Alexandria Gazette

THAT BEAR.—Mention was made in the GAZETTE last week of the escape of a large bear from a party of gypsies, and in consequence thereof there is much excitement in that part of Fairfax county. The first question asked by neighbors when they meet is "Have you heard anything about the bear?" Every colored person and many of the whites imagine that they have seen it, or at least its tracks.

On Sunday last three young gentlemen friends started for a walk, their objective point being the residence of one of the Fairfax belles who lives about seven miles from this city. En route they secured the company of a popular young gentleman of that vicinity and made their visit. When about to leave one of the city men decided to spend the night in the country and bade his friends good night. Soon after they had started, the other gentleman took a short cut through the fields and in a piece of woods awaited the arrival of his companions. As they approached he got down on his hands and knees in a fence corner and began to growl. The party stopped; "The bear!" "The bear!" and off they started, the gentleman from the country leaped a five rail fence at a bound and took to the woods and the two young men from the city kept in the road and made tracks for this city, which they reached in good time. A two-forty horse could not have caught them, much less a bear. The gentleman from the country has not as yet been heard from. The two from this city are still in their respective homes resting their exhausted frames and waiting for new shoes to be made to replace those worn out in the race. The one who played the bear had to walk home alone, and as he had to pass by "Peggy's Spring," which is said to be haunted, he was as much frightened as the others, and, being without company, passed that place with a rush. Why won't the fox hunters go to the rescue of their friends?