The Tale of Cuffy Bear

Far up on the side of Blue Mountain lived Cuffy Bear with his father and mother and his little sisterSilkie. Mr. Bear's house was quite the finest for many miles around. It was what people call a cave, being made entirely of stone, and so there was no danger of its ever catching fire; and since it wasbuilt straight into the side of the mountain the roof was so very, very thick that Cuffy's father neverhad to worry for fear a tree would fall upon his house and hurt his family. No matter how hard thewind blew, Mr. Bear was never afraid of that. Little Cuffy was not a bad bear at heart. But often when he was playing with Silkie, his sister, hewould lose his temper and cuff her on the head and make her cry. Then his father or his motherwould cuff him. Somehow, he never could learn not to strike out when he became angry. That waswhy he was called Cuffy. It happened sometimes that a day or two would pass without Cuffy'scuffing his sister. And Mr. Bear and Mrs. Bear would begin to think that at last Cuffy had beencured of his bad habit."I do believe the child is growing better mannered," Mrs. Bear would say to her husband, as theywatched their son and daughter playing upon the floor. And then just as likely as not, the first thingthey knew Cuffy would give Silkie a good, hard box on the ear, or a slap right on the end of hernose. But for a long time every winter Cuffy was never naughty. You might think that that was just beforeChristmas. But no-it was not then. All winter long Cuffy was just as good as any little bear couldbe. He was good because he was asleep! You see-when cold weather came, Mr. and Mrs. Bear andtheir children stayed in their cozy house, which was snug and warm, and slept and slept and slept forweeks and weeks until spring came