English
LastsummerLittleBearwentonalongjourneywithhisfatherandmother.
TheThreeBearshadabeautifultimetravelingthroughthebigforestuntiltheyreachedthebanksofadeep,swiftriver.
Thentherewastrouble,forLittleBearcouldnotswim,nordidhewishtolearnhowtoswim.Hesaidhewasafraidofthewater.
“FatherBearcaneasilycarrymeovertheriver,”hesuggested.
“Nonsense!”repliedbigFatherBearingrufftones.“Nonsense,myson!Youareoldenoughandstrongenoughtolearntoswim.Iwillnotcarryyouacrossthestream.Neithershallyourmother.”
JustthentherecameFatherOtter,swimminglikeaseal,andtwistingandturninginthewaterlikeafish.
“PerhapsthegoodotterwillteachLittleBeartoswim,”MotherBearsaid,andthencalledtohim.
“Itistheeasiestthingintheworldtoteachalittlebearhowtoswim,”answeredFatherOtter.“Justthrowhimin!”Andawayhewent,laughingoverhisshoulder.
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“Hemustbejoking,”observedMotherBearquickly,becauseshewasafraidthatFatherBearwouldtossLittleBearintotheriver,andshedidnotliketheidea.
AtthatmomentMotherOttercameswimmingdowntheriverwithherchildren.OneofthemclimbeduponhershouldersandstaredsolemnlyatLittleBearontheriverbank.
“Goodmorning!”saidMotherBear.
“Goodmorning!”answeredMotherOtter.
“Yourchildrenarefineswimmers,”addedMotherBear.
“Certainly,”answeredMotherOtter.“Everyoneofthemknowsthatourpeoplehaveallbeenfamousswimmersforcenturies.”
“Isuppose,then,”venturedMotherBear,“thatyourchildrenwerebornswimmers.Youprobablyhadtroubleinkeepingthemoutofthewaterwhentheywerebabies.”
MotherOtterlaughed.“Thetroublewastogetthemintothewater,”shesaid,“becausethesillylittlethingswereafraid.
Allyoungottersareafraidofthewaterandhavetobeputintoitbyforce.”
“Youdonotmeanit!”exclaimedMotherBear,withgreatamazementinhertones.
“IndeedIdo,”repliedMotherOtter.“Wehadtopusheveryoneofourchildrenintothewater.DoesLittleBearknowhowtoswim?”
“No,”answeredMotherBear,shakingherhead,“heisafraidtotry.”
“Duckhim,”advisedMotherOtter,“duckhim.Thereisnootherwaytoteachalittlebeartoswim.”
Andawayshewent,downthestream,intendingtoovertakeFatherOtter.
ThelittleOtterskeptlookingback,hopingtoseeFatherBeartossLittleBearintotheriver.
ButMotherBearbeggedhimnottoteachLittleBeartoswimthatday,andsothelittleOttersmissedthefun.
ThatnighttheThreeBearscampedbesidethedeep,swiftriver.
AfterLittleBearwascuddleddowninhisbedofleavesandspringyboughs,MotherBearmadeFatherBearpromisenottotossLittleBearintotheriverunlessLittleBearsaidhewantedhimto.
ThenextmorningFatherBearwassorrythathehadmadethepromise,becauseanhonest-lookingpolecatwhocameacrossthestreamandwentintothewoodstoldFatherBearandMotherBearthatthelargest,sweetestblackberriesintheforestwereripeontheothershore.
“Andnow,”whisperedMotherBeartoFatherBear,“aren’tyousorrythatyoutoldhimthatwewouldn’tcarryhimover?”
“Sureenough,Iam,”agreedFatherBear.Andthenhelaughedatthejokeonhimself.
“Well,”suggestedMotherBearatlast,“IshallcoaxLittleBeartoletyoutosshimgentlyintotheriver,andIshallcatchhimifhefindshecannotswim.”
“Nonsense!”grumbledFatherBear,andstoppedlaughing.“Whileyoucoax,”hesaid,“Ishallgoforawalk.”
Coaxingdidnotdoanygood.WhenLittleBearsawhisfatherwanderaway,hetoldhismotherthathedidnotfeellikegoingintothewaterthatmorning.Hehopedshewouldpleaseexcusehim.Andsosheexcusedhim.
SoonFatherBearcameback,smilingandhappy.“Ihavefoundabridge,”saidhe.
“Anoldloghasfallenacrosstheriveralittlewayupstream,where,ontheotherside,blackberriesarealmostasbigasducks’eggs.
LittleBearcanwalkacrossonthelog.”
“Allright,I’lldoit,”promisedLittleBear,andgladlyfollowedhisfatheruntiltheThreeBearsreachedthebridge.
ButwhileLittleBearwasskippingjoyfullyoverthelog,tryingtoreachtheoppositebankbeforehisfatherandmothercouldswimacross,thelogturnedoverandsentLittleBearheadfirstintotheriver.
Fortunately,heknewenoughtokeephismouthshut,andinalittlewhilehebobbedup,shakinghisheadtogetthewateroutofhiseyesandhisearsandpaddlinglikeaduck.
Thatwasalltherewastoit,because,everafter,LittleBearcouldswim.
MotherBearbelievestothisdaythatFatherBearknewthatthelogwouldrollover.Shebelievesitbecause,wheneveranyoneaskshim,hesaysnothing,butjustlaughs.
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