“The Circus Cotton-Tails you see
     Are just as funny as can be.”

They got out their seventeen little stools and sat by the fire.

Bunny and Susan said, “What do you know about the Circus Cotton-Tails?”

The Seventeen Little Bears said,

     “You only see them now at Fairs,
     But we’ve become the Circus Bears.”

“Have you got a Circus tent?  Have you got a merry-go-round?” asked Bunny and Susan.  “Do tell us how long you have been Circus Bears.”

The Seventeen Little Bears got on top of their seventeen little stools and shouted, “We have just become Circus Bears today, that is the reason we came tumbling in the door and windows.”

CHAPTER VI

The Seventeen Little Bears woke up early next morning.  They all whispered together so they would not wake Bunny and Susan.

The Seventeen Little Bears tiptoed very softly out of bed, and “pitter-patter, pitter-patter” went their little feet down the stairs.

     “We can stew, we can bake,
     If we make no mistake.”

They made the fire and began to stew and bake.  They made coffee and fried sausages and cakes.  By and by Bunny and Susan woke up.

“My fur and whiskers, I smell something cooking,” said Bunny.

Susan said, “Bless my buttons, I smell something cooking, too.”

The Seventeen Little Bears said, “Ha, ha, ha!  Bunny is talking about his fur and whiskers.  Ha, ha, ha!  Susan is talking about her buttons.  We will give old Bunny and Susan something new to talk about!”

The Seventeen Little Bears shouted at the top of their lungs,

     “We are Circus Bears, as all can see,
     The merry-go-round waits you and me.”

Susan called, “Hurry, hurry, hurry!  Bunny do get dressed!  Let us see what the Seventeen Little Bears mean.  How I do love to ride in a merry-go-round!”

When Bunny and Susan got downstairs they were surprised to see a fine breakfast ready for them all on the table.  They all sat down and had a very merry time.

After breakfast the Seventeen Little Bears began to practice their tricks.  They slid on the banister and came downstairs head first.

Soon they were all crying, “Oh,” and “Ah, how I hurt my head;” and “Oh,” and “Ah, how I hurt my toes!”

Bunny cried, “Bring the camphor!  Bring the smelling salts, while they are practicing their tricks!”

Susan Cotton-Tail sat down in the corner.  She wiped her eyes.

Bunny said, “Have you lost your spectacles?”

Susan Cotton-Tail said, “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!”

The Seventeen Little Bears all came crowding around Susan to see what was the matter.

Susan still rocked to and fro and said, “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!”

Bunny said, “Will you never tell us what is the matter?” Susan said finally,