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