DRAWING A BEAR. i 47 



master informed me, that he takes no notice of the 

 express trains that do not stop at the station, nor of 

 luggage trains, apparently holding them in contempt, 

 and allowing them to pass and re-pass without any 

 warning. Moreover, he understands that he is not 

 allowed to cross the line, and only very seldom defies 

 the prohibition. 



I cannot dismiss my recollections of Kenford with- 

 out a reference to a very laughable incident connected 

 with that retired locality. One evening, at the door 

 of the Anchor Inn, just about dark, an unfortunate 

 Italian, carrying a barrel-organ on his back, and 

 leading a performing bear, came up sore-footed and 

 tired. Poor Bruin, nearly exhausted, and much to 

 the annoyance of his master, selected a dry ditch on 

 the opposite side of the road as a place of repose, from 

 which it was not possible to move him an inch. At 

 the moment, Mr. Pitt's carter came by with a couple 

 of plough-horses. The Italian offered the man a 

 quart of cider to haul the bear out for him. With no 

 idea of the kind of load he was going to tackle, the 

 carter assented, and, fastening the traces to the bear's 

 collar, gave the horses a cut with his whip, and cried, 

 ' Gee up.' On this, old Bruin gave a tremendous 

 howl, which so frightened the horses that they sprang 

 forward, and knocking the carter down in their rush, 

 bolted through Kenford. The Italian following them, 

 turned a corner and met a man, to whom he said : 



' Have you seen a pair of horses go by you ?' 



10—2 



