The Bear Family at Home, and How the Circus Came to Visit Them

by Curtis Dwight Wilbur

The little Cub Bear thought a while, and then said that it seemed to him that if the camels could live so long on the desert, it would be easy for them to get to that new place where the Jimmie Bear lived. The old camel said that it would be very easy, and that the camels could take not only themselves, but that they could carry some of the other animals, for they were used to carrying big loads. That was why the men wanted them. They used the camels instead of the freight trains. So it was agreed that the little Cub Bear, and some of the other animals, should ride on the camels' backs, and that they would take turns riding. They would start at once, as soon as the camels had a good chance to take a big drink of water, and fill all four of their stomachs with food.

But the camels said, "You must be sure that you do not stick your sharp claws into our backs."

The bears all agreed with the animals that they would be very careful, and not dig their claws into the camels.

So they soon started. All of the animals ate and drank all that they could hold. The little Cub Bear was to ride all of the time, for he was so small and so weak. The three-legged bear, too, was to have a ride most of the way, for he was very tired, and had come so long a journey with only three legs. The lion said that he thought he could walk most of the way. He was used to the desert. And the camel said he was very glad that the lion was going to walk, for his claws were very sharp, and he was afraid that the lion might forget and stick his sharp claws into his back.

Well, you would have laughed to see the little Cub Bear try to get on the camel. The sly old camel knew that the little Cub Bear could not climb up, but the little fellow was in such a hurry to start, that the camel let him try to get on the best way he could.

Finally, the little fellow said, "Dear old camel, please tell me how to get on your back."

Then the camel said, "Why didn't you ask me before? There is only one way that you can get on the back of a camel. I will kneel down and show you."

But as soon as the camel knelt down, the little bear saw at once that he could get on his back, and he scrambled up and said: