Brothers of Pity and Other Tales of Beasts and Men

ily. No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and the

. As these six cousins were discussed in a tone of interest and respect which seemed to bear somewhat disparagingly on me and my brother and sisters (there were onl

an see

of them. Six beautiful little balls; as r

t too easily. With patience and perseverance most things can be brought about, and I could soon both see and curl myself into a ball.

you think has happened

Which she was, and rather foolish as well, which used to i

en by gipsies and

n by flitted?" i

in the grass behind the tent, just as the donkey is tethered. So t

cooked when he is fa

s did this when he was annoyed with any member of his family; and though we knew what was coming, we are all so

o let me go with him the next time he went to visit them. But he

nd be kidnapped and flitted

louse, and as my ears were inside I really did not hear what else

father bu

kinds, apples, and a dish of bread and milk under their very noses. I sat

day he

e-in clay. There a

he ne

another. Now the

sin left if I wait mu

w there were

hews and nieces!" said she (though she ha

om which naturally belongs to the sayings of the head of the family, "t

limbed a bank and then crept into a furze bush, whose prickles were no match for his own. I dared not go right into the bush for fear he should see me, but I settled myself as well as I could under shelter of a furze branch, and looked dow

teristic of my family disturbed my judgment sufficiently to make me almost long to be flitted myself. I fancy it mu

she moved about and tended the fire, got out of the sight of his eyes. Then he moved so that he could see her again; not, as it seemed, to see what she

berries in a hot hedge-very ripe ones, with the bloom on. She moved like a snake. I have seen my father chase a snake more than once, and I have seen a good many men and women in my time. Some of them walk lik

e bank; in a few minutes he would be at home, where my brother and sisters were safe and sound, whilst I was alone and

half resolved to curl myself into a ball. I had one foot out and half my back rounded, when the gipsy man pinned me to the ground with a stick,

, Basil," she said, laughing.

with another poke, which I thought had crushed

ck and went away with one mo

e man; but she di

l, I

ross her knee, but she made no answer. He took

n, "and a good dinner has gone with it. But you can d

she answered, fixing her eyes steadily on him. He sat up

, instead of tormenting m

an instant, she tossed the curls back from her face and moved away, sayi

he could get round it, she was on the other side of a tilted cart, where an

somewhat recovered breath, I scrambled down the bank and got hom

shock to which my children owe the exceeding care and prudence that I display in the choice of our summer homes