Civilized bear
Civilized bear
InNew Hampshire, a species of bear is found, black in color, small in size, and in general of a peaceable disposition. These animals live on wild honey and fruits, and never attack man or the lesser animals, except when pressed by hunger, in the very severe winters. On one occasion, some years ago, a boy found a very young bear pup near Lake Winnipeg, and carried it home with him. It was fed and brought up about the house of the boy’s father, and became as tame as a dog.
Every day its youthful captor had to go to school at some distance, and, by degrees, the bear became his daily companion. At first the other scholars were shy of the creature’s acquaintance, but ere long it became their regular playfellow, and they delighted in sharing with it the little store of provisions, which they brought for their day’s sustenance in small bags. After two years of civilization, however, the bear wandered to the woods, and did not return. Search was made for him, but in vain.
Four succeeding years passed away, and in the interval, changes had occurred in the school alluded to. An old dame had succeeded to the ancient master, and a new generation of pupils had taken the place of the former ones. One very cold winter day, while the schoolmistress was busy with her humble lessons, a boy chanced to leave the door half way open on his entrance, and suddenly a large bear walked in.
The consternation of the old lady and her boys and girls, was unspeakable. Both schoolmistress and pupils would fain have been “abroad,” but the bear was in the path, and all that could be done was to fly off as far as possible, behind the tables and benches. But the bear troubled nobody. He walked quietly up to the fireplace, and warmed himself, exhibiting much satisfaction in his countenance during the process.
He remained thus about a quarter of an hour, and then walked up to the wall where the provender bags and baskets of the pupils were suspended. Standing on his hind feet, he then took hold of these successively, put his paws into them, and made free with the bread, fruit, and other eatables therein contained. He next tried the schoolmistress’s desk, where some little provisions usually were; but finding it firmly shut, he went up again to the fire, and after a few minutes’ stay before it, he walked out by the way he came in.
As soon as the schoolmistress and her pupils had courage to move, the alarm was given to the neighbors. Several young men immediately started after thebear, and as its track was perfectly visible upon the snow, they soon came up with it and killed it. Then it was that, by certain marks upon its skin, some of its pursuers recognised in the poor bear no enemy, but an old friend of their own recent school days. Great regret was felt at the loss of the creature. It was like killing a human friend, rather than a wild animal.