he has been called Spots ever since. They are out
hunting in the spickly-speckly forest, and they are looking for Mr.
One-Two-Three-Where's-your-Breakfast. If you look a little you will see
Mr. One-Two-Three not far away. The Ethiopian has hidden behind a
splotchy-blotchy tree because it matches his skin, and the Leopard is
lying beside a spickly-speckly bank of stones because it matches his
spots. Mr. One-Two-Three-Where's-your-Breakfast is standing up eating
leaves from a tall tree. This is really a puzzle-picture like 'Find the
Cat.']

'Now you _are_ a beauty!' said the Ethiopian. 'You can lie out on
the bare ground and look like a heap of pebbles. You can lie out on the
naked rocks and look like a piece of pudding-stone. You can lie out on a
leafy branch and look like sunshine sifting through the leaves; and you
can lie right across the centre of a path and look like nothing in
particular. Think of that and purr!'

'But if I'm all this,' said the Leopard, 'why didn't you go spotty too?'

'Oh, plain black's best for a nigger,' said the Ethiopian. 'Now come
along and we'll see if we can't get even with Mr.
One-Two-Three-Where's-your-Breakfast!'

* * * * *

So they went away and lived happily ever afterward, Best Beloved. That
is all.

Oh, now and then you will hear grown-ups say, 'Can the Ethiopian
change his skin or the Leopard his spots?' I don't think even grown-ups
would keep on saying such a silly thing if the Leopard and the Ethiopian
hadn't done it once--do you? But they will never do it again, Best
Beloved. They are quite contented as they are.

I AM the Most Wise Baviaan, saying in most wise tones,
'Let us melt into the landscape--just us two by our lones.'
People have come--in a carriage--calling. But Mummy is there....
Yes, I can go if you take me--Nurse says _she_ don't care.
Let's go up to the pig-sties and sit on the farmyard rails!
Let's say things to the bunnies, and watch 'em skitter their tails!
Let's--oh, _anything_, daddy, so long as it's you and me,
And going truly exploring, and not being in till tea!
Here's your boots (I've brought 'em), and here's your cap and stick,
And here's your pipe and tobacco. Oh, come along out of it--quick.

[Illustration: The Elephant's Child]

THE ELEPHANT'S CHILD

IN the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant, O Best Beloved, had no
trunk. He had only a bl