LAUGHING IN A BEAR'S FACE.
Mr. Harrington lived in the town of St. Jelmsbury, Yt., and his neighbour, Zebina Goss, just over the line, in the town of Waterford. Harrington was a tall, loosejointed, clownish fellow, a great boaster, a,nd an equally great coward. Mr. Goss was quite a small man, and very unpretending, but endowed with more than ordinary courage. One clay the two men had been to loolc for a stray cow. Not finding the ,cow, they started home. .They ; cQidd-save"Gpri-" sidftrrible. "crossing a nafoow stri]> of woods, and they did so. Harrington was al ways thinking of bears when he went near a forest. Just as they were entering the woods, he said : " What would you do, Goss, if you were to see a bear ?"
" I can't tell. I really don't know what I should do." "I know what I would do." "Whatl" " I would get a club, go at him. drive Min up a tree, send yon for a gun and we would kill him." " Do you think so ? " " Yes, I know so." Mr. Goss made no reply, and they proceeded 011 their way. Before they had gone many steps further, sure enough a bear did rise up and confront tiiem. For an instant Harrington stood speechless. Goss in the meantime was looking about for something to defend himself with. Seeing a club near by he stooped to pick it up. By the time 'he had secured it a shriek from Harrington. Turning in that directionfrlie found that Harrington had ran to a tree, three or foius|gfceps distant, and, frantic with his arms and legs arortnclHt.' as if Jie Wftnld climb its rough fcistead'Tgf crtiin? up, however, he hact^Ripped ; down, and was sitting on the ground.-. so bewildered with fear imagined himself still climbing, and' cried' r2iit: " Goss, Goss, climb a tree ! climb a tree, as I do." <;*" Harrington's position affl the contortions of his face were so inimitably ludicrous that Goss for the moment forgot hi.> danger from the bear, and broke into a roar of hearty laughter. To have a man laugh_ iirfer- face was a new experience to Bruin. It,is a ques-
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Bibliographic details
Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 41, 8 June 1876, Page 2
Word Count
359LAUGHING IN A BEAR'S FACE. Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 41, 8 June 1876, Page 2
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