Paddington

The original story of the bear from Peru

by MICHAEL BOND

Mr and Mrs Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform.

In fact, that was how he came to have such an unusual name for a bear, because Paddington was the name of the station.

The Browns were waiting to meet their daughter, Judy, when Mr Brown noticed something small and furry near the LEFT LUGGAGE office.

"It looks like a bear,"he said.

"A bear?" repeated Mrs Brown. "On Paddington Station? Don't be silly, Henry. There can't be!"

But Mr Brown was right.

It was sitting on an old leather suitcase marked WANTED ON VOYAGE, and as they drew near it stood up and politely raised its hat.