Toto's Merry Winter

by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards

  CHAPTER VIII.

  "BRUIN, what do you think? Oh, Bruin! what _do_ you think?" Thus spokethe little squirrel as he sat perched on his big friend's shoulder, theday after the wedding party.

  "What do I think?" repeated the bear. "Why, I think that you aretickling my ear, Master Cracker, and that if you do not stop, I shall beunder the painful necessity of knocking you off on the floor."

  "Oh, that isn't the kind of thinking I mean!" replied Cracker,impudently flirting the tip of his tail into the good bear's eye."_That_ is of no consequence, you great big fellow! What are your earsfor, if not for me to tickle? I mean, what do you think I heard at theparty, last night?"

  "A great deal of nonsense!" replied the bear, promptly.

  "Bruin, I shall certainly be obliged to shake you!" cried the squirrel."I shall shake you till your teeth rattle, if you give me any more ofthis impudence. So behave yourself now, and listen to me. I was talkingwith Chipper last night,--my cousin, you know, who lives at the otherend of the wood,--and he told me something that really quite troubledme. You remember old Baldhead?"

  "Well, yes!" said Bruin, "I should say I did. He hasn't been in our partof the wood again, has he?"

  "Oh, no!" replied Cracker. "He is not likely to go anywhere for a longtime, I should say. He has broken his leg, Chipper tells me, and hasbeen shut up in his cavern for a week and more."

  "Dear me!" said the kind-hearted bear. "I am very sorry to hear it! Howdoes the poor old man get his food?"

  "Chipper didn't seem to think he _could_ get any," replied the squirrel."He peeped in at the door, yesterday, and saw him lying in his bunk,looking very pale and thin. He tried once or twice to get up, but fellback again; and Chipper is sure there was nothing to eat in the cave. Ithought I wouldn't say anything to Coon or Toto last night, but wouldwait till I had told you."

  "It must be seen to at once!" cried Bruin, starting up. "I will gomyself, and take care of the poor man till his leg is well. Where arethe Madam and Toto? We must tell them at once."

  The blind grandmother was in the kitchen, rolling out pie-crust. Shelistened, with exclamations of pity and concern, to Cracker's account ofthe poor old hermit, and agreed with Bruin that aid must be sent to himwithout delay. "I will pack a basket at once," she said, "withnourishing food, bandages for the broken leg, and some simple medicines;and Toto, you will take it to the poor man, will you not, dear?"

  "Of course I will!" said Toto, heartily.

  But Bruin said: "No, dear Madam! I will go myself. Our Toto's heart isbig, but he is not strong enough to take care of a sick person. It issurely best for me to go."

  The grandmother hesitated. "Dear Bruin," she said, "of course you_would_ be the best nurse on many accounts; but if the man is weak andnervous, I am afraid--you alarmed him once, you know, and possibly thesight of you, coming in suddenly, might--"

  "Speak out, Granny!" cried Toto, laughing. "You think Bruin would simplyfrighten the man to death, or at best into a fit; and you are quiteright. I'll tell you what, old fellow!" he added, turning to Bruin, wholooked sadly crestfallen at this throwing of cold water on the fire ofhis kindly intentions, "we will go together, and then the whole thingwill be easily managed. I will go in first, and tell the hermit allabout you; and then, when his mind is prepared, you can come in and makehim comfortable."

  The good bear brightened up at this, and gladly assented to Toto'sproposition; and the two set out shortly after, Bruin carrying a largebasket of food, and Toto a small one containing medicines and bandages.Part of the food was for their own lunch, as they had a long walk beforethem, and would not be back till long past dinner-time. They trudgedbriskly along,--Toto whistling merrily as usual, but his companion verygrave and silent.

  "What ails you, old fellow?" asked the boy, when a couple of miles hadbeen traversed in this manner. "Has our account of the wedding made youpine with envy, and wish yourself a mouse?"

  "No!" replied the bear, slowly, "oh, no! I should not like to be amouse, or anything of that sort. But I do wish, Toto, that I was not sofrightfully ugly!"

  "Ugly!" cried Toto, indignantly, "who said you were ugly? What put suchan idea into your head?"

  "Why, you yourself," said the bear, sadly. "You said I would frightenthe man to death, or into a fit. Now, one must be horribly ugly to dothat, you know."

