Chapter one of Buster Bear's Twins. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Larry Wilson. Buster Bear's Twins by Thomas W. Burgess. Mother Bear's Secret. The best kept secret, soon or late, will be found out as sure as fate. Mother Bear. Have you ever wanted to be in a number of places at the same time? Then you know exactly how Peter Rabbit felt in the beautiful springtime. You see, there was so much going on everywhere all the time that Peter felt sure he was missing something, no matter how much he saw and heard. In that, he was quite right. But you may be sure Peter did his best not to miss any more than he had to. He scampered Liberty, Liberty, Lip this way, Liberty, Liberty, Lip that way, and Liberty, Liberty, Lip the other way, watching, listening, asking questions, and making a nuisance of himself generally. For a while there were so many new arrivals in the Old Orchard and on the Green Meadows. Feathered friends returning from the sunny south and in a great hurry to begin housekeeping and strangers passing through on their way to the far north that Peter hardly gave the Green Forest a thought. But one moonlight night he happened to think of Patti the beaver, and he hadn't seen Patti since before Patti's barn froze over early in the winter. I must run over and pay him my respects, thought Peter. I certainly must. I wonder if he is as glad as the rest of us that sweet Mr. Spring is here. No sooner did he think this than Peter started Liberty, Liberty, Lip through the Green Forest for the pond of Patti the beaver. Now the nearest way was past the Great Windfall where Mrs. Bearer made her home. Peter hadn't thought of this when he started. He didn't think of it until he came inside of it. The instant he saw that old windfall he stopped short. He remembered Mrs. Bearer and that he had heard that she had a secret. Instantly curiosity took possession of him. He forgot all about Patti the beaver. For some time Peter sat perfectly still, looking and listening. There was no sign of Mrs. Bearer. Was she under that windfall in her bedroom taking a nap? Or was she off somewhere? Peter wished he knew. It was such a lovely night that he had a feeling Mrs. Bearer was out somewhere. A hop at a time, pausing to look and listen between hops, Peter drew nearer to the Great Windfall. Still there was no sign of Mrs. Bearer. With his heart going pitta-pat, pitta-pat, pitta-pat, Peter drew nearer and nearer to the Great Windfall. And at last was close to it on the opposite side to Mrs. Bearer's entrance. Taking care not to so much as rustle a dry leaf on the ground, Peter stole around the end of the Great Windfall until he could see the entrance Mrs. Bearer always used. No one was in sight. Peter drew a long breath and hopped a little nearer. He felt very brave and bold, but you may be sure that at the same time he was ready to jump and run, as only he can at the least hint of danger. For a long time Peter sat and stared at the entrance and wished he dared just poke his head inside. If Mrs. Bearer really had a secret, it was somewhere inside there. Anyway, that is what old Granny Fox had said. He had almost worked his scurry jump to the point of taking just one hurried little peek in that entrance when his long ears caught a faint rustling sound under the Great Windfall. Peter scurried off to a safe distance, then turned and stared at that entrance. He half expected to see Mrs. Bearer's great head come poking out and he was ready to take to his heels. Instead, a very small head, and then another close beside it appeared. Peter was so surprised he nearly fell over backward. Then in a flash it came to him that he knew Mrs. Bearer's secret. It was out at last. Yes, sir, it was out at last. Mrs. Bearer had a family. Mrs. Bearer and Buster Bearer had twins. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of Buster Bearer's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. A LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Buster Bearer's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. Peter scares the twins. For timid folk, no joy is quite like giving other folks a fright. Mother Bear. It isn't often that Peter Rabbit has a chance to scare anyone.  So when he does happen to scare someone, it always amuses him. Somehow he always has more respect for himself. When on that moonlight night he discovered Mrs. Bearer's secret. He had the most mixed feelings he ever had known. First came surprise. As he saw those two little heads poked out of Mrs. Bearer's entrance, he was sitting up very straight and the surprise was so great that he all but tumbled over backwards. You see, there was no mistaking those two little heads for any but those of baby bears. He knew that those were two bear cubs, Mrs. Bearer's babies. The secret she had kept hidden so long under the great windfall. And his surprise at seeing those two little heads was only a little greater than his surprise at the smallness of them. So for perhaps two minutes Peter sat motionless. Quite overcome with surprise. As he stared at those two little funny heads poked out from the entrance under the great windfall. Then all in a flash he understood the cause of Mrs. Bearer's short temper and the reason she drove everybody away from there. Then he felt a sudden panic afright. This is no place for me, thought Peter. And the sooner I get away from here the better. He looked hastily all about. There was no sign of Mrs. Bearer. Right then and there curiosity returned in full force.  Thought Peter, it seems safe enough here now. And perhaps if I wait a few minutes they will come out. So Peter waited. Sure enough in a few minutes the two little cubs did come out. Plainly it was their first glimpse of the green forest. And Peter almost laughed right out at the look of wonder on their faces as they stared all about in the moonlight. But not even his first surprise was greater than Peter's surprise. Now as he saw how small they were. Why? he exclaimed to himself. Why? They are no bigger than I. I didn't suppose anyone so big as great big Mrs. Bearer could have such small children. I wonder how old they are. I wonder how big they were when they were born. I wonder if they will grow fast. I wonder if they will go about with Mrs. Bearer. I suppose Buster Bearer is their father. And I wonder if he ever comes to see them. They looked to me rather wobbly on their legs. I wonder if Mrs. Bearer told them they could come out. And then the imp of mischief whispered to Peter. I wonder if I can scare them. Thought Peter. It would be great fun to scare Bearer, even if it is nothing but a cub. And to scare too at once would be greater fun. Peter suddenly thumped the ground very hard with his hind feet. It was so still there in the green forest that that thump sounded very loud. The two little cubs gave a startled look towards Peter. As he set up straight in the moonlight he looked very big. That is, he did to those two little cubs who never had seen him before. With funny little wimpers of fright they turned and fairly tumbled over each other as they scurried back through the entrance under the great windfall. Peter laughed and laughed until his sides ached. He, Peter Rabbit, actually had frightened two bears and made them run. Now he would have something to boast about. End of chapter 2 Chapter 3 of Buster Bearer's Twins This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org Buster Bearer's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Peter's Glee is short-lived. You'll find it very seldom pays to play a joke that works both ways. Mother Bear As two frightened little cubs ran, whimpering and tumbling over each other for the safety of the bedroom under the great windfall, Peter Rabbit thumbed twice more just by way of adding to their fright. It was most unkind of Peter, of course. He should have been ashamed of trying to frighten babies, and those two cubs were babies and nothing more. They were baby bears, but Peter had so often felt little cold chills of fear chasing each other up and down, his backbone in the presence of Buster Bearer and Mrs. Bearer, that it tickled him to be able to scare any bears, big or little. Truth to tell. It gave him a feeling as if somehow he was getting even with Buster and Mrs. Bearer. Of course he wasn't. Certainly not. But he had that feeling, and he didn't want stop to think how cowardly it was to frighten babies, even though they were bear babies. After the two cubs had disappeared, he could hear them scrambling along under the great windfall as they hurried for the darkest corner of that dark bedroom where Mother Bearer had left them when she went out to look for something to eat. All the way there they whimpered just as if they thought some dreadful enemy was after them. Peter laughed until his sides ached and the tears came to his eyes. An angry growl right behind him put a sudden end to Peter's laughter and glee. It was his turn to run had long into whimper as he ran. My, what jumps he made! It seemed as if his feet barely touched the ground before he was in the air again. If those little cubs had been scared, Peter was twice as scared. They had run without knowing what they ran from. But Peter knew what he was running from. He was running from an angry mother, and that mother was a bear. It was enough to make anybody run. Peter had been so intent on frightening those little cubs and then laughing at them that he had not heard Mother Bearer until she had given that angry growl right behind him. Then he hadn't stopped to explain. Peter believes in running first and explaining later. But at the rate he was going now, there wouldn't be any explaining because by the time he stopped Mother Bearer wouldn't be near enough to hear a word he said. The fact is Mother Bearer didn't follow Peter. She simply growled once or twice in her deepest, most grumbly, rumbly voice just to add a little speed to Peter's long legs. If that were possible, then as she watched Peter run headlong she grinned. Just as Peter had laughed at the fright of the little cubs, Mother Bear grinned at Peter's fright. I hope that will teach him a lesson. Mothered Mrs. Bear way down in Earth Road. I don't want that long-eared bunch of curiosity hanging around here. He got a glimpse of those youngsters of mine, and now my secret will be out. Well, I suppose it would have had to be out soon. Mrs. Bear turned into the entrance to her bedroom under the windfall while Peter Rabbit kept on. Lippity, lippity, lipp, lippity, lipp. Through the green forest towards the green meadows and the dear old briar patch, he was eager to get there and tell the news of Mrs. Bear's long-kept secret. End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of Buster Bear's Twins. This is a Libra Fox recording. All Libra Fox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librafox.org. Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. Boxer and Wolf-Woof. Tis sometimes well, it seems to me, to see, but appear not to see, Mother Bear. Not in all the green forest could too lively or more mischievous little folks be found than Boxer and Wolf-Woof. Boxer was just a wee bit bigger than his sister, but he was no smarter. Nor was he the least bit quicker. For more than three months they had lived under the great windfall in the green forest without even once poking their funny little noses outside. You see, when they were born they were very small and helpless, and the first time they had poked their heads out. Peter Rabbit had given them a terrible scare by thumping the ground with his hind feet. Safely back in their bedroom they snuggled together. Who do you suppose that terrible fellow was? Whispered Wolf-Woof. How that would have pleased Peter. Could he have heard it? I haven't the least idea, reply Boxer. I guess we are lucky to be safely back here. Did you notice how his ears stood up? We must ask Mother Bear about him, said Wolf-Woof. He was only about our size, and perhaps he isn't so terrible after all. Here she comes now. Let's not say anything about it, whispered Boxer hurriedly. You know she told us not to go outside. We may see him again sometime, and then we can ask her. So when Mrs. Bear arrived she found Boxer and Wolf-Woof curled up with their arms around each other, and looking as innocent as it was possible for baby bears to look. Mother Bear grinned. She knew just what had happened out there, for she had seen it all. You remember that she had frightened Peter Rabbit even more than he had frightened the cubs. But she wisely decided that she would say nothing about it then. These cubs have had their first lesson in life, thought she, as she watched them trying so hard to appear to be asleep. They disobeyed, and as a result they got a great fright. I won't tell them that Peter Rabbit is one of the most harmless fellows in all the great world. They will remember this fright longer if I don't. These scamps are growing like weeds. They went outside tonight while I was away. And that means that it is time to take them out and show them something of the great world. If I don't, they will try it again while I am away. And something might happen to them. They are still so small that if old man Coyote should happen to find one of them alone, I am afraid the sly old sinner would make an end of that cub. She poked the two cubs. You're not asleep, said she.  Tomorrow morning you can go outside and play a little while, providing you will promise not to go more than one jump away from the entrance to this home of ours. There are great dangers in the green forest for little bears. Of course, Boxer and Woff Woff promised. And so, for several mornings, they played just outside the entrance while their mother pretended to take a nap. It was then that Chatterer, the Red Squirrel, and Sammy Jay and Blackie the Grow had great fun frightening those twin cubs, and they didn't know, nor did the twins, that all the time mother bear knew just what was going on and was keeping quiet so that the twins might learn for themselves. End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of Buster Bears Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Buster Bears Twins by Thornton W. Urges. Out in the Great World The Great World calls, and soon or late must each obey and rule his fate, Mother Bear. Not in all the green forest is there a wiser or better mother than Mrs. Bear. No one knows better than she the dangers of the Great World, or the importance of learning early in life all those things which a bear who would live to an old age should know. So after allowing the twins, Boxer and Wolf Wolf, to play around the entrance to their home under the Great Windfall for a few days, she took them for their first walk in the green forest. Now, said she, as she prepared to lead the way, you are to do just as I do. You are to follow right at my heels, and the one who turns aside for anything without my permission will be spanked.  Yes, I'm, replied Boxer and Wolf Wolf meekly. My, my, my. How excited they were as Mother Bear led the way out from under the Old Windfall. This was to be a great, a wonderful adventure. They tingled all over. They were actually going out to see something of the Great World. The first thing Mother Bear did was to sit up and carefully test the wind with her nose. Boxer sat up and did exactly the same thing. Wolf Wolf sat up and did exactly the same thing. The merry little breezes tickled their noses with many scents. Mother Bear knew what each one was, but of course the twins didn't know any of them. All they knew was that they smelled good. Mother Bear cocked her ears forward and listened. Boxer cocked his ears forward and listened. Wolf Wolf cocked her ears forward and listened. Mother Bear looked this way and looked that way. Boxer looked this way and looked that way. So did Wolf Wolf. These are things you must always do whenever you start out in the Great World. Explain Mother Bear in her deep, grumbly, rumbly voice. You must learn to know the meaning of every scent that reaches your nose, of every sound that reaches your ears, of everything you see. For only by such knowledge can you keep out of danger. But you must never trust your ears or eyes only.  But always use all three. Yes'em, replied Boxer and Wolf Wolf. Then Mother Bear started off among the great trees, shuffling along and swinging her head from side to side. Right at her heels, shuffled Boxer, swinging his head from side to side. And right at his heels, shuffled Wolf Wolf, swinging her head from side to side. Whatever Mother Bear did, the twins did. They did it because Mother Bear did it. They were keeping their promise. And little as they were, they felt very big and important. For now at last they were out in the Great World. Chatter Earth, the Red Squirrel, saw them start out. And he chuckled as he watched those two funny little cubs do exactly as Mother Bear did. He followed along in the tree tops, jumping from tree to tree, but taking the greatest care to make no noise. He was fairly aching for a chance to scare those cubs. But as long as Mother Bear was with them, he didn't dare to try. Mother Bear stopped and sniffed at an old log. Then she went on. Boxer stopped and solemnly sniffed at that old log. Then he went on. Wolf Wolf stopped and sniffed at that old log. Then she went on. And so at last they came to a place where the Earth was soft and where grew certain roots of which Mrs. Bear is very fond. End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriFox recording. All LibriFox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriFox.org. Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. The twins climb a tree. Those climb the highest who have dared to keep on climbing when most scared. Mother Bear. When Mother Bear reached the place where grew the roots of which she was so fond, she led the twins, Boxer and Wolf Wolf, over to a big tree, stood up and dug her great claws into the bark above her head. Of course Boxer did the same thing. Mother Bear gave him a push. Boxer was so surprised that without realizing what he was doing he pulled himself up a little higher, clinging to the tree with the claws of all four feet and hugging the trunk with arms and legs. Go right on up, said Mother Bear, in her deep, grumbly rumbly voice. Go right on up until you reach those branches up there. There is nothing to fear. Those claws were given you for climbing and it is time for you to learn how to use them. When you get up to those branches, you stay up there until I tell you to come down. If you don't, you will be spanked. Now up with you. Let me see you climb. Boxer scrambled a little higher. Mother Bear turned and started Wolf Wolf up after Boxer. It was a strange experience for the twins. Never before had they been above the ground and it frightened them. They scrambled a little way and then looked down and whimpered. Then they looked up at the branches above them. To Boxer and Wolf Wolf, those branches seemed a terrible distance up. They seemed way, way up in the sky. Really, they were not very high up at all. But you remember the twins were very little and this was their first climb. So they stopped and whimpered and looked down longingly at the ground. But right under them stood Mother Bear and there was a look in her eyes that told them she intended to be obeyed. Having her standing right below them gave them courage. So Boxer scrambled a little higher. Then Wolf Wolf, who simply couldn't allow her brother to do anything she didn't do, scrambled a little higher. Boxer started again. Wolf Wolf followed and so at last they reached the branches. Then and not until then Mother Bear left the foot of the tree and shuffled off to dig for roots. The instant they got hold of those branches, the twins felt safe. They forgot their fears. Quite unexpectedly they felt very much at home and of course they felt very big and bold. For a while they were content to sit and look down at the wonderful great world. It seemed to them that from way up there they must be looking at nearly all of the great world. Of course they really were looking at only a very small part of the green forest but it was very, very wonderful to the twins and they looked and looked and for a long time they didn't say a word. By and by they noticed Mother Bear digging roots some distance away. Isn't it funny that Mother Bear has grown so much smaller? Ventured Wolf Wolf, Boxer looked puzzled. Mother Bear certainly did look smaller. Even as he watched she moved farther away and the farther she went the smaller she seemed to be. Boxer held on with one hand and scratched his head with the other. For the first time in his life he was doing some real thinking. I don't believe she can be any smaller, said he. It must be she looks smaller because she is so far away. That old log down there looks smaller than it did when we stopped and sniffed at it. Some of those young trees that looked tall when we passed under them don't look tall at all now. I guess the way a thing looks depends on how near it is. Of course Boxer was quite right in this. He was already beginning to learn, beginning to use those lively wits which old Mother Nature had put in that funny little head of his. End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by John Brandon Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess, Chapter 7 A Scare That Didn't Work Take my advice and pray beware of how you try to scare a bear. Mother Bear Chatterer the Red Squirrel was indignant. He was very indignant. In fact, Chatterer was angry. You know he short-tempered and it doesn't take a great deal to make him lose his temper. He had watched Mrs. Bear and the Twins start out from the great windfall and had silently followed, keeping in the treetops as much as possible and taking the greatest care not to let Mrs. Bear or the Twins know that he was about. Inside he had chuckled to see the Twins do exactly what Mother Bear did. When she sat up and they sat up beside her they looked so funny that he had hard work to keep from laughing right out. He had seen many funny things in the green forest, but nothing quite so funny as those two little bears, hardly bigger than Peter Rabbit, gravely doing just exactly what their mother did. So Chatterer followed, all the time hoping for a chance to give those Twins a scare. But he didn't want to try it while Mother Bear was around, so he waited, hoping that she would leave them alone for a few minutes. Finally Mother Bear sat the Twins to climbing a tree. It was then that Chatterer became so very indignant. He sharp eyes snapped as he watched the Twins scramble up that tree. He hoped they would fall. Yes sir. Chatterer really hoped those twin cubs would fall. You see the trouble was that Chatterer didn't like the idea of those little bears learning to climb trees. He felt that the trees belonged to the squirrel family. It was bad enough to have Bobby Coon and Uncle Billy Possum climbing them. Now to have two lively little bears learning to climb was too much. It was altogether too much. They haven't any business in trees, sputtered Chatterer to himself taking care not to be heard. They haven't any business in trees. They belong on the ground, not in trees. I won't have them in the trees. I won't. I won't. Now of course Chatterer knew right down in his heart that those cubs had just as much right in the trees as had he. The real truth of the matter was that so long as those little cubs remain on the ground, Chatterer feared them not at all. He could be as saucy and as impudent to them as he pleased. He could tease them and try to scare them and feel quite safe about it so long as their mother wasn't about. But if those cubs were going to learn to climb and he had a feeling that they would make very good climbers, matters might be altogether different. Chatterer watched the twins and he watched Mother Bear. At last the latter disappeared from sight. Unseen by the twins, Chatterer leaped across to the very tree in which they were sitting but above them. I'll give them such a scare that they will either fall down or will scramble down. And never will want to climb another tree, muttered Chatterer. Silently he crept up behind them.  Get down out of this tree. He was so close to those little bears that his voice seemed to be in their very ears. They recognized it as a voice which had scared them two or three times when they had first come out of the great windfall to play. It was so close and so unexpected that it startled them so that they almost let go their hold. Then Boxer turned and for the first time had a good view of Chatterer. He was looking at a very angry red squirrel. But instead of being afraid and starting to scramble down from that tree as Chatterer had expected him to do, Boxer suddenly started straight for him. And it was plain to see that Boxer was an angry small bear. End of Chapter 7, recording by John Brandon Chapter 8 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Brandon Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 8 Too late, Chatterer is sorry. Of yourself to whole command. Keep your temper well in hand. Mother Bear The best lead plans, even those of the smartest of red squirrels, sometimes go wrong. Chatterer's plan had gone wrong. Just about as wrong as it could go. Those provoking twins, instead of being scared or falling or scrambling down from that tree, had been made angry and actually were starting after him. Boxer started first and Woof Woof promptly followed. You know whatever Boxer did, Woof Woof did. Now Chatterer hadn't reckoned on any such thing as this happening, not at all. And like most people who try to scare babies, Chatterer is not at all brave. Most of his bravery is in his tongue. For just an instant he was too surprised to move. Even his tongue was still. Then he turned and ran up that tree as fast as he could. The twins came scrambling after and they came surprisingly fast. You see there were plenty of branches to hold on to. So they had no fear of falling. Chatterer was so scared that he didn't use those usually quick wits of his. And he ran up past the only branch of that tree that reached out near enough to another tree for him to jump across. When he thought of it it was too late. Yes sir it was too late. Boxer was already standing on that very branch. Chatterer felt that he was trapped. He couldn't jump across to another tree. He didn't dare try to get down past those twins. He wouldn't think of jumping down to the ground unless he was actually obliged to. Or it was a dreadful jump. All he could do was to climb higher and hope those twins would be afraid to follow him. By this time Boxer and Woof Woof were enjoying the chase. They were enjoying the fun of climbing and they were enjoying the discovery that they were no longer afraid of this saucy red-coated scamp. But that he was afraid of them. See him run, cried Boxer. Come on Woof Woof, let's catch him. He is so small and quick that he can get about faster than we can. But we are two and he is only one. Between us we ought to be able to catch him. Woof Woof was quite willing and they climbed on up after Chatterer. Chatterer's tongue was still now. He made no sound. He no longer called names. He no longer made faces. He no longer looked saucy or impudent. He looked exactly what he was. A badly scared red squirrel. He was sorry now that he had lost his temper and tried to scare those twins. He was very, very sorry. But it was too late. Being sorry didn't help him any now. He was in a bad scrape, was Chatterer, and he knew it. Either of those twin bears was much bigger than he although they were little more than babies. They had found him out and had already discovered that they had nothing to fear from him and that he was afraid of them. It was plain to see that they were having a good time. They were enjoying the chase. Chatterer looked down at their sharp little claws and more than ever he was sorry he had not let them alone. By this time Chatterer was clinging to the very top of that tree. If those twins came up there he would have to make the terrible jump to the ground. He shivered as he looked down. Would those surprising twins or one of them be able to get up near enough to reach him? The twins have to go home. Obedience is good to see, especially when up a tree. Mother Bear. Boxer and Woof Woof were having the best time of their short lives. Climbing was great fun. Although this was the first time they had climbed a tree they already felt quite at home up there where the branches grew. It was fun just to climb from branch to branch. It was still greater fun to chase that red-coated little rascal who had tried to scare them out of that tree. You see this was the first time the twins had found anyone afraid of them and it made them feel quite important. It made them feel big. They felt twice as big as when they had whimperingly started to climb that tree. So the twins were having a wonderful time. But Chatterer the Red Squirrel was having anything but a wonderful time. He was wishing, with all his might, that he had kept his saucy tongue still. That he had not jumped over into that tree to try to scare those cubs. That he had not followed them in the first place. That they would become dizzy and afraid. He even wished that they would fall. The fact is, Chatterer was so badly frightened that he was capable of wishing almost anything dreadful if it would only give him a chance to escape. Now if Chatterer had not been so badly frightened he would have seen that Boxer the twin who was in the lead was already hesitating. He had reached a point where the branches were so small that they bent dangerously when he stepped on them. He had climbed as high as it was safe for him to climb and he knew it. But having set out to catch that red mischief maker he couldn't bear to give up. That is he felt that if he did give up Chatterer would boast that he had been too smart for the cubs and would make fun of them. And this is just what Chatterer would have done. So while Chatterer was wishing, with all his might, that something would happen to those twins the twins were wishing for some good excuse for stopping the chase without losing the respect the new Chatterer now had for them. Just then a deep grumbly, grumbly voice came up to them from the foot of the tree. Come down at once. Said the voice, it was the voice of Mother Bear. Yes, him, replied woof-woof meekly, beginning to climb down. I want to catch this fellow who tried to scare us. White Boxer pretending that he didn't want to come down. You heard what I said, replied Mother Bear and her voice was more grumbly grumbly than before. It is time to go home. Come down this instant. Yes, um... replied Boxer and this time he said it quite as meekly as had his sister, woof-woof. There was something in the sound of Mother Bear's voice that warned Boxer that it would be unwise to disobey. So with a warning to Chatterer that next time he would not get off so easily, Boxer began to climb down after woof-woof. When the cubs reached the lowest branches and had only the straight trunk to which to cling, they were once more afraid and all the way down they whimpered. Somehow it was harder to climb down than up. It often is. But at last they were on the ground. Mother Bear's eyes twinkled with pride but she took care that the cubs should not see this. Obedience said she is the first great lesson in life. It saved you a spanking this time. Then she led the way home. And as Boxer and woof-woof followed doing exactly as she did they heard the jeering voice of Chatterer the Red Squirrel. Couldn't catch me, couldn't catch me. Jeered Chatterer. End of Chapter 9 Recording by John Brandon Chapter 10 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by John Brandon Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 10 The Twins Get Even with Peter Rabbit It isn't nice. It isn't kind. It is not at all the thing to do. But those who do not take a chance of getting even are but few. Mother Bear This is sad but true. It is so everywhere in the great world and the great world will be a much better place in which to live if it were not so. It is the desire to get even that makes much of the trouble and the hard feeling and the unhappiness everywhere. There are times when getting even certainly does give a lot of satisfaction. It was so with the Twins, Boxer and woof-woof. You remember that the first time they ventured out from under the great windfall, Peter Rabbit had given them a great fright by thumping the ground with his hind feet as only Peter can thump. The Twins were so small then and they knew so little of the great world, in fact nothing at all, that Peter had seemed to them a terrible fellow. They never had forgotten him. Whenever they were outside the great windfall they watched for him ready to run at sight of him. But it was a long time before they saw Peter again and when they did they had grown so that they were considerably bigger than he. Besides, they had been out on several trips