foot," and their feet made a merry stamping.

After the children were all in the schoolhouse and
the door was closed, a song came floating through the
open windows.

When the singing was over, and the only sounds
that the bears heard were the song of birds, the lapping
of the water, and the humming of bees, Little Bear
said to his father and mother, "I see a little path leading
from the river to the schoolhouse, and I see bushes
beside one of the windows. If I will go softly, softly,
and climb softly, softly into the bushes, may I go and
peep into the schoolhouse and see the children?"

"Oh, I do not know about that!" began Mother Bear.

But Father Bear said, "Oh, let him go! Only, Son
Bear," he added, "if one of the children should happen
to see you, and should say 'Bear,' you run straight
down to the raft, and we shall be ready to push into
the stream and get away!"

[Illustration: Little Bear crept softly up the path]

So Little Bear crept softly up the path on the hillside,
climbed softly into the bushes, and peeped into the
schoolroom. All the children were in their seats with
their heads bent over books and slates. Then the
teacher said sternly, "Primer class! Come forward!"