Little Bear at Work and at Play   By: Frances Margaret Fox

LITTLE BEAR AT WORK AND AT PLAY

By

FRANCES MARGARET FOX

Author of "Doings of Little Bear," "Adventures of Sonny Bear" and "The Kinderkins"

Illustrated by

WARNER CARR

Lovingly dedicated to the FIRST GIRLS

Who lived in the Martha Cook Dormitory, Ann Arbor, Michigan, because they loved

LITTLE BEAR

CONTENTS

WHEN LITTLE BEAR BRAGGED

WHEN MOTHER SKUNK HELPED LITTLE BEAR

WHEN LITTLE BEAR WOULD NOT WORK

HOW LITTLE BEAR LEARNED TO SWIM

LITTLE BEAR AND THE LOST OTTER BABY

WHEN LITTLE BEAR VISITED SCHOOL

LITTLE BEAR GETS HIS WISH

THREE BEARS COME TO BREAKFAST

LITTLE BEAR'S PROMISE

LITTLE BEAR'S SURPRISE PARTY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks are extended to the Youth's Companion for permission to reprint the following stories: "When Little Bear Bragged," "When Mother Skunk Helped Little Bear," "When Little Bear Would Not Work," "How Little Bear Learned to Swim," "Little Bear and the Lost Otter Baby," "When Little Bear Visited School," "Little Bear Gets His Wish," and "Little Bear's Surprise Party"; and to the Christian Observer for permission to reprint the following stories: "Three Bears Come to Breakfast" and "Little Bear's Promise."

[Illustration: Between times Little Bear asked questions ]

LITTLE BEAR AT WORK AND AT PLAY

WHEN LITTLE BEAR BRAGGED

One rainy day the three bears were sitting by the fire in their comfortable house in the woods, telling stories. First Father Bear would tell a story, and then Mother Bear would tell a story, and then Father Bear would have a turn again. Between times Little Bear asked questions.

The three were happy and merry until Mother Bear told the old story about the race between the hare and the tortoise, and how the slow going tortoise was the first to reach the goal because the hare took a nap and did not wake up until after the tortoise had passed him and had won the race.

"You see," Mother Bear explained, "the hare was so sure he could win that he did not even try to reach the goal quickly. He was so swift footed that he thought he could go to sleep if he chose and still come out ahead of the patient tortoise."

"Wasn't he silly!" exclaimed Little Bear. "If I were going to run a race with Grandpa Tortoise, I should go this way until I reached the goal!" And Little Bear pranced up and down the room until he made even the porridge bowls rattle in the cupboard. "I guess I should know enough to know that Grandpa Tortoise would keep stepping ahead and stepping ahead and get to the goal in time! You would not catch me taking any naps if I started out to run a race with anyone! No, sir ree!"

Mother Bear laughed heartily, but Father Bear looked very solemn. He did not like to hear Little Bear brag at all.

"So you think, Son Bear," said he, "that, if you should run a race with Grandpa Tortoise, you would be wiser than our old friend, Peter Hare? Is that what you mean?"

"I know I should," bragged Little Bear. "I'd say, 'Good by, Grandpa Tortoise!' and off I'd start, and I should beat him before he had time to think. Then, afterward, if I were sleepy and wanted to, I should take a nap."

"Very well," said Father Bear, "I shall see Grandpa Tortoise, and if he is willing to run a race with a silly little fellow like you, you shall have your chance, and Peter Hare shall be the judge."

So it came about that, when the rain was over, the friends of the Three Bears and of the hare and the tortoise met in the woods to see the fun.

Little Bear noticed that, before the race began, the hare and the tortoise were laughing about something, but he did not even wonder what it was. He had nothing to worry about.

At last the word was given: "One, two, three, go!"

[Illustration: He was out of breath before he had passed the first oak tree]