Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/97

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BABY BEARS
77

as fat as butter balls. They were as grey as mice but as they grew older these grey coats grew darker and darker until they were jet black like their parents. The little fellows were contented and grew very rapidly. I had a nice light pen built for them, where they got plenty of sunshine and fresh air. The little chaps thrived and waxed strong under the cheerful conditions. Bears are very susceptible to their environment. If confined in gloomy places, they become dull and depressed. I got a young timber wolf and a mongrel dog to keep the little bears company.

I named my bears Tom and Jerry.

There were exciting times in the pen where the four of them lived. One of their favourite games was footrace. Bears do not attain their full growth until seven years of age. My cubs were now about five months and so full of mischief I began to worry about what I was going to do with them when they were full grown.

I think they chose sides in the footraces, for the two bears never chased each other, but each of the bears would chase the wolf and the dog. Then the wolf and the dog would turn about and race