Bears were plenty, and very troublesome because so dangerously tame.

One day, our children had built for themselves a play-house, a few rods from the door, and were enjoying their play when they were called in to dinner.

A moment after, I observed one of the settlers gazing intently at the play-house; I called to know what so attracted his attention, and he informed me that an old bear, with three cubs, had just then taken possession of the playhouse.

And sure enough there they were! knocking about among the dishes, and munching the crumbs of bread which the children had left.

The man was supplied with a loaded rifle and urged to shoot them, but he begged to be excused from a pitched battle with so many; and the bears leisurely took their departure for the woods without molestation.