THE BEARS AND THE BEES. 2/ 



through, in fact such was the opinion of every one, 

 but whether they did so out of a spirit of mischief, 

 or to relieve themselves of the presence of rivals to 

 their master's attention, I leave the reader to judge. 

 During the life time of my drowned favourites I 

 observed many most interesting traits in their 

 character. First was their excessive cleanliness both 

 in habits and in what they ate ; secondly, their 

 industry in their undertakings ; thirdly, their skill 

 in cutting down timber, so as to make it in- 

 variably fall in such a position as to give them the 

 least possible exertion to float the limbs to where 

 they were wanted. Their usual food was the inner 

 bark of the willow and poplar, yet they evinced a 

 great love for bread and milk, and while drinking it 

 kept constantly emitting a purring sound, no doubt 

 intended to express their satisfaction. They never 

 objected to Prince feeding out of the same dish with 

 them, nor did he to joining them at such a repast, but 

 if the bears appeared, universal indignation was 

 expressed at their intrusion, in which Prince was sure 

 to take a prominent part, and no wonder was it that 

 these cleanly animals did so, for never was there such 

 a pair of slobbering, dirty feeders, gifted with such 

 voracious appetites as these children of the forest. 

 As the bears increased in age, and consequently in 

 size and strength, they became somewhat difficult to 

 manage, but as one straw is said to break the camel's 

 back, their last offence could not be overlooked. It 

 had both a comical and serious aspect, very amusing 

 perhaps to an overlooker, but excessively trying to 

 the sufferer. 



At great expense, my friend with whom I resided, 

 had procured a hive of bees in the spring of the year. 

 It was supposed that they had done exceedingly well 

 during the summer, and that by this time they had 

 collected a large quantity of honey. Now, it being 

 an assumed fact that my bears knew nothing about 



