Bear

One evening as they sat thus cosily together, they heard a knock at the door. Rose Red hastened to unlock the door and to her surprise, saw a great brown bear. She screamed aloud and sprang back in terror, and Snow White ran and hid behind her mother's bed. But the bear began to speak, and said: "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. I am half frozen, and only wish to warm myself a little."

"My poor bear," said the mother, "Lie down by the fire, only take care you don't burn your fur." Then she called out: "Snow White and Rose Red, come out. The bear will do you no harm, he is a good, honest creature."

So they both came out of their hiding places and soon forgot all about their fear as the beast stretched himself in front of the fire and growled quite happily. They played with him and brushed him until all of the snow fell out of his fur, and from that time on the bear came every evening and lay upon the hearth, and was a kind and true friend to the family.

When spring came, and all outside was green, the bear said one morning to Snow White, "Now I must go away, and not return again the whole summer."

"Where are you going to, dear bear?" asked Snow White.

"I must go to the wood and protect my treasure from the wicked dwarfs," replied the bear. "In winter, when the earth is frozen hard, they are obliged to remain underground, but when the sun has thawed and warmed the ground, they break through and come up above to spy the land and steal what they can."

Snow White was very sad over their friend's departure, and when she unbarred the door for him, a little piece of the bear's fur caught on the door knocker, and she thought she caught sight of glittering gold beneath it.