“But surely—a little something ...” said the fairy, and she looked at him more thoughtfully than ever.
Now all this happened a very long time ago, when pigs had quite straight tails like most of the other animals, and suddenly, looking at his tail, the fairy had an idea. “I know, I know,” she said. “You shall have a curly tail. It will be an immense improvement, and so uncommon.”
The pig looked rather pleased. “Well, have your own way,” he said. “I can’t see my own tail, in any case, but I dare say it wouldn’t look bad.”
So the fairy touched the pig’s tail with her wand, and it instantly curled up into nice little rings.
Ever since that day pigs have had curly tails, and now you know how they came by this beautiful adornment.
FIVE
The Second Adventure of the Rainbow Cat
THE Rainbow Cat went on and on until at last he came to the country of the Tree-goblins. The Tree-goblins are happy people; they live in the trees like birds, though they can’t fly. They are indeed very friendly with the birds, and they understand the bird language, so that they are able to send one another messages without any need of the post—which is very convenient!
When winter comes the goblins go and live in their caves underground. It is a great change after the trees, and they are always delighted when spring returns again.