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diff --git a/old/14732-h.zip b/old/14732-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b15f3c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14732-h.zip diff --git a/old/14732-h/14732-h.htm b/old/14732-h/14732-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9abdb6b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14732-h/14732-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2849 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum, by Thornton W. Burgess</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + max-width: 40em;} + p {text-align: justify;} + h3+p:first-letter {float: left; + padding-right: 0.1em; + margin-top: -0.1em; + font-size: 200%;} + p.dropcap:first-letter {float: left; + padding-right: 0.1em; + margin-top: -0.1em; + font-size: 200%;} + div.trans-note {border-style: solid; + border-width: 1px; + text-align: center; + font-size: 0.8em; } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + h5 {margin-top: -1.5em} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + .illustrations {font-size: 0.9em;} + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; margin-left: 40%; width: 20%;} + .poem {margin-left:20%; + margin-right:10%; + margin-bottom: 1em; + text-align: left;} + .center {text-align: center; } + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.start {margin-left: -.4em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem p.i20 {margin-left: 10em;} + .figcenter {padding: 1em; + margin: auto; + clear: both; + text-align: center; + font-size: 0.8em;} + .figcenter p {margin: 0; text-indent: 1em;} + + table { /* style all < table> elements */ + margin-top: 1em; /* space above the table */ + caption-side: top; /* or bottom! */ + empty-cells: show; /* usual default is hide */ + } + + thead td, tfoot td { /* center & bold */ + text-align: center; + font-weight: bold; + } + table .shade { /* tr or td class="shade" */ + background-color: #ddd; + } + td.chapter {text-align: right;} + td, td > p { + margin-top: -0.50em; + margin-left: 1.0em; + font-size: 90%; + text-align: left; + vertical-align: top; + line-height: 1.1em; + } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + // --> + /*]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum, by +Thornton W. Burgess, Illustrated by Harrison Cady</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum</p> +<p>Author: Thornton W. Burgess</p> +<p>Release Date: January 19, 2005 [eBook #14732]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF UNC' BILLY POSSUM***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Richard J. Shiffer,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h3> +<p> </p> +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" bgcolor="ccccff" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Transcriber's Note: + </td> + <td> + Unfortunately two of the six illustrations are not available. + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/000.png" + alt="The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum - Front Cover" + title="" /> + </div> + +<p> </p> + <h4>The Bedtime Story-Books</h4> + + <h1>THE ADVENTURES OF UNC' BILLY POSSUM</h1> + + <h3>by</h3> + + <h2>THORNTON W. BURGESS</h2> + + <h4>Author of <i>The Adventures of Peter Cottontail</i>, <i>Old Mother + West Wind</i>, etc.</h4> + + <h3><i>With Illustrations by HARRISON CADY</i></h3><br /> + +<p> </p> + <h6>Boston<br /> + Little, Brown, and Company</h6> +<p> </p> + + <h5>1920</h5> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/001-lg.png" + name="fig01" + id="fig01"><img src="images/001-sm.png" + alt="Reddy Fox sprang up as if some one had stuck a pin into him. FRONTISPIECE." /> + </a> + + <h4>Reddy Fox sprang up as if some one had stuck a pin into + him.<br /> + <br /> + FRONTISPIECE.</h4> + </div> + <hr /> + + <h2>Table of Contents</h2> + + <table summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#I">I.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#I">UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS CAUGHT</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#II">II.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#II">REDDY FOX THINKS HE SEES A + GHOST</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#III">III.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#III">UNC' BILLY POSSUM SENDS FOR HIS + FAMILY</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#IV">IV.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#IV">BOBBY COON ENTERS THE WRONG + HOUSE</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#V">V.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#V">BOBBY COON IS WAKED UP</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#VI">VI.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#VI">SAMMY JAY LEARNS PETER RABBIT'S + SECRET</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#VII">VII.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#VII">FOUR LITTLE SCAMPS PLAN + MISCHIEF</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#VIII">VIII.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#VIII">PETER RABBIT SENDS OUT + WORD</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#IX">IX.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#IX">MR. TOAD AND PRICKLY PORKY PUT THEIR + HEADS TOGETHER</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#X">X.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#X">THE RUNAWAY CABBAGE</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XI">XI.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XI">REDDY FOX GOES HUNGRY</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XII">XII.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XII">PRICKLY PORKY MAKES HIMSELF AT + HOME</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XIII">XIII.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XIII">UNC' BILLY POSSUM GROWS + HUNGRY</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XIV">XIV.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XIV">OLD MRS. POSSUM GROWS + WORRIED</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XV">XV.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XV">THE FOOLISHNESS OF UNC' BILLY + POSSUM</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XVI">XVI.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XVI">WHY UNC' BILLY POSSUM DIDN'T GO + HOME</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XVII">XVII.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XVII">UNC' BILLY POSSUM LIES LOW</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XVIII">XVIII.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XVIII">UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS A + PRISONER</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XIX">XIX.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XIX">WHAT THE SNOW DID</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XX">XX.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XX">UNC' BILLY POSSUM WISHES HE HAD + SNOWSHOES</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XXI">XXI.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XXI">FARMER BROWN'S BOY CHOPS DOWN A + TREE</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XXII">XXII.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XXII">WHERE UNC' BILLY POSSUM + WAS</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XXIII">XXIII.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XXIII">HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL MAKES AN + UNEXPECTED CALL</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XXIV">XXIV.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XXIV">HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL HELPS UNC' + BILLY POSSUM</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chapter"><a href="#XXV">XXV.</a></td> + + <td><a href="#XXV">HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL'S BRIGHT + IDEA</a></td> + </tr> + </table><br /> + + <hr /> + + <h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + <div class="illustrations"> + <a href="#fig01">REDDY FOX SPRANG UP AS IF SOME ONE HAD + STUCK A PIN INTO HIM</a><br /> + <br /> + MY! MY! MY! SUCH A RUMPUS AS THERE WAS RIGHT AWAY IN THAT + HOLLOW TREE!<br /> + <br /> + <a href="#fig02">"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" EXCLAIMED THE OTHERS + ALL TOGETHER</a><br /> + <br /> + <a href="#fig03">HE JUST ATE AND ATE AND ATE UNTIL HE + COULDN'T EAT ANOTHER ONE</a><br /> + <br /> + <a href="#fig04">THERE ALL THE WAY FROM FARMER BROWN'S + HEN-HOUSE, WAS A BROAD TRAIL IN THE SMOOTH WHITE + SNOW</a><br /> + <br /> + "YO' TELL UNC' BILLY POSSUM THAT AH DON' CARE IF HE NEVER + COMES BACK" + </div> + +<br /> + <hr /> + <br /> + + <h1>THE ADVENTURES OF UNC' BILLY POSSUM</h1><br /> + + + <h2><a name="I" + id="I"></a>I</h2> + + <h3>UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS CAUGHT</h3> + + <p class="dropcap">THE Green Meadows were thrown into great + excitement late one afternoon, just as the black shadows came + creeping down from the Purple Hills. Reddy Fox brought the + news, and when he told it he grinned as if he enjoyed it and + was glad of it.</p> + + <p>"Old Billy Possum is dead. I know it because I saw Farmer + Brown's boy carrying him home by the tail," said Reddy. "So you + see he wasn't so smart as you thought he was," he added + maliciously.</p> + + <p>No one really believed Reddy Fox, for every one knows that + he seldom tells the truth, but when Jimmy Skunk came mournfully + down the Crooked Little Path and said that it was true, they + had to believe it. Then everybody began to talk about Unc' + Billy and say nice things about him and tell how much they had + enjoyed having him live in the Green Forest since he came up + from "Ol' Virginny." That is, everybody but Reddy Fox said so. + Reddy said that it served Unc' Billy right, because he was of + no account, anyway. Then everybody began to hoot and hiss at + Reddy until he was glad enough to slink away.</p> + + <p>And while they were all saying such nice things about him, + Unc' Billy Possum was having an exciting adventure. For once he + had been too bold. He had gone up to Farmer Brown's hen-house + before dark. Jimmy Skunk had tried to stop him, but he had + heeded Jimmy Skunk not at all. He had said that he was hungry + and wanted an egg, and he couldn't wait till dark to get it. So + off he had started, for Unc' Billy Possum is very headstrong + and obstinate.</p> + + <p>He had reached the hen-house and slipped inside without + being seen. The nests were full of eggs, and soon Unc' Billy + was enjoying his feast so that he forgot to keep watch. + Suddenly the door opened, and in stepped Farmer Brown's boy to + get some eggs for supper. There was no time to run. Unc' Billy + just dropped right down in his tracks as if he were dead.</p> + + <p>When Farmer Brown's boy saw him, he didn't know what to make + of him, for he had never seen Unc' Billy before.</p> + + <p>"Well, well, I wonder what happened to this fellow," said + Farmer Brown's boy, turning Unc' Billy over with the toe of one + foot. "He certainly is dead enough, whatever killed him. I + wonder what he was doing in here."</p> + + <p>Then he saw some egg on Unc' Billy's lips. "Ho! ho!" shouted + Farmer Brown's boy. "So you are the thief who has been getting + my eggs!" And picking up Unc' Billy by the tail, he started + with him for the house.</p> + + <p>As they passed the woodpile, he tossed Unc' Billy on the + chopping-block while he gathered an armful of kindlings to take + to the house. When he turned to pick up Unc' Billy again, Unc' + Billy wasn't there.</p> + + <p>Farmer Brown's boy dropped his wood and hunted everywhere, + but not a trace of Unc' Billy could he find.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="II" + id="II"></a>II</h2> + + <h3>REDDY FOX THINKS HE SEES A GHOST</h3> + + <p>REDDY FOX came down the Lone Little Path through the Green + Forest on his way to the Green Meadows. He had brushed his red + coat until it shone. His white waistcoat was spotless, and he + carried his big tail high in the air, that it might not become + soiled. Reddy was feeling as fine as he looked. He would have + liked to sing, but every time he tried his voice cracked, and + he was afraid that some one would hear him and laugh at him. If + there is one thing that Reddy Fox dislikes more than another, + it is being laughed at.</p> + + <p>Reddy chuckled at his thoughts, and what do you think he was + thinking about? Why, about how he had seen Farmer Brown's boy + carrying off Unc' Billy Possum by the tail the afternoon + before. He knew how Farmer Brown's boy had caught Unc' Billy in + the hen-house, and with his own eyes he had seen Unc' Billy + carried off. Of course Unc' Billy was dead. There could be no + doubt about it. And Reddy was glad of it. Yes, Sir, Reddy was + glad of it. Unc' Billy Possum had made altogether too many + friends in the Green Forest and on the Green Meadows, and he + had made Reddy the laughing-stock of them all by the way he had + dared Reddy to meet Bowser the Hound, and actually had waited + for Bowser while Reddy ran away.</p> + + <p>Reddy remembered that Unc' Billy's hollow tree was not far + away. He would go over that way, just to have another look at + it. So over he went. There stood the old hollow tree, and half + way up was the door out of which Unc' Billy used to look down + on him and grin. It was Reddy's turn to grin now. Presently he + sat down with his back against the foot of the tree, crossed + his legs, looked this way and that way to make sure that no one + was about, and then in a dreadfully cracked voice he began to + sing:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Ol' Bill Possum, he's gone + before!</p> + + <p>Ol' Bill Possum, he is no more!</p> + + <p class="i6">Bill was a scamp, Sir;</p> + + <p class="i6">Bill was a thief!</p> + + <p class="i6">Bill stole an egg, Sir;</p> + + <p class="i6">Bill came to grief.</p> + + <p>Ol' Bill Possum, it served him right;</p> + + <p>And he is no more, for he died last night."</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>"Very good, Sah, very good. Ah cert'nly am obliged to yo'all + for yo' serenade," said a voice that seemed to come out of the + tree at Reddy's back.</p> + + <p>Reddy Fox sprang up as if some one had stuck a pin into him. + Every hair stood on end, as he looked up at Unc' Billy's + doorway. Then his teeth began to chatter with fright. Looking + out of Unc' Billy's doorway and grinning down at him was + something that looked for all the world like Unc' Billy + himself.</p> + + <p>"It must be his ghost!" said Reddy, and tucking his tail + between his legs, he started up the Crooked Little Path as fast + as his legs could take him.