"There is one thing very interesting in the bear nature, and that is the affection of the female for its young. This has often been noticed. Here is a picture showing an instance of it.
"A Greenland bear with two cubs, was pursued across a field of ice by a party of armed sailors. At first she tried to urge the young ones along by running before them, turning around and calling them to her; but finding that the pursuers were gaining upon them, she pushed and threw the cubs before her, one after the other, until she effected their escape.
"Each cub would place itself across her path to receive the impulse, and when thrown forward, would run onward until overtaken by the mother, when it would adjust itself for another throw."
"Well, that shows that even a bear has some good feeling," said Harry, "and some common sense too. I'm glad that the sailors did not catch them. What would those cubs have done without their mother?"
Uncle Charles.
BROWN BILLY SOLD.
Edith, with cheek against the window,
Is sobbing out her grief;
Gold-Locks is in a sad condition
Of pocket-handkerchief.
And Teddy at his play is sniffing,
His little nose all red!
Is Tony sick? Is pussy stolen?
Is the canary dead?
Else why this universal crying?—
Weepingly I am told,
With many a look of indignation,
"Brown Billy has been sold!"
And why? No one can tell the reason;
And yet I chance to know,
It was—ah, wicked little pony!—
Because he acted so.
Sometimes the phaeton all too heavy
Would grow for him to draw;
You'd think his feeble strength must perish
Under another straw.
Sometimes as light as any feather
He rolled its dainty wheels,
Humming and whirring like a spindle
After his flying heels.
And, worse than that, he had a fashion
Of rearing in the air;
And what became of load or driver
He did not know nor care.
Yet, without least alarm, the children
Would laugh at him, and say,
"Do see dear, cunning, old Brown Billy:
How well he likes to play!"
And bits of apple, lumps of sugar,
From little hands were given,
With fond pet names, and soft caresses,
And sometimes kisses even.
Brown Billy, but for your wild frolics
We might have had you yet;
And then these three sweet doleful faces
With tears would not be wet.