ize how lucky yo' are. If Ah never
had to worry about mah hungry neighbors, Ah reckons perhaps Ah might
brush mah coat oftener." Unc' Billy's eyes twinkled more than ever.

"Worry," replied Jimmy Skunk sagely, "is the result of being unprepared.
Anybody who is prepared has no occasion to worry. Just think it over,
Unc' Billy."

It was Unc' Billy's turn to scratch his head thoughtfully. "Ah fear Ah
don't quite get your meaning, Brer Skunk," said he.

"Sit down, Unc' Billy, and I'll explain," replied Jimmy.

XIII

JIMMY SKUNK EXPLAINS

You'll find this true where'er you go
That those prepared few troubles know.

"To begin with, I am not such a very big fellow, am I?" said Jimmy.

"Ah reckons Ah knows a right smart lot of folks bigger than yo', Brer
Skunk," replied Unc' Billy, with a grin. You know Jimmy Skunk really is
a little fellow compared with some of his neighbors.

"And I haven't very long claws or very big teeth, have I?" continued
Jimmy.

"Ah reckons mine are about as long and about as big," returned Unc'
Billy, looking more puzzled than ever.

"But you never see anybody bothering me, do you?" went on Jimmy.

"No," replied Unc' Billy.

"And it's the same way with Prickly Porky the Porcupine. You never see
anybody bothering him or offering to do him any harm, do you?" persisted
Jimmy.

"No," replied Unc' Billy once more.

"Why?" demanded Jimmy.

Unc' Billy grinned broadly. "Ah reckons, Brer Skunk," said he, "that
there isn't anybody wants to go fo' to meddle with yo' and Brer Porky.
Ah reckons most folks knows what would happen if they did, and that yo'
and Brer Porky are folks it's a sight mo' comfortable to leave alone.
Leastways, Ah does. Ah ain't aiming fo' trouble with either of yo'. That
li'l bag of scent yo' carry is cert'nly most powerful, Brer Skunk, and
Ah isn't hankering to brush against those little spears Brer Porky is
so free with. Ah knows when Ah's well off, and Ah reckons most folks
feel the same way."

Jimmy Skunk chuckled. "One more question, Unc' Billy," said he. "Did you
ever know me to pick a quarrel and use that bag of scent without being
attacked?"

Unc' Billy considered for a few minutes. "Ah can't say Ah ever did," he
replied.

"And you never knew Prickly Porky to go hunting trouble either,"
declared Jimmy. "We don't either of us go hunting trouble, and trouble
never comes hunting us, and the reason is that we both are always
prepared for trouble and