The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-06-27
Bed Time Stories
SLOW WIT AND QUICK WIT

When Prickly Porky the porcupine,
and Old Man Coyote, the Prairie Wolf.
met beside the Laughing Brook 1t was
a case of slow wit meeting quick wit.
You see Prickly Perky is very slow in
everything he does. that is, everything
but Tipping thai queer tail of his
about when there is an enemy near
enough for it to reach. But in every
thing else he is, oh, so slow! He walks
as if he had all the time in the world
to get to the place he has started for.
He climbs in just the same way. And
because he never moves quickly he
never thinks quickly. The fact is, he
doesn't see any need OF hurrying in
anything. not ever in thinking.
But Old Man Coyote is just the OPP
posite. Yes, sir, he is just the oppo-
site. No one moves quicker than he
does. He is nimble on his feet and
his wit is just as quick.
His nimble wit and nimble feet
Are very, very hard to beat.
Digger the Badger, who also comes
from the Great West. says that to
beat Old Man Coyote in anything you
should start the day before he does
and no let him know it.
So here was Slow Wit facing Quick
With with most of the little meadow
people and forest people looking on.
Suddenly Old Mar Coyote sprang for
ward with his ugliest snarl, a snarl
hat made everybody but Prickly Por-
ky shiver. even those who We're per-
fectly safe UP in the trees. But prick
ly Porky didn't shiver. No. sir, he just
grounted angrily and ratified his thou
, sand little spears. Now Old Man Coy
! ote had sprung with that angry snarl
just to try to brighten Pricklv Perky,
and he had taken care not to spring
too close to those rafting spears.
When he found that Prickly Porky
wasn't frightened the least little bit
he tried another plan. Perhaps he
could get Prickly Perky from behind.
AS quick as a flash and as light as a
feather he leaped right over Prickiy
Porky and turned to seize him from
behind. But he didn't. oh, my, no.
You see the thousand little spears
covered every inch of Prickly Porky's
back. Slowly and clumsily Prickly
Perky turned SO a. to face his enemy.
Got. fooled that time. didn't You.
| Mr.. Smarty?" he grunted, while his
. eyes snapped with niger
Old Man Coyote didn't say anything.
He just grinned. But all h time he
was using his eyes, and now he dis
covered thdt Wnlle fTlChlN ToIhy WdS
fully protected on his back and sides
by the thousand little spears carried
in his coat, there wasn't a single little
, spear in his waistcoat.
I've got to get him where 1 can
seize him from underneath" though
he. and straightway he began to run
in a circle around Prickly Porky,
while the latter turned slowly round
and round. trying to always keep his
face turned toward Old Man Coyote.
Faster and faster ran the Wolf, and
7 faster and faster turned Prickly Por-
XIV. In his slow mind he was trying
to understand what it meant. but he
couldn't. And for a while h little
meadow and forest people looking on
were Just as much puzzled. Then sud
denly Unc' Billy Postum understood.
He's trying to make Prickly Porky
dizzy" he whispered to Bobby Coon:
Lets warn Prickly Porky; he'll
never think of 1t himself until It's too
late.' whispered Bobby Coon.
But before they could do this the
queer performance came to an end.
Prickly Porky hadn't discovered what
Old Man Coyote was trying to do. hut
he had become tired of such foolish
ness and he suddenly decided to take
a rest. So he stopped turning. around
and then curled himself up in a ball
on the ground. where he looked like
a great chestnut burr. Everybody held
their breath to see What Old Man
Coyote would do next.
Next story: PrickIy Porky's Tail.