Show rt children bedtime story MARY GRAM BONNER r j 1 were toothless mammals what we are and fin and unusual said one of the members of the nine banded armadillo family lets each tell our own story said the six banded armadillo who was named sir six for short all right agreed the three banded armadillo come first said sir amne be cause it was my suggestion some time ogo to be sure said the others were listening we are all attention and ready to bear what you have to say to us then we expect the same attention from you 1 I certainly will give you mv atten alon said sir anc just as soon as I 1 am through with own tile halll halll said the others 1 I mean story 1 said sir amne but you say story you said tall the others said of course I 1 did but there Is one kind ofa tale which meant a story and that a the kind im about to begin we understand now the others said thanks for explaining we dian didn t know at first what you meant by getting through with your own tall but now of course we see es we see quite clearly and un der stand perfectly poor sir amne was becoming anxious for feir the others would not listen 0 o atin but at last they were quiet and he began I 1 m about the size of an opossum he said were about the same size said the others oh dear he said 1 I never bate a chance at all you eadd you would bear my story first and I 1 don t say more than two or three words when lou interrupt so the others agreed etere dreadfully sorry and we promise not to do so again well said sir amne where was I 1 oh yes I 1 said I 1 was an armadillo a toothless mammal about the size of an opossum J have a horny shell with nine bands in the middle all joined to gether and this shell Is my protection 1 I live without it because there are nine bands in lay shell I 1 am known as the nine banded I 1 live in holes in the earth and my food Is a mixture of ants snails bee athla shell Is my protections Protect ionn ties grasshoppers worms and all other nice insects 1 I am called sir nina for short as you all know well commenced the six banded armadillo 1 I have heard almost the story of my own life and ways sly habits are about the same as yours 1 I eat the same food I 1 dig in the ground and live there and I 1 have a shell which Is my protection there Is just one thing about us that Is different I 1 have six bands on my shell and coara called the six banded armadillo and tor short I 1 am leonn as sir six and one more thing which I 1 had almost forgotten my shell Is even more bony than yours and its a great deal stronger A protection to me it was time for the three banded armadillo to speak 1 I am far more rare thin either of iou he said there arent so many of my fam lly I 1 can do a number of tricks that neither of you can do 1 I can roll myself into a nice little round ball and only my bony parts will stick out which will protect roe from the other yei I 1 protect myself superbly la this way quite superbly why superbly the others its always superb to live said the three banded armadillo and so I 1 protect myself to live see the others nodded and he con I 1 have only three bands and so am named the three banded arma dallo and am called sir three as sou all 1 now 1930 wearn union |