An episode appeared twice a month
in The Michigan Farmer magazine.
Whitepaw Returns to Friendly Forest
"How did Whitepaw get back to Friendly Forest?"
Jerry asked.
"The circus people brought him back," Uncle
Joe said solemnly.
"Two weeks ago tonight the circus was on its way
to Harrisville," Uncle Joe began.
"That's the town where Dr. Williams lives, isn't
it?" Jerry Interrupted.
Uncle Joe nodded. "Yes, that's the town where Whitepaw
disappeared. As his keeper later told me, Whitepaw seemed to know the
place when they arrived. He had been sleeping all the way over, but
when they reached the city limits, Whitepaw was pacing restlessly up
and down his cage. He seemed to be very much excited.
"That evening Mrs. Spence called my attention to
the notice in the paper about the circus. She had an idea that Whitepaw
might have been taken along with the circus.
"We decided that we would go over to Harrisville
to see the circus and find out for ourselves if there was anything to
Mrs. Spence's idea.
"It was nearly eight o'clock when we arrived at the
big tent. Many people were already inside the tent, and more were going
in. We wondered if it were possible that Whitepaw were some place inside
among the animals.
"We bought seats near the ring so that if Whitepaw
were among the bears we would be able to see him. During the acts Mrs.
Spence was very nervous. She kept looking around as if she expected
to see Whitepaw someplace. I had half expected to see the little bear,
but by then I had given up all hope. Then unexpectedly the trainer came
in for Whitrpaw's act and Whitepaw was with him.
"All through his act, Whitepaw had appeared nervous.
I believe now that he knew he was near Friendly Forest and that he was
possessed with a great desire to be back among its friendly trees. Just
as he finished coming down the ladder in his climbing act, without looking
at his bottle of pop, or paying any attention to his trainer, who was
holding the ball for his next act, Whitepaw bolted. He was over the
rail of the platform in an instant. He was running down the aisle with
people jumping out of his way. They thought he had gone mad. In a moment
more, Whitepaw disappeared through a side exit."
"Did they ever find him?" Jerry asked wide-eyed.
Uncle Joe smiled and shook his head. "They didn't;
but if you will look through the binoculars in the direction of the
cave, you will see that Whitepaw found himself."
"Is that Whitepaw?" Jerry gasped while I looked
next.
"Yes," said Uncle Joe. "He turned up a
few days ago. He usually suns himself about this time of the day."
"Do you see the mother bear and Blackpaw any more?"
I asked.
Uncle Joe nodded. "Often. Blackpaw isn't as large
as Whitepaw, but they're pretty big bears now."
"Yes," I agreed, "the cubs are no longer
cubs. They're big bears now."
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© 2004 Leo VanMeer
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