"Three jolly white bears are we, Who can sing right merrily. For our hearts are light and free From any care. We have always lots to eat, And we keep our house so neat That it’s really quite a treat To be a bear. "Yes, indeed, we’re happy bears, Since nobody knows our lairs, Where we mind our own affairs So quietly. Of course we have to work, But none of us ever shirk; For who’d be a lazy lark, Don’t you see? "When the snow is on the ground, We go hunting all around For the bunnies which abound Among the trees. And when summer-time is here, How the berries disappear Down our throats—" But Wilby never heard the end of the third verse, for the simple reason that sleep overcame him just then, and song, singers, and marble palace alike faded away into nothingness. He had no idea how long he slept, but when he awoke he was both surprised and disappointed to find himself on the sofa in Aunt Matilda’s very plain, though cozy, sitting-room, instead of on his couch in White Bear Castle, while now not only his ankle but his whole body gave him pain—every nerve tingling, and face and hands smarting dreadfully. Minor, Major, and Maximus were all gone too, and in their place dear old Aunt Matilda and kind Uncle Lemuel were bending over him, with faces full of relief at his return to consciousness. "O Wilby dear, how glad I am to see you open your eyes again!" exclaimed Aunt Matilda joyfully. "You were so long coming to that I began to fear that it might be all over with you." "Yes, Wilby, my boy," added Uncle Lemuel, "you’ve had a close shave. But for Oscar there would not be much life left in you by this time." Wilby was too dazed for some time to understand it all, but later on his uncle explained the matter. It seemed that wise old Oscar, as soon as Wilby lost his senses, scampered off to Uncle Lemuel’s as hard as he could go, and by barking and scratching at the door soon let them know he was there. Then by signs whose meaning they were not long in guessing, he persuaded them to go back with him, until poor Wilby was found where he had fallen beside the big tree. Oscar capered about, wild with delight, when his master was carried off to the house, and Uncle Lem could not say enough about his cleverness. Wilby felt very grateful to Oscar and to his uncle also, and thankful that he had not lost his life. Yet he could not help a twinge of regret at the thought of never seeing his white bear friends again, seeing how kindly they had treated him in spite of their character for cruelty. However, it was no small consolation to have such a rattling good story to tell, and tell it he did very graphically many a time, much to the enjoyment of his hearers. Whether they all believed it or not is a question that, if you do not mind, I will leave it to you to settle. *OUTSIDE THE BOOM.*