</p> + + <p>Reddy never once looked back. If he had, he might have seen + Unc' Billy Possum climb down from the hollow tree and shake + hands with Jimmy Skunk, who had just come along.</p> + + <p>"How did Ah do it? Why, Ah just pretended Ah was daid, when + Farmer Brown's boy caught me," explained Unc' Billy. "Of course + he' wouldn't kill a daid Possum. So when he tossed me down on + the chopping-block and turned his back, Ah just naturally came + to life again, and here Ah am."</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy Possum grinned broader than ever, and Jimmy Skunk + grinned, too.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="III" + id="III"></a>III</h2> + + <h3>UNC' BILLY POSSUM SENDS FOR HIS FAMILY</h3> + + <p>THE news that Unc' Billy Possum wasn't dead at all but was + back in his hollow tree in the Green Forest soon spread through + all the Green Forest and over the Green Meadows. Everybody + hastened to pay their respects, that is everybody but Reddy + Fox. Unc' Billy and his partner, Jimmy Skunk, told every one + who called how Reddy Fox had thought that Unc' Billy was a + ghost and had been frightened almost to death, so that he ran + away as fast as his legs could take him. Unc' Billy grinned as + he told how Reddy had sat under the hollow tree and tried to + sing because he was so glad that Unc' Billy was dead, and all + the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows + laughed until their sides ached when in a funny, cracked voice + Unc' Billy sang the song for them.</p> + + <p>Thereafter whenever one of them caught sight of Reddy Fox at + a safe distance, he would shout:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Ol' Bill Possum, he's gone + before!</p> + + <p>Ol' Bill Possum, he is no more!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>It got so that Reddy never came down on the Green Meadows in + the daytime, and at night he avoided meeting any one if + possible, even his old friend, Bobby Coon. And of course Reddy + Fox hated Unc' Billy Possum more than ever.</p> + + <p>But Unc' Billy didn't care, not he! He knew that all the + rest of the little people of the Green Forest and the Green + Meadows thought him the smartest of them all, because of the + way in which he had fooled Bowser the Hound and Farmer Brown's + boy. He liked his neighbors, he liked the Green Forest, and so + he made up his mind that this was the place for him to + stay.</p> + + <p>But in spite of all his friends, Unc' Billy was lonesome. + The longer he stayed, the more lonesome he grew, Unc' Billy + wanted his family, whom he had left way down in "Ol' Virginny." + Finally he told Jimmy Skunk all about it, and for once Unc' + Billy had forgotten how to grin. Yes, Sir, Unc' Billy had + forgotten how to grin. Instead he just wept, wept great big + tears of lonesomeness.</p> + + <p>"Ah reckon Ah'll have to go back to Ol' Virginny, Ah + cert'nly do," said Unc' Billy Possum.</p> + + <p>Jimmy Skunk grew very thoughtful. Since he and Unc' Billy + Possum had been in partnership, Jimmy had had more eggs to eat + than ever before in his whole life. Now Unc' Billy was talking + about going away. Jimmy thought very hard. Then he had a bright + idea.</p> + + <p>"Why not send for your family to come here and live in the + Green Forest, Uncle Billy?" he asked.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy stopped crying. His two little eyes looked up + sharply. "How do yo'all reckon Ah can send word?" he asked.</p> + + <p>Jimmy scratched his head. "There's Mr. Skimmer the Swallow; + he's fixing to go South. Perhaps he'll take the message to your + family," said he.</p> + + <p>"The very thing!" cried Unc' Billy Possum, wiping his eyes. + "Ah thanks yo', Sah. Ah does, indeed. Ah'll see Mistah Skimmer + at once."</p> + + <p>And without another word Unc' Billy Possum started down the + Crooked Little Path for the Green Meadows to look for Skimmer + the Swallow.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="IV" + id="IV"></a>IV</h2> + + <h3>BOBBY COON ENTERS THE WRONG HOUSE</h3> + + <p>AFTER Unc' Billy Possum had arranged with Skimmer the + Swallow, who was going South, to take a message to his family + in "Ol' Virginny," telling them to come and join him in the + Green Forest, he at once began to make preparations to receive + them. Unc' Billy isn't any too fond of work. He had a lot + rather that some one else should do the work for him, and he is + smart enough to fix it so that usually some one else does.</p> + + <p>But getting ready to receive his family was different. No + one else could arrange things to suit him. This was Unc' + Billy's own job, and he tended right to it every minute of the + day. First of all he had to clean house. He had been keeping + bachelor's hall so long in the big hollow tree that things were + not very tidy. So Unc' Billy cleaned house, and while he worked + he whistled and sang. Peter Rabbit, passing that way, overheard + Unc' Billy singing:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Mah ol' woman is away down + Souf—</p> + + <p class="i4">Come along! Come along!</p> + + <p>Ain't nothin' sharper than the tongue in her + mouf—</p> + + <p class="i4">Come along! Come along!</p> + + <p>She once was pretty, but she ain't no mo',</p> + + <p>But she cooks mah meals an' she sweeps mah flo';</p> + + <p>She darns mah stockings an' she mends mah coat,</p> + + <p>An' she knows jes' how mah chillun fer to + tote—</p> + + <p class="i4">Come along! Come along!</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Mah pickaninnies am a-headin' dis + way—</p> + + <p class="i4">Come along! Come along!</p> + + <p>Daddy am a-watchin' fo' 'em day by day—</p> + + <p class="i4">Come along! Come along!</p> + + <p>Mah ol' haid aches when Ah thinks ob de noise</p> + + <p>De's boun' to be wid dem gals an' boys,</p> + + <p>But Ah doan care if it busts in two</p> + + <p>If de good Lord brings dem chillun troo—</p> + + <p class="i4">Come along! Come along!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Every little while Unc' Billy Possum would sit down to rest, + for he wasn't used to so much real work. But finally he got his + house clean and made as comfortable as possible, and about that + time be began to think how good an egg would taste. The more he + thought about it, the more he wanted that egg.</p> + + <p>"It's no use talking, Ah just naturally has to have that + egg," said Unc' Billy to himself, and off he started for Farmer + Brown's.</p> + + <p>Now Unc' Billy was hardly out of sight when along came Bobby + Coon. Bobby Coon was absent-minded, or else he was so sleepy + that he didn't know what he was doing, for Bobby Coon had been + out all night. Anyway, when he reached Unc' Billy Possum's + hollow tree, he began to climb up it just as if it were his + own. He looked in at Unc' Billy's door. There was the most + comfortable bed that he had seen for a long time. He looked + this way and he looked that way. Nobody was in sight. Then he + looked in at Unc' Billy's door once more. That bed certainly + did look soft and comfortable. Bobby Coon chuckled to + himself.</p> + + <p>"I believe I'll just see if that bed is as comfortable as it + looks," said he.</p> + + <p>And two minutes later Bobby Coon was curled up fast asleep + in Unc' Billy Possum's bed.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="V" + id="V"></a>V</h2> + + <h3>BOBBY COON IS WAKED UP</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Dey's a-coming, dey's a-coming, dey's + a-coming mighty soon.</p> + + <p>But dey can't come soon enuff fo' me!</p> + + <p>Dey's a-coming, dey's a-coming at de turning ob de + moon,</p> + + <p>Whar Ah waits in mah ol' holler tree!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="dropcap">UNC' BILLY POSSUM was singing to himself, as + he slowly trudged home from Farmer Brown's hen-house. He was + feeling very good, very good indeed, was Unc' Billy Possum. No + one appreciates strictly fresh eggs more than Unc' Billy does, + and he had found more than he could eat waiting for him in + Farmer Brown's hen-house. Now his stomach was full, his house + had been cleaned and put to rights, ready for his family when + they should arrive from "Ol' Virginny," and he had nothing to + do but wait for them. So he trudged along and sang in a funny, + cracked voice.</p> + + <p>Presently he came to his big hollow tree and started to + climb up to the door of his house. Half way up he broke off + short in the middle of his song and sat down on a convenient + branch. He put one ear against the trunk of the tree and + listened. Then he put the other ear against the tree and + listened. There certainly was a funny noise, and it seemed to + come from right inside his hollow tree. Unc' Billy turned and + looked up at his doorway, scratching his head thoughtfully with + one hand.</p> + + <p>"Mah goodness!" said Unc' Billy, "it cert'nly sounds like + there was somebody in mah house!"</p> + + <p>Then very softly Unc' Billy crept up to his doorway and + peeped in. It was dark inside, so that Unc' Billy could see + little else than that his nice, freshly made, comfortable bed + was all mussed up. But if he couldn't see, he could hear. Oh, + yes, indeed, Unc' Billy could hear perfectly well, and what he + heard was a snore! There was some one in Unc' Billy's house, + and more than that, they were fast asleep in Unc' Billy's + bed.</p> + + <p>"Mah goodness! Mah goodness!" exclaimed Unc' Billy Possum, + and his two sharp little eyes began to snap. Then he stuck his + head in at the door and shouted:</p> + + <p>"Hi, yo'all! What yo' doing in mah house?"</p> + + <p>The only answer was another snore. Unc' Billy waited a + minute. Then he put his head in once more.</p> + + <p>"Yo' better come out of mah house, Mr. Who-ever-yo'-are, + before Ah comes in and puts yo' out!" shouted Unc' Billy.</p> + + <p>The only answer was a snore louder than before. Then Unc' + Billy quite lost his temper. Some one who had no business there + was in his house! He didn't know who it was, and he didn't + care. They were going to come out or he would know why not. + Unc' Billy gritted his teeth and in he went.</p> + + <p>My! my! my! such a rumpus as there was right away in that + hollow tree! Peter Rabbit happened to be coming along that way + and heard it. Peter stopped and gazed at the hollow tree with + eyes and mouth wide open. Such a snarling and growling! Then + out of the doorway began to fly leaves and moss. They were part + of Unc' Billy's bed. Then Peter saw a big ringed tail hanging + out of the doorway. Peter recognized it right away. No one + possessed a tail like that but Bobby Coon.</p> + + <p>In a minute Bobby followed his tail, hastily backing down + the tree. Then Unc' Billy's sharp little old face appeared at + the doorway. Unc' Billy looked down at Peter Rabbit and + grinned.</p> + + <p>"Ah guess Mistah Coon done make a mistake when he went to + bed in mah house," said he.</p> + + <p>And Bobby Coon sheepishly admitted that he did.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="VI" + id="VI"></a>VI</h2> + + <h3>SAMMY JAY LEARNS PETER RABBIT'S SECRET</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"I'm Mr. Jaybird, tee-hee-hee!</p> + + <p>I'm Mr. Jaybird; you watch me!</p> + + <p>You've got to rise 'fore break of day</p> + + <p>If you want to fool old Mr. Jay."</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="dropcap">OVER and over Sammy Jay hummed this, as he + brushed his handsome blue and white coat. Then he laughed as he + remarked to no one in particular, for no one was near enough to + hear: "Peter Rabbit's got a secret. When Peter goes about + whispering, it's a sure sign that he's got a secret. He thinks + that he can keep it from me, but he can't. Oh, my, no! I never + knew of a secret that could be kept by more than two people, + and already I've seen Peter whisper to five. I'll just see what + Reddy Fox knows about it."</p> + + <p>With a flirt of his tail Sammy Jay started for the Green + Meadows, where Reddy Fox was busy hunting for his + breakfast.</p> + + <p>"It's a fine morning, Reddy Fox," said Sammy Jay.</p> + + <p>"It would be finer, if I could fill my stomach faster," + replied Reddy.</p> + + <p>"That's a pretty good secret of Peter Rabbit's, isn't it?" + asked Sammy, pretending to look very wise.</p> + + <p>Reddy pricked up his sharp little ears.</p> + + <p>"What secret?" he demanded.</p> + + <p>"If you don't know, I'm not going to tell," retorted Sammy + Jay, just as if he knew all about it, and off he flew to hunt + up his cousin, Blacky the Crow. Blacky knew nothing about Peter + Rabbit's secret, nor did Shadow the Weasel, whom he met by the + way. But Sammy Jay was not in the least bit discouraged.</p> + + <p>"I'll try Johnny Chuck; he'll know," said Sammy to + himself.</p> + + <p>He found Johnny sitting on his doorstep, watching the world + go by.</p> + + <p>"Good morning, Johnny Chuck," said Sammy, with a low + bow.</p> + + <p>"Good morning," replied Johnny Chuck, who always is + polite.</p> + + <p>"Isn't that a fine secret of Peter Rabbit's?" exclaimed + Sammy, just as if he knew all about it.</p> + + <p>Johnny Chuck raised his eyebrows and put on the most + surprised look.</p> + + <p>"Do tell me what it is!" he begged.</p> + + <p>"Oh, if you don't know, I won't tell, for that wouldn't be + fair," replied Sammy, and tried to look very honest and + innocent, and then he flew over to the Green Forest. And as he + flew, he said to himself: "Johnny Chuck can't fool me; he does + know Peter Rabbit's secret."</p> + + <p>Over in the Green Forest he found Drummer the Woodpecker + making a great racket on the hollow limb of an old chestnut. + Sammy sat down near by and listened. "My, that's fine! I wish I + could do that. You must be practising," said Sammy at the end + of a long rat-a-tat-tat.</p> + + <p>Drummer the Woodpecker felt very much flattered. "I am," + said he. "I'm practising for Peter Rabbit's party."</p> + + <p>"I thought so," replied Sammy Jay. Of course he hadn't + thought anything of the kind.</p> + + <p>"Won't Unc' Billy Possum be surprised?" remarked Drummer the + Woodpecker, as he sat down to rest.</p> + + <p>"He surely will," replied Sammy Jay, and then he flattered + and flattered Drummer the Woodpecker until finally Drummer told + all about Peter's plan for a surprise party for Unc' Billy + Possum.</p> + + <p>By and by, as he flew home, Sammy Jay chuckled and said:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"You've got to rise 'fore break of + day</p> + + <p>If you want to fool old Mr. Jay."