GOOD-NIGHT STORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 11

GOOD-NIGHT STORIES.

HOW MR. PORCUPINE WON THE RACE. (Told by BLANCHE SILVER for PETER PAX.) '•"Well." grunted Bunny Rabbit to his friends that were grouped around him. "I may be slow, but I'll bet with any of you that I can beat Porcupine in a race." "Oh. is that so?" snapped Mr. Porcupine. He had always resented the attitude of his neighbours. "I'll just bet vou couldn't."

"What have you to bet besides those precious spears of yours i" snapped Bunny Rabbit. All the meadow folks knew that Mr. Porcupine prided himself on his many spears that stuck up all around on his back, and any slur against them made Porcupine very angry.

"Why, Porcupine," squeaked Chatty lied Squirrel, "even as slow as I am, I know I could beat you in a race. You see I wouldn't have to carry all that artillery with me. I'm much lighter. I'll even keep my pockets empty."

By this time Mr. Porcupine was quite angry, and. without thinking, he then and there bet everything he had in his storeroom that he could win a race against Mr. Bunny Rabbit and Chatty Red Squirrel.

"And. neighbours. T give you my word of honour."' h> laughed, '"if I lose the race I'll lay away my spears for the rest of my life and go out to sea to live."

'"Take him up on that." cried several of the meadow folks, who had always rather dreaded Porcupine and his sharp spears, "then he'll be moving out of this section."'

So it was settled that very second that they would have the race. Now Porcupine knew he was no runner when it came to matching speed with Bunny Rabbit and Chatty Red Squirrel, but just the same he started out on the race in good faith.

Before he had gone just a short way he found Chatty Red Squirrel and Bunny Rabbit sitting down the road waiting for him.

'"It's a shame for us to beat you so badly," snapped Bunny Rabbit. "We could out-run you even if we had ten times the spears you have to carry. You might give U5 some spears to carry for you." "Indeed we could," agreed Chatty Red Squirrel. "Well even give you a start on us."

'"Oh. never mind," chuckled Mr. Porcupine. "But since you're so generous, 111 give you some of my spears to carry," and with that Mr. Porcupine let loose his little spears, and they sailed all around Chatty Red Squirrel and Bunny Rabbit. "Xow let's see how fast vou can run with artillery," and awaT he ambled.

Chatty Red Squirrel and Bunny Rabbit were so taken by surprise they didn't know what to do. They started to run, but the spears pricked them so badly they had to sit right down by the roadside and pick them out, and by the time they had finished Mr. Porcupine had finished the race and had come back to help them take the spears out.

"Now that I've uon the race," he chuckled, "the bet's off. I'm going to move away so I'll not disturb you folks any more. You wanted the spears, or 1 never would have given them to you."

"Serves us right," cried Bunny Rabbit, "'and as far as I'm concerned I'm ashamed to think I've made fun of you. Please don't leave the meadows here. You're the kind of folks we need around here."

Chatty Red Squirrel was ashamed of himself, too. and after he had all the spears pulled out of his skin he invited the whole crowd over to his house for dinner, and by the time dinner was over they were all good friends again.