into the great world with Mother Bear and had learned many things. For little bears learn very fast and have the best of memories. At last they saw Peter again. It happened this way. Peter had stayed away from the green forest as long as he could. Then curiosity to see what was going on over there had been too much for him and he started over to visit Patty the Beaver. He took great care to keep away from the great windfall where Mother Bear and the Twins lived. As curious as he was about those Twins and much as he wanted to see them again he was too afraid of Mrs. Bear and her short temper to take any chances. But he felt that it would be quite safe to visit Patty the Beaver for Patty's pond was some distance from the great windfall. Now Peter didn't know that Mother Bear was in the habit of taking the Twins with her wherever she went. It just happened that this very day she had chosen to go over near the pond of Patty the Beaver. The Twins had played until they were tired and then had curled up for a nap in a sunny spot while their mother went fishing in the Laughing Brook. When Peter arrived inside of Patty's pond Mother Bear was hidden behind some brush a little way up the Laughing Brook and was sitting quietly waiting for a fish to come within reach. For once Peter was careless. He was so intent looking for Patty the Beaver he didn't use his eyes and ears for other things as he should have. So he passed within a few feet of the Twins without seeing them. Just beyond he sat up to look over the pond for Patty. Now the Twins slept each with an opening ear as the saying is and they heard Peter pass. Open flew their eyes and they saw at once that it was a terrible fellow who had so frightened them once. But somehow he no longer looked terrible. He was smaller than they had thought. In fact they were now considerably bigger than he. You see they had been growing very fast. Boxer's eyes twinkled. Perhaps this fellow was like chatterer of the Red Squirrel. Bold and terrible only to those who feared him. He nudged Wolf Wolf. Very softly they got to their feet and stole up behind Peter. A twig snapped under Boxer's feet. Peter turned. His eyes seemed to pop right out of his head. With a squeal of fright Peter jumped and started. Lippity, lippity, lipp. For the nearest pile of brush. And after him raced the Twins. They knew now that this terrible fellow was more afraid of them than ever they had been of him. And they meant to get even for the fright he had given them when they were so little. It was great fun. End of chapter 10 Recording by John Brandon Chapter 11 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Brandon Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 11 Peter is in a tight place. When you are in a place that's tight it is no time to think of fright. Mother Bear Boxer and Wolf Wolf were having no end of fun. Having chased Peter Rabbit under a pile of brush they were now trying to catch him. It was even more fun than it had been to try to catch chatter of the red squirrel in the top of the tree. But for Peter Rabbit it was no fun at all. The truth is Peter was in a tight place and he knew it. Never had he been more badly frightened. It would have been bad enough had there been only one little bear. Two little bears made it twice as bad. In the first place they were very lively were those two little bears. Peter hadn't known the little bears could be so lively. You see these were the first he ever had seen. The way in which they ran around the pile of brush showed how quick on their feet they were. Peter didn't doubt that he could outrun them if he could get a fair start. The trouble was to get that fair start. He wished now that he had trusted to his long legs instead of seeking shelter under that pile of brush. He had done that in the suddenness of his fright when the little bears had surprised him. It is Peter's nature to seek a hiding place in time of danger and usually this is the wisest thing for him to do. I see him! cried Boxer, poking his funny little head under the brush on one side. I'll crawl under and drive him out to you, Wolf-Woof. On the other side of the brush pile Wolf-Woof danced up and down excitedly. I'll get him! I'll get him! she cried. Drive him out, Boxer! Drive him out! Ouch! cried Boxer as a sharp stick scratched his face. He's crawling towards the end, Wolf-Woof! Watch out! Which end, cried Wolf-Woof, running from one end to the other and back again. Ouch! Wow! I'm stuck! came the voice of Boxer. A minute later he backed out. No use. I can't get under there. He panted. I'll jump on top and see if I can't scare him out that way. So Boxer climbed up on the pile of brush and jumped up and down while Wolf-Woof ran back and forth around the edge of the pile of brush stopping to peep under at every opening. I see him! I see him, Boxer! she cried and began to wriggle in under the brush as Boxer had done. But she didn't go far. She soon found that Peter could go through places where she couldn't. Besides it seemed as if sharp sticks were reaching for her from every direction. Twice she squealed as she scratched her face on them. How do you like it? Called Boxer, running at the sound of those squeals. Wolf-Woof backed out and brushed bits of bark from her coat where she was much neater than her brother.  Then we'll get him. So the twins set to work one on one side and one on the other to pull that pile of brush apart. Yes, Peter Rabbit certainly was in a tight place. End of Chapter 11, Recording by John Brandon Chapter 12 of Buster Bears Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Elizabeth Holland Buster Bears Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 12 Peter takes a chance. Who never takes a chance confesses that he a coward's heart possesses Mother Bear. Those twin cubs were very much like some boys and girls. They were like them in that they were wholly thoughtless. They were having a splendid time as they tried to catch Peter Rabbit. They hadn't had so much fun for days. Not once did it pop into their funny little heads that Peter was suffering because of their fun. No, sir, they didn't once think of that. But Peter was suffering. Peter was suffering from fright. And that kind of suffering often is worse than suffering from pain. He was sure that those cubs meant to kill him and eat him. Matter of fact, such an idea hadn't entered the heads of the twins.  All they were thinking of was the fun of catching Peter and getting even with him for the scare he had once given them. Peter didn't know this. Many people had tried to catch him and every one of them had wanted him for a dinner. So Peter was sure that this was why Boxer and Wolf Wolf were trying so hard to catch him.  At least, that is the way it seemed to him. But this was nothing to the way he felt when those cubs began to pull apart that pile of brush. Then, for a minute, despair took possession of Peter. But it was only for a minute. Peter had been in many tight places before and he had learned that giving up to despair is no way to get out of tight places. If I stay here, they will get me, thought Peter. If I take a chance and run, they may get me. In which case I will be no worse off. But they may not get me. So I think I'll take the chance. He listened to those excited little cubs working with might and main to pull that pile of brush apart. One was on one side and one was on the other. He might get out at either end between them and get a start before they saw him. He started to creep towards one end but snapped a dead twig and the quick ears of Boxer hurt it. He's coming out, squealed Boxer, and ran around to that end. Peter crept back to the middle. In a minute or so Boxer was back, pulling apart that brush. Then, an old saying of his mother was popped into Peter's head. He had heard her say it many times when he was little and first venturing out into the great world. When you must take a chance, always do the thing no one expects you to do was what his mother had said over and over again. Those cubs expect me to run out at one end or the other, thought Peter. They don't expect me to run out where either is at work. To do that will take them by surprise. It is my best chance. Yes, sir, it is my best chance. Peter crept toward the edge where Boxer was at work tearing that brush apart. Once more his heart seemed to be in his mouth and it was going pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat. Watching his chance, he darted out under Boxer's very nose. End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Elizabeth Holland Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 13 A Great Mix-Up of Little Bears If I blame you and you blame me, tis clear we're bound to disagree. Mother Bear When Peter darted out under the very nose of Boxer, the little bear was so surprised that for a couple of seconds he didn't do a thing. This is what Peter had counted on. It gave him the fair start. Then with a squill, Boxer started after him. He's out! He's out! Come on, woof-woof! We'll catch him now! cried Boxer, and he was so excited that he stumbled over his own feet as he started after Peter. When Peter came out from under that pile of brush, he turned to the left and started around the end of it, liberty, liberty, lip, as fast as he could go. Again, Peter was doing the unexpected. He knew that woof-woof was on the other side of that pile of brush, and he knew that she knew that he knew she was there. Of course, she wouldn't expect him to run around where she was. That would be the last thing in the world she would expect. So this is just what Peter did do. Around the end of that pile of brush, liberty, liberty, lip, raced Peter with Boxer at his heels. Just as expected, he met woof-woof running as fast as she could. Peter dodged as only Peter can. Woof-woof was running so fast, she couldn't stop instantly. Boxer was running so fast, he couldn't stop. Perhaps you can guess what happened. Those two little bears ran into each other so hard that both were knocked over. Yes, sir, that is just what happened. Then both those little bears lost their tempers. They forgot all about Peter Rabbit. Each blamed the other. They scrambled to their feet. Quick as a flash, Boxer reached out and boxed his sister's side of the head. Why don't you look where you are going, he snapped. Woof-woof was quite as quick as Boxer. Slap went one of her paws against the side of Boxer's face. Do some looking out yourself, she sputtered. They stood up and danced around each other, cuffing and slapping and saying unkind things. They glared at each other with little eyes red with anger. Boxer suddenly threw his arms around woof-woof and upset her. Then they rolled over and over on the ground, striking, scratching and trying to bite. First one would be on top, then the other. Over and over they tumbled, so fast that had you been there, you would have seen such a mix-up of little bears that you wouldn't have been able to tell one from the other. It was dreadful for those twins to