Year: 1879

Her mother was busy in the house, but
every few minutes she glanced out, to sec
that Sadie did not stray into the woods
But getting absorbed in a piece Of work
she was trying to finish before dark, she
had neglected for some time to see what
the child was doing. Suddenly, she
heard her shout. Mamma Oh. mamma,
come quick and see! See my little dog
giel" Her mother hurried to the door,
and what was her astonishment to see
Sadie coming across the clearing, hugging
close to her breast little bear. But be-
fore she had time 10 say word to the
child, her attention was called 10 another
direction by low, angry growl. She
looked up, and there she saw, coming
with great strides towards them, the
mother bear, in pursuit OF her cub. She
had just time to seize Sadie, with the lit
tie bear, and pull them both inside the
door and draw the bolt, when she heard
the old bear scratching outside. She was
almost paralyzed with fright, for she was
not sure but that the bear, in her anger,
might scratch through the door with her
sharp claws, as the noise which she was
making seemed terrible to her. Suddenly
new horror took possession of her.
Supposing the boys should decide to re-
turn before their father, as they some
times did, or supposing, even, their father
should be with them, especially if he
hadn't his rife, She looked behind the
door TO see if the rifle was in It's place,
and there it was Oh, what should she
do, Every minute her situation seemed
more terrible. Sadie and the little bear
seemed very composed and happy on the
rug in front of the stove, but the two
mothers, one in the house, and the other
outside, were in great distress-each on
account of her young.


Al last, after exhausting every device
she could think of, new plan suggested
itself. She wondered why she hadn /
thought of it at first. She had heard
that bears liked honey. Perhaps, thought
she, they like molasses. SO she set a
large milk pan in the middle Of the room,
and poured the entire contents of the
molasses Jug into it. Then she put the
little bear on the floor, and placed Sadie
close to the window in the bedroom
which opened on the opposite side OF the
house from where the bear was, and IN
the direction of the camp, and told hcr
not to move from the place She then
looked to see if the fastenings Of the
window were removed, so that It would
90 up easily. Then charging Sadie again
not TO move. she hurried into the front
room, threw the window wide open, then
dartcd back into the bedroom, shut the
door quickly behind her, and waiting
only a minute 70 be sure that the bear
had climbed in after her cub, she opened
the bedroom window, took Sadie ia her
arms and scrambled out Not a word
could she speak, Tor her hear, was almost
choking her with is rapid and violent
beating. Every daTk-lookinE object ,A,
.lw IN the woods her terror shaped at
once into a bear, but she kept ou and on
Part Of the way she was obliged TO Let
Sadie run by her side, bu, / gues, &c
child was ever plllcd over ground rap
ldly before. Neither ,tumps, under
brush, tallcn limbs or spreading root
seemed 10 hinder her progress. Over
through or around them. the faithful
mother sped, and at last the sound OF tho
wood-cuttcrs axes struck her ear. Breath
ing a silent prayer Of gratitude, with re-
newed strength she went on, and reached
the '.logging-camp' in safety. There
she told her story, and then her strength
gave out. A band of the men quickl!
armed themselves with rifles and axe,
and started tor the house, after being
told many times by Sadie not TO kill he
little doggie. They cautiously approached
crept stealthily up to the open window
and peered in. The molasSes in the paI
was gone, the old bear was gone, anC
Sadie's little doggie was gone. Mrs
Bruin never called on her neighbor again
-Congregationalist.