Part 45 (1/2)

They soon came to the field, and the Hedgehog stationed himself at one end of the hedge, and his Wife at the other end; and as soon as they had taken their places the Hare arrived. ”Are you ready to start?” asked the Hare. ”Yes,” answered the Hedgehog, and each took his place. ”Off once, off twice, three times and off!” cried the Hare, and ran up the field like a whirlwind; while the Hedgehog took three steps and then returned to his place.

The Hare soon arrived at his goal, as he ran all the way at top speed, but before he could reach it, the Hedgehog's Wife on the other side called out, ”I am here already!” The Hare was thunderstruck to hear this said, for he thought it really was his opponent, since there was no difference in the voices of the Hedgehog and his Wife. ”This will not do!” thought the Hare to himself; but presently he called out, ”Once, twice, and off again;” and away he went as fast as possible, leaving the Hedgehog quietly sitting in her place. ”I am here before you,” cried Mr. Hedgehog, as soon as the Hare approached. ”What! again?” exclaimed the Hare in a rage; and added, ”Will you dare another trial!” ”Oh! as many as you like; do not be afraid on my account,” said Mr. Hedgehog, courteously.

So the Hare then ran backwards and forwards three-and-seventy times, but each time the Hedgehogs had the advantage of him, for either Mr. or Mrs.

shouted before he could reach the goal, ”Here I am already!”

The four-and-seventieth time the Hare was unable to run any more. In the middle of the course he stopped and dropped down quite exhausted, and there he lay motionless for some time. But the Hedgehog took the louis d'or which he had won, and went composedly home with his Wife.

THE WEE ROBIN'S CHRISTMAS SONG

A SCOTCH STORY, ATTRIBUTED TO ROBERT BURNS

ADAPTED BY JENNIE ELLIS BURd.i.c.k

There was an old gray p.u.s.s.y Cat, and she went away down by a brookside.

There she saw a wee Robin Redbreast hopping on a brier bush.

Says the gray p.u.s.s.y Cat: ”Where are you going, wee Robin?”

And the wee Robin makes answer: ”I'm going away to the King to sing him a song this glad Christmas morning.”

And the gray p.u.s.s.y Cat says, ”Come here, wee Robin, and I'll let you see a pretty white ring I have around my neck.”

But the wee Robin says: ”No, no! gray p.u.s.s.y Cat, no, no! You worried the wee mousie, but you cannot worry me!”

So the wee Robin flew away until he came to a wall of earth and gra.s.s, and there he saw a gray greedy Hawk sitting.

And the gray greedy Hawk says: ”Where are you going, wee Robin?”

And the wee Robin makes answer: ”I'm going away to the King to sing him a song this glad Christmas morning.”

And the gray greedy Hawk says: ”Come here, wee Robin, and I'll let you see the bright feather in my wing.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: WEE ROBIN AND THE OLD GRAY p.u.s.s.y CAT]

But wee Robin says: ”No, no! gray greedy Hawk, no, no! You pecked the little Meadowlark, but you cannot peck me!”

So the wee Robin flew away until he came to a steep, rocky hillside, and there he saw a sly Fox sitting. And the sly Fox says, ”Where are you going, wee Robin?”

And the wee Robin makes answer: ”I'm going away to the King to sing him a song this glad Christmas morning.”

And the sly Fox says: ”Come here, wee Robin, and I'll let you see the pretty spot on the tip of my tail.”

But the wee Robin says: ”No, no! sly Fox, no, no! You worried the little Lamb, but you cannot worry me!”

So the wee Robin flew away until he came to a gra.s.sy meadow, and there he saw a little shepherd boy.

And the little shepherd says: ”Where are you going, wee Robin?”