fight, but they had lost their tempers and there they were. You would never have guessed that they were brother and sister. After a while they were so out of breath that they had to stop. What are we fighting for, asked Boxer, looking a little shame-faced as he rubbed one ear. I don't know, confessed Woof-woof, rubbing her nose. I guess I lost my temper because you ran into me, said Boxer. I didn't. You ran into me, declared Woof-woof. No such thing, growled Boxer, his eyes beginning to grow red again. You ran into me. Woof-woof's little eyes began to snap, and I'm afraid that there would have been another dreadful scene, had not the memory of Peter Rabbit popped into Boxer's head just then. Where's that long-legged fellow we were after, he cried? It was all his fault. The cubs scrambled to their feet and looked this way and that way, but Peter Rabbit was nowhere to be seen. End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of Buster Bears Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Elizabeth Holland Buster Bears Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 14 Two Foolish Feeling Little Bears Who lets his temper get away is bound to find it doesn't pay. Mother Bear If ever there were two Foolish Feeling Little Bears, the Twins of Buster Bear were those two, and they looked just as foolish as they felt. While they had been fighting, Peter Rabbit had made the most of his chance and the best use of his legs and had disappeared. Where he had gone, neither Boxer nor Wolf-Woof had the least idea. They looked this way. They looked that way. They peered under the pile of brush. They even tore it all apart. There was no sign of Peter. As a matter of fact, Peter was far away, headed straight for the dear old Briar Patch. And Peter was chuckling. The instant those cubs began to fight, all fear had left Peter. He knew then that he had nothing more to fear from them. People who lose their tempers lose their wits with them, chuckled Peter. I couldn't have done better than that if I had planned it. My, how those cubs have grown. I think I'll keep away from that part of the Green Forest. Yes, sir, I'll keep away from there. And in that decision, Peter showed that he wasn't yet too old to learn a lesson and gain wisdom therefrom. At last the twins gave up looking for Peter.  I didn't mean to. Yes, you did, retorted Wolf-Woof. You did mean to hurt me. I know, because I know you felt just as I did. And I meant to hurt you. I, I, I hope I didn't. Not much, replied Boxer sheepishly, as he felt of one ear. I guess we're even. That fellow we didn't catch properly is laughing at us and will tell everybody he meets what silly little bears we are. I guess it doesn't pay to fight. That depends, said a deep, grumbly, rumbly voice. The twins turned to find Mother Bear looking at them. It never pays to fight, accepting for your rights. But the one who will not fight for his rights never will get far in the great world. Neither will the one who was always ready to fight over nothing.  Feeling more and more foolish every minute, the twins told Mother Bear all about Peter Rabbit, how they had tried to catch him, and how they had lost their tempers when they bumped into each other. Mother Bear's eyes twinkled. But she took care that the twins should not see that twinkle.  And the next time I know of you fighting, you will be spanked. I won't spank you this time, because I hope you have learned a lesson. When two people fight over a thing, someone else is likely to get it. People who lose their tempers usually lose more, just as you lost your chance to catch Peter Rabbit. Now all the Green Forest will laugh at you, and Peter Rabbit will boast that he was smarter than two bears. We'll get even with him yet, muttered boxer. No, you won't, declared Mother Bear. Peter Rabbit will never give you a chance. And that is exactly what Peter Rabbit had resolved himself. End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of Buster Bear's Twins. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Elizabeth Holland. Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. Chapter 15. The twins meet their father. Beware the stranger with a smile, lest it but hide a trickster's guile. Mother Bear. Boxer and Wolf-Woof had begun to wonder if they and their mother were the only bears in the Green Forest. So far they had seen no other. Then one day as they were playing about near the Laughing Brook, while Mother Bear was busy a little way off tearing open an old stump after ants, Wolf-Woof discovered a footprint. She showed it to Boxer. Then the two little cubs sat up and stared at each other, and their little eyes were very round with wonder. Mother Bear didn't make that footprint, whispered Boxer, as if he were afraid of being overheard. Who do you suppose did? Wolf-Woof moved a little nearer to Boxer. I haven't any idea she whispered back and hurriedly glanced all around. It wasn't Mother Bear, for there is one of her footprints right over there, and it is different. There must be a great big stranger around here. The twins drew very close together and stood up that they might better stare in every direction. They were a little frightened at the thought that a big stranger might be near. Then they remembered that Mother Bear was only a little way off, and at once they felt better. They saw no stranger. Everything about them seemed just as it should be. They cocked their little ears to listen. All they heard was the sound of Mother Bear's great claws tearing open that old stump, the clawing of Blackie the Crow far in the distance, the gurgle of the laughing brook, and the whispering of the merry little breezes in the treetops. Now, not even Peter Rabbit has more curiosity than has a little bear. Presently, Boxer dropped down to all fours and approached that footprint.  His eyes had told him nothing. His ears had told him nothing. Now he would try his nose. He sniffed at that footprint, and the hair along his shoulders rose a little. His nose told him that that footprint was made by a bear he had never seen. There wasn't any question about it. It told him that the stranger had passed this way only a short time before. A great desire to see that stranger took possession of Boxer. Curiosity was stronger than fear. Let's follow his tracks. Perhaps we can see him, whispered Boxer to Wolf-Woof, and started along with his nose to the ground. Now, whatever one twin did, the other did. So Wolf-Woof followed her brother, one behind the other, their noses to the ground. The twins stole through the green forest. Every once in a while, Boxer sat up to look and listen. When he did this, Wolf-Woof did the same thing. It was very exciting. It was so exciting that they quite forgot Mother Bear and that they had been told not to go away. So they got farther and farther from where Mother Bear was at work. And then, without any warning at all, a great bear stepped out from behind a fallen tree. He wore a black coat and he was just about the size of Mother Bear. Of course you know who it was. It was Buster Bear. For the first time in their short lives the twins saw their father and he saw them. But the twins didn't know that he was their father and he didn't know that they were his children. Things like that happen in the green forest. End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Elizabeth Holland Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 16 The Twins Take to a Tree Run while you may nor hesitate lest you should prove to be late. Mother Bear Mother Bear is a very wise mother. One of the first things she taught the twins was that safety is the first and most important thing. Then she taught them that it is better to run away from possible danger than to wait to make sure of the danger. No harm comes of running away, said she. But if you wait you may discover your danger too late to run. It is better to run away a hundred times without cause than to be too late once in time of real danger. So when the twins suddenly came face to face with Buster Bear for the first time they did just the right thing. For a second or two they stared at him and frightened surprise. Then they turned and ran. Do you think it queer that the twins didn't know they're on father and do you think it even more queer didn't know his own children? Just remember that they had never seen him and he had never seen them before. For more than three months after they were born they hadn't been out from under that great windfall in the Green Forest. When they did come out Buster Bear had been in another part of the Green Forest. Mother Bear had warned him to keep away from that windfall and Buster had obeyed. So Boxer and Wolf-Woof had known nothing about their father and Buster had known nothing about the twins. Now when Buster saw those cubs not knowing they were his own he was filled with sudden anger. He didn't want any more bears in the Green Forest. He wanted the Green Forest just for himself and Mrs. Bear. Those young bears were likely to make a great deal of trouble. Anyway they would need a lot of food and this would mean that it would be so much harder for him to get enough to satisfy his own big appetite. So after the first surprised stare Buster growled. It was a grumbly, rumbly growl deep down in his throat. The twins heard it as they started to run and it was the most awful sound they ever had heard. Straight to the nearest tall tree ran the twins and up they scrambled. Chatterer the red squirrel would hardly have gone up that tree faster. Somehow they felt safer in a tree than on the ground. Buster Bear walked over to the foot of the tree and looked up at the cubs.  