THE HEDGEHOG WAKES UP

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 81, 29 December 1934, Page 17

THE HEDGEHOG WAKES UP

“Hello!” cried the sparrow. ‘‘So you're awake at •last!” “H’m,” grunted the hedgehog, unrolling himself. “You must have been asleep for hours. Why, Tve been up and down this hedge 'since dawn.” “I’ve been asleep for months,” replied the hedgehog, blinking. "Months?” “Yes, months,” repeated the hedgehog, “if this is the spring, and it feels like it to me.” "Oh, it’s the spring all right.” “Good!” answered the hedgehog, yawning. “And now for some food.” “Do wait a moment,” ' begged the sparrow. “What do you mean about sleeping all that time?” “What I said.” “But how did you get food?” “I didn’t have any.” "No food!” exclaimed the sparrow. “At least, you must understand that I was very fat when I first fell asleep. I had eaten enough to last m.e the whole winter. But you appear Very ignorant. Have you never spoken to a hedgehog before?” “Never,” answered the ' sparrow. “That’is to say I did say ‘Good-morn-ing’ to one once, but he never answered.’ “Of.course not.” “Why?” • “Because you should always say ‘Good evening’ to a hedgehog. That is the time they get up and go out to find food.” "I see. Then you have been sleeping here all the . winter?” continued the sparrow. “No, as a matter of fact I had rolled out of that rabbit hole up there when you found me.” He pointed with his nose up the bank. “I don’t know bow it was I suddenly started rolling. However, since the spring has arrived it doesn’t much matter.” “Do you always roll up in a ball when you sleep?” asked the sparrow. “Always,” answered the hedgehog. “Why?” “For safety, of course. Just you touch me and see how you like my prickles!” “No thanks,” smiled the sparrow. “Well, I’m jolly hungry,” said the hedgehog. ‘Tve been talking to you long enough.” "What do you eat?” “Well, for a really good meal I like a young rabbit or a snake, failing that, some beetles or a slug.” “Ugh I .What horrid food! Don’t you ever eat fruit or plants?” “Oh, yes, I’m very fond of fruit, and especially the roots of some plants. But if you had been asleep as long as I have, you’d Want plenty of nice, filling flesh. Good-bye.” And he ran off along the ditch. “Good-bye,” called the sparrow, as he flew ou to a tree-trunk. But' to. himself he said: “Why, he might have eaten me if I'd got too near!” And he felt lucky'he had escaped.