It was not at all the sort of table we see now , but would look very plain and countrified to us , with its green-handled knives and two-pronged steel forks ; its red-and-white china , and pewter platters , scoured till they shone , with mugs and spoons to match , and a brown jug for the cider . The cloth was coarse , but white as snow , and the little maids had seen the blue-eyed flax grow , out of which their mother wove the linen they had watched and watered while it bleached in the green meadow . They had no napkins and little silver ; but the best tankard and Ma 's few wedding spoons were set forth in state . Nuts and apples at the corners gave an air , and the place of honor was left in the middle for the oranges yet to come . `` Do n't it look beautiful ? '' said Prue , when they paused to admire the general effect . `` Pretty nice , I think . I wish Ma could see how well we can do it , '' began Tilly , when a loud howling startled both girls , and sent them flying to the window . The short afternoon had passed so quickly that twilight had come before they knew it , and now , as they looked out through the gathering dusk , they saw four small black figures tearing up the road , to come bursting in , all screaming at once : `` The bear , the bear ! Eph , get the gun ! He 's coming , he 's coming ! '' Eph had dropped his fiddle , and got down his gun before the girls could calm the children enough to tell their story , which they did in a somewhat incoherent manner . `` Down in the holler , coastin ' , we heard a growl , '' began Sol , with his eyes as big as saucers . `` I see him fust lookin ' over the wall , '' roared Seth , eager to get his share of honor . `` Awful big and shaggy , '' quavered Roxy , clinging to Tilly , while Rhody hid in Prue 's skirts , and piped out : `` His great paws kept clawing at us , and I was so scared my legs would hardly go . '' `` We ran away as fast as we could go , and he come growling after us . He 's awful hungry , and he 'll eat every one of us if he gets in , '' continued Sol , looking about him for a safe retreat . `` Oh , Eph , do n't let him eat us , '' cried both little girls , flying up stairs to hide under their mother 's bed , as their surest shelter . `` No danger of that , you little geese . I 'll shoot him as soon as he comes .
Get out of the way , boys , '' and Eph raised the window to XXXXX good aim .
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