MEETING HELEN

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 23

MEETING HELEN

HARRY HEDGEHOG’S HOME Harry Hedgehog was down in the dumps, yes, really down in the dumps with no half-measures. His house,' | bequeathed by the late Miss Priscilla. Hedgehog, was dirty; that in itself did not, would not, worry Harry, but his aunt and uncle were coming to see him, and his aunt’would throw a blue fit if she saw a speck of dirt, and. worse still, she was bringing a girl with her. “Blow,’’ said Harry for the one hundredth and first time. “Blow,” he grunted again. But it was no use. Blowing in the dear-oh-dear sort of way did not clean up the place. “I know,” he decided. “I’ll be out when they come, and I’ll make it look as if I haven’t been home for—for a long* time,” and he chuckled at his brilliant idea. But,' alas, all good plans go astray. “Bang, bang,” went the door-knocker, a nice little ship bequeathed with the house. “Whirr-rr-rr-ing,” went the bell. Harry jumped fully three feet off the ground, quite a remarkable feat for a hedgehog of his size and expansion. When he landed on earth again he struggled with his tie that was having a game of “touch last” with itself. At last he conquered it and went to open the door. _ “Buf I’m not home,” he muttered. “Brrrrrrrrr.” The ’.tie started another game of tag, but Harry caught it in the beginning and went to the door. “If lam not at home, I’m not, decided Harry. “I’ll just—” “Is anyone at home,” inquired a nice voice. “No!” exclaimed Harry , promptly, then regretted it. It could be seen now that he was home. At any rate he liked the voice. so straightening his tie he weht to the door and opened it. In stepped the owner of the sweet voice. Harry gasped, for a prettier hedgehog he had never seen. Then he remembered the dirty house, and flushed to the tip of his longest bristle, but the newcomer soon put things right for she started in a business-like way to clean things up, and in half an hour she had the place presentable. “Look here,” began Harry, “who are you ?” “Helen Susan Hedgehog.” replied the visitor. “Who are you?” Harry nearly had a fit. Helen Susan was the girl his aunt was bringing. “Well, who are you?” asked the small sweet voice. Harry plucked., up his courage. “Harry Hedgehog.” “No more?” asked Helen. “Oh, ves,” remarked Harry sarcasticly, “Alexander Cecil Eric.” “It’s quite all right, but look here, your aunt and uncle aren't coming.” “What?” gasped Harry. “Then thank goodness.” So Helen Hedgehog sat down to afternoon tea. “I am glad,” Harry said, “that I was in, after all.”