Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-07-13
WHERE LITTLE BEAR LIVED IN
WINTER

WHERE LITTLE BEAR LIVED IN
WINTER
One day in the fall when there
was Chill in the air, Father Bear
and Mother Bear went to find a
house for the winter. They left
Little Bear ait home for Little
Bear did not want to move to anoth
er house.
See how plump I am" he said
to his mother. Look at my coat.
1t is so thick and warm aid my hair
has grown SO long that l shall not
mind the cold. I'd love to play in
the SNOW and go sliding on the
ice. Father Deer's children do
not sleep all winter. They make
tracks in the snow and lie down to
rest in the eyergreens. Father
Deer told me about it,
Mother Bear laughed. "Well,
Sonny Bear" said she, "you stay
at home today and have last long
playday, for we expect to choose a
| home for the winter before night.
Have a good time and be good lit
tile bear"
But l don't want to leave this
| dear old house." walled Little Bear.
Mrs. Maria Wildcat said this morn
inng, Young cub, you wont be
anything but a little baby bear,
eating out of a bowl and sitting in
a Wee, wee chair, and sleeping in
a wee, wee bed for a hundred years
If you lie around and sleep all VIM
ter. Youth never grow up, and Bob
| Wildcat said
There, there;" Mother Bear warm
ed him, Don't let me hear another
word about Maria Wildcat nor any
of the Wildcat family. Come, Fathe,
Bear, let us start. Little Bear you
will find some honey comb i'm the
closet, and you may help yourself.
Little Bear brushed away his
tears annd went in search of the
honey. He carried it outdoors to eat
in the sunshine.
1t was a quiet morning, and the
leaves. painted red and yellow by
Jack Frost, fluttered downward. By
the time Little Bear had finished
the honey he was getting very
drowsy.
But the woods children came t.
play with little Bear once more be
fore he should go away for the win
ter and Little Bear reused himself.
First came the rabbit children
They were weu-behaved little foil
but t!mid. They had funny lookinf
three cornered little mouths and
great dark eyes.
The porcupine twins came ovel
too, but like Little Bear they were
So drowsy they could hardly stay
awake.
Then came the field mice child
rem, and the muskrat children from
the river, to play with Little Beal
for the last time before they should
start ON their autumn wanderings
They expected to sleep much of thu
time during the winter themselves
after their new cabin was built OIL
the river bank.
| Sally Beaver, too, called to sa,
goodby to Little Bear before h.
left for his winter home.
Next came dozen little, frolic
some chipmunks to play with Ba
by Bear. They perched about ,ol
rocks and stumps and KEEP
UP such chatter that Little Bear
forgot he was sleepy.
Then Father Fox's little one
came bounding through the for
est, SO full of mischief and fun
that soon all were ready to join il
the sport.
! The little folk of the wildwood,
had beautiful time that day, an,
Little Bear was happy until Mari;
Wildcats children came and began
poking fun at everyone who slep
all winter. Soon there was quar-
rel. and THE Wildcat children RAJ
home to tell their mother that i
was not their fault.
Then the little people who wer
left told stories of the winter birds
of sliding on the snow and the win
1 terwinds, all of which made Lit
tie Bear unhappy.
Il don't want to sleep all winter,
he walled; and when his father an,
mother came home, there he was
sitting ON his own doorstep, cry
ing.
What is the matter with Littl