THE BEAR.
It was a cold, stormy night in winter. Snow-white, Rose-red and their mother sat by the fire.
The sisters were knitting while their mother read stories to them as they worked. A pet lamb lay at their feet and a dove perched upon the shelf above the fire-place.
Outside, the wind was howling and the snow fell fast. But it was warm and bright in the snug little house.
Suddenly there was a noise at the door. The mother stopped reading and listened. She heard the noise again and said, “Some poor traveler is lost in this fearful storm. Run, dear Snow-white, and let him in.”
Snow-white jumped up and opened the door. In came, not a man, but a big, shaggy bear.
Oh, how frightened the children were! They clung to their mother and hid their faces in her dress. The lamb trembled and bleated. The dove woke up in a fright and flew about the room.
Presently the bear said, “Do not be afraid. I will not harm any of you.” The mother answered, “I am sure you will not. Come, children, do not be afraid. This is a kind, friendly bear.”
Then the mother told the bear to come close to the fire. When the children saw him stretched out on the floor, like a great dog, they lost their fear of him. Rose-red ran and fetched the broom to brush the snow from his coat.
The poor bear was very cold; but he soon grew warm before the bright fire. The children were not at all afraid of him now, but got upon his back and rolled off on the floor. The bear enjoyed the fun as much as they did. Only, when they pulled his rough coat too hard, he would say, “Do not hurt your old friend, my dears.”