"That is _beech_," answered the bear--"the beech nuts which I promised you." Then he trampled them into the ground and prepared to go back. "It is a pity I cannot stay and see how angry you will be," he growled, "but those confounded human beings have begun to press one so hard. The day before yesterday they killed my wife and one of my brothers, and I must see about finding a place where I can live in peace. There is scarcely a spot left where a self-respecting bear can stay. Good-bye, you old, gnarled oak trees!" When the bear had shambled off, the trees looked at one another anxiously. "Let us see what comes of it," said the old oak. And after this they composed themselves to rest. The winter came and tore all their leaves off them, the snow lay high over the whole land, and every tree stood deep in his own thoughts and dreamt of the spring. And when the spring came the grass stood green, and the birds began singing where they left off last. The flowers came up in multitudes from the earth, and everything looked fresh and gay. The oak trees alone stood with leafless boughs. "It is the most dignified thing to come last!" they said one to another. "The kings of the wood do not come till the whole company is assembled." But at last they came. All the leaves burst forth from the swollen buds, and the trees looked at one another and complimented one another on their beauty. The little oak had grown ever so much. He was very proud of it, and he thought that he had now the right to join in the conversation. "Nothing has come yet of the bear's beech trees," he said jeeringly, at the same time glancing anxiously up at the old oak, who used to give him one on the head. The old oak heard what he said very plainly, and the other trees also; but they said nothing. Not one of them had forgotten what the bear had told them, and every morning when the sun came out they peeped down to look for the beeches. They were really a little uneasy, but they were too proud to talk about it. And one day the little shoots did at last burst forth from the earth. The sun shone on them, and the rain fell on them, so it was not long before they grew tall. "Oh, how pretty they are!" said the great oak, and stooped his crooked boughs still more, so that they could get a good view of them. "You are welcome among us," said the old oak, and graciously inclined his head to them. "You shall be my foster-children, and be treated just as well as my own." "Thanks," said the little beeches, and they said no more. But the little oak could not bear the strange trees. "It is dreadful the way you shoot up into the air," he said in vexation. "You are already half as tall as I am. But I beg you to take notice that I am much older, and of good family besides." The beeches laughed with their little, tiny green leaves, but said nothing. "Shall I bend my branches a little aside so that the sun can shine better on you?" the old tree asked politely.