English
OnceuponatimeLittleBearwentforalongwalkalongtheriverpath.Hewasalone,andsodidnotknowthathehadgonefarfromhomeuntilFatherKingfishersawhimandcalled:
“Itistimeforyoutoturnroundandgoback,LittleBear!Youmustrememberthatitwillsoonbedarkinthewoods,andyoumightgetlost,foryouhavenowingswithwhichtoflyhomequickly.”
LittleBearlookedforthesun.Sureenough,itwassinkingbehindthetreesandleavingalong,shiningtrailontheriver.Itwastimetogohome.
“Thankyou,FatherKingfisher,”answeredLittleBear.“IwashavingsuchagoodtimethatIforgotIwasfarfromourlittlehouse,butIshallrunbackfastnow.Sogoodnight!”
Andawayheran.Butbeforehehadpassedmorethanthreebendsoftheriverhesawamanfishing,andinthewoodsnearbywasatent,withabrightcampfireburning,andbesidethecampfire,amancleaningagun.
LittleBearwassofrightenedthathesatdownandcried.MotherSkunkheardhim,forsheandhersixchildrenwereouthuntingbeetlesforsupper.
“Whatisthetrouble?”sheasked.“Whatisthematter,LittleBear?”
LittleBeartoldheraboutthetwomen,oneoneithersideofhispath.“AndIamafraidtogobythem!”hewailed.
“Come,come,child,dryyoureyes,”saidMotherSkunk.“Youhavealwaysbeenkindtomychildren,andnowIwilltakecareofyou.Stopcryingandfollowme.”
“Butwon’tthemencatchyou?”askedLittleBear.
“Oh,no,”answeredMotherSkunk,“Theywillnottouchus.Youfollowme.Come,children.”
OnwalkedMotherSkunk,slowlyandcomfortably,withLittleBearandhersixprettychildrenfollowingonebehindanother,asshehadtoldthemtodo.
WhenthemanwhowasfishingsawMotherSkunkwalkingbywithherchildrenandLittleBear,hesatstillasamouse.Allhedidwaswink.
ThemanbythefirestoppedcleaninghisgunwhenhesawMotherSkunkwalkingbywithherchildrenandLittleBear,andhe,too,satstillasamouse.
Allhedidwaswink.“Now,LittleBear,”saidMotherSkunk,whentheyhadgoneafewstepsmore,“ThechildrenandIwillstayhereawhileandcatchbeetles,butyoumustrunalonghome.
Themenwillnottroubleyouwhileweareintheirpath,neverfear!”“Ithankyou,MotherSkunk!”
LittleBearcalledoverhisshoulder,ashepit-pattedforhomeasfastashecouldtravel.
Andwhenhereachedhome,hetoldwhathadhappenedtohimandwalkedupanddowninfrontofthefireplacetoshowFatherBearandMotherBearhowMotherSkunkhadwalkedpastthetwobigmen,asifshewerenotafraidofanyoneinthewoods.AndhowtheThreeBearslaughed!
ButwhenMotherBeartuckedLittleBearintobedthatnight,shekissedhimandsaid:
“Letusalwaysbethankfulforgood,kindfriends!”
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