m to make
as little noise as possible, for fear of awaking the child whom he held
clasped to his breast. The animal, though very hungry, did not seem to
be the least moved by the sight of the food which was placed before him.
The story of this strange incident was soon spread at court, and reached
the ears of Leopold; who, with part of his courtiers, was anxious to
learn if the tale of Marco's generosity were true. Several of them spent
the night near his hut, and saw with astonishment that the bear never
stirred as long as his guest showed a desire to sleep. At dawn the child
awoke, was very much ashamed to find that he was discovered, and,
fearing that he would be punished, begged pardon. The bear, however,
caressed him, and tried to get him to eat what had been brought to him
the evening before. He did this at the request of the courtiers, who
conducted him to the prince. Having learned the whole story, Leopold
ordered the little boy to be taken care of, and he would, no doubt, have
soon made his fortune, had he not died a short time afterward.

[Illustration]

IX

A CLEVER CROW

A carrion crow, seeing on a lawn, a brood of fourteen chickens under the
care of a mother-hen, picked up one; but when a young lady opened a
window and gave the alarm, the robber dropped his prey. In the course of
the day, however, the thief returned, together with thirteen other
crows. Then each one seized a chick, and thus the whole brood was
carried off at once.

[Illustration]

X

THE POWER OF MUSIC

One Sunday evening, five singers were walking on the banks of a river.
After some time, being tired with walking, they sat down on the grass,
and began to sing. The field on which they sat was bounded on one side
by a wood, out of which, as they were singing, they noticed a hare pass
with great swiftness toward the place where they were sitting, and at
about twenty yards' distance from them, it stopped. It then seemed
greatly delighted with the music, often turning up the side of its head
so as to hear more easily. As soon as the singing was over, the hare
returned slowly toward the wood. When she had nearly reached the end of
the field, the singers began to sing the same piece again. The hare
stopped, turned round, and came swiftly back to about the same distance
as before, where she seemed to listen with great delight, till they had
finished, when she returned again by a slow pace up the field, and
entered the w