McGuffey's Second Reader Grades 1 and 2馃摉 Stories馃惥 Animals

The Bear and the Children

McGuffey's Second Reader 路 2 min read
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Three children and a bear; surprised woman in background.

THE BEAR AND THE CHILDREN.

  • In the parlor of an inn in a small town, sat a man who had been going about with a bear. He was waiting for his supper, and the bear was tied up in the yard.
  • Up in the attic, three little children were playing together. The eldest might have been six years old; the youngest, not more than two.
  • Stump! stump! stump! Some one was coming up the stairs.
  • The door flew open suddenly, and there stood the great, shaggy bear. He had got tired of waiting, and had found his way to the stairs.
  • The children were badly frightened. Each one crept into a corner, but the bear found them all out, and smelt their clothes, but did not hurt them.
  • "This must be a great dog," they said, and they began to pat him.
  • Then the bear lay down on the floor, and the youngest boy climbed on his back, hid his head in the shaggy fur, and played at "hide and seek."
  • The eldest boy took his drum and began to strike it, when the bear rose on his hind legs and danced. At that the children gave a merry shout.
  • The two younger boys took their wooden guns, and gave the bear one. Away they all marched around the room, keeping step.
  • Now the frightened mother of the children came to the door. But the youngest boy shouted, joyfully. "See, we are playing soldiers!"
  • Then the bear's master came running up, and took the bear away.