The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-28
The Bear and
The Boy

About two hundred years ago a
rich. powerful nobleman named Leo
| pold was duke of the province of Lor-
raine. The duke was very fond OF
animals.
Among his savage pets was a great
bear, whose name was Marco.
Marco was housed in a rough hut
in a corner Of his royal masters park.
He was supplied with the best of food
by the keeper of the animals. and on
state occasions he was led out by a
big iron chain and made to dance for
the amusement of Leopold's friends
Marco was fierce; and, when he
swung his shaggy head out of the door
of his hut and showed hts white teeth
in an ugly snarl, no one dared to go
near him.
One blow from his paw would have
knocked a man senseless, and those
white teeth of his were very sharp.
One cold winter night Marco. hav-
ing swallowed his supper at a few
gulps. shambled back into the farthest
corner Of his hut and curied himself
up to sleep. He was just at the fall
ing off" point when he heard a sound
at the house door. He started up
and what should he see but a small
boy, hopping first one one foot and
then on the other, and shivering with
the cold!
The boy was a homeless child, who
had lost his way In the dukes forest,
and had run into the bears hut for
shelter
Marco did not know who this new
conner might he, but he was so sur
prised that he quite forgot to growl.
Then a strange thing happened--so
strange that. If this were not true
story, | should not ask you TO believe
II, The boy ran over to Marco, and.
peering into the shaggy face, cried
joyfully; Why, you are the dukes
funny bear that / saw dancing the
other day! Wont you be my friend
| need one SO much"
The bear Marco did not understand
what the boy said. but he understood
the kind hand that stroked his head.
That hand meant, II love you" Marco
had never been loved In all of his
rough. bearish llfe-at least, not since
the days before he had been caught
in the deep forest frightened baby.
screaming for his mother.
Now "A great answering love filled
his Wild heart. He allowed the little
lad to iie down beside him. warmed
by his furry coat; and together they
slept through the night,
In the morning the boy went away,
but came back to his friend in the
evening. This happened for several
days. Marco shared his food with his
visitor. and they became fast cronies.
One day the keeper was surprised
TO see that Marco left his supper I'M
touched: and, instead of hurrying
away to feed the other animals he
STAYED to watch the bear.
Marco sat in the door OF his hut,
patiently waiting for his boy. The
keeper offered to take away the food
but he received such a fierce look that
he set II down again and hid behind
a tree to see what would happen next.
In a moment, 10 hts Amusement a
child ran up to the bear. The keeper
sprang forward to snatch him out OF
harms way; but the boy had already
thrown his arms about his faithful
friend, and in a twinkling they fin
ished the waiting supper together
Duke Leopold was brought TO the
hut to see this wond erfui pair, and
soon the story of the boy and the bear
had spread throughout the land
Duke Leopold gave orders that the
poor child should be brought to his
palace. to be educated and cared for.
The little lad made many friends in
his beautiful new home, but ] think
that he never found dearer one than
the bear Marco. Little Men and Wo-