Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-12-06
DAFFLED THE BEAR
Exciting Domestic Event In the
Early Days OF Vermont.
TALE OF AN ALL NIGHT SIEGE.
An Ugly Visitor That Gave Herself q
Warm Reception In a Settlers Cabin,
q Quick Retreat by tho inmates and
q Display Of Presence OF Mind.

Two OF the first English settlers In
the town OF Addison. VT, were John
Strong aud Zadok Everest Early in
the fall Of 1870 Strong and Everest
had TO 20 TO Albany for provisions
Pioneer women seldom worried, but
for some reason Molly Strong felt I'M
easy after her husband had gone. She
and her sons got In a good supply OF
fuel and did the chores early.
When they cnhc back 10 the cabin
the baby was crying for his supper,
and Mrs. Strong gave him cup OF
warm milk and sat him down in front
OF the fireplace. She had just swung
the kettle Of samp from the fire when
she heard noise. Looking round, she
saw the blanket that served for door
swing aside as a great bear thrust her
head into the room. The children
screamed. and the bear backed out in
haste, but Molly Strong knew that she
would return
Quick. children" she said as she
caught up the baby. "Climb the lad.
der Let sister so up first. now John
ME. now Frank-hurry, hurry!'
When the others were safe In the loft
Mrs. Strong climbed up with the baby
and drew the ladder after her. She
laid II across the hole. and then she
and the children sat down and waited.
The floor OF the loft was made OF
round poles laid closely together, but
not fastened IL was dangerous to
move about on 1t.
Peering down through the pole floor,
they listened and watched for the bear
TO come back They could hear her
moving round the house, and once
big paw crashed through the oiled pa
per at the window hole. Finally she
came TO the door and. after blinking
uncertainty ut the fire. walked in. Two
cubs followed her. The old bear pres
emily upset the pan OF milk on the ta-
BILE. and the cubs began TO lap II up
eagerly.
I'D like taste OF that myself"
Frank whispered.
80 would l." Johnnie replied. I'm
awful hungry"
Next. the bear found the pudding
kettle and took mouthful OF the boil
ing samp. Jumping back with cry
OF pain and rage. she broke the pot
with swift blow OF her paw. and then
sat up on her launches growing and
whining. and began to dig the pud-
ding out of her mouth. The cubs sat
and watched her In grave wonder.
That was too much for the children,
who burst into laughter Instantly the
bear gave loud roar and rushed to-
ward the hole with the ladder across
It. Mrs. Strong gave hurried orders:
Get me a pole. Frank. quick! Now.
get another. Punch her IL she tries to
climb up. DO careful Don't fall
through"
The baby. awakened by the noise. be-
gan TO wall. and Mrs. Strong soothed
him with one hand while with tho
pole In the other she warded of the
bear. The little girl chung crying TO
her mothers skirts. but the boys each
had long pole and prodded the bear
through the rungs Of the ladder. The
big brute finally shufiicd of toward the
door. She pulled down the blanket
and tore II into shreds; then she went
out. followed by her cubs.
"She's goner Johnnie said. do
you think she'll come back. mother?"
II expect she will. son. but we can
manage her-if we keep awake"
II won't go to sleep" groaned John
ME. I'm too hungry"
Nevertheless. the silent wait in the
dImly lighted loft made them all
drowsy. and before the bear returned
Mrs. Strong knew by their heavy
breathing that the children were
asleep 1t was near midnight when
the bear came In and renewed her ef-
forts 10 reach the loft Mrs. Strong
raped her sharply with her pole. and
there was roar that brought the boys
TO their feet.
Dazed and only half awake. Johnnie
ran across the loft. His foot slipped
into a gap between the poles and as he
fell other poles spread apart Down he
went into the room with the bear and
her cubs. The bear did not see him
fall. but she faced about at the noise
and started toward him
Quick as fash. Mrs. Strong brought
her pole down on the nearest cub and
pinned him TO the floor. The bear
turned TO rescue her squealing on
spring. and Frank drew his brother up
into the loft unharmed.
No injury TO herself could have
weakened the old bears courage ike
the attack on her cub, and although
az intervals she slouched In and out or
the cabin. he made no further at
tempt to reach the loft As II grew
light Mrs. Strong. watching through
the chInks the wall. saw her lead
her cubs across the clearing into the
woods
As soon as she thought II safe she
lowered the ladder and the family came
down. The, saw no more OF the bear.
and when Mr. Strong came home he
wssteh 1aaF