Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-02
Children's EDening Story
Downright by Howard R. CARTS. J

Copyright by Howard r. Garis.)
Neddie and Beckie Stubtail, the lit.
tie boy and girl bear cubs, were fast
asleep in the warm cave, where they
had gone with their papa and mamma
bears to stay through the long. cold
winter. All bears do that, you know.
When the snow is in the woods and
lying thick and white on the fields. and
when there Is nothing green for bears
to eat they crawl into warm cave ana
sleep until spring comes.
Neddie and Beckie Stubtail had been
sleeping for some time In the cave
when, all Of a sudden, one day. Neddie
awakened
It was not really time for him to
open his eyes, for 1t was still long
way of from spring. but Neddie had
dreamed that he was riding on his
Christmas rocking horse when 1t STUN
bled and fell with him.
whoa, there!" cried Neddie, as he
fell of from his dream Christmas rock
ing horse. whoa, there!"
And his dream was 50 real that he
woke up and turned over In his bed OF
soft, dry leaves in the cave.
ooh, mamma" cried Neddie, as he
felt his mothers furry, beary paw pat
ting him. Isn't it time to get up!
Isn't spring here? I am tired Of stay
ing in this cold cave"
Hush, Neddie!" said Mrs. Stubtail
softly. "You must 60 to sleep again
1t will be many weeks until 1t 10 spring
Go to sleep"
But, though Neddie closed his eyes
he could not 60 to sleep. He thought
of his dream Christmas rocking-horse
and he thought what fun he had had
during the summer in the woods and
fields, with Sammie Littletail, the rab
bit boy, and Jimmie Wibblewobble, the
duck, and Jackie and Peetie BowWow
the puppies.
II don't want to 60 to sleep any
more" thought Neddie.
Then he heard a rustling In the
brown leaves on the other side of the
cave.
"Is that you, Beckie" whispered
Neddie.
YES" answered his sister, the little
girl bear.
"Oh, then, you're awake, tool" spoke
Neddie. Come over here by me and
we'll talk"
Mr.. and Mrs. Stubtail, the bear papa
and mamma, were soundly asleep al
the two little bear cubs snuggled ur
close to one another and began tc
whisper
1T isn't any fun staying here in the
dark cave ia IT," asked Neddie of hif
sister.
Indeed, 1t isn't" agreed Beckie. "a
wish I could play with my dolls"
"And I wish could 80 upstairs anc
have some fun with the animal boys
spoke Neddie. 81 don't see why We
can't 70, Beckie. Maybe 1t is nearel
spring than mamma thinks. Let's e
out of this cave"
"Oh, we were told not to-" exclaimed
Beckie.
They told us not to go out unit
spring." said Neddie. 1T may be spring
now, for all we know. How can w
tell, all shut up in q dark cave as w
are? Let's 60 outside"
Well, of course, it was wrong thin,
to do, but we will say nothing of tina
now. Anyway, Neddie and Beckie, nov
wide awake, went out Of the winte
cave. And when they were outside the!
saw no snow on the ground, and tn
air was rather warm and moist.
why, it's spring after ALI" criet
Neddie. ,"Oh, how glad I am. W.
must tell papa and mamma The,
don't know it. But we will play abOu
a bit first"
SO he and Beckie played on thu
warm, moist ground. They even look
ed for huckleberries of which bear'
are very fond but. of course the!
found none.
"Oh, let's take a little walk" sait
Neddie, and soon he and Beckie were
some distance away from their cave
They were walking along on thei
paws, feeling quite hungry after thei
long sleep, whom all of sudden, tn
sun hid itself behind cloud, and /
grew very dark. Then it began t,
snow very hard.
Down came the white fakes with {
rush, so that Beckie and Neddie coult
scarcely see one another. And the all
that had been warm, grew cold.
ooh, DEAR" cried Beckie. Il DOM
like this! I thought you said it was
spring, Neddie."
II thought it was" replied the biz
bear boy; 'but guess made a mis-
take. It is still winter
And it was, for the snow came dowr
faster and faster.
"Oh, shall freeze!" cried Beckie