CHAPTER XIX.
TRAINING SCHOOL.
Paul fought with beasts at Ephesus, as a part of his training for that "good fight" with principalities and powers and iniquity in high places, and I think that Tom and the bears helped to prepare me for a long conflict with the southern tiger.

I had early come to think that Tom would kill some of the children who trooped to see him, and that I should be responsible as I alone saw the danger.

This danger I sought to avert, but how to dispose of the beautiful creature I could not conjecture.

There was usually a loaded gun in the house, but I was almost as much afraid of it as of Tom.

All our neighbors were delighted with him and loath to have him killed.