brother, Uncle
Columbus, who had devoted himself since childhood to learned pursuits,
and was much respected by the rest of the family.

He looked down upon all amusements as frivolous, but then he had been
to College, so his superior mind was only what was to be expected.

The Councillor belonged to an ancient Thuringian race who had been
settled for centuries in the forest near the little town of Ruhla.
They were a proud family, for one of their uncles had, some years
before, been called to take up the position of Court Hedgehog at the
Royal country Palace, where he moved in the highest society, and
occasionally invited his relations to visit him.

"But fifty miles is really almost too far to go with nothing but a cup
of coffee at the end," said the Hedgehog-mother, "and he never invites
us to sleep. We don't, therefore, see so much of him as we otherwise
should do."

"That must be very trying," replied the Mole-mother, to whom these
confidences were being poured out.

"Yes, for of course it would be an inestimable advantage to the
children to see a little Court life. However, with the fashions
altering so quickly, it would be difficult for me to arrange their
dresses in the last mode--and I couldn't have them looked down upon."

"Of course not," humbly replied the Mole-mother. She was sitting by
the table, with her homespun knitting in her hand; and though she was
trying to pay attention to her friend's words, she was arranging her
dinner for the next day at the same time, and wondering whether her
eldest child could have one more tuck let out of her frock before
Christmas time.

"It's all very well for the Hedgehog-mother," she thought. "She comes
of a high family, and can live in luxury; but with all my children,
and my poor husband working away from morning till night, I'm obliged
to plan every coffee bean, or I could never keep the house together!"

The Councillor's wife, however, talked on without noticing her
distraction.

"Do you ever find any inconveniences from living so near the town?"
she enquired. "Do the boys ever annoy you? They are sometimes very
ill-bred."

"Our house is in such a retired position, I seldom see anyone,"
replied the Mole-mother. "The Forester's family are our nearest
neighbours, and really they are so kind they might almost be Moles
themselves."

"That is very pleasant for you," said the Frau Councillor. "_Our_ case
is quite different. The Rats who keep the inn at the c