HOW LITTLE BROWN BEAR GOT READY FOR WINTER

One morning in the fall Little Brown Bear sat under a big tree.

Bluebird came to see him.

She said, “Good-bye, Little Brown Bear.

Winter is coming, and I am going South, where it is warm.

I will come back next spring.”

Little Bear did not want winter to come.

He could not go to the warm South.

He thought for a long time.

At last he said, “I will go and talk with Mr. Turtle.”

On the way he met Mrs. Duck.

“Winter will be here soon,” she said.

“I am going South with my friends. I was coming to say good-bye to you.”

Little Brown Bear went with Mrs. Duck to the pond. There were many ducks on the pond.

“Quack, quack, quack!” they said.

What a great noise they made!

Mrs. Duck swam out on the pond to her friends.

They all flew up in the air together.

Away they went to the South.

Little Brown Bear started off again to look for Mr. Turtle.

He could not find Mr. Turtle anywhere.

Little Bear looked for Mr. Frog, but Mr. Frog was gone, too.

Little Bear walked on and on.

By and by he found Bobbie Beaver.

Bobbie Beaver said, “I can not stop to talk with you.

I am getting food for winter.

I shall take it to the bottom of the pond.

Mr. Frog and Mr. Turtle are there.

They are asleep in the mud, and they will stay there all winter.

They said to tell you good-bye.

Don't you hear someone calling you?

I think it is your mother.”

Little Brown Bear ran home to his mother.

She was near a tree that had a big hole in it.

“I have been calling you, Little Bear,” she said.

“Come and help me get ready for winter.

We will put leaves into this hole.

They will make a soft, warm bed.

We will sleep on them all winter.”

Little Brown Bear said, “I will help you, Mother.

Bobbie Beaver is getting ready for winter.

Mr. Frog and Mr. Turtle are asleep in the mud at the bottom of the pond.

We must get ready for winter, too.”

Little Brown Bear helped his mother put leaves into the hole in the tree.

When the soft, warm bed was ready, they both crawled into it.

They slept there all winter.

——Myrtle Jamison Trachsel