  "My _dear_ Bruin," cried Toto, "it isn't because you are _ugly_; why,you are a perfect beauty--for a bear. But--well--you are _very_ large,you know, and somewhat shaggy, if you don't mind my saying so; and youmust remember that most bears are very savage, disagreeable creatures.How is anybody who sees you for the first time to know that you are thebest and dearest old fellow in the world? Besides," he added, "have youforgotten how you frightened this very hermit when he stole your honey,last year?"

  Bruin hung his head, and looked very sheepish. "I shouldn't roar, now,of course," he said. "I meant to be very gentle, and just put one pawin, and then the end of my nose, and so get into the cave by degrees,you know."

  Toto had his doubts as to the soothing effect which would have beenproduced by this singular measure, but he had not the heart to say so;and after a pause, Bruin continued:--

  "Of course, however, you and Madam were quite right,--quite right youwere, my boy. But I was wondering, just now, whether there were notsome way of making myself less frightful. Now, you and Madam have nohair on your faces,--none anywhere, in fact, except a very little on thetop of your head. That gives you a gentle expression, you see. Do youthink--would it be possible--would you advise me to--to--in fact, toshave the hair off my face?"

  The excellent bear looked wistfully at Toto, to mark the effect of thisproposition; but Toto, after struggling for some moments to preserve hisgravity, burst into a peal of laughter, so loud and clear that it wokethe echoes of the forest.

  "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the boy. "Ho! oh, dear me! ho! ho! ha! Bruin,dear, you really _must_ excuse me, but I cannot help it. Ho! ho! ho!"

  Bruin looked hurt and vexed for a moment, but it was only a moment.Toto's laughter was too contagious to be resisted; the worthy bear'sfeatures relaxed, and the next instant he was laughing himself,--orcoming as near to it as a black bear can.

  "I am a foolish old fellow, I suppose!" he said. "We will say no moreabout it, Toto. But, hark? who is that speaking. It sounded like a crow,only it was too feeble."

  They listened, and presently the sound was heard again; and this time itcertainly was a faint but distinct "Caw!" and apparently at no greatdistance from them. The two companions looked about, and soon saw theowner of the voice perched on a stump, and croaking dismally. A moremiserable-looking bird was never seen. His feathers drooped in limpdisorder, and evidently had not been trimmed for days; his eyes werehalf-shut, and save when he opened his beak to utter a despairing "Caw!"he might have been mistaken for a stuffed bird,--and a badly stuffedbird at that.

  "Hello, friend!" shouted Toto, in his cheery voice. "What is the matterthat you look so down in the beak?"

  The crow raised his head, and looked sadly at the two strangers. "I amsick," he said, "and I can't get anything to eat for myself or mymaster."

  "Who is your master?" asked the boy.

  "He is a hermit," replied the crow. "He lives in a cave near by; butlast week he broke his leg, and has not been able to move since then. Hehas nothing to eat, for he will not touch raw snails, and I cannot findanything else for him. I fear he will die soon, and I shall probably dietoo."

  "Come! come!" said the bear, "don't let me hear any nonsense of thatkind. Die, indeed! Here, take that, sir, and don't talk foolishness!"

  "That" was neither more nor less than the wing of a roast chicken whichBruin had pulled hastily from the basket. The famished crow fell uponit, beak and claw, without more ado; and a silence ensued, while the twofriends, well pleased, watched the first effect of their charitablemission.

  "Poor creature!" said Toto. "Were you ever so hungry as that, Bruin?"

  "Oh, yes!" said the bear, carelessly, "often and of
ten. When I came outin the spring, you know. But I never stayed hungry very long," headded, with a significant grimace. "This crow is sick, you see, andprobably cannot help himself much. How does that go, old fellow?" hesaid, addressing the crow, who had polished the chicken-bone till itshone again, and now looked up with a twinkle in his eyes very differentfrom the wretched, lacklustre expression they had at first worn.

  "You have given me life, sir!" he said warmly; "you have positivelygiven me life. I am once more a crow. And now, tell me how I can serveyou, for you are evidently bent on some errand."

  "We have come to see your master," said Toto. "We heard of his accident,and thought he must be in need of help. So, if you will show us theway--"

  The crow needed no more, but joyfully spread his wings, and half hopped,half fluttered along the ground as fast as he could go. "Noblestrangers!" he cried, "our humble dwelling is close at hand. Follow me,I pray you, and blessings attend your footsteps."