</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="VII" + id="VII"></a>VII</h2> + + <h3>FOUR LITTLE SCAMPS PLAN MISCHIEF</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Some folks think they're mighty + smart—</p> + + <p class="i6">Oh, la me! Oh, la me!</p> + + <p>Like the knave who stole the tart—</p> + + <p class="i6">Oh, la me! Oh, la me!</p> + + <p>Some folks will waken up some day—</p> + + <p>And find they can't fool Mr. Jay!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="dropcap">SAMMY JAY was mightily pleased with himself. + He had found out all about Peter Rabbit's plan to give Unc' + Billy Possum a surprise party when his family came up from "Ol' + Virginny." He had found out that all the little forest and + meadow people but himself and his cousin, Blacky the Crow, and + Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel had been invited, and that each + was to bring something good to eat. Sammy Jay smacked his lips + as he thought of this. Then he looked up at jolly, round, red + Mr. Sun and winked.</p> + + <p>Now on all the Green Meadows and in all the Green Forest, + there live no greater scamps than Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow + and Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel. The worst of it is, they + are not honest. They steal whenever they get a chance, and + always they try to get others into trouble. That was why Peter + Rabbit had left them out, when he planned his surprise party + for Unc' Billy Possum.</p> + + <p>Sammy Jay called the three others together under the Lone + Pine and told them all about Peter Rabbit's plan and how they + had been left out. Of course Blacky the Crow and Reddy Fox and + Shadow the Weasel were angry, very angry indeed, for no one + likes to be left out of a good time. The more Sammy Jay told + them, the angrier they grew; and the angrier they grew, the + more Sammy Jay chuckled, way down inside. Sammy had a plan, and + the angrier the others grew, the more likely were they to help + him.</p> + + <p>"You wait till I catch Peter Rabbit!" said Reddy Fox and + showed all his teeth. He quite forgot that, despite all his + smartness, he never yet had caught Peter Rabbit.</p> + + <p>Blacky the Crow scratched his head thoughtfully. "We can + spoil his surprise by telling Unc' Billy Possum all about it + beforehand," said he.</p> + + <p>Sammy Jay winked at each of the others. He cleared his + throat and looked all around, to make sure that no one else was + near. Then he leaned forward and whispered: "Let's invite + ourselves to the party."</p> + + <p>"What do you mean?" exclaimed the others, all together.</p> + + <p>"Just what I say," replied Sammy. "We'll be the real + surprise. Before the party begins, you will hide close to where + it is to be. When everybody has got there and brought all the + good things to eat, I'll come flying along and scream: 'Here + comes Bowser the Hound!' Of course every one will run away, and + we'll have all the good things to eat."</p> + + <p>"Haw! haw! haw! The very thing! We'll all be there," cried + Blacky the Crow.</p> + + <p>The four little scamps shook hands and separated. As they + went across the Green Meadows, Sammy Jay's voice floated back + to the Lone Pine. He was singing, although he has a very poor + voice for singing, and this was his song:</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/002-lg.png" + name="fig02" + id="fig02"><img src="images/002-sm.png" + alt=""What do you mean?" exclaimed the others all together." /> + </a> + + <h4>"What do you mean?" exclaimed the others all + together.</h4> + </div> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Some folks think they're mighty + smart—</p> + + <p class="i6">Oh, la me! Oh, la me!</p> + + <p>Like the knave who stole the tart—</p> + + <p class="i6">Oh, la me! Oh, la me!</p> + + <p>Some folks will waken up some day—</p> + + <p>And find they can't fool Mr. Jay!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>"Is that so? Really now, I want to know," said old Mr. Toad, + crawling from under the very piece of bark on which Sammy Jay + had sat when he told his plan. Then old Mr. Toad winked slowly + and solemnly at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun and started off to + find Peter Rabbit.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="VIII" + id="VIII"></a>VIII</h2> + + <h3>PETER RABBIT SENDS OUT WORD</h3> + + <p>IT was a beautiful morning. Everybody said so, and what + everybody says is usually so. Peter Rabbit wore the broadest + kind of a smile. He hopped and skipped all the way down the + Lone Little Path on to the Green Meadows and was waiting there + when Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills and, + turning her big bag upside down, tumbled out all her children, + the Merry Little Breezes, to play. Peter stopped them before + they had a chance to run away. He whispered to each, and each + in turn started to dance across the Green Meadows to carry the + news that this was the day of Peter Rabbit's surprise party for + Unc' Billy Possum, whose family would arrive that very morning + from way down in "Ol' Virginny."</p> + + <p>Sammy Jay had risen very early that morning. Almost at once + his sharp eyes had seen Peter Rabbit sending out the Merry + Little Breezes. Sammy's wits are as sharp as his eyes, and you + know it is very hard to really fool sharp wits. Right away + Sammy had guessed what the Merry Little Breezes were hurrying + so for, but he sat and waited and listened. Pretty soon he + heard Drummer the Woodpecker start a long rat-a-tat-tat over by + Unc' Billy Possum's hollow tree. Then Sammy was sure that this + was the day of Peter Rabbit's party. Sammy grinned as he + hurried off to find Blacky the Crow and Reddy Fox and Shadow + the Weasel.</p> + + <p>Reddy was not yet out of bed, but when he heard Sammy Jay at + his door, he tumbled out in a hurry. He didn't stop to get any + breakfast, because he had planned to get all he could eat at + the party. So he hurried over to where the party was to be. + Very cautiously he crept up, and when he was quite sure that no + one was about, he crawled into a hollow log which was open at + one end. There he stretched himself out and made himself as + comfortable as he could.</p> + + <p>Pretty soon Shadow the Weasel joined Reddy Fox in the hollow + log, and they whispered and chuckled while they waited. They + knew that Blacky the Crow was safely hidden in the top of a + tall pine, where he could see all that went on, and that Sammy + Jay was flying about over the Green Meadows and through the + Green Forest, pretending that he was attending wholly to his + own business, but really watching all the preparations for + Peter Rabbit's party. At the foot of a tree, in the top of + which Prickly Porky the Porcupine was eating his breakfast, sat + old Mr. Toad, nodding sleepily. Sammy Jay saw him there but, + smart as Sammy is, he didn't once suspect innocent-looking old + Mr. Toad. You see, he didn't know that old Mr. Toad had + overheard all of his plans.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="IX" + id="IX"></a>IX</h2> + + <h3>MR. TOAD AND PRICKLY PORKY PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER</h3> + + <p>SLOWLY Prickly Porky the Porcupine climbed down from the top + of the tall poplar tree where he had been getting his breakfast + of tender young bark. He grunted as he worked his way down, for + he had with him a bundle of bark to take over to Peter Rabbit's + surprise party. When he reached the ground, Prickly Porky shook + himself until he rattled the thousand little spears hidden in + his long coat.</p> + + <p>"Tee-hee-hee!"</p> + + <p>"Who dares to laugh at me?" demanded Pricky Porky, shaking + himself until all the little spears rattled again, and some of + them began to peep out of his long coat.</p> + + <p>"No one is laughing at you," replied a voice right behind + him.</p> + + <p>Prickly Porky turned around. There sat old Mr. Toad. His big + mouth was stretched wide open, and he was laughing all to + himself. Something was tickling old Mr. Toad mightily.</p> + + <p>Prickly Porky scowled, and a few more little spears peeped + out of his long coat. You know no one likes to be laughed at, + and it certainly did look as if old Mr. Toad was laughing at + him.</p> + + <p>Mr. Toad stopped laughing and hopped a step nearer. "It's a + joke," said he, and slowly winked one eye.</p> + + <p>"I don't see any joke," said Prickly Porky, and his voice + was very fretful.</p> + + <p>Mr. Toad hopped a step nearer. "Are you going to Peter + Rabbit's party?"</p> + + <p>"Of course I am. What a foolish question," replied Prickly + Porky.</p> + + <p>"To be sure, a very foolish question, a very foolish + question, indeed," assented Mr. Toad. "Do you know that Sammy + Jay and Blacky the Crow and Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel, + who have not been invited, are planning to break up the party + and then gobble up all the good things to eat?" he + continued.</p> + + <p>Prickly Porky laid down his bundle of tender young bark and + stared at old Mr. Toad, "How do you know?" he demanded.</p> + + <p>Old Mr. Toad chuckled deep down in his throat. "I was + underneath a piece of bark on which Sammy Jay was sitting when + the plan was made. Of course he didn't know I was there, and of + course I didn't tell him."</p> + + <p>"Of course not," interrupted Prickly Porky, beginning to + grin.</p> + + <p>"Of course not," continued Mr. Toad, grinning, too. Then he + told Prickly Porky all about the plan he had overheard, how + Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel and Blacky the Crow were to + hide near Unc' Billy Possum's hollow tree, and how Sammy Jay + was to frighten away everybody else by pretending that Bowser + the Hound was coming.</p> + + <p>"Have you told Peter Rabbit?" asked Prickly Porky.</p> + + <p>"Not yet, but I'm going to, by and by," replied old Mr. + Toad. "But first, I want you to help me fool Sammy Jay and + Blacky the Crow and Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel. Will + you?"</p> + + <p>"Of course I will if I can, but how can I?" answered Prickly + Porky promptly.</p> + + <p>Old Mr. Toad hopped up, and stretching up on tiptoe, + whispered in one of Prickly Porky's ears. Prickly Porky began + to smile. Then he began to chuckle. Finally he laughed until he + had to hold his sides.</p> + + <p>"Will you do it?" asked Mr. Toad.</p> + + <p>Prickly Porky reached for his bundle of tender young bark. + "Of course I will," said he, still chuckling. "Come on, Mr. + Toad, it's time we were going."</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="X" + id="X"></a>X</h2> + + <h3>THE RUNAWAY CABBAGE</h3> + + <p>REDDY FOX, hiding with Shadow the Weasel in a hollow log + near Unc' Billy Possum's home, nudged Shadow with his + elbow.</p> + + <p>"I hear some one coming," he whispered.</p> + + <p>Shadow peeped out. "It's old Mr. Toad and Prickly Porky," he + whispered back.</p> + + <p>Something that sounded very much like a growl sounded way + down deep in the throat of Reddy Fox, for Reddy has no love for + Prickly Porky.</p> + + <p>"And there comes Jimmy Skunk, with a big-goose egg under + each arm!" continued Shadow, smacking his lips. Reddy Fox + wriggled up where he could peep out, too.</p> + + <p>"My goodness! What's that coming down the Lone Little Path?" + whispered Reddy.</p> + + <p>Shadow looked. Then he began to laugh, and Reddy began to + laugh, too. But it was laughter that made no sound, for Reddy + and Shadow didn't want any one to know that they were hiding + there. It was a funny sight they were peeping out at. It + certainly was a funny sight. Down the Lone Little Path came + Peter Rabbit and his cousin, Juniper the Hare, rolling a huge + cabbage.</p> + + <p>Right at the top of a little hill the cabbage got away from + them. Down it started, rolling and bounding along, with Peter + Rabbit and Jumper the Hare frantically trying to catch it. Just + ahead was Johnny Chuck with a big bundle of sweet clover, which + he was bringing to Peter Rabbit's party. He didn't see the big + cabbage coming. It knocked his feet from under him, and down he + went with a thump, flat on his back. Right on top of him fell + Jumper the Hare, who was close behind the runaway cabbage and + had no time to turn aside. Over the two of them fell Peter + Rabbit. Such a mix-up!</p> + + <p>And the big cabbage kept right on running away. Jimmy Skunk, + who never hurries, heard the noise behind him and turned to see + what it all meant. But he didn't have time to more than blink + his eyes before the runaway cabbage hit him full in the + stomach. Down went Jimmy Skunk with a grunt. One big egg flew + over against a tree and broke. Jimmy landed on the other, and + this broke, too.</p> + + <p>Such a sight as Jimmy Skunk was! Egg dripped from every part + of his handsome black and white coat. It was in his eyes and + all over his face and dripped from his whiskers. Shadow the + Weasel and Reddy Fox, hiding in the hollow log, laughed until + the tears rolled down their cheeks, though down in the heart of + Shadow was bitter disappointment, for he had planned to steal + those very eggs.</p> + + <p>Just a little way beyond Jimmy Skunk the runaway cabbage + brought up with a thump against a stump on which sat Striped + Chipmunk, with the pockets in his cheeks filled full of yellow + corn. The sudden bump of the big cabbage made Striped Chipmunk + lose his balance, and off he tumbled, right down on to old Mr. + Toad, who had just sat down behind the stump for a few minutes + of rest. It knocked all the wind out of Mr. Toad, and of course + Striped Chipmunk spilled all his corn.</p> + + <p>Prickly Porky the Porcupine heard the noise. He looked up to + see a strange thing bounding down the Lone Little Path. Prickly + Porky didn't wait to see what it was. He did just what he + always does when he thinks there may be danger; he rolled + himself up with his face hidden in his waistcoat, and when he + did that, the thousand little spears hidden in his coat stood + out until he looked like a giant chestnut burr.</p> + + <p>The runaway cabbage bounced off the stump and hit Prickly + Porky. Then it stopped. Where it had touched Prickly Porky, the + sharp little spears had stuck into it, so that when Peter + Rabbit and Jumper the Hare hurried up, there lay the runaway + cabbage, looking for all the world like a great green + pincushion.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XI" + id="XI"></a>XI</h2> + + <h3>REDDY FOX GOES HUNGRY</h3> + + <p>LIKE a great green pincushion lay the runaway cabbage of + Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare. Every one thought it was the + very best joke ever. Jimmy Skunk had gone off to take a bath + and get two more eggs for Peter Rabbit's party. Reddy Fox and + Shadow the Weasel, peeping out from the hollow log where they + were hiding, could see Jimmy on his way back with a big goose + egg under each arm. Shadow smacked his lips. He meant to have + those eggs himself.