Pete Sparks was a sensitive boy. So sensitive that even his hair was ticklish (怕痒的). You only had to touch his hair a little bit and he would start laughing. When this ticklish laughter started, no one could make him stop.

Pete tried everything to control his ticklishness, but nothing worked. So he began to feel sad for being different.

One day in the street, he met a special clown. The clown was very old and could hardly walk, but when he saw Pete in tears, he went to cheer him up. It didn’t take long to make Pete laugh. Later Pete told him about his ticklish problem, and he asked the clown how such an old man could carry on being a clown. “I have no one to take my place, ”said the clown. “I have a very serious job to do. ”Pete looked at him, surprised. “Come, I’ll show you, ”said the clown. So the clown took Pete to many hospitals full of children who were sick. As soon as they saw the clown, their faces changed completely and lit up with a smile. The short time spent with the clown changed everything for them. That day was even more special, because in every show Pete’s laughter would end up with the kids lying on the floor, dying with laughter. When the visit came to an end, the old clown said to Pete, “Now do you see why I can’t retire, even at my age?”

That was how Pete became a clown, and took the special old man’s place. From that day on, the fact that Pete was different actually made him happy, thanks to his special gift .

The two-roomed house is built of logs, boards and stones, and there are cracks all over the floor. A big simple kitchen standing at one end is larger than the house itself. Bush all around, for the country is flat.

The master of the house, is away with sheep. His wife, Wilkins, and children are left here alone.

Four ragged, dried-up-looking children are playing about the house. Suddenly Robbert, one of them yells, “Snake! Mother, here’s a big snake!”

The sun-browned bushwoman dashes from the kitchen, grabs her baby from the ground, and reaches for a stick.

“Where is it?”

“Here! Gone in the woodpile,“ yells the eldest boy-a sharp-faced child of eleven. “Stop there, mother! I’ll have someone!”

“Tommy, come here, or you’ll be bitten!’

The eldest boy comes unwillingly, carrying a stick bigger than himself. Then he yells, “There it goes-under the house!“ At the same time. the big black dog, who has shown the wildest interest in the happenings, breaks his chain and rushes after that snake. His nose reaches the crack in the boards just as the end of its tail disappears.

Wilkins makes the children stand together near the doghouse while she watches for the snake.

It is near sunset. The children must be brought to the pavilion (凉亭) next to their house. She will not take them into the house, for she knows the snake is there.

It must be near one or two o’clock at night. The black dog lies at full length on the floor, with his eves towards the floor. Suddenly he becomes greatly interested. The snake-a brown one-comes out slowly. The dog lies still, and the woman knows what this means, and lays her hand on the stick. The snake comes out a foot further. The dog jumps up, and bites it hard. The snake’s head rises up and down, but the dog has the enemy close to the neck. Soon it died. The black dog is great. He stays up all night

While considering comfortable places to hibernate (冬眠) in winter, a 6-year-old black bear picked out a storm culvert (涵洞) near Wannaska, Minnesota. Unfortunately for the bear, this decision didn’t turn out well.

In late February, the snow around him started melting, causing the culvert to flood and then freeze again. The poor fellow was trapped in snow and ice for three days before some kind humans noticed him and called authorities for help.

By the time experts arrived, people had already tried digging the bear out and luring him with a variety of unhealthy (for bears) treats. Luckily, the bear wasn’t interested in food because he was still in hibernation mode.

A wildlife research biologist Andrew Tri arrived on the scene to assess the situation. “He tried to push himself out but got stuck in the place and tired,” the biologist explained. The team injected the bear with an anesthetic (麻醉剂). Once he was asleep, it took five strong men to pull the bear, estimated to weigh between 375 and 400 pounds, out of the culvert. Andrew gave him a full check-up and determined he was in great physical shape, even though he was still a bit sleepy!

The crew pulled him out and transported him to the Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area in Marshall County to finish out the winter. “He’s in the back of a pickup truck now, and we’ll make him a new den (窝点),” said Andrew. “He probably won’t stay, but at least it will give him some protection from the elements after that.”

“If you’re ever concerned about a bear’s safety, by all means give us a call,” the experts advised. “But don’t try to move it or feed it! Doing so can result in a bad situation (either for you or for the bear).” We’re glad this bear got the help he needed.