“Gruffo and Muffo, you must take good care of your little brother Dido when you go off playing in the woods,” said Mrs. Bear, for though the bears could not speak in our language they had talk of their own which was just as plain to them as our A B and C talk is to us.
“Take good care of Dido,” Mrs. Bear would say. “Don’t run away from him, or he might be lost. And don’t climb big trees and leave him on the ground, or something might happen to him. And never take him too far out in the water of the lake when you go swimming, or he might be drowned.”
“We won’t, Mother,” said Gruffo and Muffo. “We’ll take good care of Dido.”
“Oh, I guess I can take care of myself,” said Dido, making a funny face with his queer, black, rubbery nose.
“Now that wasn’t a nice thing to say,” said Mrs. Bear, holding up her paw and gently shaking it at Dido. “You ought to be glad your bigger brothers will look after you.”
“Oh, so I am, Mother,” answered Dido. “I’m sorry I spoke that way. May they take me swimming now, down to the lake?”
“I guess so,” answered Mrs. Bear. “Run along, little cubs. I have to go out and see if I can find some berries or sweet roots for your dinner.”
Bears, you know, like to eat berries and the sweet roots of some trees and bushes. Bears also like fish, and honey. Say! if ever you have a pet bear, which might some day happen, you know, and you want to give him a special extra treat, just bring him some honey. He will love it so much that he will eat every bit of it up, box and all!
So while Dido, with his brothers Gruffo and Muffo, walked on along the mountain path to the lake, Mrs. Bear went off in the woods to find some roots and berries for dinner. Of course the little bears might have been able to find some for themselves, but you know how it is with children. Even though they know where the things are to eat they like their mother to get a meal for them.
“I can run faster than you can!” cried Dido to his two brothers, as they went along through the woods. “Look!” And off he started, swinging from side to side, brushing the bushes out of his way as he went.