THE BEAR AGAIN.
After Snow-white and Rose-red had seen the dwarf disappear behind the rocks they went on to town. They got the things for which they were sent and started back on their way home.
As they were walking along they saw the dwarf. He was sitting among the rocks. He had emptied the bag of precious stones upon the ground and was admiring them. How the stones sparkled and flashed in the sunlight! Snow-white and Rose-red stopped to admire them, too.
“What are you staring at?” cried the dwarf. “Go on about your business.” He sprang to his feet as if to drive them away, when all at once a terrible growl was heard and a big brown bear rushed out of the bushes.
The dwarf tried to run away, but the bear stood right in his path. Then the dwarf began to beg in a trembling voice, “O, dear Mr. Bear,” he said, “spare my life. I am such a poor little creature. I would not be a mouthful for you. See, here are two nice, plump little girls. Eat them instead of me.” But the bear paid no attention to him. Without a word he lifted up his fore paw and with one blow laid the dwarf dead upon the ground.
Snow-white and Rose-red, in a great fright, were running away; but the bear called to them, “Snow-white, Rose-red, do not be afraid; it is I, your old friend and playmate.”
They knew his voice and stopped to wait for him. But imagine how surprised they were when the shaggy bearskin fell to the ground and, instead of a big bear, a handsome young man in splendid dress stood before them!
“I am a king’s son,” he said; “and that wicked dwarf changed me into a bear and robbed me of nearly all my treasures. I have been obliged to wander about in the woods. At last he is dead and I am free.”
Not many years afterwards Snow-white was married to the prince and Rose-red to his brother.
The sisters took their dear mother to live with them in the prince’s palace, and they all lived happily forever after.
The rose bushes were taken to the new home and planted in the palace garden. There, year after year, they bore sweet red and white roses—just as they had done in the little garden in the woods.
Suggestions.
Punishment. Gratitude.
Explain prince, king, palace.