MR. TOAD AND PRICKLY PORKY PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER


Slowly Prickly Porky the Porcupine climbed down from the top of the
tall poplar tree where he had been getting his breakfast of tender
young bark. He grunted as he worked his way down, for he had with him
a bundle of bark to take over to Peter Rabbit's surprise party. When
he reached the ground, Prickly Porky shook himself until he rattled
the thousand little spears hidden in his long coat.

"Tee-hee-hee!"

"Who dares to laugh at me?" demanded Pricky Porky, shaking himself
until all the little spears rattled again, and some of them began to
peep out of his long coat.

"No one is laughing at you," replied a voice right behind him.

Prickly Porky turned around. There sat old Mr. Toad. His big mouth was
stretched wide open, and he was laughing all to himself. Something was
tickling old Mr. Toad mightily.

Prickly Porky scowled, and a few more little spears peeped out of his
long coat. You know no one likes to be laughed at, and it certainly
did look as if old Mr. Toad was laughing at him.

Mr. Toad stopped laughing and hopped a step nearer. "It's a joke,"
said he, and slowly winked one eye.

"I don't see any joke," said Prickly Porky, and his voice was very