How can this small heart containSo large a world of joy and pain;And how can this small tongue declareAll that is felt so deeply there!Alas, poor Bear!—Alas, poor Bear!
How can this small heart containSo large a world of joy and pain;And how can this small tongue declareAll that is felt so deeply there!Alas, poor Bear!—Alas, poor Bear!
How can this small heart contain
So large a world of joy and pain;
And how can this small tongue declare
All that is felt so deeply there!
Alas, poor Bear!—Alas, poor Bear!
You will all readily understand that to have raised myself by my own efforts so much above the rest of my species, I must have hada nature open to many thoughts and feelings; and that the peculiar tenderness instilled by my mother had grown with my growth, and made me open to all the softer emotions.”
Mr. Bear here paused and gave a deep sigh. Several of the younger children sighed too. Gretchen fixed her eyes upon the floor.
“I was not aware for some time,” said the sorrowful gentleman in the rough coat, “of what kind of feelings had begun to possess me. I felt I was alone in the world. I had long felt that,—but I had so much to do, so much to learn and struggle with, and work at, and so much travelling about and business to attend to, that I did not feel this being alone as any great grief. Besides, as I had been successful in the various difficult things I had attempted, and had for a long time been very fortunate in all my affairs of business, I was in the habit of regarding myself as a happy person. And Iwashappy, until I began to think that others were more so, and then I saw it was because others, who were happy, could share it with those they loved and also give happiness to the dear object. But I was alonein the world. I had nobody to love. Nobody would ever love me,—except another bear. And you know that the love of another bear was out of the question to one in my advanced state of refinement. What was I to do? I could have loved a dear object—a great many, I am sure—I was going to say—I beg pardon—I do not quite well knowwhatI say at this exciting moment. But—let me try to tell you, that I felt it impossible to live all my life without some tender acquaintance with the little god of love, and as I was by this time long past the season of youth, I was resolved to let my heart be lost with the first object that should present herself to my fancy.
But, strange to relate, no sooner had I made up my mind to fall in love with the first amiable and lovely person I saw than I ceased to meet with any such as I often used to see before. So I began to think the wish had left me, and I determined to study something very difficult in order to occupy my mind, and perhaps cure myself of these lovely fancies. I, therefore, decided to take a course of studies under Mr. Professor Abraham Littlepump,and with that view I first came to this village. I arrived in the evening as you know, but did not intend to have made my visit till next morning, had I not been attracted by the loud merriment of our young friends here. It has always happened that Mr. Professor Abraham Littlepump has been absent when I paid you a visit; but this does not concern me in regard to the mathematics. I have seen one here in this room—who has put all the mathematics clean out of my head. And now comes the end of my story.”
As Mr. Bear uttered those words everybody began to look all round the room and then at each other and then all round the room again.
“Who can Mr. Good-Natured Bear mean?” said Nancy in a whisper to one of the older boys.
“Margaret dear,” said little Valentine, “your ears are as red as my scarlet-runner.”
“Silence!” said Dr. Littlepump.
“Pity an unfortunate creature,” said the stout gentleman. “I have at length seen the object of my devout wishes. Yes, in this veryroom in this house—have I seen just exactly what I have been speaking of. You understand me?” There was no answer.
“Oh, that I could have had the honour and happiness of being your brother Abraham! I would have devoted my mind to far more beautiful thoughts. Seated in his arm-chair and thinking about mathematical problems he never dreamed of the charming object that was continually before him, sometimes singing to the children, sometimes teaching them to read, and to dance, sometimes working with her delightful needle. Oh, let me change places with him—the cold, insensible, stick of a slate pencil! Now I know what I am saying—or rather I do not very well know what I am saying.”
Poor Mr. Bear here began to cry, and several of the children cried too. But he went on with his strange speech all the same.
“Let Mr. Professor Uncle Abraham stay where he is, with his problems and dumps, and let me be allowed to remain in his place and sit in his chair, so that I may enjoy the happy society of the sweet-voiced Margaret,nursery-governess in the amiable family of Mr. Dr. Littlepump.”
As he concluded the last sentence the unhappy gentleman sank back in his chair, and Gretchen covered her face entirely with both hands.
