The Black Bear. 



63 



SACKING A LUMBER CAMP. 



oned in the dining-room, and to be told by your man-servant, who 

 has prudently kept outside of the house, that the pet bear, in a state 

 of ferocity, is in possession. Nevertheless, if one is willing to endure 

 that sort of thing, a vast amount of amusement can be got out of a 

 tame bear. 



I really think that Bruin possesses the sense of humor ; at all 

 events, his actions point that way, and there is no doubt that he is 

 extremely cunning and observing. I once had an English friend 

 visiting me, who played the flute. He was in the habit of marching 

 up and down, while playing, near a tame bear I had at the time. 

 The bear had a piece of stick about two feet long, which he tossed 

 about for amusement. After a time, he came to handle the stick 

 very much as my friend did his flute. This annoyed my sensitive 

 friend, and in revenge he teased the bear with uncouth noises. Bruin 

 sniffed and whined, and waited his opportunity for delivering a 



