[Illustration: "I came to say that my children cannot come to the party," said Aunty Cinnamon]
"The sleepy heads!" exclaimed Little Bear again, and how he laughed. "But where is the party, Mother Bear, and am I invited?"
Just then came another knock at the door, and Mother
Porcupine walked in to say that the twins were tucked
away in bed for the winter and so could not come to
Little Bear's surprise party.
Little Bear was so delighted when he learned he was to have a surprise party that he wasn't disappointed when the laughing Blue Jay came with a message from the Field Mouse mother saying that the Field Mice children just couldn't keep their eyes open, they were so sleepy, and so of course they could not come to the party.
"I'll sit by the window and see who does come," said Little Bear, happy as he could be thinking of the party.
Now it happened that no one else had been invited to the party, so Mother Bear took Little Bear to the cupboard to show him the blackberry sandwiches and honey cakes, while Father Bear stepped out to ask the Blue Jay to please fly quickly away and invite the wildcat children and the young squirrels and chipmunks and foxes to come immediately to the party.
[Illustration: They found Little Bear sound asleep]
The Blue Jay flew to do this joyful errand, and soon came dozens of chattering, noisy wildwood children to the party.
But when they reached the house they found Little Bear sound asleep with a contented smile on his face, dreaming of the party! The merry children could not awaken him, although they tried their best because they wished to share with him the blackberry jam and honey cakes.
Late that afternoon when the party was over and the
frolicking children had gone, Father Bear took Little
Bear in his arms, and Mother Bear closed the house.
Then away went the Three Bears to Sleepy Cave.