a, and that
if she were a fairy, she was a very charming one. When Laura aroused,
however, her start of surprise and look of wonder at the little animal
beside her, and then her dimly remembered experience of the night coming
to her recollection taking off the edge of her fear, showed Kathie that
she was quite as much a human child as herself.

The little bear had snuggled himself so close beside Laura that she
could not move without disturbing him. As yet he showed no signs of
waking; his eyes were tightly shut, and he was almost a ball in shape.

"It's a real baby bear, Kathie. Where do you suppose he came from?"

"I cannot imagine," answered Kathie. "But," she added, "I think we had
better hurry away, for fear its mother may come in search of it."

"Oh, Kathie, no; he is too cunning and pretty. I cannot give him up. See
how he nestles up to me, and how affectionate he is."

"But the mother, Laura, would be very cruel to us. I have heard
terrible tales of children hugged to death by bears."

"I don't believe he has a mother," said Laura, eagerly. "I think his
mother has probably been killed, and that he has come to us to be taken
care of. You need not look so doubtful, Kathie. Perhaps this was his
home, this very nook of ours where we have been sleeping, and he has
come seeking his mother, poor little cub, and not finding her, has lain
down here for warmth and comfort. I mean to keep him and take him home
with me. Now, Kathie, be good and help me, and you shall see what a dear
pet he will make. I think he is just as cunning and pretty as he can be,
and we will train him to do all sorts of funny things."

Still Kathie looked anxious; but the cub wakened and whined, and ate
some oat-cake from Laura's hand, and when they rose to begin their walk
he trotted after them, as if afraid they were about leaving him. But
Laura was too delighted with the idea of a new pet to think of leaving
him, and Kathie and she took turns in carrying the little creature when
it appeared to be tired; for, now they were nearing home, Laura's steps
were quicker, and the way seemed far less difficult.

"How glad I shall be to see the dear Motherkin again!" said Laura, as
they rested for a while in the cool shadow of a great tree at whose
roots babbled a clear brook.

Kathie looked sad and weary and homesick.

"And how glad she will be to see you, Kathie dear!"

"Do you think so, Laura? I am so unused to strange faces, and so afraid,
t