SECOND SON.  I almost think it was.

THIRD SON.  I wonder now, I wonder—­

FIRST SON.  No war horse for me!  I will stay and dig again for gold!

SECOND SON.  No prince’s crown for me!  I will stay and dig here too!

THIRD SON.  I have found my purse of gold!  I will stay and find another!

THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG

TIME:  one fine morning.
PLACE:  the farmer’s cabbage field.

* * * * *

THE HARE. 
THE HEDGEHOG. 
THE HEDGEHOG’S WIFE.

* * * * *

[The HEDGEHOG and his WIFE are walking in the field.]

HEDGEHOG.  These cabbages are growing well.

WIFE.  They are very fine indeed.

HEDGEHOG.  We can feed on them all summer.

WIFE.  Yes, if the hares will let us.

HEDGEHOG.  Oh, there is enough for all of us, hares, hedgehogs, and farmer.

WIFE.  Yes, if the hares will think that, too.

HEDGEHOG.  Well, we will let them alone as we have always done.

WIFE.  But they will not let us alone.  Yesterday they called at me while
I was eating here.

HEDGEHOG.  What did they say to you?

WIFE.  Oh, such things as “Short-legs,” and “Duck-legs.”

HEDGEHOG.  Here comes one of them now!

WIFE.  He is one who called at me.  I’ll hide till he goes by.

[She hides among the cabbages.  The HARE enters.]

HEDGEHOG.  Good-morning, sir.

HARE.  Why do you speak to me?

HEDGEHOG.  I always speak to neighbors, sir.

HARE.  Speak to your own kind, then.  I think myself too good for hedgehogs.

HEDGEHOG.  Now that is strange.

HARE.  There is nothing strange about it.  Look at your silly little legs!

HEDGEHOG.  They are quite as good as yours, sir.

HARE.  As good as mine!  Hear him!  You can only walk with those legs, sir.

HEDGEHOG.  I’ll run a race with you this day.

HARE.  Hear him!  Hear him!  Ha, ha!

HEDGEHOG.  You may run in that furrow.  I will run in this.  We will see who gets to the field fence first.

HARE.  Are you crazy?

HEDGEHOG.  Come, come, let’s begin the race!

HARE.  Ha, ha!  Well, I’ll run with you.  You ought to know just how silly your little duck-legs are.

HEDGEHOG.  Let us go to this end of the furrow to begin.

HAKE.  I will run to the brook and back while you are getting there.

HEDGEHOG.  As you please.

(The Hare runs off.)

Wife, wife, did you hear?

WIFE.  I heard.  Are you crazy?

HEDGEHOG.  Go to the other end of this furrow, wife.

WIFE.  And why should I do that?

HEDGEHOG.  The hare will run in the other furrow.  When he comes to your end, put up your head and say, “I am already here.”