Raggylug: 



*« 



i 



Long ago the Roses used 

 to grow on bushes that had no thorns. 

 But the Squirrels and Miee used to 

 climb after them, the Cattle used to knock 

 kVt them off ivith their horns, the Possum 



tY^ would twitch them off with his long tail, 

 <y,{ and the Deer, with his sharp hoofs, would 

 \J break them down. So the Brier brush 

 armed itself with spikes to protect its roses 

 and' declared eternal war on all creatures that 

 climbed trees, or had horns, or hoofs, or long 

 tails. This left the Brierbrush at peace with 

 none but Molly Cottontail, who could not climb, 

 was hornless, hoofless, and had scarcely any 

 tail at all. 



In truth the Cottontail had never harmed a 

 Bnerrose, and having now so many enemies 

 the Rose took the Rabbit into especial friend- 

 ship, and when dangers are threatening poor 

 Bunny he flies to the nearest Brierbrush, cer- 

 tain that it is ready with a million keen and 

 poisoned daggers to defend him. 



103 



