"'Nay, ye will prosper,' said the old bear. 'There are two ways o'
learning,--by hearsay an' by knocks. Much ye may learn by knocks,
but they are painful. There be two things every one has to
learn,--respect for himself; respect for others. Ye'll know,
hereafter, in the land o' men a bear has to keep his nose up an'
his ears open--because men hurt. Ye'll know better, also, than to
feed on the ground of another bear--because he hurts. Now, were I
a cub an' had none to obey, I'd obey meself. Ye know what's right,
do it; ye know what's wrong, do it not.'
"'One thing is sure,' said the young bear, as he limped away; 'if I
live, there'll not be a bear in the woods that'll take any better
care of himself.'
"Now the old bear knew what he was talking about. He was, I
maintain, a wise an' remarkable bear. We learn to obey others, so
that by an' by we may know how to obey ourselves. The great master
of each man is himself. By words or by knocks ye will learn what
is right, and ye must do it. Dear children, ye must soon be yer
own masters. There be many cruel folk in the world, but ye have
only one to fear--yerself. Ah! ye shall find him a hard man, for,
if he be much offended, he will make ye drink o' the cup o' fire.
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