There were Two little Bears who lived in a Wood, And one of them was Bad and the other was Good. Good Bear learnt his Twice Times One— But Bad Bear left all his buttons undone.
They lived in a Tree when the weather was hot, And one of them was Good, and the other was Not. Good Bear learnt his Twice Times Two— But Bad Bear’s thingummies were worn right through.
They lived in a Cave when the weather was cold, And they Did, and they Didn’t Do, what they were told. Good Bear learnt his Twice Times Three— But Bad Bear never had his hand-ker-chee.
They lived in the Wood with a Kind Old Aunt, And one said “Yes’m,” and the other said “Shan’t!” Good Bear learnt his Twice Times Four— But Bad Bear’s knicketies were terrible tore.
And then quite suddenly (just like Us) One got Better and the other got Wuss. Good Bear muddled his Twice Times Three— But Bad Bear coughed in his hand-ker-chee!
Good Bear muddled his Twice Times Two— But Bad Bear’s thingummies looked like new. Good Bear muddled his Twice Times One— But Bad Bear never left his buttons undone.
There may be a Moral, though some say not; I think there’s a moral, though I don’t know what. But if one gets better, as the other gets wuss, These Two Little Bears are just like Us. For Christopher remembers up to Twice Times Ten . . . But I keep forgetting where I’ve put my pen.[1]
