Page:The New-Year's Bargain (1884).djvu/35

 go out, so I couldn't tell you much about them if it were not for April. April and I," said February, with a sentimental air, "were always great friends. She used to see the Mamma Bear and her little ones go walking together. One day when they were in the wood a barking of dogs and blowing of horns was heard.

Run! run!' cried Mamma; and off they went, all but Greedy who had straggled away in pursuit of a honey-tree. He was too young to know how to take care of himself, and getting confused ran into the very track of the hunters. They would have killed him, but one shouted, 'Take him alive! take him alive! I want him;' so instead they put him into a sack and carried him away.

"Nothing more was heard of him for a long time. The others were sorry, but they went prowling about all summer stuffing themselves with good things, and did very well without him. By October they were as fat as pigs. And all of a sudden one day, as they were lunch-