The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-01-13
THE YOUNG BEARS AND THEIR
TROUBLES.

Patience! like the young bears, your troubles
have yet to come"
Many little folks have haerd this pro.
verb before, without having any idea
Of its origin, or why the young bears
troubles should have been selected be.
fore all others, so may say that l be.
lieve this is how the proverb came to
be used.
In the days of old, in a snug cave
lived Papa and Mamma Bear and their
two children, Mats the son, and Furry
the daughter.
The young bears had arrived at that
age when they become inquisitive,
and think that they can do every
thing as well as their parents,
if not better; and they were constantly
asking their father aud mother ques-
tions about the life away from the
cave, and proposing that they should
60 out and take their part in seeking
the daily provisions, and the old folks
used as constantly to reply, ''Patience!
your troubles have yet to come.'
This did not satisfy the young folks,
aud when alone, they held much con-
sultation together, and puzzled their
brains as to why they must wait, how
the troubles would come, and chiefly
and lastly, what were troubles. Their
mother often asked their father of
an evening if he had any troubles, and
he nearly as often said that he had,
and especially one evening, he told
her that a small pig that he brought
in had given him a deal of trouble
when he caught it. Therefore, argued
Mats, troubles must be something
good to eat; and it was too bad that
they should have to wait in the cave
till it came to them, whilst their faith
er and mother could get some nearly
every day that they went out.
At last, one day, after deal of con-
sultation, they agreed that they would
ask and know positively what troub.
les were, and to settle the matter; but
here arose another difficulty, viz, who
was to ask and who was to be asked!
"You had better ask mother, as you
are her favorite,'' said Furry.
NO., answered Mats; you had better
ask father; he will tell you anything.' -
And Furry, being the gentler of the
two, gave way.
She waited till next day, and as her
father was getting ready to go out af.
ter breakfast, ''Father,' said she, "what
are troubles?''
'Vexations, my dear; but don't both
or me now, I'm busy,'' said he; and
then he went out.
Mats was waiting anxiously at the
back of the cave, and as Furry went
towards him with troubled air, he
bounced out with, swell, what are
troubles! I heard him tell you.''
"Vexations," answered Furry, slow.
ly.
'W-h-a.t! And what are vexations!''
cried Mats.
II don't know, but they are what
father said troubles Were," said Furry;
''but you had better ask mother, and
then we shall be all right
II suppose must nOw," grumbletl
Mats, ''but it was very stupid of YOU
not to ask more about it.
HE told me not to bother him, and
then went out replied Furry, quietly,
as she settled herself for nap.
Mats did not much like the idea of
asking his mother, for he thought it
looked as if lie were Ignorant; and he
particularly did not want his father to
hear him asking her, so he put it off
till next morning; and when his moth.
er was following his father out of the
cave, he ran after her, and stop
ped her.
"Oh, m0ther,'' said he, will YOU
please tell me what vexations are?''
"AHlctlons. my son, replied his
mother; "but don't stop me now, your
father is calling me-
Mats went into the cave, slower and
more puzzled than Furry had been the
day before. She was waiting for him,
':NOw dear Mats cried she '*lo you
know all about it!''
NO." answered Mats, sulkily; ''vex.
atiOns are Affections. Now YOU know
as much as I do
Dear me! we shall never find it
out sighed Furry.
''Never!'' quickly returned Mats
sunless you get it out of father to.
night; and you might do such a little
thing as that, Furry
She, always ready to please her broth.
er, readily promised to do so, and the
two were soon busy at play together
In the evening, when the old bears
had had their dinner, and were rest.
ing, Furry began to play about near
her father, seeking for an opportunity
to ask the important questions; but he
happened not to be in a very good hu.
NOR, and her play at last Irritating
him. he told her and Mats to go to bed,
''1n a moment, dear father" said
Furry; ''but will you please answer
mo one nuostiOn fiirst.''
"Only one, them" said her father.
swell, what is it!''
''Please tell Mats and me what afflic.
ti0ns are!''
TROUBLES, little one!'' at once an.
swered both parents. s.Now trot off:
yours have yet to Gomez -,
Furry, who had nearly fallen on Ae1
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