BEARS I HAVE NEVER MET 291 



arms of the grocery boy. The limp form of the 

 broken-necked bear was hoisted into the wagon 

 and the equally limp form of the broken-hearted 

 "bound" girl was tenderly carried into the house. 



THE SHOWMEN SWORE ROUNDLY 



when they found that the bear was dead, and the 

 milkman, market men and the neighboring cats 

 openly rejoiced over the demise of Cuffey; but the 

 red-cheeked grocery lad's eyes suffused with sin- 

 cere tears when he was confronted with the deep 

 grief of Mandy, and when he was rewarded by a 

 grateful, though tearful smile, the lad solemnly 

 declared that Cuffey was the best bear that ever 

 lived. And so he was to Mandy Jane! 



