The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
Copyright. 1901. nv I. Frank Baum.
CONTINUED.
IA BRUIN, THE RUBBER BEAR,

- .aa TARA w n III ShAhh N
So Next morning the little Princess came
10 TIE door OF the new dwelling built for
Chick and John Dough, and said:
~. .sEet ia take a walk, and | will show you
how beautiful our island in in those parts
where there are no Mifkets to worry US
$50 together the three walked along the
shore until they drew near to a high point
tf rock; the Summit of which was reached
by a Winning path. When they had climbed
up the steep the Princess had 10 stop TO
rest, for she was not strong and seemed
Ito tire easily. And now, while they sat
--upon some rocks, a big brown bear came
out OF a cave and stood before them.
Don't 10 afraid" whispered the Prin-
cess. He wont hunt us. It's only Para
Bruin.-
o. The bear was fG' and Of monstrous size,
and its cclor was a rich brown. Ii had no
? hair at all upon its body, a. most bears
ilhave, but was smooth and shiny.
-. He gave q yawn a. he looked al the new
corners and John ~shuddered at the rows
of long white teeth that showed SO plainly.
Also he noticed the fierce claws upon the
bears toea, and decided that, in spite OF
? the rabbits and the I rincess's assurances,
she was in dangerous company.
Indeed. although Chick laughed at the
fDfAl. the plngPTDTSuI mum gre" iuiAO %
vo,s as the big beast advanced and shifted
lat him curiously-almos; as if it realized
John " a. made of gingerbread and that
o gingerbread is good to eat. Then it held
y u a fat paw, AZ IL desiring to shake hands.
and not wishing to appear rude John placed
his own hand in the bears paw, which
seemed even more soft and flabby than
his own.
The next moment the animal threw its
great arms around the gingerbread man
and Rugged him close to it's body. John
gave a cry OF fear, although u was hard to
tell which was more soft and yielding,
the bears fat body or the form of the gin
gerbrea1 man,
stop that" he shouted, speaking in the
bear language. Let me go instantly!
What do you mean by such actions"
Tire bear, hearing this speech, at once
releaeNd John, who began to feel of himself
TO zee i. he had been damaged.
why didn't you say you were a friend
NJ l could speak my language" asked the
be. r, in a tone Of reproach.
You knew we'll enough | was a friend,
since | came with the Princess" retortsd
John angrily. Il suppose you would like
to eat me, because I am gingerbread
Il thought you smelled like gingerbread, "
REMARKED l0t DedTs Dub " willy
about my eating you. | don't eat"
mol" said John, surprised. Why not?"
We'll, the principal reason is That I'm
made of rubber, " said the bear.
-Rubber!' exclaimed John.
Yes, rubber. Not gutta percha, you
understand, nor any cheap composition;
but pure Para rubber of the best quality.
I'm practically indestructible."
well, | declared" said John, who was
really astonished. Are your teeth rubber
aso?"
TO be sure" acknowledged the bear
seeming TO be somewhat ashamed Of the
fact; but they appear very terrible TO look
at, do they not? No one would suspect
they would bend if / tried TO bite"
ITO me they were terrible in appearance
said John; az which the bear seemed much
grAtided.
~ don't mind confding TO you, who are a
friend and speak my language, he resumed,
tsthat.I am "a harmless as | am indestruc-
tible. But I pride myself upon my awful
appearance, which should strike terror
into the hearts of all beholders. At one
time every creature in this island feared
= me and acknowledged me their king; but
those horrid Mifkets discovered l was
rubue,, and have detied me ever since
ga! how came you 10 ID dlNcI drhcu "ohh'
-Was il the Great Elixir"
i've never heard of the Great Elixir.
replied the bear, and I've no idea how
came to he alive. My earliest recollection
il that I was living in much the same way
that | am now. DO you remember when
You we're not liying?'
20 -No," said John.
This conversation, which she could not
Mt all understand, surprised the Princess
very much. But she was glad to see that
the rubber bear and the gingerbread man
had become friends, and 30 she took Chick s
hand and led the smiling Cherub up TO
where they stood.
This is my new friend, whose name is
Chick" she said to the bear, for the girl
was accustomed TO talking to Para Bruin
just as she would to a person; a you
must he as good and kind TO Chick as you
have been to me, my dear Para, or l shall
not love YOU any more
-. The bear gave the Princess a generous
hug. and then he Rugged Chick; but the
words the girl had spoken seemed to puzzle
him, for he turned to John and said:
why do you suppose 80 many different
languages we're ever invented? The Mifkets
speak one language, and you and speak
; anotheo, and the Princess and Chick speak
still another And il is all very absurd,
for the only language can understand is
my own
Fl can speak with and understand the
Princess and the Mifkets al well as | can
speak with you" declared John.
The bear looked at him a~dmiringly.
IF that is 80 then tell me what the Princess
said To me just now" he requested.
q 80 John translated the girls words into
rthe bear language. and when Para Bruin
heard them he laughed with delight.
Toll the Princess that I'll be as good
sio her friend Chick as possible" said he,
and John az once translated it So that the
Princess understood.
that's nice" said she. Il knew Para
would be friends with Chick. And now
ask the bear to bounce for us. He does il
often, and it is a very interesting sight"
So John requested the bear to bounce.
which he at once agreed to do, seeming TO