attention
TO the meat The bear dropped down
and went and picked IL up. but as
soon as it was swallowed and there
was 10 more forthcoming he made an
other charge upon the wagon.
The tcamster started the mules on
ward. but knew that he could not hope
TO escape with his heavy load of bark.
An idea struck him. lie would coax
the bear on by feeding the lunch TO
him until they should come TO n
friends house mile or two along the
road Then he would get a gun and
shoot the old fellow.
The teamster sat on the bark. facing
backward. his big dinner bucket at
hand. When the bear came up with
the wagon and threatened TO climb
upon the load the teamster tossed out
piece OF pork. The supply of this
edible was limited. 50 he tossed the
beast Il slice OF bread. which fell but
ter side up. Bruin noscd it. then
licked the butter of and left il.
The next slice fell butter side down,
and the bear ignored II. Boiled eggs
and cheese Jared the same. Bruin
wanted pork The tcamstcr dealt this
out In small bits. which failed 20 salts
| fy. and the bear was growing ugly and
aggressive.
At length the tcamstcr saw his friend
at work in field and called 10 him to
run for his gun The man seemed to
realize the state of the ease and set
of on dead run for his house.
quarter of II mile distant. But the
supply of pork WAS out before he re-
turned. and the poor ieamstcr was in
a sorry plight.
The bear climbed upon the load. The
teamster tossed him the last piece OF
pork and then jumped from his wagon
and tore down the road. Bruin. prob.
ably thinking that the teamster was
fleeing with stock of coveted pork.
started after him. The terrified man
had fair start. but he stumbled over
u stone and fell full length. and the
bear was close upon him when there
came the loud report of a gun.
THE friend had come at last. The
teamster rose and looked round. There
lay his late pursucr In the road. dead
The teamster declared that never again
would he fool with bear.-IIarper
Weekly.