The Bear and the Gardener in this case keeping the flies off a friend, and the ultimate good of safeguarding his welfare. The story gained currency in England from the 18th century on through translations or imitations of La Fontaine. One of its earliest appearances was in Robert Dodsley's "Select fables of Esop and other fabulists" (1764), where it is given the title "The Hermit and the Bear" and a milder ending. In this version a hermit has done the bear a good turn; later still this was identified with taking a thorn from its paw, drawing on the story of Androcles and the Lion.
Paw Paw Railroad Paw Paw and Lawton, which was opened for public use. This constituted the total physical extent of the Paw Paw. The line was originally built as , but in 1875 the Paw Paw's original owners were bought out by the owners of the Toledo and South Haven Railroad (T&SH), a narrow gauge line which ran west from Paw Paw to Lawrence. The two companies remained separate, but in 1877 the Paw Paw's line was converted to gauge to permit joint operations. On March 7, 1887 the Paw Paw merged with the T&SH and ceased to exist as an independent company.