 CHAPTER 27 A DREADFUL NIGHT FOR A LITTLE BEAR A lot of people, great and small, are like a frightened little bear, where danger there is none at all, they somehow get a dreadful scare, mother bear. More and more black shadows crept through the green forest and all around Boxer the lone lost little bear, as he sat crying and wishing with all his might that he never never had thought of running away. He wanted to be back in the great windfall which had been his home. He wanted mother bear. Boo-hoo-hoo! sobbed the little bear. I would just as soon have a spanking. I wouldn't mind it at all if I only had my mother. Boo-hoo-hoo! Now there are many keen ears in the green forest after dark, and no one can cry there and not be heard. Hootie the owl was the first to hear those sobs, and on wings it made no sound at all, he flew to see what was the matter. Reached on top of a tall stump just back of Boxer it didn't take Hootie long to understand that this little bear was lost. He needs a lesson, thought Hootie. He needs a lesson. He must have run away from home. There is nothing around here for him to fear, but it will be a good thing for him to think there is. Here goes to give him a scare he won't forget in a hurry. Hootie drew a long breath and then hooted as only he can. It was so sudden, so loud, and so fierce, that it was enough to frighten even one accustomed to it. Boxer, who never had heard that call close at hand before, was so frightened he lost his balance and fell over on his back, his legs waving helplessly, but he didn't stay on his back. I should say not. In a twinkling he was on his feet and running pale-mell. Again rang out Hootie's terrible hunting call, and Boxer was sure that it was right at his heels. As a matter of fact, Hootie had not moved from the tall stump. Headlong Boxer raced through the woods. And because it was quite dark and because he was trying to look behind him instead of watching where he was going, he pitched heels overhead, down the bank of the laughing brook, splashed into a little pool where Billy Mink was fishing. The tumble in the wedding frightened the little bear more than ever, and Billy Mink's angry snarl that make him feel any better. Without so much as a glance at Billy Mink, he scrambled to his feet and up the bank, sure that a new and terrible enemy was at his heels. More heedlessly than ever he raced through the green forest and just by chance entered the thicket where Mrs. Lightfoot the deer had a certain wonderful secret. Mrs. Lightfoot jumped, making a crash of brush. Oh! Moaned Boxer, dodging to one side and continuing headlong. When he could run no more, he crept under a pile of brush and there he spent the rest of the night. The most dreadful night he had ever known or was likely ever to know again. Old man Coyote happened along and yelled as only he can. And unless you know what it is, that sound is quite dreadful. Boxer never had heard it close at hand before, and he didn't recognize it. He was sure that only a great and terrible creature could make such a dreadful noise, and he shook with fear for an hour after. So all night long the little bear heard strange sounds and imagined dreadful things and couldn't get a wink of sleep. And all the time not once was any real danger near him. There wasn't a single thing to be afraid of. End of Chapter 27 Chapter 28 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tiffany Holmes, Atlanta. Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess, Chapter 28 Boxer gets his own breakfast. True independence he has earned, who for himself to do has learned. Mother Bear. It seemed to Boxer, the lost little bear, that that dreadful night would last forever, that it never would end. Of course it didn't last any longer than a night at that season of the year usually does, and it wasn't dreadful at all. The truth is it was an unusually fine night at everybody but Boxer and anxious Mother Bear thought so. Perhaps you can guess just how glad Boxer was to see the jolly little sunbeams chase the black shadows out of the green forest the next morning. He still felt frightened and very, very lonesome, but things looked very differently by daylight, and he felt very much braver and bolder. First of all he took a nap. All night he had been awake, for he had been too frightened to sleep. That nap did him a world of good. When he awoke he felt quite like another bear, and the first thing he thought of was breakfast. Now always before Mother Bear had furnished Boxer with his breakfast, and with all his other meals. But there was no Mother Bear to do it this morning, and his stomach was very empty. If anything were to be put in it he was the one who would have to put it there. Just