Posted in Bears of Blue River

Chapter 2 How Balser Got a Gun

PREPARING THE LESSON:

ABBREVIATIONS	LATIN PHRASE	MEANING
BC * (Christian calendar concepts) BCE		before Christ Before Common Era Years are designated as before the Christ's birth.
AD ** (Christian calendar concepts)	Anno Domino	Year of the Lord in the year of the Lord Years are designated as after the Christ's birth.
BP ***		"Before Present" means before 1950. The most commonly used convention in radiocarbon dating. "Present" referring to the year 1950 AD. 1950 is the date that the calibration curves were established. It also predates atmospheric testing of the atom bomb, which significantly upset C12/C14 ratios in the following years.

• In the Gregorian Calendar, which we use, there is no year zero and the sequence of years near the start runs as follows: ..., 4BC, 3BC, 2BC, 1BC, 1AD, 2AD, 3AD, 4AD ...
• Since 2000 AD is the 2000th year of the Christian calendar, it was the last year of the 2nd millennium. So the 3rd millennium and the 21st century began at the same moment - on January 01, 2001.
• If a radiocarbon lab reports an age of 13000 years BP, they are implying that the fossil would have died 13000 years before 1950 AD.

Source: http://www.worldtimezone.com/wtz-names/wtz-bc-ad.html

SMOOTH BORE CARBINE

DEERHOUNDS

VOCABULARY

depredations - damage or loss

ford - a place where a river or other body of water is shallow enough to be crossed by wading

primings - the explosive used to ignite a charge

foemen - a foe in battle; an enemy

frowzy - dirty and untidy; ill-smelling; musty

COPYWORK

But the unexpected usually happens, at an unexpected time, and in an unexpected manner.

OR

To attempt to outrun a bear, even on level ground, would be almost a hopeless undertaking; for the bear though an awkward looking creature, is capable of great speed when it comes to a foot-race.

NARRATION:

For a time, Balser enjoyed being the "hero" amongst his friends and family.  Everything in his life revolved around the event of killing the big bear.  The one thing that would bring him sorrow was the fact that he did not own his own smooth-bore carbine gun and that seemed like a near impossible dream because that was a rich gift.  Even his own father hadn't received his first gun until he was 21 years old and that seemed like an eternity to wait.  The opportunity came sooner than anyone imagined when Balser aided a couple who was fleeing from her father because the couple wanted to get married.  Balser assisted them in crossing the river and then finding a preacher for them to be married.  The couple went on to Indianapolis but not before first thanking Balser with a smooth-bore carbine gun!  Balser couldn't believe it and immediately wanted to test his new gun on a hunt with his father.  They didn't have much luck at first and attempted many shots at deer with the aid of his trusty dogs "Tigre" and "Prince".  Getting hungry, they stopped and roasted a freshly caught squirrel for lunch.  The dogs howling, informed them that an animal was nearby and the two men quickly reloaded their guns.  Balser went one way, while his dad went they other in attempt to entrap the animal but Balser found himself in a thicket face to face with not one bear but two.  He tried to out run the he-bear who was charging after him but it attacked him, badly hurting his shoulder.  With the help of his trusty dogs he was able to finally shoot this bear and get help from his father and the two them shot the she-bear.  The dogs then warning of another animal inside the nearby cave gave appearance of two baby bear cubs which Balser quickly claimed as his own to raise and take care of. 

FOR DISSCUSSION:

~ What do you think is meant by "Anno Domini"?  Explain.

~ In your life so far, can you name an event that is your "A.D."?  Something that changed things for you?  Even something that might seem insignificant.

~ What would you do if you found baby bear cubs?