“I only dare to speak of my affection for this sweet creature. I know I am old for her, too ugly, besides being a Bear. I know I have no hope, but what can I do? How can I help this beating heart? What is to become of me?”
By this time all the children had tears in their eyes. Nancy and little Valentine, however, got close to Gretchen, holding her fast on each side, for fear that perhaps poor Mr. Bear might want to carry her away. Everybody was silent.
At last Nancy ventured to say in a trembling voice, “Perhaps, dear Mr. Bear, you might find somebody else?”
“Oh, that I had eloquence!” exclaimed the Bear. “Oh, that the best words would come of themselves in the best places, while other best words were getting themselves ready to bepoured out! Then I should be able to touch the human heart. But, as it is, all my hopes are vanity,—are in fact nothing at all. I must leave this busy scene and go to some quiet place where I am not known. I will again visit the haunts of my childhood and stay there. Oh! my native woods! Ye silent nights, ye small bright stars playing bo-peep through the boughs into hollow caves! I will go back among you, and in the cool, green grass will I lay my head. Farewell! Farewell!”
“But can nothing be done for you, sir?” said Mrs. Littlepump in a soft voice.
“My dear Margaret,” said Doctor Littlepump, “you hear what Mrs. Littlepump asks. It is for you to make some kind of an answer. I wish my brother Abraham were here!”
“I can never love the gentleman in the rough coat,” said Margaret, still holding one hand before her face. “I do not mind his being much older than myself, nor do I think him so very, very ugly—only, he is a Bear!”
“I am a devoted Bear!” declared the stout gentleman with enthusiasm, “and I will beanything else I can, that the dear object may command.”
“I have had a dream!” said Margaret timidly looking up and waiting. “I have had a dream!”
“So have I,” said Dr. Littlepump sternly. “Come, come, I begin to feel uncomfortable.”
“Do not feel so!” exclaimed Mr. Bear, clasping his paws together.
“Make haste!” continued the Doctor, fixing his eyes upon Margaret. “Make haste! Let us hear your dream.”
“I dreamed,” said Margaret, trembling, “that Mr. Bear must go into that closet, and be locked in. Then, all the children were to form a magic circle in the middle of the room, and move slowly round, hand in hand, nine times, saying:
‘Oh, Mr. Bear!Cupid hears your fond prayer!Remember your mother’s words,—never despair!’
‘Oh, Mr. Bear!Cupid hears your fond prayer!Remember your mother’s words,—never despair!’
‘Oh, Mr. Bear!
Cupid hears your fond prayer!
Remember your mother’s words,—never despair!’
After this, a glass of lemonade and a sliceof cake were to be placed ready for each to take the moment the door was opened, and they saw that the charm was complete. I dreamed this would cause Mr. Bear to be made happy somehow. And then——”
“And then?” said Dr. Littlepump, “what then? I repeat I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable. I smell a plot!”
“Oh, we shall soon see what the dream will do,” said Mrs. Littlepump. “Mr. Bear, will you run all risks of what may happen, and go into the closet?”
“I will do anything, dear Mrs. Littlepump!” exclaimed Mr. Bear. Saying this, he ran towards the closet headforemost. The door was open. The children all peeped in and looked round cautiously to see if anybody was there, but it was quite empty. A large mirror hung on the wall, at the further end. Mr. Bear stepped in, and waited for what might happen to him.
“All in the dark!” said little Valentine, “and the door locked!”
The children now formed a circle in the middle of the room, and while Margaret waspouring out glasses of lemonade, and Lydia and Dorothea were cutting slices of cake, and Wallis was cleaning his spectacles, and Dr. and Mrs. Littlepump were standing silently holding each other by both hands—the children turned in a circle nine times, repeating the words of the charm:
“Oh, Mr. Bear!Cupid hears your fond prayer!Remember your mother’s words—never despair.”
“Oh, Mr. Bear!Cupid hears your fond prayer!Remember your mother’s words—never despair.”
“Oh, Mr. Bear!
Cupid hears your fond prayer!
Remember your mother’s words—never despair.”
When they had finished Mrs. Littlepump unlocked the closet door. Everybody was so silent.
“Margaret,” whispered Mrs. Littlepump, “go and tap at the door.”
Margaret did so, and then the door slowly began to open. It stopped opening, and a voice inside said, “You must take my hand, or I cannot come out.”