They were very fat. They looked good enough to eat thought Buster as he stood up at the foot of the tree. Looking up at Boxer and Wolf Wolf they would make me a very good dinner. They have no business here anyway. I've been living on roots and such things so long that a little fresh meat would taste good. If I go up after them I can do two things at once. Red the green forest have a pair of troublesome youngsters who are bound to make trouble and get a good dinner. I believe I'll do it. Of course this was very dreadful but you know Buster didn't know that those cubs were his own. They meant no more to him and you know he wouldn't have hesitated an instant to cobble up Peter if he had had the chance. Buster looked all around to make sure that no one saw him. Then he dug his great claws into that tree and started to climb up. End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nan Dodge Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Mother comes to the rescue. In all the world below, above the greatest thing is mother love. Mother Bear The love of a mother is wonderful beyond all things. There is nothing to compare with it. There is nothing it will not attempt to do. There is no danger it will not face. There is no sacrifice it will not make. It is the most beautiful, the most perfect of all things. Boxer and Wolf-Wolf had thought that in climbing a tall tree they were making themselves safe. It had not entered their funny little heads that great big Buster Bear would climb that tree. So you can imagine how terribly frightened they were when Buster started up that tree after them. They scrambled up and up until they were just as high as they could get. There they clung with feet and hands the worst scared little folks in all the green forest. Now little bears are much like little boys and girls in very many ways and one of these is their faith in mother. Another is that when they are frightened or in trouble they cry and yell for mother. That is just what Boxer and Wolf-Wolf did now. The instant they saw Buster they began to whimper and cry softly and they kept it up as they scrambled up the trunk of that tree. But when they saw Buster Bear climbing up after them they simply opened their mouths and bawled. Mama, mama yell Boxer at the top of his lungs. Mama screamed Wolf-Wolf. Now fortunately for the twins Mother Bear was not so far away that she couldn't hear them. By the sound of their voices she knew that this was no ordinary trouble they were in. Terror was in the sound of those voices. Those twins were in danger. There was no doubt about it. That danger might be danger for her as well but she didn't give that a thought. She plunged straight in the direction from which those cries were coming and she didn't stop to pick her way. She crashed straight through brush and branches in her way, jumped over logs and broke down young trees. At the sound of the first crash made by Mother Bear as she started for those cubs Buster Bear stopped climbing. He turned his head and looked anxiously in that direction, his little ears cocked to catch every sound. At the second crash Buster Bear decided that that was no place for him. He didn't stop to climb down. He simply let go and dropped. Yes, sir, that is what he did. He let go and dropped. It was quite a way to the ground but the ground was where Buster Bear wanted to be and he wanted to be there right away. He wanted to be there before whoever was coming could reach that tree and the quickest way of getting there was to drop. A few bruises and a shaking up were nothing to Buster Bear just then. The grunt he gave when he hit the ground even the twins heard, way up in the top of the tree. It made them stop bawling for a minute to wonder if Buster had been killed. But Buster hadn't been killed, goodness know. In an instant he was on his feet and running away so fast that even Lightfoot the deer would have had to do his best to keep up with him. And over his shoulder Buster Bear was throwing frightened glances. He was not out of sight when Mother Bear burst out from among the trees. She saw him instantly. With a roar of rage she started after Buster. Buster had seemed to be moving fast but it was nothing compared to the way he moved when he heard that roar. End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nan Dodge Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess The twins are comforted. There is no comfort quite like that. Contained in Mother's loving pat. Mother Bear The instant they saw Mother Bear the twins stopped bawling. Nothing could harm them now. They knew it. Mother would take care of them. Of that there wasn't a shadow of a doubt in the minds of Boxer and Woof-Woof. Hanging on with every claw of hands and feet they leaned out as far as they could to see what would happen to that great black bear who had frightened them so. But nothing happened to Buster Bear for the very good reason that he didn't wait for anything to happen. Buster was doing no waiting at all. In fact he was moving so fast and at the same time trying to watch behind him that he didn't even pick his path. He bumped into trees and stumbled over logs in a way that to say the least was not at all dignified. But Buster was in too much of a hurry to think of dignity. There was something about the looks of Mother Bear as she tore after him that made him feel sure that he would find it much pleasanter in another part of the green forest and he was in a hurry to get there. Mother Bear didn't follow him far only just far enough to make sure that he intended to keep right on going. Then growling dreadful threats she hurried back to the tree in which the cubs were. Boxer and Wolf Wolf were already scrambling down as fast as they could, whimpering a little. For though they felt wholly safe now they were not yet over their fright. She reached the foot of the tree just as they reached the ground. She sat up and the twins rushed to her and snuggled as close to her as they could get. Mother Bear put a big arm around each and patted them gently. It was surprising how gentle great big Mother Bear could be. What would that awful fellow have done to us, asked Wolf Wolf, crowding still closer to Mother Bear, eating you, growled Mother Bear, and little cold shivers ran all over Wolf Wolf and Boxer.  So do I, cried Wolf Wolf, I think he is dreadful and I hope we'll never, never, never see him again. But you will, replied Mother Bear. I don't think you'll see him again right away for he knows it isn't wise for him to hang around here when I am about. But by and by when you are bigger you will see him often. The fact is, he is your father. What! screamed the twins, quite horrified. That dreadful fellow, our father? Just so, growled Mrs. Bear, just so. And he isn't dreadful at all. You mustn't speak of your father that way. But if it isn't dreadful for a father to want to eat his own children I guess I don't know what dreadful means, declared Boxer, in a most decided tone.  Softly Boxer softly chided Mother Bear. You see, he didn't know you were his children. He knows it now. But until he saw me coming to your rescue he didn't know it. He never had seen you before. You were simply two tempting looking little strangers. Who, if I do say it, look good enough to eat. She squeezed them and patted them fondly. His name, she added, is Buster Bear. End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nan Dodge Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess The Cubs talk it over. Things seem good or things seem bad, according to the view you've had. Mother Bear That is why people so often cannot agree. Each sees a thing from a different point of view and so it looks different. Just take the case of Buster Bear and the twins. When Boxer and Wolf Wolf look down at Buster Bear climbing the tree after them, he seemed a terrible fellow. But when they saw him running from Mother Bear he didn't seem so very terrible after all. Of course it was a great surprise to the Cubs to learn that Buster Bear was their father. They couldn't think or talk of anything else the rest of that day.   I like brown better myself, sniffed Wolf Wolf, whose coat was brown like their mother's. He really is very big and handsome, continued Boxer. And a coward sniffed Wolf Wolf. You noticed how he ran from Mother Bear. That was because he discovered his mistake about us. Of course he wouldn't fight then, Boxer said in defense. I don't care. I think he is a poor sort of a father and I'm not a bit proud of him, persisted Wolf Wolf. I hope I grow up to be as big and handsome as he is. I'm glad my coat is black," Boxer declared. Ha! sniffed Wolf Wolf.  We are lucky not to be inside that black coat of his right now. This was true and Boxer knew it. He wisely attempted no reply. Where do you suppose he lives, he ventured. I haven't the least idea, but I hope it isn't near here. I don't want to see him again, ever, retorted Wolf Wolf. But he is your own father, protested Boxer. I don't care. If all fathers are like him, I don't think much of fathers, sputtered Wolf Wolf. Mother Bear came up just in time to hear this. Tut, tut, tut, said she. I won't have you talking that way about your father. By and by you will know him better and learn to respect him.  I like Mother's best, confided Wolf Wolf, snuggling up to Mother Bear. Mother Bear's face suddenly grew very stern. I want to know, said she, how he happened to find you up that tree. We met him and he chased us up that tree, explained Boxer. And how did you happen to meet him, persisted Mother Bear? That tree was a long way from where I left you at play and charged you to stay. The cubs hung their heads. We found his tracks and followed them, stammered Boxer in a low voice, and got a fright which was no more than you deserve, declared Mother Bear. You ought to be spanked, both of you, for your disobedience. Now you see what comes of not minding. I hope the fright you have had will be a lesson you will never forget. And don't let me hear you say another word against your father. No, ma'am, replied the twins meekly. End of chapter 19 Chapter 20 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Nan Dodge. Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess. The twins get their first bath. You cannot learn to swim on land so waste no time in trying, and if you keep from getting wet, you'll never need a drying. Mother Bear Wonderful days were these for the twins Boxer and Wolf-Wolf. Every day there was something new to see or hear or taste or smell or feel. And then there had to be tucked away in each funny little head where it could not be forgotten the memory of exactly how each of these new things looked or sounded or tasted or smelled or felt. Mother Bear was very particular about this. So, though the twins didn't know it, they were really going to school all the time that they thought they were simply having good times and wonderful adventures. One day Mother Bear led them over to the pond of Patty the Beaver. How the cubs did stare when they got their first glimpse of that pond. The Laughing Brook was the only water they were acquainted with, and in that part of the green forest it was narrow, and the pools were very small. They had not supposed there was so much water in all the great world as now lay before them in the pond of Patty the Beaver. Mother Bear led the way straight to one end of the dam which Patty had built to make that pond. She started across that dam. The twins followed. Every few steps they stopped to wonder at that pond. The merry little breezes of Old Mother West Wind were dancing across the middle of it and making little ripples that sparkled as the jolly little sunbeams kissed them. Close to the dam the water was smooth, for the merry little breezes had not come in there. Boxer and Wolf-Wolf looked down. Perhaps you can guess how they felt when they saw two little bears of just their size staring back at them. The twins were so surprised that they backed away hastily. The stranger cubs did exactly the same thing. This gave Boxer and Wolf-Wolf confidence. They moved forward to the very edge of the dam and there they sat up. When they did this they lost sight of the other little bears. They didn't know what to make of it. Then Boxer happened to look down in the water. There were the stranger cubs sitting up and doing exactly as he and Wolf-Wolf did. Stranger still one of them was dressed in black and one in brown and the latter looked so exactly like his sister that Boxer turned to look at her to make sure that she was beside him there on the edge of the dam. Boxer dropped down on all fours. The little stranger in black did the same thing. It provoked Boxer. Like a flash he struck at that stranger. Quick as he was the stranger was as quick. Boxer saw a stout little paw exactly like his own coming toward him.  