As Tally told the story, Julie wrote quickly, and this is her copy of it which she sent to the Elmertown Record.
“Once upon a time the Beaver and Porcupine were very good friends. They traveled everywhere together and kept each other informed of all that happened; and, because of the Porcupine’s sharp quills, other inhabitants of the woods shunned them both.
“The Bear was in constant fear of the Porcupine; he had experienced the sharpness of those quills, but he preferred the Beaver for a dinner and he endeavored to break up a beaver-dam just to catch and eat one of the family. The Porcupine stayed in the Beaver’s home which is very dry inside and comfortable to live in; so, when the Bear would try to tear down the dam to let the water run away and expose the Beavers, the Porcupine generally came out to object. When the Bear saw his enemy he, with an apology, would hurry away. Then the Porcupine would jeer and the Beavers usually came out to hoot at their clumsy adversary.
“But the dam had to be repaired, hence the Porcupine sat and kept guard during that time. When the dam was almost completed, the Porcupine said: ‘My, but I am hungry! Will you come with me while I get some bark and sap from yonder tree?’
“Now the Beaver cannot climb trees, so he replied: ‘Friend, I will remain here at the bottom and wait while you eat your fill.’
“The Porcupine was soon up in the tree enjoying his supper, then the stealthy old Bear crept back to catch the Beaver. But the wise Beaver saw him coming and called to his partner:
“‘Brother, the Bear is coming! What shall I do?’
“The Porcupine slid down the tree quickly and said: ‘Lay your head close to my back and I will help you up the tree.’
“So the Beaver was helped into the crotch of the lower limbs of the tree, and the Porcupine waited near the ground to drive off the Bear. After a time, the Bear being gone, the Porcupine jumped down from the tree, but the Beaver was huddled where the boughs branched from the trunk.
“‘Oh, come and help me down!’ cried he to the Porcupine, but the little animal pretended not to hear him.