The Three Bears. Unknown

      The Three Bears

      THERE were once three bears, who lived in a wood,

      Their porridge was thick, and their chairs and beds good.

      The biggest bear, Bruin, was surly and rough;

      His wife, Mrs. Bruin, was called Mammy Muff.

      Their son, Tiny-cub, was like Dame Goose’s lad;

      He was not very good, nor yet very bad.

      Now Bruin, the biggest—the surly old bear—

      Had a great granite bowl, and a cast-iron chair.

      Mammy Muffs bowl and chair you would no doubt prefer—

      They were both made of brick-bats, but both suited her.

      Young Tiny-cub’s bowl, chair, and bed were the best,—

      This, big bears and baby bears freely confessed.

      Mr. B–, with his wife and his son, went one day

      To take a short stroll, and a visit to pay.

      He left the door open, “For,” said he, “no doubt

      If our friend should call in, he will find us all out.”

      It was only two miles from dark Hazel-nut Wood,

      In which the great house of the three Bruins stood,

      That there lived a young miss, daring, funny, and fair,

      And from having bright curls, she was called Goldenhair.

      She had roamed through the wood to see what she could see,

      And she saw going walking the Bruins all three.

      THE BEAR, WITH HIS WIFE AND SON, TAKES A WALK.

      Said she to herself, “To rob bears is no sin;

      The three bears have gone out, so I think I’ll go in.”

      She entered their parlor, and she saw a great bowl,