thinking of breakfast made Boxer hungrier than ever. He couldn't lie still. He must have something to eat, he must have it soon. He crawled out from under the pile of brush, shook himself and tried to decide where to go in search of a breakfast. But being lost, of course, he had no idea which way to turn. I guess it doesn't make much difference, grumble Boxer. Whichever way I go, I guess I'll find something to eat if I keep going long enough. So Boxer started out, and because he had something on his mind, something to do, he forgot that he was lonesome, and he forgot to be afraid. He just couldn't think of anything but breakfast. Now, while he had never had to get food for himself before, Boxer had watched Mother Bear getting food, and felt that he knew just how to go about it. He found a thoroughly rotted old stump and pulled it apart. It happened that he found nothing there to eat. But a few minutes later he forgot all about this disappointment as he pulled over a small log and saw aunt scurrying in every direction. He promptly swept them into his mouth with his tongue and smacked his lips at the taste of them. He didn't leave that place until not another aunt was to be seen. By and by he dug out certain tender little roots and ate them. How he knew where to dig for them he couldn't have told himself. He just knew that was all. Something inside of him prompted him to stop and dig, and he did so. Once he chased a woodmouse into a hole and wasted a lot of time trying to dig him out. But it was exciting and a lot of fun, so he didn't mind much, even when he had to give up. He caught three or four beetles and near the laughing brook surprised a young frog. All together he made a very good breakfast, and because he got it all himself with no help from any one he enjoyed it more than any breakfast he could remember. And suddenly he felt quite a person of the great world, and quite equal to taking care of himself, he forgot that he had cried for his mother only the night before. The great world wasn't such a bad place after all. End of Chapter 28 Chapter 29 of Buster Baer's Twins. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tiffany Holmes, Atlanta. Buster Baer's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. Chapter 29. Boxer has a painful lesson. Don't judge a stranger by his looks, lest they may prove to be deceiving. The stupid looking may be smart. In ways you'll find beyond believing, Mother Baer. Having succeeded in getting his own breakfast, and a very good one at that, Boxer felt quite set up, as the saying is. He felt chesty. That is to say he felt big, self-important, independent. For a little cub who had cried most of the night from loneliness and fear, Boxer showed a surprising change. The light of day, a full stomach, and the feeling that he was able to take care of himself, had made a new bear of that little cub. Anyway, he felt so and thought so. I am not afraid of anybody or anything, boasted the foolish little bear to himself, as he wandered along through the green forest. I'm glad I left home. I'm glad I'm out in the great world. I guess I know about all there is to know. Anyway, I guess I know all there is any need of knowing. As he said this, Boxer stood up and swelled himself out and looked so funny, the prickly porky the porcupine, who happened along just then, just had to chuckle down inside. And this is something that prickly porky seldom does. That little rascal must have run away from his mother, and he thinks he is smart and knows all there is to know. I don't believe that even Mother Bear could tell him anything just now. She would be wasting her breath. He needs a lesson or two in practical experience. I believe I'll give him one just for his own good, thought prickly porky. There was something almost like a twinkle in prickly porky's usually dull eyes, as he slowly waddled straight toward Boxer. Boxer heard the rustle of prickly porky's tail dragging through the leaves and turned to see who was coming. What he saw was, of course, the stupidest-looking fellow in all the green forest. He was the first time Boxer had seen prickly porky, and he had no idea who he was. Boxer stood up and stared in the rudest and most impolite manner. He wasn't afraid. This fellow was no bigger than he, and he was too stupid looking and too slow to be dangerous. Boxer was standing in a narrow little path, and prickly porky was coming up this little path straight toward him. One of them would have to step aside for the other. It didn't enter Boxer's head that he should be that one. As prickly porky drew near, Boxer growled a warning. It was the best imitation of Mother Bear's deep, grumbly, rumbly growl that Boxer could manage. It was hard work