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 Township, Michigan Paw Paw Township, Michigan Paw Paw Township is a civil township of Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,091 at the 2000 census. The village of Paw Paw is located in the northeast portion of the township. The east south and south branches of the Paw Paw River flow through the township. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (4.86%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 7,091 people, 2,771 households, and 1,898 families residing in the township.