Now, would you believe it, Little One? Buddie had never even heard the word before, and the Middle Bear had to explain that a kindergarten was a place where children were taught, without their knowing it, the most remarkable things. Wee Bears were taught to eat honey; rabbits, to hold up their ears when listening intently; squirrels, to crack nuts, and so on. The fishes took the water course, and learned from a wise old Trout how to breathe under water and how to move their fins. For the feathered tribe there was a venerable Bat, who gave instruction in twigonometry and all the other branches of treeology.
“There were no kindergartens when I was young,” concluded the Middle Bear, “and I have often wondered how I managed to learn the way to eat honey.”
“This week,” chimed in the Wee Bear, “I am learning to pick blueberries.”
“The best of it is,” said the Middle Bear, “these nature studies take the little ones out of doors, where there is plenty of fresh air and sky.”
Just then Buddie discovered that the Porcupine, who was sitting beside the Wee Bear, had quills as soft and silky as the fur on a kitten’s back.
“He’s a Fretless Porcupine,” said the Middle Bear, when she whispered that she had never seen quills of that sort before. “He never frets, no matter what happens.”
Buddie did not see what fretting had to do with quills; and before she had a chance to inquire, the Donkey came along to pay his respects to the Wee Bear and her mother.
As Buddie was not used to “going out in company,” she hardly knew what to say, other than “Yes” or “No,” when some one of the guests addressed a question to her, which wasn’t often. Fortunately they paid very little attention to her, so she was able to sit and listen to the chatter around her.
Not so the Donkey. He moved about with the ease of one accustomed to polite society, dropping a compliment here and a joke there, wishing the Wee Bear many happy returns of the day, and congratulating the Rabbit on the fit of his coat.
“I hope they’ll have dinner soon,” Buddie thought. “I’m dreadfully hungry.”