146 PHILO'S FUNNY. TEAM. 



"It is pleasant to be beautiful," said the porcupine; "I am 

 always sorry for ugly people." 



" I agree with you," replied the rabbit, " though I am surprised 

 to hear such language from your lips, for I cannot suppose that 

 you set up any claims for beauty yourself." 



The porcupine bristled up, and looked very angry. 



"Oh, indeed!" he cried. "You cannot, eh? I am considered 

 the finest specimen of my whole race, and my beauty is the theme 

 of every tongue ; but I can quite imderstand that you should have 

 no idea of what good looks really ai-e. You have not a sign of a 

 quill on your body ; and as for those hideous long things on your 

 head — " 



"Sir!" exclaimed the rabbit, "do you speak in this insulting 

 way of my lovely ears, the pride of my heart, the envy of all the 

 other rabbits I know? It only shows that you are as stupid as you 

 are ugly." 



" Yah ! " said the porcupine. 



" Bah! " said the rabbit; and they trotted ofi" in opposite direc- 

 tions. The Looking-glass Pond sparkled, and a little ripple of a 

 smile passed over it. 



"Ah!" said the pond, "what hard work it is to reflect such 

 ugly creatures; and how pleasant to be left alone again with the 

 blue sky and the white clouds, the butterflies and the purple 

 flags!" 



PHILO'S FUNNY TEAM. 



Arthuk was four years old, and he had come up from the city, 

 with his mamma, to spend a few weeks at a pleasant farm-house. 



After supper, on this first night in the country, Arthur sat close 

 to his mamma on the piazza steps. Pretty soon the sun went away, 

 the air began to grow cool, and then mamma said, " It is time to 

 go to bed." 



