the Middle Bear; and a great bed for the Great Huge Bear.

One day they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and poured it into their porridge pots. Then they walked out into the wood while the porridge was cooling. They did not wish to burn their mouths by beginning too soon to eat it.

In that same far-off country there lived a little girl. She was called Silver Hair, because her light curly hair shone so brightly.

She was a sad romp; and so restless she could not be kept quiet, but

ran out and away, and often without leave.

One day she went into the wood to gather wild flowers, and into the fields to chase butterflies. She ran here and there and everywhere, till at last she found herself in a lonely wood.

There she saw the snug little house where the three bears lived when they were at home.

First she looked in at the window, and then she peeped into the keyhole, and seeing no one in the house, she lifted the latch.

The door was not locked, for the bears were good bears, who did no one harm, and did not think any one would harm them.

So Silver Hair went in. And well pleased she was when she saw the porridge on the table.

She tasted the porridge of the Great Huge Bear, and found it too hot for her.

Then she tasted the porridge of the Middle Bear, and found it too cold for her.

And then she went to the porridge of the Little Small Wee Bear, and found it neither too hot nor too cold, but just right; and she liked it so well that she ate it all up.

Then little Silver Hair sat down in the chair of the Great Huge Bear, and that was too hard for her.

She sat down in the chair of the Middle Bear, and that was too soft for her.

And then she sat down in the chair of the Little Small Wee Bear, and that was neither too hard nor too soft, but just right.

But she sat in it so hard that the bottom fell out, and she fell through almost to the floor.

Then Silver Hair went upstairs to the chamber where the bears slept.

And first she lay down upon the bed of the Great Huge Bear, but that was too high at the head.

And next she lay down upon the bed of the Middle Bear, and that was too high at the foot.

And then she lay down upon the bed of the Little Small Wee Bear, and that