The wood-mouse sat outside her hole and ate acorns and the beaver built his ingenious house on the river-bank.
2
Then, one day, the bear came trudging along and lay down at full length under a great oak-tree.
"Are you there again, you robber?" said the oak and shook a heap of withered leaves over him.
'YOU REALLY OUGHT NOT TO BE SO WASTEFUL WITH YOUR LEAVES, OLD FRIEND,' SAID THE BEAR, LICKING HIS PAWS.
"You really ought not to be so wasteful with your leaves, old friend," said the bear, licking his paws. "They are the only thing you have to keep off the sun with."
"If you don't like me, you can go," replied the oak, proudly. "I am lord of the land and, look where you may, you will find none but my brothers."