Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
! OUR BOYS ; +;
and GIRLS ; F;
-,sGT 80
a THE BEAR KING

=
There was once a little bear who
wanted TO be a king. All day long
and half the night he thought over
and over again How nice it must
be 10 be king and sit on throne
aud wear crown. How | should like
20 be a king"
At last one day he told his Aunt
Susan of his desire. but his Aunt Su.
tsn was unsympathetic.
When the little bear sat up on his
hind legs and folded his paws and
said, "Oh, Aunt Susan. do so want
10 be king" all his Aunt Susan did
NAt 10 say csessly
Run alqAg and don't bother me.
I'm sleepy"
The little bear was rather dscour.
aged Nobody seems 10 help me-"
he said Il guess will have to 20
out into the world and see II I can
hpd anybody who kas kingdom to
give away"
So he set on at once and made his
way thru the thick forest till he came
too broad. white road, down which he
.tfotel rather cautiously. Tor he had
rsSfrb ont OF the forest before and
lie kas rather scared. BY and by he
CAME across big black dog who was
lying asleep in the sun. "My goodness
, nae.' thought the little bear, what
sort Of a creature, is that?" for he
had never seen dog before and he
!. wss afraid ofit So he tried TO steal
rast without di. turbing it. But jgst
as he got within a few feet of I'm
the dog woke up with a jump.
j 1.-THE little bear was frightened but
he was not nearly so frightened as
the, dog, who ,straishtway made of
Nown the road as fast as his less
would carry him. xut wi
DWELL, well, we'll" said the little
hear to himself HE was afrad OF
me, | guess / must be ferocious.look.
ing" and he trotted happily on his
way.
He felt so encouraged at having
frightened the dog that when he came
upon some men who were at work in
the fields he approached them quite
bravely. To his great delight, they
ran away just as the dog had done.
II must look terribly fcrocious,
thought the little bear. with slee
EVERY one is so much afraid of me
that I'm sure they will give me any
tLipg I'ask. If only can meet some.
body who has a kingdom to spare,
my fortune is made"
But he never seemed to be able to
ask any one to give him a kingdom
for as soon as people saw him coming
they ali ran away and stayed in their
houses and positively refused to come
out, tho the little bear waited on the
doormat for hours.
At last the bear came to high
walled city, with moat and draw
bridges and sentries and, having
grown extremely brave because of the
fear he caused, the little bear ap
i pfoached the moat and called to the
sentres who were watching him from
the top OF the wall. LET down the
ifawbridge! | want TO come in and
be king!"
The sentries looked at one another
'This surely must be some great magi
clan or prince in disguise" said
they mo mere bear would dare &c
order us about in that way. We had
better let down the drawbridge a,
cnce or he may change us into tree;
or birds or something
I 80 in great haste they let down the
drawbridge.
Take me to the king at once,
commanded the little bear. when he
Md walked over the drawbridge ant
into the city.
The sentinels bowed respectful,
and led the way to the palace md in
to the presence Of the king.
IT can't be real bear" though
TIE king. 1T must be a powerful
sorcerer or somebody in disguise.
must not offend him"
So he Immediately got up and came
down fhe steps of the throne with hi
most gracious smile. my dear crea
.ure," he said, shaking the bear b,
the paw, Il am quite delighted to giv'
you my throne and my crown ant
scepter il you will be so good as tt
take them" and the king put hi
crown on the little bears head ant
handed him his scepter with polit,
bow
~ Up the steps Of the throne scam
pered the little bear, and. settling
himself comfortably on the velve
cushion, looked about him with
proud air. AT last" thought he,
an a king! How do wish Aunt ST.
San could-see MILL