It so surprised Boxer that he lost his balance and in he tumbled with a splash. Now Wolf-Wolf had been so intent on the little stranger in brown that she had paid no attention to Boxer. Wolf-Wolf was rather better nature than her small brother. She had no desire to quarrel with these strangers. Slowly, very slowly, she stretched her head toward the little stranger in brown. The latter did just the same thing. They were just about to touch noses when Boxer fell in. The splash startled Wolf-Wolf so that she lost her balance and in she went head first with a splash quite equal to that of Boxer. If ever there were two frightened little bears they were the twins. It was the first time they ever had been in the water all over. They tried to run but there was nothing for their feet to touch. This frightened them still more and they made their legs go faster. Then they discovered that they were moving through the water. They were swimming. They were getting their first bath and their first swimming lesson at the same time. End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of Buster Bears Twins Chapter 21 The twins are still puzzled. To have true faith is to believe. Even when appearances deceive. Mother Bear It wouldn't be quite truthful to say that the twins enjoyed that first bath and swim. They didn't. In the first place they had gone in all over without the least intention of doing so. In fact, they had tumbled in. This had frightened them. They had opened their mouths to yell and had swallowed more water than was at all pleasant. Some of it had gone down the wrong way and this had choked them. No. The twins didn't enjoy that first bath and swim at all. They climbed out on the dam of Patty the Beaver and shook themselves making the water fly from their coats in a shower. Mother Bear had started back at the sound of the splashes they had made when they fell in but seeing them safe she grinned and went on about her own affairs. This has saved me some trouble, muttered she. I probably would have had hard work to get them into that water without throwing them in. Now they will not be afraid of it. An accident sometimes proves a blessing. Meanwhile, the twins had shaken themselves as nearly dry as they could and were now sitting down side by side, gravely staring at the water. There was something very mysterious about that water. They felt that somehow it had played them a trick that it was its fault that they had fallen in. Suddenly Boxer remembered the two little stranger bears. What had become of them? In the excitement he had forgotten all about them. He remembered that it was while striking at one of them he had fallen in. That little bear had struck him at the same time. Boxer couldn't recall being hit or striking anything but that water. Then he had tumbled in. But had he tumbled in? Hadn't he been pulled in? Hadn't that other little bear grabbed him and pulled him in? The instant that idea popped into his head, Boxer was sure that that was how it all came about.  She was solemnly gazing at the water. Now of course the splashing of the twins had made a lot of ripples on the surface of the water and these destroyed all reflections. But by now the water had come calm again. Woof-Woof happened to look down into it almost at her feet. A little brown bear looked back at her. It was the same little brown bear with whom she had tried to touch noses just before she fell in the water. Woof-Woof poked Boxer and pointed down at the water. Boxer looked.  Boxer lifted his lips and snarled. The other little bear lifted his lips in exactly the same way. But Boxer heard no sound save his own snarl. Boxer opened his mouth and showed all his teeth. The other little bear opened his mouth and showed all of his teeth. Whatever Boxer did, the other little bear did. And it was just the same with Woof-Woof and the little brown bear. Boxer was tempted to strike at that little bear as he had before. But just as he was about to do it, he remembered what happened before. This caused him to back away hastily. He wouldn't give that other fellow a chance to pull him in again. When he backed away, the other little bear did the same thing. In a few steps he disappeared. Boxer cautiously stole forward. The other little bear came to meet him. If ever there were two puzzled little bears, they were Boxer and Woof-Woof, as they tried to get acquainted with their own reflections in the pond of Patty the Beaver. End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 of Buster Bears Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Blake Butler. Buster Bears Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Boxer gets a spanking. Who fails the spank should have a care. The well-spank cub, the well-trained bear. Mother Bear. Wherever Mother Bear went, the Twins went.  Then, too, it was good for them to be with her, for thus they learned many things that they could not have otherwise learned. But there were times when Mother Bear found Boxer and Woof-Woof very much in the way. Such time she was likely to send them up a tree and tell them to remain there until her return. She always felt that they were quite safe so long as they were up in a tree, where there was no real mischief they could get into. It happened that one morning, Mrs. Bear sent them up a tall pine tree with strict orders to stay there until her return.  She said in her deep grumbly rumbly voice as the Twins scrambled up the tree. Know them, replied Woof-Woof meekly, but Boxer didn't say a word. No sooner was their mother out of sight than Boxer proposed that they go down on the ground to play. She won't be back for some time, said he. By the time she does return we will be back up here and she will never know anything about it. Come on, Woof-Woof. Woof-Woof shook her head. I'm going to stay right here, she said. And you'd better do the same thing, Boxer. If you get caught you'll get a spanking. Poo! Who cares for a spanking? exclaimed Boxer. Besides, I'm not going to get one. There isn't any sense in making us stay up in this tree. We can't have any fun up here. Come on down and play hide and seek. But Woof-Woof wouldn't do it. You're afraid, declared Boxer. I'm not afraid, retorted Woof-Woof indignantly. You heard what Mother Bear said and you'd better mind. You may be sorry if you don't. Frady! Frady! Jeered Boxer as he slid down the trunk of the tree. Now Boxer hadn't intended to go more than a few feet from the foot of that tree. He wanted to be near enough to scramble up again at the first hint of Mother Bear's approach. But there was nothing to do down there. And without Woof-Woof to play with, he found it very dull. Little bears are very restless and uneasy. Boxer walked round and round that tree because he could think of nothing else to do. By and by, a merry little breeze happened along and tickled his nose with a strange smell. The merry little breezes were always doing that. Boxer used to wonder if he would ever learn all the smells of the green forest. Not having anything else to do just then, Boxer decided that he would follow up that smell and find out where and what it came from. Off he started, his inquisitive little nose sniffing the air. After a little, that smell grew fainter and fainter and finally there wasn't any. You see, the merry little breezes were carrying it in another direction. Boxer turned around to go back. He thought he was going straight toward that tree where Mother Bear had left him, but he wasn't. And by and by, he discovered that he was lost. Then he began to run, and as he ran, he whimpered. Suddenly out from behind a tree stepped Mother Bear. Boxer was so glad to see her, he quite forgot that he had disobeyed. But Mother Bear didn't forget, What are you doing here? She demanded. Boxer hung his head and didn't say a word. A cub who disobeys must be punished, said Mother Bear, and she promptly gave Boxer the first real spanking he had ever received, how he did wish he had stayed up in that tree with Wolf Wolf. End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Brandon Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 23 Boxer is Salky The world can do quite well without the Salky folks and those who pout. Mother Bear Salky folks are not pleasant to have around. They should be put away by themselves and kept there, until they are through being Salky. Now ordinarily, little bears are not Salky. It isn't their nature to be Salky. But Boxer, the disobedient little cub was Salky. He was very Salky indeed, and it was all because of his twin sister, Wolf Wolf. It had been bad enough to be spanked for his disobedience, but Boxer had felt that he deserved this. He had bawled lustily, and then he had whimpered softly, all the way back to that tree in which Wolf Wolf had obediently remained. Until he reached the foot of that tree and looked up at Wolf Wolf, there had been no Salkiness in Boxer. But when he saw Wolf Wolf grinning down at him, as if she were glad of all his trouble, Boxer suddenly felt that he was the most abused little bear in all the great world. Don't you wish you hadn't tried to be so smart? Whispered Wolf Wolf, when at Mother Bear's command she had joined Boxer on the ground, I heard you bawling. I guess next time you'll be good like me. This was too much for Boxer, and he struck at Wolf Wolf. Instantly, he felt the sting of Mother Bear's big paw. It made him squeal. Wolf Wolf grinned at him again, but she took care that Mother Bear shouldn't see that grin. Wolf Wolf actually seemed to enjoy seeing Boxer in trouble. Little folks, and some big ones, often are that way. So because with Mother Bear there, he had no chance to show his spite to Wolf Wolf, Boxer sulked. He wanted to be by himself just to pity himself. Instead of walking close at the heels of Mother Bear as usual, he allowed Wolf Wolf to take that place, and he tagged on behind just as far back as he dared to. Once in a while, Wolf Wolf would turn her head and make a face at him. Boxer pretended not to see this. When they stopped to rest, Boxer curled up by himself and pretended to have a nap while all the time he was just sulking. When after a while Wolf Wolf tried to make friends with him, he would have nothing to do with her. Boxer was actually having a good time being miserable. People can get that way sometimes. Finally, Mother Bear lost patience and sent him in under the great windfall to the bedroom where he was born. Stay in there until you get over being sulky, said she. Don't put foot outside until you can be pleasant. So Boxer crept under the great windfall