HOW SICKNESS CAME
In the old days when the beasts, birds, fishes, insects, and plants could talk, they lived in peace and friendship with the children of men.
But, as time went on, the people increased in number, and they crowded the animals out of their homes.
This was bad enough, but, to make it worse, man invented bows and arrows, spears, knives, and hooks, and began to kill the animals.
They were killed for clothing, and they were killed for food, and still they were patient. But when man began to kill them for sport, they determined to unite for common safety.
The bears first met in council with their chief. After each in turn had complained of the cruel treatment of man, they all declared war against him.
Some of the bears proposed to make weapons and use them. But the chief said: "It is better to trust to the teeth and claws which Nature has given us."
As no one could think of other plans, their chief dismissed the council. The bears returned to the woods, and have done little harm to man ever since.