The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-11-14
.BAFFLED THE BEAR
Exciting Domestic Event In the
Early Days of Vermont.
TALE OF AN ALL NIGHT SIEGE.
IN Ugly Visitor That Gave Herself a
Warm Reception In a Settlers Cabin,
Quick Retreat by the inmates and
Display OF Presence Of Mind.

Strong and ZadOk Everest. Early In
the fall OF 1916 Strong and Everest
had 10 go to Albany for provisions.
Pioneer women seldom worried, but
for some reason Molly Strong felt un-
easy after her husband had gone. She
and her sons got I'm good supply of
fuel and did the chores early.
When they came back TO the cabin
the baby was crying for his supper,
and Mrs. Strong gave him a 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 "A door
swing aside as 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 go up first, now John
ME. now Frank-hurry, hurryr'
When The others were safe i'm the lott
Mrs. Strong climbed up with the baby
and drew the ladder after her. She
laid 1t 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 1t was dangerous to
move about on IT,
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 n
big paw crashed through the oiled pa
per at the window hole Finally she
came 10 the door and. after blinking
uncertainty at the fire. walked in Two
cubs followed her The old bear pres
emily upset the pan Of milk on the tn
Bile. and the cubs began To lap il up
eagerly.
I'D like taste of that myself"
Frank whispered.
$50 would H. 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 pole. Frank, quickl Now.
get another. Punch her IL she tries to
climb up. BE careful. Don't fall
through"
The baby, awakened by the noise, he
gan to wall, and Mrs. Strong soothcd
him with one hand while with the
pole in the other she wardcd Off the
bear The little girl clung crying to
her mothers skirts, but the boys each
had long pole and prodded the bear
big brute finally shutllcd Off toward the
door She pulled down the blanket
and tore II into shrcds; then she went
out followed by her cubs.
shes gone" Johnnie said DO
you think she'll come back. mothcr?"
'T expect she will, son, but we can
manage her IL we keep awake"
II won't so to sleep" groaned John.
ME. I'm too hungry"
Nevertheless. the silent wait in the
dimly lighted loft made them all
drowsy, aud before the bear returned
Mrs. Strong knew by their heavy
breathing that the children were
asleep 1t was near midnight when
the bear came i'm and renewed her cf.
forts To reach the left. Mrs. Strong
raped her sharply with her pole, and
there was n 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 rs 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 MS flash. Mrs Strong brought
her pole down on the nearest cub and
pinned him to the floor. The bear
turned TO rescue her squcaling or
spring. and Frank drew his brother mp
into the loft unharmcd
= No injury 10 herself could have
wea kened the old bears courage like
the attack >on her cub. and although
NJ intervals she slouchcd I'm and out OF
the cabin. she made no further mt.
tempt TO reach the loft As IL grew
light. Mrs Strong. watching through
the chinks I'm 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 MIR Strong came home he
made the cabin secure with q door
made from basSwood slabs ana hung
on wooden hinges - Youths Compan
ION.