to the bedroom where he had spent his boyhood. There he curled up and was more sulky than ever. He said to himself that he hated Mother Bear and he hated his sister, Wolf Wolf. He didn't do anything of the kind. He loved both dearly. But he tried to make himself believe that he hated them. People in the sultes are very fond of doing things like that. So while Wolf Wolf went over to the laughing brook with Mother Bear under the great windfall Boxer lay and sulked and tried to think of some way of getting even with Mother Bear and Wolf Wolf. End of Chapter 23 Recording by John Brandon Chapter 24 of Buster Bears Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Brandon Buster Bears Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 24 Boxer starts out to get even. Wait a minute. Count the cost. Wasted time is time that's lost. Mother Bear Boxer lay curled up in a corner of the bedroom under the great windfall and there he sulked and sulked and sulked and tried to make himself believe that he was the worst treated little bear in all the great world. But sulking all alone isn't any fun at all. No one can truly enjoy being sulky with no one to see it. So in spite of himself, Boxer was soon wondering what Wolf Wolf and Mother Bear were doing. He had seen them start off toward the laughing brook and though he wouldn't own up to it, even to himself, he wished that he was with them. He dearly loved to play along the laughing brook. When he could stand it no longer, Boxer stole out to the entrance and poked his head out from under the great windfall. There he stood for the longest time, looking, listening, smelling. Everything looked just as usual. There were no strange sounds. The merry little breezes brought him no new smells. There were no signs of Mother Bear and Wolf Wolf. He didn't know whether they had gone up the laughing brook or down the laughing brook. He tried to pretend that he didn't care where they were or what they were doing. But he didn't succeed.  You can fool other people but not yourself. So after a while, Boxer gave up trying to pretend he didn't care. And then sulkiness gave way too temper. Bad temper. I... I... I'll go way, way off, in the great world and never come back. Then, I guess Mother Bear and Wolf Wolf will be sorry and wish they had been good to me, muttered Boxer. He stood up for an instant to look and listen. Then that silly little bear scampered off as fast as he could go without paying any attention at all to his direction. His one thought was to get as far as possible from the great windfall before Mother Bear should return. He would show Mother Bear that he was too big to be spanked and sent to bed. He would show Wolf Wolf that he could take care of himself and didn't need to tag along after Mother Bear. So Boxer ran and ran till his little legs grew tired. The only use he made of his eyes was to keep looking behind him to see if Mother Bear was after him. Not once did he use them to take note of the way in which he was going. So it was that when at last he stopped because his legs ached and he was out of breath, Boxer was as completely lost as a little bear could be. He didn't know it then, but he was. He was to find it out later. Now said Boxer, talking to himself as he rested, I guess Mother Bear will be sorry she spanked me. And I guess Wolf Wolf will wish she hadn't laughed at me and made fun of me. Maybe they'll be so sorry they'll cry. If they come to look for me, I'll hide where they won't ever find me. Then they'll be sorryer than ever, and I'll be even with them. I won't go home until I am as big as my father, Buster Bear. Then I guess they'll treat me nice. So Boxer rested and planned the wonderful things he would do out in the great world and was glad he had run away from home. You see, it was very pleasant there in the green forest. And after all, if he really wanted to, he could go back home. That is what he thought anyway. You see, he hadn't the least idea yet that he was lost. End of chapter 24, recording by John Brandon Chapter 25 of Buster Bear's Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tiffany Holmes, Atlanta. Buster Bear's Twins by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 25 Chatterer has fun with Boxer, who does not fear to take a chance will make the most of circumstance, Mother Bear. That is Chatterer all over. In all the green forest, there is no one who appears to enjoy mischief so thoroughly as does Chatterer, the Red Squirrel, and there is no one more ready to take a chance when it offers. It happened that Chatterer discovered Boxer, the Runaway Little Bear, as he rested and planned what he would do out in the great world. Chatterer kept quiet until he was sure that Boxer was alone, that Mother Bear both were nowhere near. When he was sure of this, Chatterer guessed just what had happened. He guessed that Boxer had run away. You know, Chatterer is one of the sharpest and shrewdest of all the little people in the green forest. Chatterer grinned.  If he isn't lost, he ought to be, and I'll see to it that he is. Yes, sir, I'll see to it that he is properly lost. This is my chance to get even for the fright he and his sister gave me when they chased me up a tree. Chatterer once more looked everywhere to make sure no one else was about. Then he lightly jumped over into the tree, under which Boxer was sitting. He took care to make no sound. He crept out on a limb directly over Boxer, and then he dropped a pinecone. The pinecone hit Boxer right on the end of his nose, as his nose is rather tender, it hurt. It made the tears come. Then, too, it was so unexpected at the start of Boxer. Ouch, he cried as he sprang to one side and looked up to see where that cone had come from. When he saw Chatterer grinning down at him, Boxer grew very angry. That was the same fellow he once had so nearly caught in the treetop. This time he would catch him. Down came another cone on Boxer's head. Can't catch me, can't catch me, taunted Chatterer. In the most provoking way, Boxer growled and started up that tree. Can't catch a flea, can't catch me, cried Chatterer gleefully as he looked down at Boxer and made faces at him. He waited until Boxer was halfway up that tree. Then lightly ran out to the end of a branch and leaped across to a branch of the next tree. From there he called Boxer all sorts of names and made fun of him until the little bear was so angry he hardly knew what he was doing. Of course, he couldn't jump across as Chatterer had. He was too big to run out on a branch that way even had he dared to try it. So there was nothing to do but to scramble down that tree and climb the next one. Boxer started down. When he reached the ground, he found Chatterer also on the ground. Can't catch a flea, can't catch me, shouted Chatterer, more provokingly than ever.  Chatterer dodged and ran. Boxer ran after him, around trees and stumps, this way, that way, and the other way over logs, behind piles of brush. Chatterer led Boxer until the ladder was so out of breath he had to stop. Chatterer chuckled. I guess that now he is quite properly lost, said he to himself as he ran up a tree and dropped another cone on Boxer. I guess I've turned him around so many times to see where home is or anything else for that matter. I haven't had so much fun for a long time. He dropped another cone on Boxer and then started off through the tree tops leaving Boxer all alone. End of Chapter 25 Chapter 26 of Buster Bears Twins This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Tiffany Holmes, Atlanta. Buster Bears Twins by Thomas W. Bridges Chapter 26 Alone and lost in the great world he truly brave as who can be know it less brave with none to see, Mother Bear. Somehow it is easier to be brave when there are others about to see how brave you are. It is a great deal easier to be brave when you are all alone is quite another matter. That is real bravery. And to be alone and lost and brave is the greatest bravery. When Chatterer the Red Squirrel raced away through the tree tops leaving Boxer alone to recover his breath and rest his weary little legs he left a little bear as completely lost as ever a little bear had been since the beginning of the great world. Boxer didn't know it then he was too busy getting his breath and thinking how good it was to rest to think of anything else. But after a while Boxer felt quite himself again and once more his anger at Chatterer the Red Squirrel began to rise Boxer looked all about for Chatterer there was no sign of him Boxer swelled up with a feeling of importance. That fellow must be hiding I guess I've given him a scare he won't forget in a hurry boasted Boxer how that would have tickled Chatterer had he heard it now that Chatterer had disappeared Boxer began to wonder what he should do next it suddenly came to him that he was in a strange place none of the trees or stumps about there was familiar there wasn't a single familiar thing to be seen anywhere a queer feeling of uneasiness crept over Boxer he couldn't sit still no sir he couldn't sit still he didn't know why but he couldn't so Boxer started on aimlessly he had nothing in particular to do and nowhere in particular to go presently he noticed the first of the black shadows creeping through the green forest somehow those black shadows made him think of home probably Mother Bear and Wolf Wolf were back there by this time he wondered if they had missed him and would start looking for him if he didn't see them how would he ever know whether or not they looked for him would he ever know if he really did get even with them by making them anxious why not go back near the great windfall and watch of course I won't go home mothered Boxer to himself as he shuffled along I've left home for good I'll just go back and hide near there where I can watch and see all that happens it will be great fun to watch Mother Bear and Wolf Wolf hunt for me I guess I'll hurry a little he added as he noticed how the creeping black shadows had increased so Boxer began to run I didn't think home was so far he panted at last looking fearfully over his shoulder at the black shadows there is the great windfall he added joyously as he spied a pile of fallen trees in the distance he approached it carefully stopping often to look and listen for you know he didn't want to be seen by Mother Bear or Wolf Wolf at least he thought he didn't want to be seen by them though way down inside that was just what he did want he heard no one and saw no one presently he was close to that windfall a great longing for home swept over him he no longer wanted to get even with anybody all he wanted was home and mother perhaps Mother Bear and Wolf Wolf hadn't returned yet and he could slip in then they would never know Boxer slipped around the old windfall to where he thought the difference was there wasn't any it wasn't the right windfall Boxer knew right then and there that he was lost that he was alone lost little bear out in the great world he sat down and began to cry end of chapter 26