26 USEFUL EEQUIREMENT. 



retired. Not being desirous of meeting the mother 

 of this fascinating child, I was about to return, when 

 two cub bears came forth from their hiding-place, 

 followed by their maternal parent. Fortunately 

 their course was not in my direction, and as they 

 started on their evening's foray I retraced my way 

 to camp. My four-footed companions had arrived 

 there before me, thus saving me the trouble of 

 hunting them up a precaution necessary for their 

 safety when such a dangerous family ,was abroad. 



The horses found so much food about here that 

 I determined to remain for another day ; my gun, 

 too, sadly needed cleaning, and my clothes required 

 patching reasons which also induced me to decide 

 on a protracted halt. 



When I was a boy, a fond mother, either out of 

 regard for my future welfare, or to keep me out of 

 mischief, and thus save herself trouble, taught me to 

 sew and to work kettle-holders. Although years 

 have elapsed since then, the lesson of my youth has 

 not been forgotten, but on several occasions has 

 turned out useful. If some unprejudiced person 

 were to see the patches and darning I have accom- 

 plished, he would pronounce them miracles of skill. 

 Of course they are not so regular as the stitches of a 

 sewing-machine, but bear the same relation to them 

 that the drill of a regiment of militia or volunteers 

 does to that of a battalion of the Guards. I would 

 not give a fig for a man who is deterred from under- 

 taking a task because there are obstacles to prevent 



