John, Peter and Paul went to the races with their parents. They had seen horses run, and they had lots of fun.
Got home, John said to his brothers:
“If we were running, too?“
“But we have no horses,” replied Peter.
“What does it matter? We each have a turtle, and turtles may as well run as horses; slower, that’s all.“
Each child went to fetch his turtle. Then they chose three beautiful snails, which are the jockeys.
Jean brought his box of colors, and he painted every snail a different coat, one yellow, one red, and one green.
He also wanted to make their caps. But snails said, “No, thank you,” and went back their horns.
The three children prepared a track in the garden, with posts at the end, and a forum with roses and carnations, which were the elegant ladies.
Then they lined up their three turtles mounted by the three snails, and John gave the signal to start.
But, alas! none of the three turtles moved.
Then Peter ran to get his drum, and Paul tickled tail turtles with twigs.
Turtles finally decided to leave. But instead of going straight ahead, they went right or left, and Paul turtle even came back.
Then John had an idea:
“If we put salads instead of poles!“
And quickly, at the end of the track, the children planted three beautiful salads.
When turtles saw this appetizing green, they marched by themselves, and Jean walked so quickly that his jockey, I mean his snail, rolled to the ground.
She arrived first at the end; and for reward he was given posts, I mean salads, and even roses and carnations of the grandstand, which included the elegant ladies.
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