Arizona republican., 1922-06-24
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Little Stories For Bedtime
sY THORNTON w. BURGESS
JIMMY SKUNK CALLS ON
PRlCkLY PORkY

When Old Mr.. Toad suggested that
Jimmy Skunk go call on Prickly
Porky the Porcupine and ask him il
he had seen the. terrible creature
| without legs or head or tail whom
Peter Rabbit said he had seen rolling
down the hill where Prickly Porky
makes his home Jimmy couldn't see
any way out of it. You see. Old Mr.
| Toad had been crafty enough to pay
Jimmy very fine tribute, He had
sald that as Jimmy was not AFRAID
Of anybody or anything he was just
| the one to 60. Now after that what
could Jimmy do but go? If he didn't
| go it would look very much as if he
were afraid,
"A plague upon Old Mr. Toad"
grumbled Jimmy as he ambled up the
Lone Little Path through the Green
Forest on his way to the hill where
Priekly Porky lives. "Of course I'm
not afraid. but, just the same. | don't
like meddling with things I don't
know anything about. I'm not afraid
of anybody / know OF because every
body has the greatest respect for me,
but 1t might be different with a
creature without legs or head or tail
Whoever heard of such thinge 1t
gives me a queer feeling inside.
However he kept right on, and as
he reached the foot of the hill where
Priekly Porky lives he looked sharp
ly in every direction and listened with
all his might for strange sounds. But
there was nothing unusual to be seen.
The Green Forest looked just as it
always did. 1t was very still and quiet
there save for the cheerful voice of
nd
over how happy he was.
That doesn't sound as il there was
any terrible stranger around here"
muttered Jimmy.
Then he heard a queer, grunting
sound, a very queer sound, that
seemed to come from somewhere on
the top of the hill. Jimmy grinned
as he listened. That's Prickly Porky
himself telling himself how good his
dinner tastes" laughed Jimmy. Fun
NY how some people do like to hear
their own voices
The contented sound of Prickly
Porky's voice made Jimmy feel very
sure that there could be nothing very
terrible about then. anyway, and so
he slowly ambled up the hill for YOU
know he never hurries. 1t was an
easy matter to find the tree in which
Prickly Porky was at work stripping
off bark and eating it. because he
made so much noise about it.
"Hello," said Jimmy Skunk.
Prfckly Porky took no notice. He
was so busy eating and making so
much noise about it that he didn't
hear Jimmy at all
"Hello." shouted Jimmy a little
louder. Hello. there. Are you
Aan ~ n
at all, but Jimmy was feeling a little
out OF sorts because he had to make
this call. This time Prickly porlsy
looked down.
Hello yourself and see how you
like it. Jimmy Skunk he cried.
Come on up and have some of this
nice bark with me-" Than Prickly
Porky laughed at his own Joke. for he
knew perfectly well thar Jimmy
couldn't climb and that he wouldn't
eat bark if he could
Jimmy made a face at aim Thank
you. I've just dined. Come down
here where / can talk to you without
straining my voice he ~eplied.
Wait until / get another bite,
replied Prickly Purky. stripping eff
a long piece of bark. Then with this
to chew on he came half way down
the tree and made himself comfort
able on a big limb. "Now what is it
you've got on your mind?" he de-
manded
At once Jimmy told him the queer
story Peter Rabbit had told. i've
been sent up here to find out IL you
have seen this legless. headless, tall
less creature. Have you?" he con-
cluded
Prickly Porky slowly shook his