small, glittering, evil eyes, I pulled trigger. Half-rising up, the
huge beast fell over on his side in the death throes, the ball having
gone into his brain, striking as fairly between the eyes as if the
distance had been measured.

The whole thing was over in twenty seconds from the time I caught sight
of the game; indeed, it was over so quickly that the grizzly did not
have time to show fight. He was a monstrous fellow, much larger than any
I have seen since. As near as we could estimate, he must have weighed
above twelve hundred pounds.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

=HELPS TO STUDY=

Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States from 1901 to
1909, was one of the greatest hunters of the present generation. As
he was in weak health as a young man, he went West and lived for
some time the life of a ranchman and hunter, killing much wild
game. In later years he went on a great hunting trip to Africa, and
finally explored the wilds of the Amazon river, in South America,
in search of game and adventure. "Old Ephraim" narrates one of his
earlier hunting experiences, and is taken from the book, _The
Hunting Trips of a Ranchman_.

Give an account of the capture of the grizzly bear. Why did not
Merrifield fire? Compare the weight of the bear with that of the
average cow or horse. Tell of any bear hunt of which you know.

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

Watchers of the Trail--Charles C. D. Roberts.
Monarch, the Bear--Ernest Thompson Seton.
Wild Animals I Have Known--Ernest Thompson Seton.
African Game Trails--Theodore Roosevelt.

MIDWINTER

The speckled sky is dim with snow,
The light flakes falter and fall slow;
Athwart the hill-top, rapt and pale,
Silently drops a silvery veil;
And all the valley is shut in
By flickering curtains gray and thin.

But cheerily the chickadee
Singeth to me on fence and tree;
The snow sails round him as he sings,
White as the down of angels' wings.

I watch the slow flakes as they fall
On bank and briar and broken wall;
Over the orchard, waste and brown,
All noiselessly they settle down,
Tipping the apple-boughs, and each
Light quivering twig of plum and peach.

On turf and curb and bower-roof
The snow-storm spreads its ivory woof;
It paves with pearl the garden-walk;
And lovingly round tattered stalk
And shive