FromthedaywhentheThreeBearsdiscoveredtheEnchantedLandwherebearsmaywalkwithoutfearofharm,andmaysafelypoketheirnosesintoanyman’stentiftheychoose,fromthatday,LittleBearteasedtogoback. “Thenletusbeoff,”exclaimedFatherBearatlast.“Letusbeoffonaholidayjourney,MotherBear.Come,son,closethedoorofourlittlehouseandawaywego!” Andawaytheywent.LittleBearwassohappywhenthethreejollycompanionsfinallyreachedtheEnchantedLandthathewenttobedatsunsetsothathemightbeupearlyinthemorningtoexploreacountrywhererockswerepaintedinallcolorsoftherainbow,wherespringsofhotwaterbubbledthroughtheearth,andwherecrystal-clearwaterfallsfilledhislittleheartwithwonder. Sureenough,LittleBearawokeintheearlydawn,gavehisfatherafriendlypokeintheside,gavehismother’snoseafriendlytweak,andthusmerrilythedaybegan. “Letustakeawalkbeforebreakfast,”suggestedLittleBear. “Verywell,”agreedFatherBear,“andletuscatchfishforbreakfastinamountainstream!” “Andweshallcookthefishinthefirsthotspringalongtheway,”addedMotherBear. OnthroughthegloriousdawnwenttheThreeBears,crooninganoldsongandjoyfullysniffingtheair,whensuddenlytheycameuponasleepingcamp,wherethetentsofthecampersformedabigcircle. Inthecenterofthecircleweretheashesofacampfire,andnotfarawaywasacookstovestandingnearacoveredwagon. Onthatstovewasakettle.OvertothatkettleprancedLittleBear.Heliftedthecoverandpeepedin. ThekettlewasfullofsomethingLittleBearhadneverseenbefore.OverwalkedFatherBear,overwalkedMotherBear.Theypeepedinthekettleandshooktheirheads. “Itissomethingthecookforgottoputaway!”remarkedFatherBearinpompoustones. “Youmaytasteofitifyouwish,SonBear,”saidhismother. IntothekettlewentLittleBear’spaw,andoutitcamefilledwithsoft,brown,juicyfruit. Heateit,anditwasgood-sogoodheatemoreandmore. FatherBearatethefruit,MotherBearatethefruit. “Whatisit?”theysaidonetoanother. Butalthoughtheycouldnotanswerthequestion,theylikedthatfruitsowelltheyateandateuntiltheyateitallup. Theyevenforgottheirmannersandsmackedtheirlips. Suddenlytherewasanoiseinoneofthetents,andoutpoppedthecook’swife,calling,“Oh,thebearsareeatingourprunes!Oh,thebearsareeatingourprunes!Shoo!Shoo!Shoo!Theywereeatingourprunes!” “Sowewereeatingprunes!”exclaimedMotherBear,asawaywenttheThreeBears,laughing. “Andprunesaregood!”pipedupLittleBear,inhisshrill,shrillvoice. ButDaddyBearprancedthroughtheforestsinging: “Oh,letussingsomenew,newtunes! Allaboutherprunes,prunes,prunes!” And“Prunes,prunes,prunes,”theThreeBearssangallthatmerryday.“Prunes,prunes,prunes,pruneswehadforbreakfast!” 