</p> + + <p>Pretty soon all the little forest and meadow people whom + Peter Rabbit had invited were gathered around the foot of Unc' + Billy Possum's hollow tree, and each had brought something good + to eat. My, such a feast as was spread out there! Now they were + waiting for Unc' Billy Possum, who had gone to meet his family, + coming up from "Ol' Virginny."</p> + + <p>Over in the top of a tall pine tree Blacky the Crow was + hiding and chuckling to himself as he watched. Reddy Fox was + getting impatient. He was hungry. He had had no breakfast, and + as he lay hiding in the hollow log, he could peep out and see + all the good things, and he could smell them, too. It seemed as + if his stomach would just give him no peace at all. He wished + that Sammy Jay would bring the false message that Bowser the + Hound was coming, so as to frighten all the rest away.</p> + + <p>"I'm nearly starved!" whispered Reddy Fox. "I hope Sammy Jay + will hurry up."</p> + + <p>Just then they noticed that Peter Rabbit was very busy. He + hopped from guest to guest and whispered in the ear of + each.</p> + + <p>"Now I wonder what Peter Rabbit is whispering about," said + Reddy.</p> + + <p>Suddenly the light at the end of the hollow log disappeared. + There was a queer rattling sound that sent shivers up and down + Reddy's backbone. Prickly Porky the Porcupine had sat down with + his back against the end of the hollow log, and the queer + rattling sound was made by the thousand little spears in his + long coat. Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel were in a prison. + You see there was no other opening to the hollow log.</p> + + <p>"Never mind," whispered Shadow the Weasel, "he'll go away + when Sammy Jay shouts that Bowser the Hound is coming."</p> + + <p>Blacky the Crow, hidden in the top of the tall pine, was + also wondering what Peter was whispering. His sharp eyes + watched Peter, and every time that Peter whispered in the ear + of one of the little meadow or forest people, they would + laugh.</p> + + <p>Now, Sammy Jay knew nothing about all this. By and by, when + he thought that every one was there, Sammy came flying through + the Green Forest, just as if he knew nothing about Peter + Rabbit's party. Now, Sammy, with all his faults, is one of the + best watchmen in the Green Forest. If there is any danger which + his sharp eyes discover, he always screams at the top of his + lungs. So, though he steals and plays tricks and makes life + very uncomfortable for the others, they always stop to listen + when Sammy sounds a warning. Because Sammy knew this he felt + sure of breaking up this party.</p> + + <p>As soon as he came in sight of all the little meadow and + forest people, he began to shriek at the top of his lungs.</p> + + <p>"Run! run! run! Here comes Bowser the Hound," he + shouted.</p> + + <p>No one moved, and this puzzled Sammy so that he hardly knew + what to do, but he kept right on shrieking, just as if Bowser + was right close at hand. Still no one moved. Sammy stopped on a + tall pine and pretended to be terribly excited.</p> + + <p>"You had better run before Bowser gets here," he + shouted.</p> + + <p>What do you think happened then? Why, everybody set up a + great shout. "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Peter Rabbit.</p> + + <p>"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Johnny Chuck.</p> + + <p>"Hee! hee! hee!" giggled Danny Meadow Mouse.</p> + + <p>"What time will Bowser get here?" asked Bobby Coon, + gravely.</p> + + <p>"Tell Bowser that we are all waiting for him," added Jimmy + Skunk.</p> + + <p>"Is Bowser quite out of breath?" inquired Jerry Muskrat.</p> + + <p>"I would like nothing better than to run a race with Bowser + the Hound," said Jumper the Hare, sitting up very straight.</p> + + <p>Sammy Jay didn't know what to do or what to say. He was just + the most disgusted looking Jay that ever flew through the Green + Forest, and all the time he wondered and wondered and wondered + how it could be that Peter Rabbit and his friends knew that + Bowser the Hound was not in the Green Forest at all. You see, + old Mr. Toad had told Peter all about Sammy's plan, and this is + what Peter had been whispering to the others.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XII" + id="XII"></a>XII</h2> + + <h3>PRICKLY PORKY MAKES HIMSELF AT HOME</h3> + + <p>PETER RABBIT'S party promised to be a great success. When + old Mr. Toad, who had overheard Sammy Jay's plan, had told + Peter Rabbit all about it, he had also told Peter that Reddy + Fox and Shadow the Weasel were hiding in an old hollow log + close by.</p> + + <p>Peter had whispered the news in the ear of each of the + little forest and meadow people and had told them how Prickly + Porky was even then sitting with his back against the opening + in the hollow log.</p> + + <p>Every one had thought this the best joke ever, for, of + course, they all knew that Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel + could not get out past the thousand little spears hidden in the + long coat of Prickly Porky.</p> + + <p>Prickly Porky settled himself very comfortably and began to + tell stories about his home, way up in the North Woods. Every + few minutes he would rattle the thousand little spears in his + coat, and though no one could see Reddy Fox and Shadow the + Weasel inside the hollow log, every one could guess just how + little shivers were running up and down the backbones of the + two little scamps held prisoners there.</p> + + <p>Prickly Porky told how in the cold, cold winter the snow + piled up and piled up in his far northern home, until nearly + all the forest folk who lived there had to make a long journey + into the South, or else went into warm, snug hollows in the + trees or caves in the rocks and slept the long winter through, + just as Johnny Chuck does. He told how the Indians came through + the great forest on big webbed shoes, that kept them from + sinking into the snow, and hunted for Lightfoot the Deer, and + how they never bothered Prickly Porky, but always treated him + with the greatest respect. He told so many, many interesting + things about the great North Woods, that all the little meadow + people and forest folk gathered close around to listen, but + every few minutes, while he was talking, he would shake his + thousand little spears, and then every one would smile.</p> + + <p>Inside the hollow log Reddy Fox was getting stiff and sore, + because, you know, he didn't have room enough to even turn + over. Worse still, he was so hungry that he could cry. You see, + he had crept in there very early in the morning without any + breakfast, because he had planned that when Sammy Jay should + break up Peter Rabbit's party, he would steal all the good + things he wanted. Now, he could smell them, and hear the others + talking about the feast they were going to have, and he knew + that not so much as a tiny, tiny crumb would be left for him, + when Prickly Porky should choose to let him out.</p> + + <p>Shadow the Weasel felt just as uncomfortable as Reddy Fox, + and Shadow is very short-tempered. Every time Reddy moved and + squeezed Shadow, Shadow would snap at him. Now, of course, they + could hear everything that was said outside, and the things + that were said were not pleasant to listen to. Bobby Coon and + Billy Mink and Johnny Chuck and Little Joe Otter and Jimmy + Skunk told about all the mean things and all the sharp tricks + that Reddy Fox and Shadow had done. It made the two little + prisoners so angry that they ground their teeth, but every time + they made the least little movement, Prickly Porky would shake + his thousand little spears and settle himself still more firmly + against the opening in the hollow log. He certainly was + enjoying himself. It tickled him almost to pieces to think how + easily he had trapped smart Reddy Fox, the boaster.</p> + + <p>So they waited all the long day for the coming of Unc' Billy + Possum's family, and when at last they did arrive, there was + the merriest surprise party ever seen. Only Sammy Jay, Blacky + the Crow, Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel were unhappy, and of + course no one cared for that.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XIII" + id="XIII"></a>XIII</h2> + + <h3>UNC' BILLY POSSUM GROWS HUNGRY</h3> + + <p>UNC' BILLY POSSUM spent the very coldest days of winter + curled up in his warm, snug home in the big hollow tree in the + Green Forest. Unc' Billy didn't like the cold weather. + Sometimes he would stick his head out of his doorway and then, + as he heard rough Brother North Wind whooping through the Green + Forest, he would turn right around and go back to his bed for + another nap. And all the time he would be saying:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Way down Souf de sun am + shinin'—</p> + + <p class="i4">Yas, Sah, dat am so!</p> + + <p>Fo' dat lan' mah heart am pinin'—</p> + + <p class="i4">Yas, Sah, dat am so!</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"De mocking-bird he sings all day,</p> + + <p>De alligators am at play,</p> + + <p>De flowers dey am bloomin' fair,</p> + + <p>And mah heart aches to be down there—</p> + + <p class="i4">Yas, Sah, dat am so!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Now Unc' Billy had prepared for the winter by getting just + as fat as he knew how. He was so fat that he could hardly + waddle when Jack Frost first came to the Green Forest. You see + he knew that if he was very, very fat he wouldn't have to worry + about getting anything to eat, not for a long time, anyway. So + when the ice and snow came, and Unc' Billy decided that it was + more comfortable indoors than outdoors, he was almost as fat as + Johnny Chuck was when he went to sleep for the long winter.</p> + + <p>Now Johnny Chuck just slept and slept and slept, without + waking once the whole winter long. But Unc' Billy Possum + couldn't sleep like that. He had to stick his head out every + little while to see how the world was getting along without + him. When the sun was bright and the air was not too cold, Unc' + Billy would sometimes climb down from his hollow tree and walk + about a little on the snow. But he didn't enjoy it much. It + made his feet cold, and then he didn't like the tracks he made. + He scowled at them, for he knew well enough that if Farmer + Brown's boy should happen along, he would know right away who + had made those tracks, and then he would hunt for Unc' Billy's + home in the hollow tree. So Unc' Billy didn't go out very much, + and very seldom indeed when the snow was soft.</p> + + <p>It seemed to Unc' Billy Possum as if the winter never, never + would go. He was beginning to grow thin now, and of course he + was getting hungry. He began to think about it, and the more he + thought about it, the hungrier he grew. One morning he stuck + his head out of his doorway, and whom should he see trotting + along below but Jimmy Skunk. Jimmy looked fat and comfortable + and as if he did not mind the cold weather at all.</p> + + <p>"Good mo'ning, Jimmy Skunk," said Unc' Billy.</p> + + <p>Jimmy Skunk looked up. "Hello, Unc' Billy!" he exclaimed. "I + haven't seen you for a long time!"</p> + + <p>"Whar yo' been, Jimmy Skunk?" asked Unc' Billy.</p> + + <p>Jimmy winked one eye. "Getting my breakfast of nice fresh + eggs," he replied.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy Possum's mouth began to water. "Did yo' leave + any?" he anxiously inquired.</p> + + <p>Jimmy Skunk allowed that he did, and Unc' Billy gave a long + sigh, as he watched Jimmy Skunk amble off up the Lone Little + Path. Unc' Billy couldn't sleep any more now. No, Sir, he + couldn't sleep a wink. All he could do was to think how hungry + he was. He would shut his eyes, and then it seemed as if he + could see right into Farmer Brown's hen-house, and there were + eggs, eggs, eggs, everywhere. Finally Unc' Billy made up his + mind.</p> + + <p>"Ah'm going up there the very first dark night!" said + he.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XIV" + id="XIV"></a>XIV</h2> + + <h3>OLD MRS. POSSUM GROWS WORRIED</h3> + + <p>OLD Mrs. Possum counted her babies to be sure that they all + were tucked snug and warm in their bed in the old hollow tree + in the Green Forest. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, + eight." They were all there. Mrs. Possum looked at them with a + great deal of pride and sighed as she thought of how soon they + would be leaving the old hollow tree to see the great world and + make homes for themselves. Just as soon as the beautiful spring + came, they would one by one slip away. Mrs. Possum sighed + again. She didn't like winter. No, Sir, she didn't like winter + one bit. But when she thought of how her babies would leave + her, she almost wished that spring never would come.</p> + + <p>Sure that her babies were warm and comfortable, old Mrs. + Possum went to the door and looked out. It was plain to be seen + that Mrs. Possum was worried. That was the tenth time she had + looked out in half an hour. Her sharp little old face looked + sharper than ever. It always looks sharper when she is worried, + just as the tongues of some people always grow sharper when + they are worried.</p> + + <p>"Ah don' see what can be keepin' mah ol' man! Ah'm plumb + worried to death," muttered old Mrs. Possum.</p> + + <p>Right that very minute she heard a noise outside that made + her hurry to the door and thrust her head out once more. It was + Sammy Jay, shrieking:</p> + + <p>"Thief! Thief! Thief!" at the top of his lungs.</p> + + <p>"He's a thief himself and just a low-down mischief-maker, + for all his smart clo'es, but he knows a powerful lot about + what is going on in the Green Forest, and perhaps he has seen + mah ol' man," said old Mrs. Possum, as she tried to make her + sharp face as pleasant as possible. She looked over at Sammy + Jay, who was in the next tree, and smiled, and when she smiled + she showed all her sharp teeth.</p> + + <p>"Good mo'ning, Brer Jay," said she.</p> + + <p>"Hello!" exclaimed Sammy Jay, not at all politely. "Where's + Uncle Billy Possum?"</p> + + <p>Old Mrs. Possum shook her head, and the worried look came + back into her face, although she tried hard, oh, so hard, not + to let it.</p> + + <p>"He done go out fo' a walk," replied old Mrs. Possum. "Ah + reckons yo'all just got up, or yo' would have met up with him + somewhere."