"Hush," advised Mother Bear, "you have said enough!"
Mother Bear spoke severely, but a moment later when the little fellow went out and sat on the doorstep to think, she said to Father Bear, "Suppose we have a surprise party for Little Bear?"
[Illustration: "I don't want to sleep all winter">[
"A good idea!" agreed Father Bear. "But there is snow in the air, and if there is to be a party it had better be this afternoon. Whom do you wish to invite?"
Mother Bear smiled as she answered, "Let us invite the children of our hibernating friends. I think that will be pleasanter. We'll invite Auntie Cinnamon's children, and Uncle Brown Bear's family, and the Porcupine twins, and the Field Mice children, and the young Musk-rats. If you will do the inviting, I will make blackberry jam and honey cakes and get the house in order!"
Little Bear didn't even ask a question as Father Bear started out, looking rather proud of his new fur overcoat.
In the afternoon, as Father Bear and Mother Bear were happily waiting for Little Bear's company, there came a knock at the door, followed by the entrance of Auntie Cinnamon.
"I came to say," said she, "that my children cannot come to the party because they have gone to sleep for the winter. No, I cannot stay, I thank you, but I am glad to stop in a minute to say good night until spring."
"Sleepy heads!" exclaimed Little Bear when Auntie
Cinnamon had gone on her way.
Next came Uncle Brown Bear. He was so plump he was out of breath from walking fast and had to rest a minute before he could say, "Our children are all asleep and cannot come to the party, but Auntie Brown sent me over to say we thank you, and good night until spring!" And away he went.