  The two friends followed, and soon came upon the entrance to a cave,around which a sort of rustic porch had been built. Vines were trainedover it, and a rude chair and table stood beneath the pleasant shade.

  "This is my master's study," said the crow. "Here we have spent manyhappy and profitable hours. May it please you to enter, worshipfulsirs?"

  "What do you say, Bruin?" asked Toto, glancing at his companion. "Shallwe go in, or send the crow first, to announce us?"

  "You had better go in alone," said the bear, decidedly. "I will stayhere with Master Crow, and when--that is, _if_ you think it best for meto come in, later, you have but to call me."

  Accordingly Toto entered the cavern, which was dimly lighted by a holein the roof. As soon as his eyes became accustomed to the gloom, heperceived a rude pallet at one side, on which was stretched the form ofa tall old man. His long white hair and beard were matted and tangled;his thin hands lay helpless by his side; it seemed as if he werescarcely alive. He opened his eyes, however, at the sound of footsteps,and looked half-fearfully at the boy, who bent softly over him.

  "Good morning, sir!" said Toto, not knowing what else to say. "Is yourleg better, to-day?"

  "Water!" murmured the old man, feebly.

  "Water? Why, yes, of course! I'll get some in a minute."

  He started for the mouth of the cave, but before he reached it, a huge,shaggy, black paw was thrust in at the aperture, holding out a barkdish, while a sort of enormous whisper, which just _was_ not a growl,murmured, "Here it is!"

  "Thank you, Bru--I mean, thank you!" said Toto, in some confusion,glancing apprehensively toward the bed. But the old man noticed nothing,till the clear cool water was held to his lips. He drank eagerly, andseemed to gain a little strength at once, for he now gazed earnestly atToto, and presently said, in a feeble voice:--

  "Who are you, dear child, and what good angel has sent you to save mylife?"

  "My name is Toto," replied the boy. "As to how I came here, I will tellyou all that by-and-by; but now you are too weak either to talk or tolisten, and I must see at once about getting you some--"

  "_Food!_" came the huge whisper again, rolling like a distant mutteringof thunder through the cavern; and again the shaggy paw appeared,solemnly waving a bowl of jelly.

  Toto flew to take it, but paused for a moment, overcome with amusementat the aspect presented by his friend. The good bear had wedged his hugebulk tightly into a corner behind a jutting fragment of rock. Here hesat, with the basket of provisions between his knees, and an air of deepand solemn mystery in his look and bearing. Not seeing Toto, he stillheld the bowl of jelly in his outstretched paw, and opening hiscavernous jaws, was about to send out another rolling thunder-whisper of"Food!" when Toto sprang quickly on the jelly, and taking a spoon fromthe basket, rapped the bear on the nose with it, and then returned tohis charge.

  The poor hermit submitted meekly to being fed with a spoon, and at everymouthful seemed to gain strength. A faint color stole into his wancheek, his eyes brightened, and before the bowl was two thirds empty, heactually smiled.

  "I little thought I should ever taste jelly again," he said. "Indeed, Ihad fully made up my mind that I must starve to death here; for I wasunable to move, and never thought of human aid coming to me in thislonely spot. Even my poor crow, my faithful companion for many years,has left me. I trust he has found some other shelter, for he was feebleand lame, himself."

  "Oh, he is all right!" said Toto, cheerily. "It was he who showed us theway here; and he's outside now, talking to--that is--talking to himself,you know."

  "Showed _us_ the way?" repeated the hermit. "You have a companion, then?Why does he not come in, and let me thank him also for his kindness?"

  "He?" said Toto, stammering. "He--oh--he--he doesn't like to bethanked."

  "But at least he will come in!" urged the old man. "Do, pray, ask him! Iam distressed to think of his staying outside. Is he a very shy boy?"

  "He isn't a boy," said Toto. "He's--oh! what a muddle I'm making of it!He's bigger than a boy, sir, a great deal bigger. And--I hope you won'tmind, but--he's black!"