</p> + + <p>Old Mrs. Possum said this just to try to make Sammy Jay + talk, for Sammy is very quick-tempered, and quick-tempered + people often say a lot more than they mean to. You see, Mrs. + Possum was quite sure that if Sammy Jay knew how worried she + was over Unc' Billy Possum, he would refuse to tell her whether + or not he had seen Unc' Billy, for Sammy Jay is mean and loves + to torment others.</p> + + <p>Sammy's temper flared up right away. "I've been up ever + since sun-up!" he sputtered. "Your old man isn't anywhere in + the Green Forest, unless he's gone to sleep in some other + hollow tree, and I wouldn't blame him a bit if he had! No, Sir, + I wouldn't blame him the least bit!"</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Keep your temper, Brer Jay!</p> + + <p>Keep your temper, do, Oh pray!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>said old Mrs. Possum, grinning in the most aggravating way + as she turned back to her babies. She had found out what she + wanted to know—Sammy Jay had seen nothing of Unc' Billy + Possum. Old Mrs. Possum sat down with her head in her hands. + She was more worried than ever.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XV" + id="XV"></a>XV</h2> + + <h3>THE FOOLISHNESS OF UNC' BILLY POSSUM</h3> + + <p>IF Unc' Billy Possum hadn't happened to look out of his + doorway in the big hollow tree in the Green Forest, or if Jimmy + Skunk hadn't happened to come along just that very minute, or + if Unc' Billy hadn't asked Jimmy where he had been, or if Jimmy + hadn't mentioned nice fresh eggs, Unc' Billy wouldn't have been + foolish, and old Mrs. Possum wouldn't have been worried. But + all those things did happen.</p> + + <p>After Jimmy Skunk had mentioned his fine breakfast of fresh + eggs, Unc' Billy Possum couldn't think of anything else. He + knew well enough where Jimmy had found those eggs. Yes, indeed, + Unc' Billy knew all about it. He could shut his eyes and just + see the inside of Farmer Brown's hen-house with the rows of + hens and roosters sitting on the roosts at one end, their heads + tucked under their wings. He could see the rows of nests and + the beautiful brown eggs in them. Jimmy Skunk couldn't climb, + and so he could have gotten only the eggs in the lower nests. + Now if he, Unc' Billy, had been there, he could have climbed to + the very topmost nest and—but what was the use of + thinking about it? He hadn't been there, and he couldn't go + now, because it was daylight.</p> + + <p>All the rest of the day Unc' Billy tried to sleep, but when + he did sleep he dreamed about eggs, nice, fresh, delicious + eggs, and when he was awake he though about eggs. It made him + more and more uneasy and fidgety. Old Mrs. Possum couldn't + stand it.</p> + + <p>"What all am the matter with yo'?" she snapped. "Ah do wish + yo' would keep still a minute!"</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy muttered something, but all that Mrs. Possum + could hear was "eggs."</p> + + <p>"Now don't yo'all get to thinking of such foolishness as + eggs," she commanded. "It isn't safe to be snooping around + Farmer Brown's hen-house when there's snow on the ground. Yo' + just fo'get all about eggs! Do yo' hear what Ah say?"</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy nodded that he did. But just the same he couldn't + think of anything else. He knew that old Mrs. Possum was right, + and that it wasn't safe to go fooling around Farmer Brown's + hen-house and leaving his tracks for everybody who came along + to see. Just the same, Unc' Billy felt that he had got to have + a nice fresh egg. He had got to have it. That is all there was + about it.</p> + + <p>As soon as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had gone to bed behind + the Purple Hills that night, Unc' Billy crept out of his home + in the hollow tree.</p> + + <p>"Where are yo' going?" demanded Mrs. Possum.</p> + + <p>"Just to stretch the kinks out of mah legs," replied Unc' + Billy.</p> + + <p>Old Mrs. Possum looked after him suspiciously. "Don't yo' go + fo' to do any foolishness!" she called.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy didn't answer. He was on his way to Farmer + Brown's hen-house.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XVI" + id="XVI"></a>XVI</h2> + + <h3>WHY UNC' BILLY POSSUM DIDN'T GO HOME</h3> + + <p>UNC' BILLY POSSUM had a very good reason for not going home, + a very good reason, indeed. Even old Mrs. Possum would have + thought it was a good reason, could she have known it. But she + didn't know it, and so she sat in the home in the big hollow + tree in the Green Forest and worried herself almost sick, + because Unc' Billy didn't come home, and she didn't know what + might have happened to him.</p> + + <p>Sometimes Unc' Billy wished that he was back in the old + hollow tree, and sometimes he was glad that he was right where + he was. Sometimes he felt little shivers of fear run all over + him as he thought of what might become of him if he should be + found. Sometimes a little tickly feeling of pleasure ran all + over him, as he bit a hole in the end of a freshly laid egg and + sucked the egg out of the shell.</p> + + <p>Now Unc' Billy was very, very crafty. He had found Jimmy + Skunk's tracks boldly leading up to the hen-house, so Unc' + Billy had stepped as carefully as he knew how in the footprints + of Jimmy Skunk, in order that Farmer Brown's boy might think + that Jimmy Skunk was the only visitor to the hen-house. But + with all his craft, there was one thing that Unc' Billy forgot. + Yes, Sir, there was one thing Unc' Billy forgot all about. He + forgot to keep his tail up. He was trying so hard to step in + the footprints of Jimmy Skunk, that he forgot all about that + little, smooth, handy old tail of his, and he let it drag along + the snow.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/003-lg.png" + name="fig03" + id="fig03"><img src="images/003-sm.png" + alt="He just ate and ate until he couldn't eat another one." /> + </a> + + <h4>He just ate and ate until he couldn't eat another + one.</h4> + </div> + + <p>When Unc' Billy was safely in the hen-house, he hurried from + one nest to another. There were eggs, plenty of them. It seemed + to him that nothing he had ever seen before had looked half so + good as those eggs. He just ate and ate and ate until he + couldn't eat another one. Now a full stomach is very apt to + make a sleepy head. Unc' Billy knew that the thing for him to + do was to hurry home as fast as he could go, but he didn't. No, + Sir, he didn't do it. The hen-house was warm and here were some + of the nicest nests of hay. He was tired after his long walk + from the Green Forest, for Unc' Billy had done so little + walking this winter that he was rather out of practice. Why not + take a teeny, weeny nap before he started back home?</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy climbed to the very last nest in the topmost row, + way up in a dark corner. It hadn't been used for a long time, + but it was full of nice, soft hay. Unc' Billy curled himself up + in it, and with a great sigh of contentment, closed his eyes + for that teeny, weeny nap. He didn't open them again until he + heard an angry voice right close to him. He peeped out. It was + broad daylight, and there, just below him, was Farmer Brown's + boy, looking at the empty egg-shells left by Unc' Billy. Farmer + Brown's boy was angry. Yes, indeed, he was very, very angry. + Unc' Billy shivered as he listened. Then he snuggled down out + of sight under the hay of the nest.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XVII" + id="XVII"></a>XVII</h2> + + <h3>UNC' BILLY POSSUM LIES LOW</h3> + + <p>FARMER BROWN'S boy was angry. Yes, Sir, he was angry. There + was no doubt about that. He had found the empty shells of the + eggs which Unc' Billy had eaten in the night, and Unc' Billy + knew by the sound of his voice that Farmer Brown's boy meant to + find the thief.</p> + + <p>It was a terrible position to be in, right there in the + hen-house, with no chance to run. Unc' Billy wished with all + his might that he had never thought of eggs, and that he was + safe back home in the dear old hollow tree in the Green Forest. + Oh, dear! oh, dear! Why hadn't he gone right straight back + there, after eating those eggs, instead of taking a nap? But he + hadn't. He had taken a nap and overslept, and here he was, + right in the hen-house, in broad daylight.</p> + + <p>"It must have been a Skunk," said Farmer Brown's boy, "and + if it was, he must have left some tracks in the snow outside. + I'll just look around a bit."</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy almost chuckled as he heard Farmer Brown's boy go + out.</p> + + <p>"He'll find Jimmy Skunk's tracks, but he won't find mine," + thought Unc' Billy. "Isn't it lucky that I thought to step + right in Jimmy Skunk's tracks when I came here?"</p> + + <p>He lay still and listened to Farmer Brown's boy poking + around outside. He heard him exclaim: "Ah, I thought so!" and + knew that he had found the tracks Jimmy Skunk had made in the + snow. Unc' Billy almost chuckled again as he thought what a + smart fellow he had been to step in Jimmy Skunk's tracks. And + right then he heard something that put an end to all his fine + thoughts about his own smartness, and sent little cold shivers + up and down his backbone.</p> + + <p>"Hello!" said the voice of Farmer Brown's boy. "These are + queer tracks! That Skunk must have had a queer tail, for here + are the marks of it in the snow, and they look as if they might + have been made by the tail of a very big rat."</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy remembered then for the first time that when he + had thought he was so smart, he had forgotten to hold his tail + up. He had dragged it in the snow, and of course it had left a + mark.</p> + + <p>"I guess that there was more than one visitor here last + night," continued the voice of Farmer Brown's boy. "Here are + the tracks of the Skunk going away from the hen-house, but I + don't see any of those other queer tracks going away. Whoever + made them must be right around here now."</p> + + <p>Back into the hen-house came Farmer Brown's boy and began to + poke around in all the corners. He moved all the boxes and + looked in the grain bin. Then he began to look in the nests. + Unc' Billy could hear him coming nearer and nearer. He was + looking in the very next nest to the one in which Unc' Billy + was. Finally he looked into that very nest. Unc' Billy Possum + held his breath.</p> + + <p>Now the nest in which Unc' Billy was hiding was on the + topmost row in the darkest corner of the hen-house, and Unc' + Billy had crawled down underneath the hay. Perhaps it was + because that corner was so dark, or perhaps it was because that + nest was so high up, that Farmer Brown's boy really didn't + expect to find anything there. Anyway, all he saw was the hay, + and he didn't take the trouble to put his hand in and feel for + anything under the hay.</p> + + <p>"It's queer," said Farmer Brown's boy. "It's very queer! I + guess I shall have to set some traps."</p> + + <p>And all the time Unc' Billy Possum held his breath and lay + low.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XVIII" + id="XVIII"></a>XVIII</h2> + + <h3>UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS A PRISONER</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"Mah home is in a holler + tree—</p> + + <p class="i2">It's a long way home!</p> + + <p>Ah wish Ah's there, but here Ah be—</p> + + <p class="i2">It's a long way home!</p> + + <p>If Ah had only been content</p> + + <p>Instead of out on mischief bent,</p> + + <p>Ah'd have no reason to repent—</p> + + <p class="i2">It's a long way home!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="dropcap">UNC' BILLY POSSUM lay curled up under the + hay in the highest nest in the darkest corner in Farmer Brown's + hen-house. Unc' Billy didn't dare go to sleep, because he was + afraid that Farmer Brown's boy might find him. And, anyway, he + wanted to see just what Farmer Brown's boy was doing. So + peeping out, he watched Farmer Brown's boy, who seemed to be + very busy indeed. What do you think he was doing? Unc' Billy + knew. Yes, Sir, Unc' Billy knew just what Farmer Brown's boy + was doing. He was setting traps.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy's eyes twinkled as he watched Farmer Brown's boy, + for Unc' Billy knew that those traps were being set for him, + and now that he knew just where each one was, of course he + wasn't a bit afraid. It seemed to Unc' Billy that it was just + the greatest kind of a joke to be watching Farmer Brown's boy + set those traps, while all the time Farmer Brown's boy thought + he was hiding them so cleverly that the only way they would be + found would be by some one stepping into one and getting + caught.</p> + + <p>"There," said Farmer Brown's boy, as he set the last trap, + "I'd like to see anything get into this hen-house now without + getting caught!"</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy almost chuckled aloud. Yes, Sir, he almost + chuckled aloud. It was such a funny idea that Farmer Brown's + boy should have taken all the trouble to set those traps to + catch Unc' Billy trying to get into the hen-house, when all the + time he was already in there.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy laughed under his breath as Farmer Brown's boy + closed the door of the hen-house and went off whistling. "Ho, + ho, ho! Ha, ha, ha! Hee, hee!" Unc' Billy broke off short, + right in the very middle of his laugh. He had just thought of + something, and it wasn't funny at all. With all those traps set + at every opening to the hen-house, no one could get in without + getting caught, and of course no one who was in could get out + without getting caught!</p> + + <p>The joke wasn't on Farmer Brown's boy, after all; it was on + Unc' Billy Possum. But Unc' Billy couldn't see that it was any + joke at all. Unc' Billy was a prisoner, a prisoner in Farmer + Brown's hen-house, and he didn't know how ever he was going to + get out of there.</p> + + <p>"It's a long way home," said Unc' Billy mournfully, as he + peeped out of a crack toward the Green Forest.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XIX" + id="XIX"></a>XIX</h2> + + <h3>WHAT THE SNOW DID</h3> + + <p>UNC' BILLY POSSUM did a lot of thinking. He was a prisoner, + just as much a prisoner as if he were in a cage. Now Unc' Billy + Possum wouldn't have minded being a prisoner in the hen-house + but for two things; he was dreadfully afraid that his old + friend and partner, Jimmy Skunk, would get hungry for eggs and + would get caught in the traps, and he was still more afraid + that Farmer Brown's boy would think to put his hand down under + the hay in the last nest of the top row in the darkest corner. + So Unc' Billy spent most of his time studying and thinking of + some way to get out, and if he couldn't do that, of some way to + warn Jimmy Skunk to keep away from Farmer Brown's + hen-house.