for it's the simplest and easiest thing to do."



50

So Tip got out his knife and fashioned some ears out of the bark of a small
tree.

"I mustn't make them too big," he said, as he whittled, "or our horse would
become a donkey."

"How is that?" inquired Jack, from the roadside.

"Why, a horse has bigger ears than a man; and a donkey has bigger ears than
a horse," explained Tip.

"Then, if my ears were longer, would I be a horse?" asked Jack.

"My friend," said Tip, gravely, "you'll never be anything but a Pumpkinhead,
no matter how big your ears are."

"Oh," returned Jack, nodding; "I think I understand."

"If you do, you're a wonder," remarked the boy "but there's no harm in
thinking you understand. I guess these ears are ready now. Will you hold the
horse while I stick them on?"

"Certainly, if you'll help me up," said Jack.