奇速英语

This is a tale of a lonely old woman. She lived in the white North. There, the night is long in winter and the day is long in summer.

The old woman lived alone in a small village. The villagers took good care of her, but she was still unhappy. She wanted a child of her own.

One winter day, she walked out and saw a small white animal on the ice. It was a baby bear. The bear looked small and felt very cold. The old woman spoke softly to the bear, “Poor little thing. Come with me.” Then she carried him home.

Inside her house, the old woman held the bear close until he was warm. She touched him gently and sang to him softly. He felt comfortable in her arms. From that day, when the old woman ate, she fed the little bear from her hand. When she slept, the bear slept beside her. They were a family now. The village children loved the bear too. They played together.

Time passed quickly and the bear grew big and strong. One day, some villagers said to him, “Little Bear, go hunting with us. We’ll teach you how to hunt.” The bear followed them. Soon the bear became a better hunter than the villagers.

When the weather was bad, everyone stayed indoors. Then the bear went out into the snow and brought home enough food for the whole village. The old woman felt proud of him.

One day, some villagers said to the old woman, “The bear has grown big and strong enough. He is a good hunter now. You’d better let him go back to the wild.”

In the following days, the old woman was quiet, thinking. She thought aloud, “The bear belongs to the wild. I should let him go.”

Finally, she said to the bear, “It’s time for you to leave. Be safe. Be free.” She put her arms around his neck. Her tears ran into his fur. She was heartbroken.

The bear walked slowly away from her and looked back again and again. Then he disappeared. When darkness fell, the old woman still stood there. Once more, she was alone.

A long time passed. The winter came again. One day, the old woman stood at the same place for a long time. The wind blew snow around her face. Suddenly, the white bear appeared and ran to her.

Now, once a year, in winter, the old woman and her little bear meet each other at the same place.

(Adapted from Little Bear)