The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1914-01-24
BAFFLED THE Bear
Exciting Domestic Event In the
/ Early Days Of Vermont.
TALE OF AN ALL NIGHT SIEGE.

An Ugly Visitor That Gave Herself a
Warm Reception In Settlers Cabin,
q Quick Retreat by the Inmates and
. Display OF Presence Of Mind.
Two OF the first English settlers In
the town OF Addison, Vt. were John
Strong und Zadok Everest, Early In
the fall OF lTTG Strong aud Everest
had to 10 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 Sous got In II 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 Il 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 tho blanket thqt served for II door
swing aside as u 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, 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 fnstened 1t was dangerous to
move about on II.
Peering down through the pole door,
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 to 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 Ia.
BILE. and the cubs began to lap It up
eagerly.
I'D like n taste OF that myself"
Frank whispered.
80 would l." Johnnie replied "I'm
awful hungry"
Next. the bear found the pudding
kettle and took mouthfui OF the boil
Ing samp. jumping back with cry
or pain and rage. she broke the pot
with swift blow OF her paw, and then
sat up on her launches, growing and
winning. 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. quick! Now.
get another. Punch her II she tries to
climb up. Be careful. Don't fail
through"
The baby. awakened by the noise. be
gan to wall. and Mrs. Strong soothcd
him with one hand while with the
pole In the other she warded Oft the
bear. The little girl chung crying 10
her mothers skirts. but the boys each
had long pole and prodded the bear
through the rungs OF the ladder. The
big brute finally shuffied or toward the
door. She pulled down the blanket
and tore It 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 wlll son. but we can
manage her-if we keep awake"
Il won't go to sleep" groaned John
ME. I'm too hungry
Nevertheless. the silent walt I'm the |
dimiy lighted loft made them all |
drowsy. and before the bear returned |
Mrs. Strong knew by their heavy
breathing that the children were |
ssleep. It 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 anG only half awake. Johnnie
Into q gap between the poles, and as he
fell other poles spread apart. Down he
went into the room with the bear ana
her cubs. The bear did not see him
fall, but she faced about at the noise
and started toward him.
Quick as a fash, Mrs. Strong brought
her pole down on the nearest cub and
pinned him TO the floor. The bear
turned to rescue her squealing OF
spring. and Frank drew his brother up
into the loft unharmed.
No injury to herself could have
weakened the old bears courage like
the attack on her cub, and although
at Intervals she slouched In and out OF
the cabin. she made no further at
tempt to reach the loft. As 1t grew
light. Mrs. Strong. watching through
the chinks In the wall, saw her lead
her cubs across the clearing into the
woods.
As soon as she thought IL safe she
lowered the ladder and the family came
down. They saw no more OF the bear.
and when Mr.. Strong came home he
made the cabin secure with door
made from Eastwood slabs and hung
on wooden hinges. - Youths COmpan-
lon.
Beware OF the man who does not re-
turn your blow He neither forglves
you nor allows you 10 forgive your
Bernard Shaw.
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