You
see, he couldn't think of any earthly use he would have for a tail,
and so he was glad that he hadn't got one to bother with.
"This was just Old Mother Nature's view of the matter. She had done
her very best to give everybody everything that they really needed,
and not to give them things which they didn't need. She couldn't see
that Mr. Bear had the least need of a tail, and so she hadn't given
him one. Mr. Bear was perfectly happy without one, and was so busy
getting enough to eat that he didn't have time for silly thoughts or
vain wishes.
"Then he was made king over all the people of the Green Forest, and
his word was law. It was a very great honor, and for a while he felt
it so and did his best to rule wisely. He went about just as before,
hunting for his living, and had no more time than before for foolish
thoughts or vain wishes. But after a little, the little people over
whom he ruled began to bring him tribute, so that he no longer had to
hunt for enough to eat. Indeed, he had so much brought to him, that he
couldn't begin to eat all of it, and he grew very dainty and fussy
about what he did eat. Having nothing to do but eat and sleep, he grew
very fat and lazy, as is the case with most people who have nothing to
do. He grew so fat that when he walked, he puffed and wheezed. He grew
so lazy that he wanted to be waited on all the time.
"It happened about this time that he overheard Mr. Fox talking to Mr.
Wolf when they both thought him asleep.
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