THE BEAR.
It was a cold, stormy night in winter. Snow-white, Rose-red and their mother sat by the fire.
The sisters were knitting while their mother read stories to them as they worked. A pet lamb lay at their feet and a dove perched upon the shelf above the fire-place.
Outside, the wind was howling and the snow fell fast. But it was warm and bright in the snug little house.
Suddenly there was a noise at the door. The mother stopped reading and listened. She heard the noise again and said, “Some poor traveler is lost in this fearful storm. Run, dear Snow-white, and let him in.”
Snow-white jumped up and opened the door. In came, not a man, but a big, shaggy bear.
Oh, how frightened the children were! They clung to their mother and hid their faces in her dress. The lamb trembled and bleated. The dove woke up in a fright and flew about the room.
Presently the bear said, “Do not be afraid. I will not harm any of you.” The mother answered, “I am sure you will not. Come, children, do not be afraid. This is a kind, friendly bear.”
Then the mother told the bear to come close to the fire. When the children saw him stretched out on the floor, like a great dog, they lost their fear of him. Rose-red ran and fetched the broom to brush the snow from his coat.
The poor bear was very cold; but he soon grew warm before the bright fire. The children were not at all afraid of him now, but got upon his back and rolled off on the floor. The bear enjoyed the fun as much as they did. Only, when they pulled his rough coat too hard, he would say, “Do not hurt your old friend, my dears.”
When bed time came the mother said, “I cannot think of turning you out this stormy night. Stay here by the fire.” The bear thanked her and stretched out on the warm hearthstone.
In the morning the children opened the door for him, and off he trotted into the woods.
After that the bear came every evening. He lay down before the fire and the children played with him until it was time to go to bed.
The winter passed by. The green grass was springing up in the meadows, the tiny buds were breaking out into leaves and blossoms on the trees.
One morning the bear said, “Children, I must say good-bye to you. I am going away and you will not see me again until next winter.” “Oh, where are you going, dear bear?” said Snow-white. “I am going far away into the forest,” he answered. “There are many precious things buried in the ground. In winter they are safe under the frozen earth. In the summer, when the sun has made the ground soft, it will be easy for the wicked dwarfs who live in the forest to dig down and take what I have buried. So I must go to watch over my treasures.”
The children felt very sad as they said good-bye to their dear playmate; but he promised to come back.
As he went out the latch of the door caught in his rough coat and tore it. Snow-white thought that she saw something like gold glittering under the shaggy hair; but she was not sure, for the bear trotted away very quickly and soon disappeared among the trees.
Suggestions.
The bear,—appearance, home, habits, use to man, etc. The seasons—Spring, Winter.
Kindness and hospitality as shown in the story.
IV.
Preparation.
The sisters see a dwarf who is in trouble. Recall explanation of dwarf. Imagine in what trouble he might be. Explain wedge.
Narration.