CHAPTER XV MISHE-MOKWA, THE GREAT BEAR

 Next day there was a great stir in the woods.

 

The little Bears went out to invite all the animals to their party.

 

Mama Bear hired sixteen cooks to help her. She had so much gold now, that she was quite rich.

 

The sixteen cooks baked and stewed¹ and boiled things all day.

 

 By night, all was ready for the party.

 

King Cole, who lived on Primrose² Hill, heard about the party, and he sent his three fiddlers, so that every one might dance.

 

At six o'clock the animals began to come.

 

The Cotton-Tail family, and the Grizzly³ Bear family, the Furry⁴ Coon family, and the Fluffy⁵ Ball family, the Red Tail family, and the Birds all came.

 

Last of all came old Grandpa Grum­bles.

 

He was grumbling⁶ as he came along.

 

"This bag is too heavy for an old fellow to carry. It is a very heavy bag, but I wouldn't have it lighter," he said.

 

They all set up a shout when they saw Grandpa Grumbles⁷, and they ran to help him carry the bag.

 

Now what do you suppose was in the bag?

 

It was a grab-bag, and there was a present in it for everyone.

 

How the animals did enjoy that grab-bag!

 

After a while supper was ready, and they had a fine supper, then they danced and sang, and Little Bear told all about his travels, and about finding the pot of gold.

 

Just at this minute Bushy Tail stuck his head in at the window.

 

He still wore the red cap that pinched his ears, and he felt very cross. He shouted:

 

"Little Bear, what is your name? What is your name?"

 

Then all the company were very still. They felt sorry for Little Bear. Then Little Bear drew himself up very tall, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "I am Mishe-Mokwa, the Great Bear!"

 

"Hear! hear! hear!" cried all the company.

 

But Bushy Tail would not be still. He cried: "How do you know that is your name?"

 

Then Little Bear went and got the pot the gold had been in, and read the words in the bottom:

 

The animals were all merry then, you may be sure.

 

Bunny Cotton-Tail cried: "My fur and whiskers! but that is a grand name!"

 

They all shouted: "Hurrah⁸ for Mishe-Mokwa, the Great Bear! We will make him king of the forest."

 

All the Bear family were proud and happy. At last they said good-by, with many hugs and kisses, and all the little Bears were sleepy enough to go to bed. Mama Bear said: "What became of Bushy Tail?"

 

Papa Bear said: "I believe he ran away."

 

What do you suppose Bushy Tail did?

 

He was so surprised to hear that Little Bear really had a name, that he ran away and was not heard of for many years.

 

Did he always wear the red cap that pinched his ears?

 

I don't know, for I forgot to ask him.

 

1 stewed   

adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧

参考例句：

• When all birds are shot, the bow will be set aside;when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten -- kick out sb. after his services are no longer needed. 鸟尽弓藏，兔死狗烹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• \"How can we cook in a pan that's stewed your stinking stockings? “染臭袜子的锅，还能煮鸡子吃！还要它？” 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

2 primrose   

n.樱草，最佳部分，

参考例句：

• She is in the primrose of her life.她正处在她一生的最盛期。
• The primrose is set off by its nest of green.一窝绿叶衬托着一朵樱草花。

3 grizzly   

adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊

参考例句：

• This grizzly liked people.这只灰熊却喜欢人。
• Grizzly bears are not generally social creatures.一般说来，灰熊不是社交型动物。

4 furry   

adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的

参考例句：

• This furry material will make a warm coat for the winter.这件毛皮料在冬天会是一件保暖的大衣。
• Mugsy is a big furry brown dog,who wiggles when she is happy.马格斯是一只棕色大长毛狗，当她高兴得时候她会摇尾巴。

5 fluffy   

adj.有绒毛的，空洞的

参考例句：

• Newly hatched chicks are like fluffy balls.刚孵出的小鸡像绒毛球。
• The steamed bread is very fluffy.馒头很暄。

6 grumbling   

adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的

参考例句：

• She's always grumbling to me about how badly she's treated at work. 她总是向我抱怨她在工作中如何受亏待。
• We didn't hear any grumbling about the food. 我们没听到过对食物的抱怨。

7 grumbles   

抱怨( grumble的第三人称单数 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。
• I'm sick of your unending grumbles. 我对你的不断埋怨感到厌烦。

8 hurrah   

int.好哇，万岁，乌拉

参考例句：

• We hurrah when we see the soldiers go by.我们看到士兵经过时向他们欢呼。
• The assistants raised a formidable hurrah.助手们发出了一片震天的欢呼声。