Once upon a time, in the midst of a wild meadow, there lived a little Hedgehog called Harry. Now Harry was a very shy little person; and although he did long to make friends, he could never find the courage to speak to the other little wild folk who ran about over the grass or flew through the air.
At last one fine afternoon, however, when several of the animals had come out to bask in the sun, the little Hedgehog made up his mind that he would try once more and see if he could not make friends. So he plucked up his courage and trundled along over the turf, until he reached a place where a company of animals was assembled.
At first everyone seemed surprised to see Harry, and laughed a little at his odd appearance. But that did not discourage him; and when he had come close up to where they lay, he simply said, “Will you let me join your company?”
There were some rabbits, and a mouse, and an owl among the others; and they all said together, “What a very curious creature! I never saw one like that before.” It seemed a little impolite, but Harry did not mind. “You can see me clearly enough now,” said he. “I am to be known as Harry the Hedgehog; and I do hope that you will allow me to play with you.”
Then they would not be put off, but squatted down again and would not say a word. But Harry was not the one to be so easily disheartened, and he suited his actions to his words, for he squatted down among them.
Then at last the owl, who was the wisest of all creatures, and who had taken everything in from the very first, said, “Will you tell us, Harry, what is your party-piece? That is the way in which we amuse ourselves when we meet. My own party-piece you must know. So we will begin with you, dear Harry, and you can go round in a circle until you come back to what you have been doing.”
“Oh dear!” thought little Harry, almost ready to cry, for what could he do to amuse the others? Then it came into his head suddenly to do as he often did when he was alone in the woods in the evening. So he began singing his evening song. By and by the company learnt the words and joined in the chorus.
The song was “Come, all ye little people,” and it went like this—
“Come, all ye little people,
Who roam about the wood;
Let’s all be friends together
And make each other good.
For kindness is the language
That all can understand,
And all the friendly people
Will take us by the hand.”
They sang this over and over again; and the shy little Hedgehog was so delighted at the kind speech of the animals that he put a wedding-garland of daisies round his neck, and then merrily trundled away home, so pleased that he could sing.
Children who read this story will remember from it that they should be loving and gentle to shy and timid little people, who may like Harry the Hedgehog have loving hearts inside them and yet dare not open up to casual friendships.