BEARS. 
Bears are most amusing, clever, and interesting 
animals ; playful, comic, easily taught a variety of tricks ; 
intelligent, cunning, and restless ; easily offended ; treacher- 
ous and cruel. Thus may their character be summed up. 
I know of no animal so much petted as a young bear. His 
movements are so funny, he is so playful and so soft to the 
touch, and woolly. On board ship he is most agreeable ; he 
can climb the rigging like a sailor, tumble head-over-heels, 
and walk on his hind legs. There is no help for it, he is 
everybody’s favourite. Alas ! this state of things does 
not last for ever. A change comes over him, it may be a 
very gradual change, but the pet is getting stronger every 
day, and is not inclined to be treated with the familiarity 
he formerly appeared to enjoy. He requires more liberty, 
and does his best to get it. All at once it is discovered 
that he has broken his chain, or that he has found out a 
weak place in his cage or den, and, probably, in the middle 
of the night he will be amusing himself in the larder, or 
at any rate in some place where his presence is least 
desirable. Now comes the question. Who is to be master ? 
Bruin wishes to be free, and tries his utmost to accomplish 
his purpose, entirely oblivious of all the kindness and all 
the delicacies to which he has been treated. He soon 
satisfies you that his independent and determined conduct 
is likely to cause you considerable trouble, leave alone the 
chance of a risky and dangerous encounter with him. 
153 
