صفحة 614 من 626

When it was bed-time, and the others went to bed, the mother said

to the bear: 'You can lie there by the hearth, and then you will

be safe from the cold and the bad weather.' As soon as day dawned

the two children let him out, and he trotted across the snow into

the forest.

Henceforth the bear came every evening at the same time, laid

himself down by the hearth, and let the children amuse themselves

with him as much as they liked; and they got so used to him that

the doors were never fastened until their black friend had

arrived.