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Show Mr. Wart Hog: sZlai rL the Children By MARY GRAHAM BONNER "The keepers are great," said Mr. Wart Hog. "Tlicy feed me so I have a great deal of use for them." "Don't talk like that," said the peccary a member of the wild pig family "it's not good form." "Oh, gracious," said the wart hog, "who cares for good form? I'm sure I don't And I don't think you think such a great deal of it, either, not from things I've noticed." no-ticed." Now the peccary knew that that was doubtless very true, so he did not try to argue any longer. "I came from the tropics," said the peccary. "It's warm there and not like this winter climate." "Oh, very well," suld Mr. Wart Hog, "but the sun Is out today and I'm feeling pretty sleepy." "Is that a hint?" said Mr. Peccary. Pec-cary. "Take it any way you like," said Mr. Wart Hog. "I must admit "I'm Thoroughly Ugly." though, thut I am fond of sleeping." "Keally, when I stop to think of It," said the peccary, "you are the ugliest creature I have ever seen." "That's better than being nothing noth-ing at all," said the wart hog. "I would rather be terrifically ugly than just plain and unattractive looking. "As It Is, I have distinction. I'm so ugly that I fascinate people. They gaze and gaze and gaze at me, and tliey say to each other: " 'Did you ever, In all your born day.--, pee such an u'ly creature?'" "And you like that 5" asked Mr. Peccary. "To he sure," said Mr. Wart llog. "I feel as if I did things thoroughly, thorough-ly, not half way. "I'm thoroughly ugly Just as ugly as can be the ugliest creature crea-ture anyone can spe." "Of all the things to boast about !" said Mr. Peccary. "Thai Is quite the strangest." "Well, I'm naturally contented," said Mr. Wart Hog. "I like to lie In the sun and sleep, and then wuke up and have something to eat "It's an ideal existence, perfectly Ideal. And I am proud that I take the lead In ugliness." "Most people," said Mr. Peccary, "like to take the lead In beauty, but not in ugliness." "I am not like 'most people,' " said Mr. Wart Hog. "I am the wart hog. "I have white crooked horns. They are queer. My snout hangs down in a most peculiar fashion. 1 am very much wrinkled, and 1 have a few ugly hairs-. I'm truly ugly." "I'm interesting looking," said Mr. Peccary. "I'm rather bushy, like a porcupine. I have a snout like a pig's but not such as yours. "I have a small, dainty under lip. and my coat is black and gray. "My home Is In the tropics, as I said before, and I'm a great addition ad-dition to the zoo, I'm sure." But Mr. Wart Hog had gone to sleep. It was one of his great pleasures. ((c). 1930. Western Ntwppaper t'nlon.) |