for prickly porky to keep from laughing right out loud when he heard it. But he acted just as if he didn't hear it. He kept right on. Then he pretended to see Boxer for the first time. Step aside, little cub. Step aside and let me pass, said he. To be called little cub, just when he was feeling so important and grown up, was more than Boxer could stand. His little eyes grew red with anger. Step aside yourself, he growled. Step aside yourself if you don't want to get hurt. Prickly porky didn't step aside. He kept right on coming. He didn't hurry, and he didn't appear to be in the least afraid. It was plain that he expected Boxer to get out of his way. Boxer drew back his lips and showed all his little white teeth. Then he slowly reached out one paw and prepared to strike prickly porky on the side of the head if he came any nearer. End of Chapter 29 Chapter 30 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tiffany Holmes, Atlanta. Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess, Chapter 30. Boxer is sadder, but much wiser. Experience is not a preacher, but has no equal as a teacher, mother bear. Sammy Jay happened along in the green forest just in time to see the meeting between Boxer and prickly porky the porcupine. He saw at once that this was the first time Boxer had seen prickly porky, and that he had no idea who this fellow in the path was. If that little bear has any sense at all, he'll be polite and get out of prickly porky's way, muttered Sammy, but I'm afraid he hasn't any sense. He looks to me all puffed up as if he thinks he knows all there is to know. He'll find out he doesn't in just a minute if he stays there. Hi there, don't do that, don't hit him. This last was screamed at Boxer, who had stretched out a paw as if to strike prickly porky as soon as he was near enough. But the warning came too late. Prickly porky had kept right on coming along that little path, and just as Sammy Jay screamed, Boxer struck. Wow, yelled Boxer, dancing about and holding up one paw, the paw with which he had struck at prickly porky, and on his face was such a look of amazement that Sammy Jay laughed so that he nearly tumbled from his perch. Wow, wow, yelled Boxer, still dancing about and shaking that paw. Pull it out, pull it out at once before it gets deeper, commanded Sammy Jay, when he could stop laughing long enough. Pull what out, asked Boxer rather sullenly, for he didn't like being laughed at. No one does when in trouble. That little spear that is sticking in your paw, replied Sammy, if you don't, you'll have a terribly sore paw. Boxer looked at his paw. Sure enough, there is one of prickly porky's little spears. He took hold of it with his teeth and started to pull. Then he let go and shook his paw. Wow, that hurts, he cried, the tears in his eyes. Of course it hurts, replied Sammy Jay, and if you don't do as I tell you and pull it out now, it will hurt a great deal more. That paw will get so sore you can't use it. It's a lucky thing for you, young fellow, that you were in too much of a hurry and struck too soon. If you had waited a second longer, you would have filled your paw with those little spears. What were you thinking of anyway? Don't you know that no one ever interferes with prickly porky and never pays to? Even Buster Bear, big as he is, is polite to prickly porky. Boxer sat down and looked at his paw carefully. That little spear or quill was right in the tenderest part. It must be pulled out. Sammy Jay was right about that. Boxer shut his teeth on that little spear and jerked back his head quick and hard. Out came the little spear. Boxer whimpered a little as he licked the place where the little spear had been. After he licked it a minute or two, that paw felt better. Meanwhile, prickly porky had paid no attention whatever to the little bear. He had slowly waddled on up the little path, quite as if no one were about. He was attending strictly to his own business, but inside he was chuckling. That scamp got off easy, he muttered. It would have been a good thing for him if he had had a few more of those little spears to pull out. I guess that in the future he will take to leave me alone. There is nothing like teaching the young to respect their elders. End of Chapter 30. Chapter 31 of Buster Bears Twins. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Brandon. Buster Bears Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. Chapter 31. Boxer meets a polite little fellow. Because another is polite, pray do not think he cannot fight. Mother Bear. The memories of little folks are short. So far as their troubles are concerned, Hartley was Boxer, the runaway little bear out of sight of prickly porky, the porcupine that his eyes, ears and nose were so busy trying to discover new things that he hardly thought of his recent trouble. To be sure of that paw from which he had pulled one of prickly porky's little spears was sore, but not enough so to worry him much. And there were so many other things to think about that he couldn't waste time on troubles that were over. So the little bear wandered this way and that way. As something new caught his eyes or some strange sound demanded to be looked into, he was having a wonderful time for he felt that he was indeed out in the great world and it was a wonderful and beautiful place. If he thought of his twin sister, Wolf Wolf, at all, it was to pity her, tagging along at Mother Bear's heels and doing only those things which Mother Bear said she could. Lying by, something white moving about near an old stump caught his attention. At once he hurried over to satisfy his curiosity. When he got near enough, he discovered a little fellow dressed in black and white. He had a big plumey tail and he was very busy minding his own business. He hardly glanced at Boxer. Boxer stared at him for a few minutes. Hello, he ventured finally. Good morning. It is a fine morning, isn't it? Said the little stranger politely. What are you doing? He demanded the little bear rudely. Just minding my own business, replied the little stranger pleasantly. Where is your mother? I don't know and I don't care. I've left home, said Boxer, trying to look big and important. You don't say, exclaimed the little stranger. Aren't you rather small to be starting out alone in the great world? Now Boxer was so much bigger than this little stranger in black and white and the little stranger was so very polite that already Boxer felt that the little stranger must be afraid of him. All Boxer's previous feelings of bigness and importance came back to him. He wanted to show off. He wanted this little fellow to respect him. To have that stranger suggest that he was rather small to be out alone in the great world, hurt Boxer's pride. In fact, it made him angry. If I were as small as you, perhaps I would feel that way, retorted Boxer rudely. I didn't use the right word. I should have said young instead of small. Explain this stranger mildly. Of course, I am small compared with you, but I am fully grown and have been out in the great world a long time. While you were very young and just starting out, I wonder if your mother knows where you are. It's none of your business, whether my mother knows or not, retorted Boxer more rudely than before, or he was growing more and more angry. Certainly not, I haven't said it was, replied the stranger, still speaking politely. I am not in the least interested. Besides, I know anyway. I know that she doesn't know. I know that you have run away and I know that you have some better lessons to learn before you will be fitted to live by yourself in the great world. If you will just step aside, I will be much obliged. There's a big piece of bark just back of you under which there may be some fat beetles. End of chapter 31, recording by John Brandon. Chapter 32 of Buster Bear's Twins. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Brandon. Buster Bear's Twins, by Thornton W. Burgess. Chapter 32, Boxer wishes he hadn't. This is, you'll find, the law of fate. Regrets are always just too late. Sammy J had followed Boxer for he felt sure that things were bound to happen wherever that little bear was. So Sammy saw his meeting with Jimmy Skunk. He saw how polite Jimmy was and how very impolite the little bear was. Sammy understood perfectly. He knew that probably Boxer knew nothing at all about Jimmy Skunk and never had heard of that little bag of scent carried by Jimmy and dreaded by all of Jimmy's neighbors. He knew that the little bear was rude simply because he was so much bigger than Jimmy Skunk that he could see no reason for being polite, especially as Jimmy had asked him to do something he didn't want to do. When Jimmy Skunk began to lose patience, Sammy J thought it was time for him to give Boxer a little advice. Don't be silly. Do as Jimmy Skunk tells you to or you will be the sorryest little bear that ever lived, screamed Sammy. As he saw Jimmy's great plume of a tail began to go up which is Jimmy's signal of danger. But Boxer, foolish little bear that he was couldn't see anything to fear from one so much smaller than he. So he paid no attention to Jimmy's request that he step aside. Instead, he laughed in the most impudent way. Run, run, screamed Sammy J. Boxer didn't move. Jimmy Skunk stamped angrily with his front feet. Then something happened. Yes, sir, something happened. It was so sudden and so unexpected that Boxer didn't know exactly what had happened