The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 11, 1906, Page 9

THE BEARS AT NIAGARA FALLS Copyright, 1906, by Seymour Eaton. All rights reserved HE bears had heard of this great resort, Of the bridal parties and lovers’ walk, And its hackmen bold and their jolly talk: Of its Suspension Bridge and Prospect Park, )Z its fame at home and at forelgn court; d Indian trophies made of bark! its Whirlpool Rapids, Gorge and Cave, the battles fought by soldlers brave. Thejr train pulled in at half-past nine; The air was warm; the day was fine. They started off at once to view The rolling rapids and the big horseshoe, They sat for a while on the very brink ‘While the roaring waters made them think Of bygone days and fun they had, And of things they did a little bad. They walked around for an hour or more To see the water and hear it roar. They crossed a bridge to the other side And back on 2 coach for & little ride. They 2sked a Canadian if he knew Why Niagara water was split in two, With the biggest half on the British side, And if he thought "twas a fair dlvide? They were in the woods in the island park Cutting their names into beech-tree bark When & boy came close, quite unawares, And sald, “Hello there, Roosevelt Bears! I have hunted for you high and low; I want to show you where to go."” “Hello yourself,” sald Teddy B, “What's your name and what's your feet” “I'm secretary of the N. B. C., My name is Tom: we're a club of ten: There’s Bob and Dan and Hub and Ben, And Will, he's lame, and Joe and Jack, And Fred and little Neddie Black, Who lost his arm on the railway track. We study nights and work all day Showing tourists the easiest way To get about and what to see; And charge the very smallest fee. We meet at seven o'clock at night And divide our money square and right.™ “I like your talk,” sald Teddy G, “Bring me Neddie Black,” said he, T'll pay him wages good and large, And 2dq refreshments without charge.” “I'll take WIIL” said Teddy B, “The boy that's lame, he'll do for me.” 200080 e+ + | | | | ¢ € € 08 T 000ese Wty e AT S The boys were brought and the Roosevelt Bears ‘Were now relleved from tourists’' cares. Tom was asked to come around In the afternoon to a picnic ground And bring the fellows every one For a basket lunch and an hour of fun, The bears and boys did every stunt; They shot the raplds on a punt, Btanding up with poles in hand, And waving hats to folks on land. They rode the gorge like a shooting star, And came back again on a trolley car. They saw the falls from every nook ‘Where tourists stop to have a look. They went behind, the boys thelr guide, And saw the falls from the other side. They dressed themselves in rubber suits, ‘With rubber hoods and rubber boots, ‘Which covered up all but their nose And made them look llke Eskimos; They signed a book, the tourist list, And stepped on board “The Maid of Mist,” Which tipped and tossed and tried its best / To make the Roosevelt trip a test “©Of how near the falls a boat could steam Before being forced back by the siream. They did the falls and now were through; There ‘was nothing left for them to do. “How do‘you like it?" said liftle Will, “This water tumbling down a hill" “Like it, you ask,” said Teddy B, “What else could the water do?” said he. “If you'll come with me out West some day I'll show you falls running the other way. 'rh_ey call them geysers or some such name, But they're uphill waterfalls just the same.” “Your show's all right,” sald Teddy G, “We came this way the falls to see. ' We've seen the falls; we've heard its noive, And now I want to see the boys. . I'm nearly starved: I want to eat; I want to rest my eyes and feet, And. work my jaws and have a chat . About boyhood days and things like that.” “If you'll come with me.” said little Ned, “I'l find a place where you'll get fed On doughnuts round and heaps of cake And pumpkin pies, my mother’s make.” So off they went as the way he led. And found the place just.as he said; The jolliest spot to have & lark In the thickest woods of the island park. The boys were there, the happiest bunch That ever ate a basket lunch: There was Bob and Dan and Ben and Fred, And Jack, the president, and little Ned, And Treasurer Joe and Will and Hub, And Tom, the secretary of the club. They ate their lunch all seated round On stones and logs and on the ground. The bears related stories brave Of fights they had in a mountain cave: Their winter home in the wildest land ‘Where once there lived a robber band. This cave was under a mighty rock. And its door of stone was made to lock So tight and fast that once ‘twas done The bears were safe from hunter's gun. This cave, they said, had sacks of gold Stored there by robbers who never told Their hiding place till all were dead. “And now the gold is ours,” they said. They asked the boys to come out West And spend the winter and have a rest And see the cave and get a sack Of this hidden treasure to carry back. ‘When the lunch was o’er the fun began: Teddy G took Jack and Joe and Dan And showed them how ta elimb a tres To the very top, the falls to see; ‘While Teddy B entertained the rest ‘With tricks that he could do the best. They gave each.boy a dollar bill And five apiece to Ned and Will: The two new fives as extra pay For the work they did so well that day. “We myust be off,” said Teddy B, “We've a hundred thousand things to see: We'll send you postals when we're gone To let.you know how we're getting on.” Teddy G.said/he would surely‘write ‘Whefl heigot’back, and each boy invite To their home out West on the mountain side, And send them money for the railway ride. . The boys lined up, a happy row, As the! train_pulled:in' for. Buffalo. The bears shook hands.with every lad / And’said what a jolly.day they ‘had. A’speech was made by Teddy B; “Good-by; good ' luck; do right,” said he, “Remember ithat Niagara's views ‘Were made to cure folks of the blues: Its rainbow sign-1s Niagara's laug It we need it East, well telegraph.” The lads replied. “Hurrah! Hurrah! . When you've seen New York, come back this way.” ‘As the Buffalo train moved out of sight The beafs called back with all their might, + “We leave for Boston town tonight.” e (CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY.) TEE R ol L ¥oa