ff down the road with a light heart. Before he had
walked very far he met a boy who came whistling along, hitting at the
tops of the flowers with a stick.

'Where are you going?' said he, looking at the bear in surprise, for
he was an old acquaintance, and not generally so smart.

'Oh, just to the miller's marriage,' answered the bear carelessly. 'Of
course, I would much rather stay at home, but the miller was so
anxious I should be there that I really could not refuse.'

'Don't go, don't go!' cried the boy. 'If you do you will never come
back! You have got the most beautiful skin in the world--just the kind
that everyone is wanting, and they will be sure to kill you and strip
you of it.'

'I had not thought of that,' said the bear, whose face turned white,
only nobody could see it. 'If you are certain that they would be so
wicked--but perhaps you are jealous because nobody has invited _you_?'

'Oh, nonsense!' replied the boy angrily, 'do as you see. It is your
skin, and not mine; _I_ don't care what becomes of it!' And he walked
quickly on with his head in the air.

The bear waited until he was out of sight, and then followed him
slowly, for he felt in his heart that the boy's advice was good,
though he was too proud to say so.

The boy soon grew tired of walking along the road, and turned off into
the woods, where there were bushes he could jump and streams he could
wade; but he had not gone far before he met the wolf.

'Where are you going?' asked he, for it was not the first time he had
seen him.

'Oh, just to the miller's marriage,' answered the wolf, as the bear
had done before him. 'It is rather tiresome, of course--weddings are
always so stupid; but still one must be good-natured!'

'Don't go!' said the boy again. 'Your skin is so thick and warm, and
winter is not far off now. They will kill you, and strip it from you.'

The wolf's jaw dropped in astonishment and terror. 'Do you _really_
think that would happen?' he gasped.

'Yes, to be sure, I do,' answered the boy. 'But it is your affair, not
mine. So good-morning,' and on he went. The wolf stood still for a few
minutes, for he was trembling all over, and then crept quietly back to
his cave.

Next the boy met the fox, whose lovely coat of silvery grey was
shining in the sun.

'You look very fine!' said the boy, stopping to admire him, 'are you
going to the miller's wedding too?'

'Yes,' answered the fox; 'it is a long journey to take for suc