Three bears once lived in a little house in the forest. Papa Bear was a great big bear. Mamma Bear was a middle-sized bear. Baby Bear was a little wee bear.

One morning the three bears went for a walk before breakfast. They left their porridge in three bowls on the table to cool.

Great Big Bear had a great big bowl.

dle-Sized Bear had a middle-sized bowl. Wee Bear had a little wee bowl.

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Beside the table were three chairs. There was a great big chair for the papa bear. There was a middle-sized chair for the mamma bear. There was a little wee chair for the baby bear.

On the other side of the forest lived a little girl named Silver Hair. Silver Hair, too, went for a walk before breakfast.

She found a new road and lost her way; and, after a while, she came to the house of the three bears. Silver Hair was tired and hungry.

"What a pretty little house this is," she said. "I will knock at the door. Maybe I can rest here and have something to eat. Then I can find my way home."

Rap! rap! rap! went the little fist against the door.

Rap! rap! rap! again. But no one opened the door. No one said "Come in! "

The bears were away, but Silver Hair did not know that. She raised the latch and peeped into the room.

There stood the three bowls of porridge. How good it smelled! How good it looked! Silver Hair was very hungry.

She went into the room, but saw no one. "I will take only a little," she thought. "The bowls are all full."

She tasted the porridge of the great big bear, but that was too hot. She tasted the porridge of the middle-sized bear, but that was too cold. She tasted the porridge of the little wee bear, and that was just right.

Silver Hair ate and ate until the bowl was empty.

She sat in the chair of the great big bear, but that was too hard. She sat in the chair of the middle-sized bear, but that was too soft. She sat in the chair of the little wee bear, and that was just right.

So Silver Hair sat until the bottom dropped out. Then she went up stairs. O naughty Silver Hair!

She lay on the bed of the great big bear, but that was too high at the head. She lay on the bed of the middle-sized bear, but that was too low at the foot. She lay on the bed of the little wee bear, and that was just right.

Tired little Silver Hair fell fast asleep.