but he was very much aware that it had happened. Something was in his eyes and made them smart and for a few minutes blinded him. Something was choking him. It seemed to him he could hardly breathe and there was the most awful odor he ever had smelled. Boxer rolled over and over and over on the ground. He was trying to get away from that awful odor but he couldn't. He couldn't for the very good reason that he carried it along with him. You see, Jimmy Skunk had punished that silly little bear by throwing on him a little of that powerful scent he always carries with him to use in time of danger or when provoked. What did I tell you? What did I tell you? screamed Sammy J. I guess you won't interfere with Jimmy Skunk again in a hurry. It serves you right. It serves you right. But it is hard on the people who live about here. Yes, sir, it is hard on them to have all the sweetness of the green forest spoiled by that scent of Jimmy Skunk's. I can't stand it myself. So I'll be moving along. It serves you right, you silly little bear. It serves you right. With this, Sammy J. flew away. Boxer knew then that Jimmy Skunk had been the cause of this new and dreadful trouble he was in. And great respect mingled with fear took possession of him. And, oh, how Boxer wished that he hadn't been impolite. How he wished he hadn't refused to do as Jimmy Skunk had politely asked him to. I wish I hadn't. I wish I hadn't. I wish I hadn't. Sobbed Boxer over and over as he tried to get away from that dreadful smell and couldn't. End of Chapter 32, recording by John Brandon. Chapter 33 of Buster Bears Twins. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Brandon. Buster Bears Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. Chapter 33. Woof Woof turns up her nose. I pray you be not one of those who boast the scornful turned up nose. Mother Bear. Now all the time that Boxer had been losing himself more and more and getting into more and more trouble, Mother Bear had been worrying about him and she and his twin sister Woof Woof had been everywhere but the right place looking for him. You remember that Mother Bear and Woof Woof had been away from home when Boxer decided to run away. When they returned, Boxer hadn't gone so long that Mother Bear's nose failed to find enough of his scent to follow. So when she started to look for him, she started in the wrong direction. Of course she had to take Woof Woof with her and because Woof Woof got tired after a while, Mother Bear couldn't hunt as thoroughly as she would have done had she been alone. At first, Woof Woof fell very badly indeed at the loss of her little twin brother. Down in her heart she admired him for his boldness in running away but when she thought of all the dreadful things that might happen to him out in the great world, she became very sorrowful. This was at first. After she had tramped and tramped and tramped, behind Mother Bear, tramped until her feet ached, she became cross. She blamed Boxer and quite rightly for those aching feet. The more they ached, the crosser she became. Until she tried to make herself believe that she didn't care what happened to that heedless brother. I don't care if I never see him again, she grumbled. I don't care what happens to him. Whatever happens, we'll serve him right. I wish Mother Bear would remember that my legs are not as long as hers, I'm tired. I want to rest, I want to rest, I do. I want to rest. Ouch, my feet are getting sore. Now, such news as Jimmy Skunk's punishment of Boxer travels fast through the Green Forest and it wasn't long before the story of it reached Mrs. Bear's ears. She growled dreadful threats of what she would do if she met Jimmy Skunk, though she knew very well that she would politely step aside if she did meet him. And then she started for the place where Boxer had been given his lessons in politeness by Jimmy Skunk. There was no doubt about the place when they reached it. Shoo! cried Wolf-Wolf, holding her nose. Mother Bear merely grunted and started off faster than before. Wolf-Wolf had to run to keep up with her. Mother Bear had that smell to guide her now. She knew that all she had to do now to find her runaway son was to follow up that smell. So it was that just as the black shadows were beginning to creep through the Green Forest and poor little Boxer, a very lonely, miserable and frightened little Bear, was beginning to dread another night. He heard a crashing in the brush. And out came Mother Bear and Wolf-Wolf. With a glad squeal of joy, Boxer started to run toward them. But a growl such an ugly growl for Mother Bear stopped him. Don't you come near us, said she. You can follow us, but don't you dare come a step nearer than you are now? It would serve you right if we had nothing more to do with you. But after all, you are rather small to be wandering about alone. Besides, there is no knowing what more disgrace you would get into. Now come along. Boxer looked at Wolf-Wolf for some sign of sympathy, but Wolf-Wolf held her head very high and turned up her nose at him. Phew, said she. End of chapter 33, recording by John Brandon. Chapter 34 of Buster Bear's Twins. