I come of what those conceited creatures, the humans, would probably call humble parentage. In other words, I belong to the great Ursine family: I am a bear. I may as well say at once, in order that there may be no misunderstandings between the humans and myself, in case my life story should ever come into their hands, that I do not in the slightest degree share their opinion as to the relative position in the scale of existence occupied respectively by them and by me. Indeed, if they will excuse my saying so, in my humble judgment I am at least as good as they are, and perhaps a little better. For instance, to compare us physically, I am taller than many, and broader, stronger, braver, fleeter, more majestic than the best of them. A human is a mere toy in my hands, as I have proved over and over again--why, there was old Ivan the keeper, only last month, he--but I am digressing. Ha ha! I can't help laughing, though, when I recall poor Ivan's face as I hugged him--my! how his tongue did stick out! Again, if we are compared intellectually, I very much doubt whether we bears are so inferior as my friends the humans suppose. We do not talk their language--true! but, do they talk ours? I think not. On the other hand, we _understand_ theirs--while they are ignorant altogether of ours! As for their sciences, their education, their 'ologies (which they think so much of), their arts, their wars, their politics, their freedom--freedom! ha ha! it is not _our_ notion of freedom!--do all these things render them the happier? What has all this "civilisation," so called, done for them? Are they freer than I am? Do they get more to eat and drink, and pay less for their victuals? Well, well! I must not continue in this strain, airing my pet ideas instead of proceeding with what I intended to be a mere record of my own personal career; I could say much in support of the opinion expressed at the beginning of this chapter: namely, that we bears are just as good, if not a little better, than the human race; but then, after all, I shall never succeed in convincing the conceited--the _most_ conceited of all creatures--man, of his inferiority: as for my ursine readers;--well, we know what we know!