18 A NEW STORY. 



came forward and poked their noses through the bars of their 

 house. And the great, big, huge bear (that was Daddy Jack, you 

 know) said, in his great, big, gruff voice, ' Somebody has beotjght 

 ME AN APPLE ! ' and the middle-sized bear. Mammy Joan, said, in 

 her middle-sized voice, ' Somebody has hrouglit me a cooTiy I ' and 

 then Baby Betty, the little, wee bear, said, in her little, wee voice, 

 ' Somebody has brought me some peanuts, and there they are I ' 

 The little bear was right, of course, as she always is in the story, 

 for Silverlocks had a bag of peanuts in her hand, and she began 

 to feed the bears with them; Betty first, because she was the little 

 one, and then Mammy Joan, and then Daddy Jack. Oh, what a 

 cracking, and crunching, and scrabbling there was! These beai's 

 were very fond of peanuts, and they had not had any for several 

 days. Daddy Jack would cram a pawful at a time into his great 

 red mouth, and then sit up on his hind legs and crunch them slowly 

 and solemnly; while fat little Betty squeaked aloud with excite- 

 ment, rolling about after the peanuts, as Silverlocks tossed them 

 between the bars. At last, sad to tell, the paper bag was empty. 

 ' ]S^ow, Miss Silverlocks,' said nurse, ' you must come home, for 

 it is your tea-time. Say good-by to the bears ! ' ' Oh ! must I 

 go?' cried Silverlocks. 'Good-by, you dear bears! Good-by, 

 great, big, huge bear! and good-by, middle-sized bear! and good- 

 by, little, wee bear! I like yoiT best, little, wee one. I wish you 

 were mine ! ' Just then Baby Betty pushed her fat brown paw 

 through the bars, hoping that more peanuts might be forthcoming ; 

 and Silverlocks, to nurse's great horror, took the paw and shook 

 it heartily. IS^urse pulled her away hastily, but the three bears 

 were much pleased with the little girl's politeness, and they all 

 three said, ' Good-by, my dear! Come again, and bring the peanuts 

 with you ! '" 



