NEWS ITEMS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 727, 2 May 1922, Page 7

NEWS ITEMS.

BILLY AND THE BAR3EH, 7 Here is a story by Sheila BraiU® which will, I think, please my readers. __ ] Billy Hedgehog made up his mimi : to get his hair cut; the family, by thdij bye, called it hair; other people called, j it just bristles. Anyhow, he thought 1 he would like it cut, as a surprise for' 1 his mother; it was going to be her' birthday soon, and it would come cheaper than buying a birthday pre*' sent. You see, Billy was not rich; hei had only a few acorns saved up in h& money-box. I What put this idea into his head was because he met a rabbit one afternoon- going to get his whiskers trimmed. And then, crawling through a hedge, Billy saw that the sheep had had their wool clipped, and looked quite neat and Spring-like. He often saw the birds, too, having a wash and a brush-up at the stream, while as for the foxes, they always looked spruce, and he knew that they carried their brushes with them wherever they went.

Billy Hedgehog felt that it was high time he did something to improve his appearance. He went a.nd stared at himself in the public looking-glass — that is, the brook—and it seemed to him he whs a shabby-looking little fellow.

“This won’t do,” cried Billy, and, without saying a word to anyone, he crawled off its search of the Barber. Now, the Barber was a bear who lived in a convenient cave in the wood. Billy Hedgehog found him enjoying a not of honey whic-fi one o. tus customers, who kept a hard-working bee, had brought him. He fin- sued the honey before he paid any attention tc his visitor, then he licked his paws and grunted: “Well, little gen lit - man, and what can I do for you?” Billy squeaked in answer, for the Barber rather frightened him —no ’.as

so big;—“Please, sir, can I have my hair cut?” Mr Bruin stared at him. “Nave your- -hair cut?” he repeated, man.-. 0-. Billy turned red as lie explained, and the Barber made such queer noises that if he end not sain th:u honey always gave him a tic*tung - ;1 his throat, Billy would nave thougat he was laughing. “Well, sir, I*ll do my best," said Mr. Bruin, ge11 1 ;i g ms siror- es„ sheam. “You'll have a tidy piece off, I suppose?” Billy Hedgehog thought that would be all right, and the Barber sot to work. He chopped and chopped, and at last ho exclaimed: “Yours is the stubbiest hair I’ve ever cut, sir; I shall have to charge von double. There, that’s finished, ~~d if .my host shears aren’t spoilt, call mo a Dutchman!” Billy paid, and orf.pt heme. He felt fery queer, and when his mother saw him khe gave a scream. “You can’t he my son, Billy,” she cried, firmly. “You dreadful little fright!” “Yes, I am,” said poor Billy. “I’ve only had my hair cut, mother, for your birthday.” His mother had to laugh, and forgive him, but Billy was obliged to etay in a hollow tree until his bristles Jiad grown again.