In a cheerful bed chamber on a farm among the hills there often came two children to sit with their Great Aunt Betsey. (Aunt Betsey Whitcomb, brother John and myself.) The youngest would climb on her knee while the other sat on a stool in the chimney corner. Both hoping they would hear a good story after the younger had said, "Please tell a real true bear story, Aunt Bet."

This Great Aunt had made her home in Wisconsin in the 1850's and could tell many interesting tales. She had cousins who settled in Indiana and it is about these cousins she told of the experiences they had with a bear trying to make off with their pig which was about ready lo be butchered.

They lived in a new log house and had a crude stable for their horse, cow and pig. On a still warm day in late fall the father decided it was a good time to go to a mill to have corn they had raised ground for winter use. He started very early for it was a long way. The corn was in a bag behind him and more in the saddle bags, for they didn't have a wagon.

The mother was busy all day caring for the four children and looking after the many duties around the cabin. Before dark she had milked the cow, fed the pig and made things secure for the night for the knew it would be very late when her husband arrived home.

After the children were tucked in their beds she thought she heard a cry but thought nothing of it as there were always strange noises in the night coming from the forest that surrounded their little home. But as the evening wore on she heard the cow bellow and the pig squeal and the dog that was asleep near her feet began to bark and try to get out the door. So taking the gun that was always handy by, she ran out into the darkness where all was very still except for the low growl of the dog. She fired the gun in the direction of the little stable thinking to scare off any animal that might be prowling around. But no sooner did the noise of the gun slop when she heard the pig squealing as though in distress. The children, by this time, were at the door in their night clothes calling to their mother. But she ran towards the pig pen just in time to see a big bear dragging their precious pig out of the pen and running away towards the dark forest. She was a very brave woman so shot again and gave chase so scaring the bear that he dropped the pig.

The good mother heard the children crying so ran back to them as she could not see to go further into the woods. It was a real commotion with pig squealing, cow bellowing, dog barking and the children crying for they were very frightened to hear the gun shots. Their mother soon quieted their fears and they settled down to wait for the father to come.

When he came they mourned over the loss of their meat, but in the morn- ing all set forth on the trail of the bear. They soon came to a pile of leaves where the dog was digging, growling and barking to let them know he had found something good. After raking away the leaves and sticks they found the pig not badly eaten. So they carried it home and salted it.

A few days later they caught the bear in a trap which was set on the spot where he had buried the pig. The bear was very fat so they dried some of the meat salted the rest. It was good and helped these cousins through a cold winter.

The little fellow who sat on his aunt's lap would always ask if it were a true story, if Aunt didn't add those words!