  "A negro! is it possible?" exclaimed the hermit. "My dear boy, I have noprejudice against the Ethiopian race. I must insist on his coming in.Stay! I will call him myself. I believe they are generally called eitherCaesar or Pompey. Mr. Pomp--"

  "Oh, stop!" cried Toto, in distress. "His name _isn't_ Pompey, it'sBruin. And he wouldn't come in yet if I were to--"

  "Cut him into inch pieces!" came rolling like muffled thunder throughthe doorway.

  The old hermit started as if he had been shot. "Ah! what is that?" hecried. "Boy! boy! who--_what_ is that speaking?"

  "Oh, dear!" cried Toto, distractedly. "Oh, dear! what shall I do? Pleasedon't be alarmed, Mr. Baldhead--I mean, Mr. Hermit. He is the best,dearest, kindest old fellow _in the world_, and it isn't his fault,because he was--"

  "Born so!" resounded from without; and the poor hermit, now speechlesswith terror, could only gasp, and gaze at Toto with eyes of agonizedentreaty.

  "Yes, he was born so!" continued the boy. "And we might have been bearsourselves, you know, if we had happened to have them for fathers andmothers; so--" But here he paused in dismay, for the hermit, withoutmore ado, quietly fainted away.

  "Oh, Bruin! Crow! come here!" cried Toto. "I am afraid he is dead, ordying. What shall we do?"

  At this summons the crow came hopping and fluttering in, followed by theunhappy bear, who skulked along, hugging the wall and making himself assmall as possible, while he cast shamefaced and apologetic glancestoward the bed.

  "Oh, you needn't mind now!" cried Toto. "He won't know you are here. Doyou think he is dead, Crow? Have you ever seen him like this before?"

  But the crow never had; and the three were standing beside the bed inmute dismay, when suddenly a light flutter of wings was heard, and asoft voice cooed, "Toto! Bruin!" and the next moment Pigeon Pretty cameflying into the cave, with a bunch of dried leaves in her bill. A glanceshowed her the situation, and alighting softly on the old man's breastshe held the leaves to his nostrils, fanning him the while with heroutspread wings.

  "Oh!" she said, "I have flown so fast I am quite out of breath. You see,dears, I was afraid that something of this sort might happen, as soon asI heard of your going. I was in the barn, you know, when you weretalking about it, and getting ready. So I flew to my old nest and gotthese leaves, of which I always keep a store on hand. See, he isbeginning to revive already."

  In truth, the pungent fragrance of the leaves, which now filled the air,seemed to have a magical effect on the sick man. His eyelids fluttered,his lips moved, and he muttered faintly, "The bear! oh, the bear!"

  The wood-pigeon motioned to Bruin and Toto to withdraw, which theyspeedily did, casting remorseful glances at one another. Silently andsadly they sat down in the porch, and here poor Bruin abandoned himselfto despair, clutching his shaggy hair, and even pulling out severalhandfuls of it, while he inwardly called himself by every hard name hecould think of. Toto sat looking gloomily at hi
s boots for a long time,but finally he said, in a whisper:--

  "Cheer up, old fellow! it was all my fault. I do suppose I am thestupidest boy that ever lived. If I had only managed a littlebetter--hark! what is that?"

  Both listened, and heard the soft voice of the wood-pigeon calling,"Bruin! Bruin! Toto! come in, both of you. Mr. Hermit understands allabout it now, and is ready to welcome _both_ his visitors."

  Much amazed, the two friends rose, and slowly and hesitatinglyre-entered the cave, the bear making more desperate efforts even thanbefore to conceal his colossal bulk. To his astonishment, however, thehermit, who was now lying propped up by an improvised pillow of drymoss, greeted him with an unflinching gaze, and even smiled and held outhis hand.

  "Mr. Bruin," he said, "I am glad to meet you, sir! This sweet bird hastold me all about you, and I am sincerely pleased to make youracquaintance. So you have walked ten miles and more to bring help andcomfort to an old man who stole your honey!"

  But this was more than the good bear could stand. He sat down on theground, and thrusting his great shaggy paws into his eyes, fairly beganto blubber. At this, I am ashamed to say, all the others fell tolaughing. First, Toto laughed--but Toto, bless him! was alwayslaughing; and then Pigeon Pretty laughed; and then Jim Crow; and thenthe hermit; and finally, Bruin himself. And so they all laughedtogether, till the forest echoes rang, and the woodchucks almost stirredin their holes.