The hedgehog’s wife, however, did not move, and, when the hare reached
_the other end, the husband was there, and cried: “Here I am.”

The hare was half beside himself with vexation, and he cried: “One more
_ try, one more.”

“T don’t mind,” said the hedgehog. “I will go on as long as you like.”

Upon this the hare set off running, and actually crossed the field seventy-
three times; and atone end the husband said: “Here am IJ,” and at the other
end the wife said the same. But at the seventy-fourth run the hare’s strength
came to an end, and he fell to the ground and owned himself beaten.

The hedgehog won the louis d’or and the bottle of wine, and, after calling
his wife out of the furrow, they went home together in very good spirits, toenjoy
it together; and, if they are not dead, they are living still.

The lesson to be learnt from this story is, first, that however grand a
person may think himself, he should never laugh at others whom he considers
inferior until he knows what they can do; and, secondly, that when a man
chooses a wife, he should take her from the class to which he himself belongs;
and if he isa hedgehog she should be one also.