and that he had kept the promise, sad as he felt about
losing his treasure.

"Come," said Mother Bear, "I believe we better go
home now before we meet any more strangers!"

When the Three Bears reached home, there was
Little Bear's bowl on the doorstep, and the Pied Piper's
pipe was heard playing softly far away.

After Father Bear told Little Bear the story of Hamelin
town he was more glad than ever that he had kept his
promise. So was his mother. So was his father.

[Illustration: There was Little Bear's bowl on the doorstep]

Little Bear did not like to hear any talk about Sleepy
Cave, which was the name of the Three Bears' winter
home, the year Jack Frost came late. There were three
beds in Sleepy Cave, ready and waiting for the Three
Bears-a big, big bed of boughs and moss for huge
Father Bear, a middle-sized bed of fir boughs and moss
for middle-sized Mother Bear, and a deep, deep bed
of feathery moss for Little Bear.

There were also feathery moss blankets taken from
fallen logs in the forest--one for huge Father Bear, one
for Mother Bear, and the softest, warmest moss blanket
of all for Little Bear.