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Larry Wilson. Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. All is well at last. If you are taught not to forget, your punishment you'll never regret, Mother Bear. Mrs. Bear is one of those mothers who believe in punishment. She believes that the cub who has never punished for wrongdoing is almost sure to grow up to be of little or no use in the great world, provided he lives to grow up at all. She doubts if he will live to grow up at all. So her cubs are promptly punished when they disobey or do wrong, and they are punished in a way to make them remember. Now when Boxer, the lost little cub who had such a dreadful time, saw Mother Bear and his sister, Wolf Wolf, he thought all his troubles were at an end. Perhaps you can guess what his feelings were when he was stopped short by a growl from Mother Bear. He wanted, oh, how he wanted to rush up to her and snuggle against her and feel her big paws gently patting him. But there was to be none of that. It was plain that Mother Bear meant exactly what she said when she told him to come no nearer. And when he looked to his twin sister, Wolf Wolf, she turned up her nose, and it was quite clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. Poor little Boxer. He didn't understand it all at first. You see, in the joy of being found, he had forgotten that he still carried that dreadful scent with which Jimmy Skunk had punished him. And so no one, not even his mother or sister, would want him very near. When Wolf Wolf cried, whew, as she turned up her nose, he remembered. He hung his head and meekly shuffled along after his mother and sister, taking care to get no nearer to them. He didn't dare to, for every few steps Mother Bear would swing her head around and grumble a warning. And this was just the beginning of Boxer's punishment. Day after day he tagged along far behind, but always keeping his mother and sister in sight. You may be sure he took care to do that. He had had quite enough of seeing the Great Wood alone. Not for anything would he be lost again. But it was hard, very hard to have only what was left when Mother Bear found a feast. What he didn't know was that Mother Bear always took care that there should be a fair share left. At such times Wolf Wolf took great joy in smacking her lips while Boxer sat up watching from a distance. When they slept Boxer had to curl up by himself. At first this was the hardest of all, but little by little he got used to it. He didn't know, and Wolf Wolf didn't know, but Mother Bear did, that this was good for him. It was making him more and more sure of himself. And tagging along behind as he did every day was doing the same thing. He was always looking for something that Mother Bear and Wolf Wolf might have missed. And so he learned to use his eyes and his nose and his ears better than Wolf Wolf did, for she depended more on Mother Bear being right at her heels. As the days passed, Boxer's coat became more and more free from that dreadful scent. Boxer had become so used to it that he didn't notice it at all. So he wasn't conscious when it began to grow less. At last it got so that it was hardly to be noticed, excepting unrenny or very damp days. For a long time after Mother Bear had permitted him to resume his place with Wolf Wolf, she drove him away on such days. So at last Boxer's punishment ended. Mother Bear gave him a good talking to and said that she hoped this would be a lesson he never would forget. He asked him, it will. He had replied very meekly and he knew it would. Then he took his place once more, save that now instead of following at Mother Bear's heels, he allowed Wolf Wolf to do that and he followed her. Though Wolf Wolf didn't suspect it, he preferred it so. So Buster Bear's twins grew and grew until everyone said that they were the finest young bears ever seen in the Green Forest. Billy Meek says that these cubs have received attention enough and that there are other people who should be considered. Perhaps Billy is right, though I suspect he is thinking of himself. Anyway, this ends the Green Forest series and the next book will be the first in the Smiling Pool series. The title will be Billy Meek. End of Chapter 34. End of Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess.