The Project Gutenberg EBook of Denslow's Three Bears, by W.W. Denslow

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Denslow's Three Bears

Author: W.W. Denslow

Illustrator: W.W. Denslow

Release Date: November 12, 2006 [EBook #19772]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DENSLOW'S THREE BEARS ***

Produced by Chuck Greif, Jason Isbell and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at DP Europe
(http://dp.rastko.net)

Denslow's

THREE BEARS

G.W.Dillingham Co.

Publishers New York.
Copyright 1903 by
W.W.Denslow.
Published, August 1903

To Mazie La Shelle

[Illustration: THE THREE BEARS.]

A long time ago in a cottage on the edge of a great forest there dwelt a
little girl by the name of Golden Hair; she was an orphan and lived with
her grandmother who loved her dearly. The grandmother was very old and
so most of the house work was done by Golden Hair; but she was so young
and strong she did not mind that a bit, for she had plenty of time to
play and was merry the whole day long.

Although little Golden Hair lived far from other children she was never
lonesome, for she had many friends and playmates in the wild creatures
of the wood. The gentle, soft eyed deer would feed from her hand, and
the wild birds would come at her musical call; for she knew their
language and loved them well.

Golden Hair had never wandered far into the forest. But one day in the
early autumn time, as she was gathering bright leaves and golden rod,
she strayed farther than she knew and came upon a lonely, gray cabin
under the mighty trees. A slab of wood beside the half open door told
who lived within. It read:

"Papa Bear, Mamma Bear, and the Tiny Bear."

[Illustration]

"So this is where the jolly bears live!" said Golden Hair, as she
knocked upon the door. "I want to meet them."

No answer came to her knocking, so she pushed the door wide open and
walked in.

It was a most disorderly house, but a bright fire burned on the hearth,
over which hung a big, black kettle of bubbling soup, while on the
table,