366 roRTY-pouR years of 



recital of my recent afflictions, yet I will relate a story fo» 

 the amusement of some of my readers who are yet in the 

 enjoyment of youth and high spirits. It is a funny tale, 

 and exhibits one mode at least of training a bear dog. 



About twenty miles from my place lived a man named 

 Steward, who had a sou called James. They were not 

 considered hunters, though they killed some bears, hunt- 

 ing in the moonlight. The old man, being very indus- 

 trious, would not take time to hunt in daylight, but would 

 go after dark ; and sometimes, by shooting in the dark, he 

 would miss his aim, and kill a dog. It so happened that, 

 having but one of his old dogs left, he had raised a fine, 

 large young one, which was big enough to be used in the 

 chase, but had never seen a bear. 



They had caught a bear ; and the old man, taking the 

 skin, wrapped it round his body, arms, and legs, and 

 with a needle and thread sewed it in many places, to 

 prevent it being pulled off in a scuffle. Then calling 

 Rover, the bred dog, and tying him with an old cord to 

 the porch, he told the old lady to see that he did not bite 

 the rope, and come after him. Steward then went into 

 the meadow, which had been mown, but had again grown 

 up full of green grass, to try the courage of his young 

 dog. Down he dropped on his hands and feet, to act the 

 bear among the apple-trees ; while James hissed the young 

 dog on. 



The pup, half mad and half afraid, made a great noise, 

 and snapped at the supposed bear's hams ; but when the 

 old man would jump at him, strike his hands on the ground, 

 Und snort like a bear, the pup would fly off, and return 

 again to the fight, thus affording much amusement to both 

 the father and the son. 



But Rover, also eager for the fight, and seeing the Dear 

 in full view, made several efforts to go, but was checked 

 by hill mistress for some time. Seeing such fine fun, bow 



