284 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



raid on the cookey barrel Cuffey led the raid; he 

 played tag and hide-and-seek as well as any boy, 

 and was also a source of revenue to the lads. 



FIVE PINS WAS THE PRICE CHARGED 



to see the "real live bear from the Red River," 

 and no bent or rusty pins were accepted by the 

 trust owning the animal. Even such pins as were 

 ingeniously straightened out by small feet revolv- 

 ing them back and -forward on the red brick side- 

 walk were scornfully rejected, and yet every pin- 

 cushion in the house soon glistened with its load of 

 wealth. 



IF THE BEAR WAS TIRED FROM PLAY 



or had indigestion from swallowing marbles and 

 pieces of wooden tops, he always went to Mandy 

 Jane for comfort and kind words, after which he 

 would roll himself into a ball and sleep off his in- 

 disposition in the kitchen wood-box. 



As Cuffey became older he increased in size and 

 strength and the children learned to fear the rough 

 play of their four-footed friend. In time the bear 

 grew to be so large that, for safety, 



HE WAS CHAINED TO THE OLD PEACH TREE 



in the yard. He would break loose occasionally 

 and create considerable excitement by visiting the 

 house. 



His reception there was not now as cordial as 

 it had been when he was a small cub. When the 



