“Now, there were two guinea pigs which were quite big. They were the mother and daddy guinea pigs. And there were three smaller guinea pigs. They were the children, of course,” explained daddy, “and they all belonged to a pretty little girl named Alta.
“It was night-time, and Alta was sound asleep. And as it was winter-time, the guinea pigs were in the box in Alta’s room.
“The guinea pigs were all asleep, too, when they heard a scratching on their box. First Daddy Guinea Pig opened his eyes.
“‘What is it you want?’ he asked.
“‘Don’t be afraid,’ said a low voice. ‘I’m Peter Gnome. I’ve come to call on you. I won’t hurt you. I think you are all very nice. And your children, sir, are lovely.’
“That pleased Daddy Guinea Pig so much that he invited Peter Gnome to look at the children and to play with them. Mother Guinea Pig was awake now, and as Peter Gnome gently took the little guinea pigs in his hands, one by one, they squealed sleepily and seemed no more than little round bits of fuzz.
“First Peter Gnome would stroke one guinea pig and then another, and he told the daddy and mother that he simply could not make up his mind which was the loveliest.
“That delighted the proud parents, for they had never been able to decide themselves.
“‘Did you feel like eating the children when they were very young, Mr. Guinea Pig?’ asked Peter Gnome.
“‘Feel like eating my own children?’ he squealed in such a loud voice that Peter was very much afraid Alta would awaken.
“‘Well, there are many creatures who do,’ said Peter Gnome. ‘I only asked because I wanted to know and I heard you did.’
“‘Well, now you know,’ said Daddy Guinea Pig, ‘that I do not eat my children when they are young or old. I most certainly do not. I love them from the first day up, and more all the time.’
“‘He does, indeed,’ said Mother Guinea Pig. ‘He is a great help to me. He is an unusual Guinea Pig.’
“‘He is devoted to us,’ squealed the little guinea pigs.
“‘I’m so glad to hear it,’ said Peter Gnome. ‘You’ll forgive the question?’
“‘To be sure,’ said Daddy Guinea Pig, who was calm again now. ‘Of course there are guinea pigs and other creatures who do such things, but I’m not one of them. Never, never, never!’
“‘I’m honored to have met you, sir,’ said Peter Gnome, ‘and your family is wonderful.’ So off he hurried, throwing behind him a piece of cabbage leaf and saying to himself what a lovely family of guinea pigs they were.”