It was so with the teacher bear.
On the outside of the school house door the bear teacher hung a white piece of birch bark, on which was printed:
NO SCHOOL TO-DAY.
I’VE GOT THE TOOTHACHE.
“Oh, goodie!” cried Neddie when he read it, and he felt so happy that he tried to wag his little short tail, only he couldn’t.
“Why, Neddie, I’m s’prised at you!” exclaimed Tommie Kat, who, with his brother and sister, Joie and Kittie, had also come to school.
“Oh, I’m not glad ’cause teacher’s got the toothache,” said Neddie Stubtail quickly, “it’s just because there’s no school.”
“Oh, then so’m I glad,” said Kittie Kat, purring softly.
So all the animal children went home on account of the school being closed, and when Mrs. Stubtail saw Beckie and Neddie coming up to the cave-house, she exclaimed:
“Why, what does this mean?” The little bears told their mamma, and Aunt Piffy, who had just come up from down cellar, said: