Well sir out in the woods one day a hare was bragging bragging about how fast he
could run. Fastest runner in the woods. I am. Let me tell you.
Once I was out just practising around ducking through the trees
and hopping over logs on a Fox started to chase me. Oh did I show him up.
And then the dog almost ran over me
but did I leave him behind you know all I can out run any animal.
I dare anyone to race with me.
The goose thought I wouldn't care to neither what I thought Scottie the fox had
nothing to say I guess the hairs the chap said the rooster.
Well sir up spoken a little tortoise you make me tired Mr Hare.
I'm not afraid I'll race you
and I'll win live said the hare you were told box on the flippers.
I don't mind the snipper knows why. Sure our a shoot.
The hare went over to the our listen Mr Owl
that silly Tartus wants to run a race with me. Won't that be an easy one to win.
Well maybe said maybe cried the hare why that Tardis is so slow.
He barely crawls I could eat half the day and start when he's nearly finished
and stop to take a nap and still beat him across the finish line.
Oh Oh look who's here. What can I do for you. Mr Tartus.
I'll tell you the Tortoise said
that hare over there made me tired with his bragging
and so I dared him to race with me now I'm not so fast.
But I'm steady and sure I may start slow and I may finish slow but I'll keep going.
Said they all you're a funny one to run a race but may the best man
when they all asked the fox to lay out a course for the race. Make it hard.
He said.
First they all run along this path thought the fox underneath this tree.
And know where I was past this clump of tall grasses
and through this hollow log and over these rocks
and past the roots of this fallen tree. That's pretty tough for racing.
But the hours ahead make it hard
and now where I was I know I know the very
place. I'll have them go across this brook under the waterfall.
Oh this will be good if the Harry slips he'll fall in and get a soaking
and the tortoise is bound to get a bath.
And next we need a good place for their last run down to the finish.
Very good very good.
Yes this will do nicely.
Now and down between these big trees and we'll and the race. Let's see.
All right here at the root of this fallen tree. That's it.
All this time the hare was getting ready for the race cleaning up his paws.
Criminy his nails slinking back is whiskers and the tortoise to get. Ready.
But he was putting down a solid meal mouthful after mouthful of his labor of grass
that hair gave great care to getting his big hind legs ready.
Sure that he would win the race. And finally everything's ready.
The Fox will start the mob the tortoise digs his feet into the ground on your
marks get set go.
BARKS the fox and they're all off goes the Tardis.
Yes he is off but to tell a truth he isn't exactly speeding along just yet.
The hairs that still a moment then he's off.
Away past the rock in the grass sipping through the pharmacist.
The Tardis is left far behind already. But his legs are working better.
This may look silly to everyone else he thinks
but I just couldn't stand the way that hair brag look at
that White Tail flash.
What a one sided race out here comes a real test going through the hollow log all
how easy this is already he's halfway the fox is waiting
to be sure the runners stay on the course
and here comes Mr Hare far in the lead looks like the race.
There's no raise at all but wait a minute.
The tortoise is really going now on straight.
Didn't true down the course all but
that Harry is fast slithering along over the brook and away
and the poor plodding tortoise is only now coming to the hollow log up
and inside and on to the other end. Now if he could only hop away.
Well it's all in the game.
But I'm going to be
that high kicking where he thought it was the last thing I'd do.
So the tortoise went steadily along the left right left right
left right and the fox heard him coming.
Way over at the Fox that Harry is far ahead.
But I was a one thing that tortoise isn't going to give up.
He's still in the race
and that's not what the Hare thought by this time he felt very safely in the lead.
He couldn't imagine
that the tortoise would keep on plodding along so steadily left right
left right left right left right
and so the foolish hair fell fast asleep.
I'm going to catch that Hare thought the tortoise.
If it takes all day
but the fox could've picked out an easier course I'm not built for hopping over
rocks and roots. Well let's see what this said of me.
I'll get along somehow. Now wait a minute.
Oh. That's not helping my nose.
Good thing I've got a hard shell
and still look foolish there slept on and dreamed of winning
and still the tortoise followed.
And now he comes right up to the stream under the waterfall.
It comes right up to the stream and down the bank
and on Word into the water are.
Very cooling and pleasant good for my king feet thought the tortoise.
But I mustn't stop. I must I must go on.
Right left right left.
By this time the silly hair was sound asleep indeed.
And
that is why he did not hear the shell of the tortoise scraping past nearby already
as long ears were folded back as he dreamed of nibbling a crispy carrot after
winning the race.
And now at last the tortoise can see through the limbs of a fallen tree all the
animals waiting for the finish judge hour perched above them.
The fox watching sleepily tired of waiting.
There's something whispered the goose something funny about this race.
Judge ol with eyes wide open sees the thing coming toward him down the course.
It cannot be the hair. He is still enjoying his nap.
It's the tortoise the clumsy fellow they said didn't have a chance
but Harry is a is nearing the line. Will he win after all.
Now the rec room is a friend of the sleeping here. He must go find him at once.
Find out what is the matter down out of his tree hurry the Reckon down to the
ground he finds the sleeping where wake up sleep a head wake up.
You're going to lose if you don't hurry.
Oh what speed swiftly down toward the finish line. But you're too late. My friend.
The tortoise is already across the tortoise wins the race.
Well said the goose. Well my high stepping friend. Perhaps you can explain.
All over last the hare side if only I hadn't stopped to take a nap. Said the owl.
We can learn something from this a tortoise beating a swift running hare.
It's plain to me that the race is not always to the swift.
And perhaps our friend the Hare has learned this lesson.
Slow
and.