</p> + + <p>If it hadn't been for those two worries, Unc' Billy would + have been willing to stay there the rest of the winter. It was + delightfully warm and cosy. He knew which nest Mrs. Speckles + always used and which one Mrs. Feathertoes liked best, and he + knew that of all the eggs laid in Farmer Brown's hen-house + those laid by Mrs. Speckles and Mrs. Feathertoes were the best. + Having all the eggs he could eat, Unc' Billy had grown very + particular. Nothing but the best, the very best, would do for + him. So he would lie curled up in the last nest of the top row + in the darkest corner and wait until he heard the high-pitched + voice of Mrs. Speckles proudly crying:</p> + + <p>"Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut-aa-cut! I lay the finest eggs + in the world!"</p> + + <p>Then Unc' Billy would chuckle to himself and wait a few + minutes longer for the voice of Mrs. Feathertoes, saying: "Cut, + cut, cut, cut, cut-aa-cut, cut, cut, cut! No one lays such + splendid eggs as I do!" Then, while Mrs. Speckles and Mrs. + Feathertoes were disputing as to which laid the best eggs, Unc' + Billy would slip out and breakfast on both those newly laid + eggs.</p> + + <p>So for almost a week Unc' Billy lived in Farmer Brown's + hen-house and ate the eggs of Mrs. Speckles and Mrs. + Feathertoes and hid in the last nest of the top row in the + darkest corner and shivered as he heard Farmer Brown's boy tell + what would happen if he caught the one who was stealing those + eggs. Sometimes the door was left open during the day, and Unc' + Billy would peep out and wish that he dared to run. But he + didn't, for Bowser the Hound was always prowling around, and + then again he was almost sure to be seen by some one.</p> + + <p>At last one day it began to snow. It snowed all day and it + snowed all night. Rough Brother North Wind piled it up in great + drifts in front of the hen-house door and all along one side of + the hen-house. It covered the traps so deep that they couldn't + possibly catch any one. As soon as the snow stopped falling, + Unc' Billy began to dig his way up to the top from the very + hole by which he had entered the hen-house. He didn't like it, + for he doesn't like snow, but now was his chance to get away, + and he meant to make the most of it.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XX" + id="XX"></a>XX</h2> + + <h3>UNC' BILLY POSSUM WISHES HE HAD SNOWSHOES</h3> + + <p>UNC' BILLY POSSUM didn't know whether he liked the snow more + than he hated it or hated it more than he liked it, just now. + Usually he dislikes the snow very much, and doesn't go out in + it any more than he has to. But this time the snow had done + Unc' Billy a good turn, a very good turn, indeed. Once out of + the hen-house, Unc' Billy lost no time in starting for the + Green Forest. But it was slow, hard work. You see, the snow was + newly fallen and very soft. Of course Unc' Billy sank into it + almost up to his middle at every step. He huffed and he puffed + and he grunted and groaned. You see Unc' Billy had slept so + much through the winter that he was not at all used to hard + work of any kind, and he wasn't half way to the Green Forest + before he was so tired it seemed to him that he could hardly + move, and so out of breath that he could only gasp. It was then + that he was sure that he hated the snow more than he liked it, + even if it had set him free from the hen-house of Farmer + Brown.</p> + + <p>Now it never does to let one's wits go to sleep. Some folks + call it forgetting, but forgetting is nothing but sleepy wits. + And sleepy wits get more people into trouble than anything else + in the world. Unc' Billy Possum's wits were asleep when he left + Farmer Brown's hen-house. If they hadn't been, he would have + remembered this little saying:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>The wits that live within my head</p> + + <p class="i2">Must never, never go to sleep,</p> + + <p>For if they should I might forget</p> + + <p class="i2">And Trouble on me swiftly leap.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>But Unc' Billy's wits certainly were asleep. He was so + tickled over the idea that he could get out of the hen-house, + that he couldn't think of anything else, and so he forgot. Yes, + Sir, Unc' Billy forgot! What did he forget? Why, he forgot that + that nice, soft snow, which so kindly buried the dreadful traps + so that they could do no harm, couldn't be waded through + without leaving tracks. Unc' Billy forgot all about that, until + he was half way to the Green Forest, and then, as he sat down + to rest and get his breath, he remembered.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/004-lg.png" + name="fig04" + id="fig04"><img src="images/004-sm.png" + alt="There all the way from Farmer Brown's hen-house was a broad trail in the smooth white snow." /> + </a> + + <h4>There all the way from Farmer Brown's hen-house was a + broad trail in the smooth white snow.</h4> + </div> + + <p>Unc' Billy looked behind him, and he turned pale. Yes, Sir, + Unc' Billy Possum turned pale! There, all the way from Farmer + Brown's hen-house, was a broad trail in the smooth white snow, + where he had plowed his way through. If Farmer Brown's boy + should come out to look at his traps, he would see that track + at once, and all he would have to do would be to follow it + until it led him to Unc' Billy.</p> + + <p>"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Whatever did Ah leave the hen-house + for?" wailed Unc' Billy.</p> + + <p>His wits were all wide awake now. It wouldn't do to go back. + Farmer Brown's boy would see that he had gone back, and then he + would hunt that hen-house through until he found Unc' Billy. + No, there was nothing to do but to go on, and trust that Farmer + Brown's boy was so snowed in and would be kept so busy + shovelling out paths, that he would forget all about looking at + his traps. Unc' Billy drew a long breath and began to wade + ahead toward the Green Forest.</p> + + <p>"If Ah only had snowshoes!" he panted. "If Ah only had + snowshoes like Mrs. Grouse."</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XXI" + id="XXI"></a>XXI</h2> + + <h3>FARMER BROWN'S BOY CHOPS DOWN A TREE</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"There was an old Possum lived up in a + tree;</p> + + <p class="i6">Hi, ho, see the chips fly!</p> + + <p>The sliest old thief that you ever did see;</p> + + <p class="i6">Hi, ho, see the chips fly!</p> + + <p>He ate and he ate in the dark of the night,</p> + + <p>And when the day came not an egg was in sight,</p> + + <p>But now that I know where he's making his bed,</p> + + <p>I'll do without eggs and will eat him instead!</p> + + <p class="i6">Hi, ho, see the chips fly!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="dropcap">FARMER BROWN'S boy sang as he swung his keen + axe, and the chips did fly. They flew out on the white snow in + all directions. And the louder Farmer Brown's boy sang, the + faster the chips flew. Farmer Brown's boy had come to the Green + Forest bright and early that morning, and he had made up his + mind that he would take home a fat Possum for dinner. He didn't + have the least doubt about it, and that is why he sang as he + made the chips fly. He had tracked that Possum right up to that + tree, and there were no tracks going away from it. Right up + near the top he could see a hollow, just such a hollow as a + Possum likes. All he had to do was to cut the tree down and + split it open, and Mr. Possum would be his.</p> + + <p>So Farmer Brown's boy swung his axe, chop, chop, chop, and + the chips flew out on the white snow, and Farmer Brown's boy + sang, never once thinking of how the Possum he was after might + feel. Of course it was Unc' Billy Possum whose tracks he had + followed. He had seen them outside of the hen-house, just as + Unc' Billy had been afraid that he would. He couldn't very well + have helped it, those tracks were so very plain to be seen.</p> + + <p>That had been a long, hard, anxious journey for Unc' Billy + from Farmer Brown's hen-house to the Green Forest. The snow was + so deep that he could hardly wade through it. When he reached + that hollow tree, he was so tired that it was all he could do + to climb it. Of course it wasn't his own hollow tree, where old + Mrs. Possum and the eight little Possums lived. He knew better + than to go there, leaving a plain track for Farmer Brown's boy + to follow. So he had been very thankful to climb up this hollow + tree. And, just as he had feared, there was Farmer Brown's + boy.</p> + + <p>Chop, chop, chop! The snow was covered with chips now. Chop, + chop, chop! The tree began to shiver and then to shake. + Cra-a-ck! With a great crash over it went!</p> + + <p>Bowser the Hound barked excitedly, and with Farmer Brown's + boy rushed to the hollow near the top to catch Mr. Possum, if + he should run out. But he didn't run out. Farmer Brown's boy + rapped on the tree with the handle of his axe, but no one ran + out.</p> + + <p>"I guess he's playing dead," said Farmer Brown's boy, and + began to split open the tree, so as to get into the hollow. And + as he chopped, he began to sing again. Pretty soon he had split + the tree wide open. In the bottom of the hollow was an old nest + of Chatterer the Red Squirrel, and that was all. Farmer Brown's + boy rubbed his eyes and stared and stared and stared. There + were Unc' Billy's tracks leading straight up to that tree and + none leading away. Did that Possum have wings?</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XXII" + id="XXII"></a>XXII</h2> + + <h3>WHERE UNC' BILLY POSSUM WAS</h3> + + <p>WHERE was Unc' Billy Possum? That is what Farmer Brown's boy + wanted to know. That is what Bowser the Hound wanted to know. + Where was Unc' Billy Possum? He was in another hollow tree all + the time and laughing till his sides ached as he peeped out and + saw how hard Farmer Brown's boy worked.</p> + + <p>"Ah done fool him that time," said Unc' Billy, as he watched + Farmer Brown's boy wading off home through the snow, with + Bowser the Hound at his heels.</p> + + <p>"You certainly did, Unc' Billy! How did you do it?" asked a + voice right over Unc' Billy's head.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy looked up in surprise. There was Tommy Tit the + Chickadee. Unc' Billy grinned.</p> + + <p>"Ah just naturally expected Ah was gwine to have visitors, + and so Ah prepared a little surprise. Yes, Sah, Ah done prepare + a little surprise. Yo' see, mah tracks in the snow was powerful + plain. Yes, Sah, they sho'ly was! When Ah had climbed up that + tree and looked down and saw all those tracks what Ah done + made, Ah began to get powerful anxious. Yes, Sah, Ah done get + so anxious Ah just couldn't get any rest in mah mind. Ah knew + Farmer Brown's boy was gwine to find those tracks, and when he + did, he was gwine to follow 'em right smart quick. Sho' enough, + just before sundown, here he comes. He followed mah tracks + right up to the foot of the tree whar Ah was hiding in the + hollow, and Ah heard him say:</p> + + <p>"So this is whar yo' live, is it, Mistah Possum? Ah reckon + Bowser and Ah'll make yo' a call to-morrow."</p> + + <p>"When I heard him say that, Ah felt right bad. Yes, Sah, Ah + sho'ly did feel right smart bad. Ah studied and Ah studied how + Ah was gwine to fool Farmer Brown's boy and Bowser the Hound. + If Ah climbed down and went somewhere else, Ah would have to + leave tracks, and that boy done bound to find me just the same. + Ah done wish Ah had wings like yo' and Brer Buzzard.</p> + + <p>"So po' ol' Unc' Billy sat studying and studying and getting + mo' and mo' troubled in his mind. By and by Ah noticed that a + branch from that holler tree rubbed against a branch of another + tree, and a branch of that tree rubbed against a branch of + another tree, and if Ah made a right smart jump from that Ah + could get into this tree, which had a holler just made fo' me. + Ah didn't waste no mo' time studying. No, Sah, Ah just moved + right away, and here Ah am."</p> + + <p>"And you didn't leave any tracks, and you didn't have any + wings," said Tommy Tit the Chickadee.</p> + + <p>"No," said Unc' Billy, "but Ah done find that yo' can most + always find a way out, if yo' look hard enough. Just now, Ah am + looking right smart hard fo' a way to get home, but Ah reckon + mah eyesight am failing; Ah don' see any yet."</p> + + <p>"Dee, dee, dee!" laughed Tommy Tit merrily. "Be patient, + Unc' Billy, and perhaps you will."</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XXIII" + id="XXIII"></a>XXIII</h2> + + <h3>HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL MAKES AN UNEXPECTED CALL</h3> + + <p>HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL likes the snow. He always has liked the + snow. It makes him feel frisky. He likes to run and jump in it + and dig little holes in it after nuts, which he hid under the + leaves before the snow fell. When his feet get cold, all he has + to do is to scamper up a tree and warm them in his own fur + coat. So the big snowstorm which made so much trouble for Unc' + Billy Possum just suited Happy Jack Squirrel, and he had a + whole lot of fun making his funny little tracks all through + that part of the Green Forest in which he lives.</p> + + <p>Happy Jack didn't know anything about Unc' Billy Possum's + troubles. He supposed that Unc' Billy was safe at home in his + own big hollow tree, fast asleep, as he had been most of the + winter. Happy Jack couldn't understand how anybody could want + to sleep such fine weather, but that was their own business, + and Happy Jack had learned a long time ago not to worry about + other people's business.</p> + + <p>After frisking about he would stop to rest. Then he would + sit up very straight and fold his hands across his breast, + where they would get nice and warm in the fur of his coat. His + beautiful, great gray tail would be arched up over his back. + His bright eyes would snap and twinkle, and then he would shout + just for joy, and every time he shouted he jerked his big tail. + Farmer Brown's boy called it barking, but it was Happy Jack's + way of shouting.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"I love to romp! I love to play!</p> + + <p>I'm happy, happy, all the day!