The Three Bears
Some
time
ago,
ere
we
were
born
or
thought
of,
There
lived
a
little
girl,
who
liked
to
roam
Through
lonely
woods
and
lanes,
unknown,
unsought
of
Such
folk
who
like
to
stop
and
stay
at
home.
She
found
out
curious
things
in
all
her
travel
And
one
of
her
adventures
I
will
tell:
Once,
in
a
wood
she
saw
a
path
of
gravel,
Which
led
to
a
small
cottage
in
a
dell.
And,
as
the
door
stood
open,
in
walked
boldly,
This
child,
whose
name
was
Silverlocks,
I'm
told;
There
was
nobody
there
to
treat
her
coldly,
No
friend
to
call
her
back,
no
nurse
to
scold.
She
found
herself
within
a
parlour
charming;
And
there
upon
the
table
there
were
placed
Three
basins,
sending
up
a
smell
so
warming,
That
she
at
once
felt
hungry,
and
must
taste.
The
largest
basin
first,
but
hot
and
biting
The
soup
was
in
it,
and
the
second
too;
The
smallest
basin
tasted
so
inviting,
That
up
she
ate
it
all,
with
small
ado.
And
next
she
saw
three
chairs,
and
tried
to
sit
in
The
biggest,
but
it
was
too
hard
and
high;
The
middle
one
she
scarcely
seemed
to
fit
in,
But
in
the
smallest
chair
sat
easily;
And
rocked
herself,
her
ease
and
comfort
taking,
Singing
the
pretty
songs
she
knew
so
well;
When,
oh!
the
little
chair
cracked
loud,
and,
breaking,
Gave
way
all
suddenly,
and
down
she
fell.
"Ah,
well,"
she
thought,
"there
may
be
beds
to
lie
on
Upstairs;
I
think
I'll
go
at
once
and
see."
And
so
there
were;
she
said
aloud,
"I'll
try
one,
For
I
am
tired
and
sleepy
as
can
be."
The
biggest
bed
was
not
of
feathers,
surely,
It
was
so
hard;
and
so
she
tried
the
next,
And
found
it
little
better;
but
securely
She
slept
upon
the
smallest
one,
unvext.
The
little
house
belonged
to
bears,
not
persons;
The
Father
Bear,
so
very
rough
and
large;
The
Mother
Bear
(I
have
known
many
worse
ones);
And
then
the
little
Cub,
their
only
charge.
They
had
gone
for
a
walk
before
their
dinner;
Returning,
Father
growled,
"Who's
touched
my
soup?"
"Who's
touched
my
soup?"
said
Mother,
with
voice
thinner;
"But
mine,"
said
little
Cub,
"is
finished
up!"
They
turned
to
draw
their
chairs
a
little
nearer;
"Who's
sat
in
my
chair?"
growled
the
Father
Bear;
"Who's
sat
in
my
chair?"
said
the
Mother,
clearer;
And
squeaked
the
little
Cub,
"Who's
broken
my
small
chair?"
They
rushed
upstairs,
and
Father
Bruin,
growling,
Cried
out,
"Who's
lain
upon
my
bed?"
"Who's
lain
on
mine?"
cried
Mother
Bruin,
howling;
"But
some
one
_lies_
on
mine!"
the
small
Bear
said.
"We'll
kill
the
child,
and
eat
her
for
our
dinner,"
The
Father
growled;
but
said
the
Mother,
"No;
For
supper
she
shall
be,
and
I
will
skin
her."
"No,"
said
the
little
Cub,
"we'll
let
her
go."
So
Silverlocks,
in
sudden
terror
flying,
Reached
home;
and
when
the
Nurse
the
story
hears,
She
says,
"You
are
in
luck,
there's
no
denying,
To
get
away
in
safety
from
THREE
BEARS."
Walter
Crane
