Chapter 1

           HereisEdwardBear,comingdownstairsnow,bump,bump,bump,onthebackofhishead,behindChristopherRobin. Itis,asfarasheknows,theonlywayofcomingdownstairs, butsometimeshefeelsthattherereallyisanotherway,ifonlyhecouldstopbumpingforamomentandthinkofit. Andthenhefeelsthatperhapsthereisn’t. Anyhow,hereheisatthebottom,andreadytobeintroducedtoyou. Winnie-the-Pooh. 

           WhenIfirstheardhisname,Isaid,justasyouaregoingtosay, ‘ButIthoughthewasaboy?’ 

           ‘SodidI,’saidChristopherRobin. 

           ‘Thenyoucan’tcallhimWinnie?’ 

           ‘Idon’t.’ 

           ‘Butyousaid–’ 

           ‘He’sWinnie-ther-Pooh. Don’tyouknowwhat"ther"means?’ 

           ‘Ah,yes,nowIdo,’Isaidquickly;andIhopeyoudotoo,becauseitisalltheexplanationyouaregoingtoget. 

           SometimesWinnie-the-Poohlikesagameofsomesortwhenhecomesdownstairs,andsometimeshelikestositquietlyinfrontofthefireandlistentoastory. 

           Thisevening– 

           ‘Whataboutastory?’saidChristopherRobin.