oney'.

"'Oh, you must poke your nose further in,' said the fox, 'and you'll
soon come to it.'

"Titehugge accordingly rammed and jammed his head with great difficulty
into the hole, which proved such an uncommonly tight fit, that, not
finding any honey, he began trying to pull it back double quick; but lo
and behold! pull and tug, scratch and swear as he might, he was caught
in a mouse trap not intended for bears, while the fox stood below
giggling. After he had amused himself enough with Titehugge's struggles,
he scampered off to find Stubtail; bawling out, 'Good-by, my d-e-a-r
friend, I hope you'll find the honey answer your expectations.'

"Meanwhile, master Stubtail was snoring away like a catamount, when the
fox trotted up, and seating himself beside him, began to sing a popular
fox ballad, beginning, 'Oh? don't I love to cheat 'em!'

"This soon awoke Stubtail, and opening his eyes, he saw the fox sitting,
singing away, as if he never dreamed of such a person as Stubtail being
near.

"'Well, master fox!' he said, in a dandified way, 'whawt business have
you, I should like to know, in the--aw company of a bearah of fashion?
Make your mannahs, sir, and don't sit down before your bettahs! How
horrid vulgah you are--aw!'

"Up jumped the fox, and made such a beautiful bow this time, that he
fell over on his nose, and nearly stuck his tail in the bear's face, as
he exclaimed, 'Oh, my d-e-a-r friend! d-o-n'-t say that! I didn't mean
to be uncivil. I only came to ask you to a little fox party that is
coming off this afternoon, if your highness will favor us with your
honorable company. Only ten of my cousins and seven of my brothers and
sisters are coming--just a nice little family party; but then they are
all such beauties! particularly my cousin, Miss Slygo Brighteyes! She is
perfectly lovely; as slender as a bean pole, and smooth as a young
rabbit; and then such sharp teeth, such a fine bushy tail! oh my! and
_such_ a dancer, too, as she is!'

"Now, Stubtail was as fond of dancing and flirting as his brother of
eating, and tried to be a great dandy and beau; so when master fox gave
such a glowing description of Miss Slygo Brighteyes, his charming
cousin, Stubtail's whiskers curled up tighter than ever; and he could
hardly manage to _drawl_ out, 'Aw--yaas, I think I _will_ dwop in for
harf an 'ouah!'

"When the fox heard that, he was ready to stand on his head for joy; and
could scarcely wait while Stubtail op