And then a well-formed hand was put forth. With a face all scarlet with blushes Margaret gently took it. And then—who should comeout of the closet but dear Uncle Abraham!
“Here is dear Uncle Abraham!” shouted all the children, “but where is the Bear?”
The children all ran right into the closet, scrambling, squeaking, and searching all about, but finding nothing! Soon they came crowding, and began to run round Uncle Abraham.
“Where is the fascinating rough gentleman?” cried everybody in the room.
“Here I am!” exclaimed a soft hoarse voice, as if from a great distance.
They all looked round and round. Nobody like Mr. Bear was to be seen.
“I am become a happy Shadow!” continued the voice, “and I have left my dear friend and mathematical tutor in my place!”
The voice seemed still as distant as before; and yet, somehow, it appeared to come from the closet. Into the closet, therefore, all the children again rushed pell mell. They were no sooner in than they suddenly gave a great shout;—and then became quite silent as with some new wonder.
The rest of the party hastened to the closet.The children were all looking in the mirror which hung at the other end, and in it were distinctly seen the reflection in miniature of Mr. Bear, very nicely shaved round the chin, and dressed as a nobleman in a court dress. He was dancing a polka on the lawn of a castle made of clouds, with another Shadow dressed exactly like Margaret, only still prettier, while the figure of Cupid sat on the tip-top of one of the turrets, holding his quiver like a violin, and playing delightfully upon it with his bow.
Presently the whole vanished. There was nothing to be seen in the mirror except the wondering faces of those who went close up to it.
Out came all the children, one by one, with looks of equal pleasure and bewilderment.
“I was not altogether prepared for this,” said Dr. Littlepump.
“Oh,” said Mrs. Littlepump, “the Land of Shadows is full of delights of all kinds; and as to your brother’s affair of the heart, it is not the first time that a grave man fell in love with a merry girl. It was, at least, as naturalin him as in Mr. Bear—not to speak unkindly or disrespectfully of our dear departed friend.”
“But it certainly is the first time,” said Dr. Littlepump, “that a Bear, however good-natured, was so lucky as to become a Happy Shadow, such as you describe, and to be able to bequeath a young bride to his tutor. In fact, my brain is confused upon several points. And the more I reflect, the more my head goes round. Brother! I always used to consider you a strong-minded man—but now——”
“You will dance at my wedding!” said Abraham Littlepump.
“I will,” said Dr. Littlepump. “God bless you, brother Abraham. Good-natured Bear, indeed! Poor gentleman! I do not mean to say anything at all unkind—but Idosay, bless my soul!”
“My good brother,” said Abraham Littlepump, “as for Mr. Bear, we shall ever retain the tenderest recollections of him. He was thrown upon an unfeeling world, and was unhappy. But he is very happy now, somewhere else. For has he not vanished into theLand of Shadows, there to dance forever on a green lawn, with the image of his adorations!”
“I rejoice extremely to hear it!” cried Dr. Littlepump, catching up his flute; “and I feel persuaded that I am at this moment inspired to play the very same polka which Cupid has just played to Mr. Bear and his bride!”
At this the children all set up a long hearty shout of applause; and when they were quite done Dr. Littlepump applauded himself—at which they all began again. Then the children, still laughing, formed a circle, hand in hand, round Dr. and Mrs. Littlepump, and Abraham Littlepump and Margaret, and danced round and round them. And they sang the following rhyme, in which the Bear was lovingly included, just as if he had been present, because his memory was so dear to them all. The Doctor accompanied them on his flute.
“Oh, Doctor! Oh, Bear!Oh, new-married pair!Of good luck and good friendsOh, never despair!”
“Oh, Doctor! Oh, Bear!Oh, new-married pair!Of good luck and good friendsOh, never despair!”
“Oh, Doctor! Oh, Bear!
Oh, new-married pair!
Of good luck and good friends
Oh, never despair!”
Abraham Littlepump now became so overjoyed, that he was unable to contain himself. He hugged them all round, and finally catching the Doctor in his arms, made him get up behind him pick-a-back. Then Mrs. Littlepump and Margaret joined hands with the circle of children, and they all danced round the two brothers, singing the rhyme again, while the Doctor flourished his flute in the air, like the conductor of some great band of music.