</p> + + <p>I love the snow, so soft and white!</p> + + <p>I love the sun that shines so bright!</p> + + <p>I love the whole world, for, you see,</p> + + <p>The world is very good to me!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>By and by Happy Jack came to the hollow tree that Farmer + Brown's boy had cut down because he thought that Unc' Billy + Possum was inside of it.</p> + + <p>"Hello!" exclaimed Happy Jack. "That's one of the old + storehouses of my cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel! I've got + an old storehouse near here, and I guess I'll see if I have + left any nuts in it."</p> + + <p>He scampered over to another hollow tree standing near. He + scampered up the tree as only Happy Jack can and whisked in at + the open doorway of the hollow. Now Happy Jack had been in that + hollow tree so often that he didn't once think of looking to + see where he was going, and he landed plump on something that + was soft and warm! Happy Jack was so surprised that he didn't + know what to do for a second. And then all in a flash that + something soft and warm was full of sharp claws and sharper + teeth, and an angry growling tilled the hollow tree.</p> + + <p>Happy Jack was so frightened that he scrambled out as fast + as he could. When he was safely outside, he grew very angry to + think that any one should be in his storehouse, even if it was + an old one. He could hear a very angry voice inside, and in a + minute who should appear at the doorway but Unc' Billy + Possum.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy had been waked out of a sound sleep, and that was + enough to make any one cross. Besides, he had been badly + frightened, and that made him crosser still.</p> + + <p>"What do yo' mean by trying to frighten honest people?" + snapped Unc' Billy, when he caught sight of Happy Jack.</p> + + <p>"What do you mean by stealing into other folk's houses?" + demanded Happy Jack, just as angrily.</p> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XXIV" + id="XXIV"></a>XXIV</h2> + + <h3>HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL HELPS UNC' BILLY POSSUM</h3> + + <p>IT is very startling, very startling indeed, to rush into + your own storehouse, which you had supposed was empty, and run + right into some one sleeping there as if he owned it. It is + enough to make any one lose his temper. Happy Jack Squirrel + lost his.</p> + + <p>And it is very startling, very startling, indeed, to be + wakened out of pleasant dreams of warm summer days by having + some one suddenly jump on you. It is enough to make any one + lose his temper. Unc' Billy Possum lost his.</p> + + <p>So Happy Jack sat outside on a branch of the hollow tree + where his old storehouse was and scolded, and called Unc' Billy + Possum names, and jerked his tail angrily with every word he + said. And Unc' Billy Possum sat in the doorway of the hollow + tree and showed his teeth to Happy Jack and said unpleasant + things. It really was very dreadful the way those two did + talk.</p> + + <p>But Unc' Billy Possum is really very good-natured, and when + he had gotten over the fright Happy Jack had given him and + began to understand that he was in one of Happy Jack's + storehouses, all his temper vanished, and presently he began to + grin and then to laugh. Now it always takes two to make a + quarrel, and one of the hardest things in the world is to keep + cross when the one you are cross with won't keep cross, too. + Happy Jack tried hard to stay angry, but every time he looked + at Unc' Billy Possum's twinkling eyes and broad grin, Happy + Jack lost a little of his own temper. Pretty soon he was + laughing just as hard as Unc' Billy Possum.</p> + + <p>"Ho, ho, ho! Ha, ha, ha!" they laughed together. Finally + they had to stop for breath.</p> + + <p>"What are you doing in my storehouse, Unc' Billy?" asked + Happy Jack, when he could stop laughing.</p> + + <p>Then Unc' Billy told him all about how he had climbed there + from another tree, so as to leave no tracks in the snow for + Farmer Brown's boy to follow.</p> + + <p>"But now Ah want to go to mah own home in the big hollow + tree way down in the Green Forest, but Ah can't, on account of + mah tracks in the snow," concluded Unc' Billy mournfully.</p> + + <p>Happy Jack put his head on one side and thought very hard. + "Why don't you stay right here until the snow goes, Unc' + Billy?" he asked.</p> + + <p>"Because Ah 'spects that mah ol' woman am worried most to + death," said Unc' Billy, in a mournful voice. "Besides," he + added, "Ah just done found out that this right nice lil' house + belongs to one of mah neighbors." There was a twinkle in Unc' + Billy's eyes.</p> + + <p>Happy Jack laughed. "You're welcome to stay as long as you + like, Unc' Billy," he said. "You better stay right where you + are, and I'll go tell old Mrs. Possum where you are."</p> + + <p>"Thank yo'! Thank yo'! That is very kind of yo', Brer + Squirrel. That will be a great help, fo' it will lift a great + load off mah mind," said Unc' Billy.</p> + + <p>"Don't mention it, Unc' Billy!" replied Happy Jack and + started off with the message to old Mrs. Possum, and as he + scampered through the snow he said:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="start">"To get yourself in trouble is a very + easy thing.</p> + + <p>I notice that to others it will always worries + bring.</p> + + <p>But getting out of trouble's always quite the other + way—</p> + + <p>The more you try to wriggle out, the longer you must + stay."</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr /> + + <h2><a name="XXV" + id="XXV"></a>XXV</h2> + + <h3>HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL'S BRIGHT IDEA</h3> + + <p>HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL frisked along through the snow on his + way to Unc' Billy Possum's house in the big hollow tree in the + Green Forest to tell old Mrs. Possum that Unc' Billy was safe + in another hollow tree on the edge of the Green Forest, but + that he didn't dare to come home because he would leave tracks + in the snow. He found old Mrs. Possum very much worried and + very much out of sorts. You see Unc' Billy had been gone a long + time for him, and she didn't know what had become of him.</p> + + <p>Now of course old Mrs. Possum was very much relieved when + she heard that Unc' Billy was safe, for she had been afraid + that something dreadful had happened to him. But just as soon + as she knew that he was safe, she forgot all about how worried + she had been. All she thought of was how Unc' Billy had gone to + get some fresh eggs to put in his own stomach and left her to + take care of herself and eight baby Possums.</p> + + <p>"Yo' tell Unc' Billy Possum that Ah don' care if he never + comes back. Ah done got other things to bother about more'n a + worthless, no'count Possum what don' take care of his fam'ly," + she said crossly, and hurried into the house to see that the + eight little Possums were properly tucked in bed, for it was a + cold day, and the eight little Possums had to stay in bed to + keep warm.</p> + + <p>Happy Jack chuckled as he started back to tell Unc' Billy + Possum. He knew perfectly well that old Mrs. Possum didn't mean + what she said. He knew that Unc' Billy would know that she + didn't mean it. But he knew, and he knew that Unc' Billy knew, + that when he did get home, he would get a great scolding. Then + all of a sudden Happy Jack thought of a way for Unc' Billy to + get home without waiting until the snow melted away. That might + be a very long time, for there was a great deal of snow on the + ground.</p> + + <p>What do you suppose gave Happy Jack his idea? Why, a tiny + little snowflake that hit Happy Jack right on the end of his + nose! Yes, Sir, it was that tiny little snowflake that gave + Happy Jack Squirrel his bright idea.</p> + + <p>He hurried back to the hollow tree where Unc' Billy was + hiding and scrambled up to the doorway.</p> + + <p>"Hello, Unc' Billy! You can go home to-night!" he + shouted.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy Possum stuck his head out of the doorway. "What's + that yo' say, Brer Squirrel?" he said. "Ah don' see as the snow + has gone away, and your tracks are powerful plain to see, and + Ah makes bigger tracks than yo', Brer Squirrel."</p> + + <p>"Just look up in the sky, Unc' Billy!" said Happy Jack.</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy looked. The sky was full of dancing snowflakes. + They got in his eyes and clung to his whiskers. Unc' Billy + shook his head in disgust.</p> + + <p>"Ah don' see anything but mo' snow, and yo' know Ah don' + like snow!" he said. "What yo' driving at, Brer Squirrel?"</p> + + <p>Happy Jack laughed. "Why, it's just as simple as can be, + Unc' Billy!" he cried. "Just as soon as it's dark, you start + for home. It's going to snow all night, and in the morning + there won't be any tracks. The snowflakes will have covered + them all up."</p> + + <p>Unc' Billy grinned. "Ah believe yo' are right, Brer + Squirrel, Ah believe yo' are right!" said Unc' Billy.</p> + + <p>And Happy Jack was right, for Unc' Billy got safely home + that very night, and the next morning, when Farmer Brown's boy + visited the Green Forest, there wasn't a footprint to be seen + anywhere.</p> + + <p>So Unc' Billy Possum learned how easy it is to get into + trouble and how hard to get out of it. But he isn't the only + one who has found this out. Just ask Unc' Billy's particular + friend, Mistah Mocker the Mocking Bird. He will tell you the + very same thing. He and Unc' Billy have been in all kinds of + scrapes together, and if you care to read about some of them, + you may do so in the next book—The Adventures of Mistah + Mocker.</p> + +<p> </p> + <hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF UNC' BILLY POSSUM***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 14732-h.txt or 14732-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/3/14732">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/7/3/14732</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Burgess, Illustrated by Harrison Cady + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Release Date: January 19, 2005 [eBook #14732] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF UNC' BILLY +POSSUM*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Richard J. Shiffer, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 14732-h.htm or 14732-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/3/14732/14732-h/14732-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/3/14732/14732-h.zip) + + + + + +The Bedtime Story-Books + +THE ADVENTURES OF UNC' BILLY POSSUM + +by + +THORNTON W. BURGESS + +Author of _The Adventures of Peter Cottontail_, _Old Mother West Wind_, +etc. + +With Illustrations by HARRISON CADY + +Boston +Little, Brown, and Company + +1920 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Reddy Fox sprang up as if some one had stuck a pin into +him. FRONTISPIECE.] + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER + + I. UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS CAUGHT + II. REDDY FOX THINKS HE SEES A GHOST + III. UNC' BILLY POSSUM SENDS FOR HIS FAMILY + IV. BOBBY COON ENTERS THE WRONG HOUSE + V. BOBBY COON IS WAKED UP + VI. SAMMY JAY LEARNS PETER RABBIT'S SECRET + VII. FOUR LITTLE SCAMPS PLAN MISCHIEF + VIII. PETER RABBIT SENDS OUT WORD + IX. MR. TOAD AND PRICKLY PORKY PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER + X. THE RUNAWAY CABBAGE + XI. REDDY FOX GOES HUNGRY + XII. PRICKLY PORKY MAKES HIMSELF AT HOME + XIII. UNC' BILLY POSSUM GROWS HUNGRY + XIV. OLD MRS. POSSUM GROWS WORRIED + XV. THE FOOLISHNESS OF UNC' BILLY POSSUM + XVI. WHY UNC' BILLY POSSUM DIDN'T GO HOME + XVII. UNC' BILLY POSSUM LIES LOW + XVIII. UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS A PRISONER + XIX. WHAT THE SNOW DID + XX. UNC' BILLY POSSUM WISHES HE HAD SNOWSHOES + XXI. FARMER BROWN'S BOY CHOPS DOWN A TREE + XXII. WHERE UNC' BILLY POSSUM WAS + XXIII. HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL MAKES AN UNEXPECTED CALL + XXIV. HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL HELPS UNC' BILLY POSSUM + XXV. HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL'S BRIGHT IDEA + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + REDDY FOX SPRANG UP AS IF SOME ONE HAD STUCK A PIN INTO HIM + + MY! MY! MY! SUCH A RUMPUS AS THERE WAS RIGHT AWAY IN THAT + HOLLOW TREE! + + "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" EXCLAIMED THE OTHERS ALL TOGETHER + + HE JUST ATE AND ATE AND ATE UNTIL HE COULDN'T EAT ANOTHER ONE + + THERE ALL THE WAY FROM FARMER BROWN'S HEN-HOUSE, WAS A BROAD TRAIL + IN THE SMOOTH WHITE SNOW + + "YO' TELL UNC' BILLY POSSUM THAT AH DON' CARE IF HE NEVER COMES BACK" + + + + + +I + +UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS CAUGHT + + +The Green Meadows were thrown into great excitement late one +afternoon, just as the black shadows came creeping down from the +Purple Hills. Reddy Fox brought the news, and when he told it he +grinned as if he enjoyed it and was glad of it. + +"Old Billy Possum is dead. I know it because I saw Farmer Brown's boy +carrying him home by the tail," said Reddy. "So you see he wasn't so +smart as you thought he was," he added maliciously. + +No one really believed Reddy Fox, for every one knows that he seldom +tells the truth, but when Jimmy Skunk came mournfully down the Crooked +Little Path and said that it was true, they had to believe it. Then +everybody began to talk about Unc' Billy and say nice things about him +and tell how much they had enjoyed having him live in the Green Forest +since he came up from "Ol' Virginny." That is, everybody but Reddy Fox +said so. Reddy said that it served Unc' Billy right, because he was of +no account, anyway. Then everybody began to hoot and hiss at Reddy +until he was glad enough to slink away. + +And while they were all saying such nice things about him, Unc' Billy +Possum was having an exciting adventure. For once he had been too +bold. He had gone up to Farmer Brown's hen-house before dark. Jimmy +Skunk had tried to stop him, but he had heeded Jimmy Skunk not at +all. He had said that he was hungry and wanted an egg, and he couldn't +wait till dark to get it. So off he had started, for Unc' Billy Possum +is very headstrong and obstinate. + +He had reached the hen-house and slipped inside without being seen. +The nests were full of eggs, and soon Unc' Billy was enjoying his +feast so that he forgot to keep watch. Suddenly the door opened, and +in stepped Farmer Brown's boy to get some eggs for supper. There was +no time to run. Unc' Billy just dropped right down in his tracks as if +he