This isn't the actual location of the story I'm about to tell. It actually took place about a mile further up the creek, but this gives you a general idea of the scenery ;)
We've heard this story before, as kids, but you know how that goes, you always forget. The TV was on, and a show preview was playing, something about a bear in a den. As my mamas finishing up breakfast I say to my papa, "Who would dive in a den after a bear anyways?!" He replies, "Well Great-Grandpa Bratt did!" I laughed at even the thought, but knowing in my heart that the crazy Scot would definitely do just such a thing! I apparently had been too young to remember the story, or had just forgotten over the years...
My great-great grandparents lived at the base of the mountain on the other side of the creek, the house is long gone now, with the streambed now in its place. Grandpa Bratt used to randomly go bear hunting, he had hounds, and he'd just take off for days. No one knowing if he was alive or dead. They had 4 girls, which just devastated my grandpa, he of course, wanted boys. So, each girl also had a mans name :) My great-grandma was Grace, or Bob to her papa. Then there was Winifred or Bill, Vivian or Josh and Gladys or Jim. You can't blame a guy for wishing!
He'd been out for a couple days, had seen some sign, but no bears. He knew there was a den up on the hill, but hadn't been able to tree its inhabitants. He needed help. Home he goes to fetch Bill (Winifred), who was somewhere around 11 years old. Off they go up the creek, lantern in hand. It was early morning, and they sat and watched all day. Bills job was to watch for the bear to go in the den, which was more of a cave under an old tree stump, find and tell her papa it was home. Poor little Bill had just about had enough of this hurry up and wait stuff, when sure enough, the bear comes trundling down the hill. She scampers off to tell her papa that it's back. So grandpa(Sam) hands her his rifle, and with nothing but a pistol heads in after it! This is sort of what Bill heard after he crawled in the den: lots of cussing, growling and snarling, and a gun-shot. Then! More growling, more cussing, and another shot! Out comes grandpa.... Who began cussing at Bill. He accused her of lying, she told him no, papa, it went in there, I saw it. Yea he said, but you didn't tell me there was two of em!
AHAHAHAA!!!! What a story. He was a stubborn, onery old Scotsmen who wished for boys and got all girls. He did some pretty crazy things, but thats what history's made of! I can't even imagine doing such a thing these days, nor have I heard of anyone crawling in a bears den, after the bear.
XOXO Loves
Me
