her used to say. The hare will find that out today.

(She stoops down in the near end of the furrow. The hare returns and
takes his place.)

HARE: Well, are you ready?

HEDGEHOG: Of course I am,--ready and waiting.

HARE: One for the money,
Two for the show,
Three to make ready,
And here we go!

(The hare runs as swiftly as the wind. The hedgehog starts with him, but
stops and stoops low in the furrow. When the hare reaches the other end,
the hedgehog's wife puts up her head.)

WIFE: Well, here I am.

HARE: What does this mean?

WIFE: It means what it means.

HARE: We'll try again. Are you ready?

WIFE: Of course I am.

HARE: One for the money,
Two for the show,
Three to make ready,
And here we go!

(The hare runs swiftly back again. Wife starts, but stops and stoops
low. The hare reaches the other end. The hedgehog puts up his head.)

HEDGEHOG: Here I am.

HARE: I can't understand this.

HEDGEHOG: It is very clear to me.

HARE: Well, we'll try again. Are you ready?

HEDGEHOG: I'm always ready.

HARE: One for the money,
Two for the show,
Three to make ready,
And here we go!

(Again the wife puts up her head and the hare is bewildered.)

[Illustration: The hare racing as the hedhog looks on]

WIFE: You see I am here.

HARE: I just can't believe it.

WIFE: A perfectly simple thing.

HARE: We'll try once more. You can't beat me another time.

WIFE: Don't boast. You had better save your breath for the race; you
will need it.

HARE: One for the money,
Two for the show,
Three to make ready,
And here we go!

(When the hare reaches the other end of the field, the hedgehog puts up
his head.)

HARE: This is very strange.

HEDGEHOG: Shall we run again? You seem a little tired, but I am
perfectly fresh.

HARE (_panting_): No, no! The race is yours.

HEDGEHOG: Will you call my wife and children names any more?

HARE: No, no! I'll never do that again.

HEDGEHOG: Very well. And if you wish a race at any time, friend hare,
just call by for me.

HARE (_walking off shaking his head_): It's very strange. I hope none of
the other hares will hear of this race.

WIFE (_as she meets the hedgehog_): I thought I should hurt myself
laughing. As my grandmother used to say,

"Short legs, long wit,
Long legs, not a bit."

--GRIMM.

EPAMINONDAS

Epaminondas had a good kind granny, who cooked at "the big house."
Epaminondas liked to go to see