were dead. + +When Farmer Brown's boy saw him, he didn't know what to make of him, +for he had never seen Unc' Billy before. + +"Well, well, I wonder what happened to this fellow," said Farmer +Brown's boy, turning Unc' Billy over with the toe of one foot. "He +certainly is dead enough, whatever killed him. I wonder what he was +doing in here." + +Then he saw some egg on Unc' Billy's lips. "Ho! ho!" shouted Farmer +Brown's boy. "So you are the thief who has been getting my eggs!" And +picking up Unc' Billy by the tail, he started with him for the house. + +As they passed the woodpile, he tossed Unc' Billy on the +chopping-block while he gathered an armful of kindlings to take to the +house. When he turned to pick up Unc' Billy again, Unc' Billy wasn't +there. + +Farmer Brown's boy dropped his wood and hunted everywhere, but not a +trace of Unc' Billy could he find. + + + + +II + +REDDY FOX THINKS HE SEES A GHOST + + +Reddy Fox came down the Lone Little Path through the Green Forest on +his way to the Green Meadows. He had brushed his red coat until it +shone. His white waistcoat was spotless, and he carried his big tail +high in the air, that it might not become soiled. Reddy was feeling as +fine as he looked. He would have liked to sing, but every time he +tried his voice cracked, and he was afraid that some one would hear +him and laugh at him. If there is one thing that Reddy Fox dislikes +more than another, it is being laughed at. + +Reddy chuckled at his thoughts, and what do you think he was thinking +about? Why, about how he had seen Farmer Brown's boy carrying off +Unc' Billy Possum by the tail the afternoon before. He knew how Farmer +Brown's boy had caught Unc' Billy in the hen-house, and with his own +eyes he had seen Unc' Billy carried off. Of course Unc' Billy was +dead. There could be no doubt about it. And Reddy was glad of it. Yes, +Sir, Reddy was glad of it. Unc' Billy Possum had made altogether too +many friends in the Green Forest and on the Green Meadows, and he had +made Reddy the laughing-stock of them all by the way he had dared +Reddy to meet Bowser the Hound, and actually had waited for Bowser +while Reddy ran away. + +Reddy remembered that Unc' Billy's hollow tree was not far away. He +would go over that way, just to have another look at it. So over he +went. There stood the old hollow tree, and half way up was the door +out of which Unc' Billy used to look down on him and grin. It was +Reddy's turn to grin now. Presently he sat down with his back against +the foot of the tree, crossed his legs, looked this way and that way +to make sure that no one was about, and then in a dreadfully cracked +voice he began to sing: + + "Ol' Bill Possum, he's gone before! + Ol' Bill Possum, he is no more! + Bill was a scamp, Sir; + Bill was a thief! + Bill stole an egg, Sir; + Bill came to grief. + Ol' Bill Possum, it served him right; + And he is no more, for he died last night." + +"Very good, Sah, very good. Ah cert'nly am obliged to yo'all for yo' +serenade," said a voice that seemed to come out of the tree at Reddy's +back. + +Reddy Fox sprang up as if some one had stuck a pin into him. Every +hair stood on end, as he looked up at Unc' Billy's doorway. Then his +teeth began to chatter with fright. Looking out of Unc' Billy's +doorway and grinning down at him was something that looked for all the +world like Unc' Billy himself. + +"It must be his ghost!" said Reddy, and tucking his tail between his +legs, he started up the Crooked Little Path as fast as his legs could +take him. + +Reddy never once looked back. If he had, he might have seen Unc' Billy +Possum climb down from the hollow tree and shake hands with Jimmy +Skunk, who had just come along. + +"How did Ah do it? Why, Ah just pretended Ah was daid, when Farmer +Brown's boy caught me," explained Unc' Billy. "Of course he' wouldn't +kill a daid Possum. So when he tossed me down on the chopping-block +and turned his back, Ah just naturally came to life again, and here +Ah am." + +Unc' Billy Possum grinned broader than ever, and Jimmy Skunk grinned, +too. + + + + +III + +UNC' BILLY POSSUM SENDS FOR HIS FAMILY + + +The news that Unc' Billy Possum wasn't dead at all but was back in his +hollow tree in the Green Forest soon spread through all the Green +Forest and over the Green Meadows. Everybody hastened to pay their +respects, that is everybody but Reddy Fox. Unc' Billy and his partner, +Jimmy Skunk, told every one who called how Reddy Fox had thought that +Unc' Billy was a ghost and had been frightened almost to death, so +that he ran away as fast as his legs could take him. Unc' Billy +grinned as he told how Reddy had sat under the hollow tree and tried +to sing because he was so glad that Unc' Billy was dead, and all the +little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows laughed until +their sides ached when in a funny, cracked voice Unc' Billy sang the +song for them. + +Thereafter whenever one of them caught sight of Reddy Fox at a safe +distance, he would shout: + + "Ol' Bill Possum, he's gone before! + Ol' Bill Possum, he is no more!" + +It got so that Reddy never came down on the Green Meadows in the +daytime, and at night he avoided meeting any one if possible, even his +old friend, Bobby Coon. And of course Reddy Fox hated Unc' Billy +Possum more than ever. + +But Unc' Billy didn't care, not he! He knew that all the rest of the +little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows thought him +the smartest of them all, because of the way in which he had fooled +Bowser the Hound and Farmer Brown's boy. He liked his neighbors, he +liked the Green Forest, and so he made up his mind that this was the +place for him to stay. + +But in spite of all his friends, Unc' Billy was lonesome. The longer +he stayed, the more lonesome he grew, Unc' Billy wanted his family, +whom he had left way down in "Ol' Virginny." Finally he told Jimmy +Skunk all about it, and for once Unc' Billy had forgotten how to grin. +Yes, Sir, Unc' Billy had forgotten how to grin. Instead he just wept, +wept great big tears of lonesomeness. + +"Ah reckon Ah'll have to go back to Ol' Virginny, Ah cert'nly do," +said Unc' Billy Possum. + +Jimmy Skunk grew very thoughtful. Since he and Unc' Billy Possum had +been in partnership, Jimmy had had more eggs to eat than ever before +in his whole life. Now Unc' Billy was talking about going away. Jimmy +thought very hard. Then he had a bright idea. + +"Why not send for your family to come here and live in the Green +Forest, Uncle Billy?" he asked. + +Unc' Billy stopped crying. His two little eyes looked up sharply. "How +do yo'all reckon Ah can send word?" he asked. + +Jimmy scratched his head. "There's Mr. Skimmer the Swallow; he's +fixing to go South. Perhaps he'll take the message to your family," +said he. + +"The very thing!" cried Unc' Billy Possum, wiping his eyes. "Ah thanks +yo', Sah. Ah does, indeed. Ah'll see Mistah Skimmer at once." + +And without another word Unc' Billy Possum started down the Crooked +Little Path for the Green Meadows to look for Skimmer the Swallow. + + + + +IV + +BOBBY COON ENTERS THE WRONG HOUSE + + +After Unc' Billy Possum had arranged with Skimmer the Swallow, who was +going South, to take a message to his family in "Ol' Virginny," +telling them to come and join him in the Green Forest, he at once +began to make preparations to receive them. Unc' Billy isn't any too +fond of work. He had a lot rather that some one else should do the +work for him, and he is smart enough to fix it so that usually some +one else does. + +But getting ready to receive his family was different. No one else +could arrange things to suit him. This was Unc' Billy's own job, and +he tended right to it every minute of the day. First of all he had to +clean house. He had been keeping bachelor's hall so long in the big +hollow tree that things were not very tidy. So Unc' Billy cleaned +house, and while he worked he whistled and sang. Peter Rabbit, passing +that way, overheard Unc' Billy singing: + + "Mah ol' woman is away down Souf-- + Come along! Come along! + Ain't nothin' sharper than the tongue in her mouf-- + Come along! Come along! + She once was pretty, but she ain't no mo', + But she cooks mah meals an' she sweeps mah flo'; + She darns mah stockings an' she mends mah coat, + An' she knows jes' how mah chillun fer to tote-- + Come along! Come along! + + "Mah pickaninnies am a-headin' dis way-- + Come along! Come along! + Daddy am a-watchin' fo' 'em day by day-- + Come along! Come along! + Mah ol' haid aches when Ah thinks ob de noise + De's boun' to be wid dem gals an' boys, + But Ah doan care if it busts in two + If de good Lord brings dem chillun troo-- + Come along! Come along!" + +Every little while Unc' Billy Possum would sit down to rest, for he +wasn't used to so much real work. But finally he got his house clean +and made as comfortable as possible, and about that time be began to +think how good an egg would taste. The more he thought about it, the +more he wanted that egg. + +"It's no use talking, Ah just naturally has to have that egg," said +Unc' Billy to himself, and off he started for Farmer Brown's. + +Now Unc' Billy was hardly out of sight when along came Bobby Coon. +Bobby Coon was absent-minded, or else he was so sleepy that he didn't +know what he was doing, for Bobby Coon had been out all night. Anyway, +when he reached Unc' Billy Possum's hollow tree, he began to climb up +it just as if it were his own. He looked in at Unc' Billy's door. +There was the most comfortable bed that he had seen for a long time. +He looked this way and he looked that way. Nobody was in sight. Then +he looked in at Unc' Billy's door once more. That bed certainly did +look soft and comfortable. Bobby Coon chuckled to himself. + +"I believe I'll just see if that bed is as comfortable as it looks," +said he. + +And two minutes later Bobby Coon was curled up fast asleep in Unc' +Billy Possum's bed. + + + + +V + +BOBBY COON IS WAKED UP + + + "Dey's a-coming, dey's a-coming, dey's a-coming mighty soon. + But dey can't come soon enuff fo' me! + Dey's a-coming, dey's a-coming at de turning ob de moon, + Whar Ah waits in mah ol' holler tree!" + +Unc' Billy Possum was singing to himself, as he slowly trudged home +from Farmer Brown's hen-house. He was feeling very good, very good +indeed, was Unc' Billy Possum. No one appreciates strictly fresh eggs +more than Unc' Billy does, and he had found more than he could eat +waiting for him in Farmer Brown's hen-house. Now his stomach was full, +his house had been cleaned and put to rights, ready for his family +when they should arrive from "Ol' Virginny," and he had nothing to do +but wait for them. So he trudged along and sang in a funny, cracked +voice. + +Presently he came to his big hollow tree and started to climb up to +the door of his house. Half way up he broke off short in the middle of +his song and sat down on a convenient branch. He put one ear against +the trunk of the tree and listened. Then he put the other ear against +the tree and listened. There certainly was a funny noise, and it +seemed to come from right inside his hollow tree. Unc' Billy turned +and looked up at his doorway, scratching his head thoughtfully with +one hand. + +"Mah goodness!" said Unc' Billy, "it cert'nly sounds like there was +somebody in mah house!" + +Then very softly Unc' Billy crept up to his doorway and peeped in. It +was dark inside, so that Unc' Billy could see little else than that +his nice, freshly made, comfortable bed was all mussed up. But if he +couldn't see, he could hear. Oh, yes, indeed, Unc' Billy could hear +perfectly well, and what he heard was a snore! There was some one in +Unc' Billy's house, and more than that, they were fast asleep in Unc' +Billy's bed. + +"Mah goodness! Mah goodness!" exclaimed Unc' Billy Possum, and his two +sharp little eyes began to snap. Then he stuck his head in at the door +and shouted: + +"Hi, yo'all! What yo' doing in mah house?" + +The only answer was another snore. Unc' Billy waited a minute. Then he +put his head in once more. + +"Yo' better come out of mah house, Mr. Who-ever-yo'-are, before Ah +comes in and puts yo' out!" shouted Unc' Billy. + +The only answer was a snore louder than before. Then Unc' Billy quite +lost his temper. Some one who had no business there was in his house! +He didn't know who it was, and he didn't care. They were going to come +out or he would know why not. Unc' Billy gritted his teeth and in he +went. + +My! my! my! such a rumpus as there was right away in that hollow tree! +Peter Rabbit happened to be coming along that way and heard it. Peter +stopped and gazed at the hollow tree with eyes and mouth wide open. +Such a snarling and growling! Then out of the doorway began to fly +leaves and moss. They were part of Unc' Billy's bed. Then Peter saw a +big ringed tail hanging out of the doorway. Peter recognized it right +away. No one possessed a tail like that but Bobby Coon. + +In a minute Bobby followed his tail, hastily backing down the tree. +Then Unc' Billy's sharp little old face appeared at the doorway. Unc' +Billy looked down at Peter Rabbit and grinned. + +"Ah guess Mistah Coon done make a mistake when he went to bed in mah +house," said he. + +And Bobby Coon sheepishly admitted that he did. + + + + +VI + +SAMMY JAY LEARNS PETER RABBIT'S SECRET + + + "I'm Mr. Jaybird, tee-hee-hee! + I'm Mr. Jaybird; you watch me! + You've got to rise 'fore break of day + If you want to fool old Mr. Jay." + + +Over and over Sammy Jay hummed this, as he brushed his handsome blue +and white coat. Then he laughed as he remarked to no one in +particular, for no one was near enough to hear: "Peter Rabbit's got a +secret. When Peter goes about whispering, it's a sure sign that he's +got a secret. He thinks that he can keep it from me, but he can't. Oh, +my, no! I never knew of a secret that could be kept by more than two +people, and already I've seen Peter whisper to five. I'll just see +what Reddy Fox knows about it." + +With a flirt of his tail Sammy Jay started for the Green Meadows, +where Reddy Fox was busy hunting for his breakfast. + +"It's a fine morning, Reddy Fox," said Sammy Jay. + +"It would be finer, if I could fill my stomach faster," replied Reddy. + +"That's a pretty good secret of Peter Rabbit's, isn't it?" asked +Sammy, pretending to look very wise. + +Reddy pricked up his sharp little ears. + +"What secret?" he demanded. + +"If you don't know, I'm not going to tell," retorted Sammy Jay, just +as if he knew all about it, and off he flew to hunt up his cousin, +Blacky the Crow. Blacky knew nothing about Peter Rabbit's secret, nor +did Shadow the Weasel, whom he met by the way. But Sammy Jay was not +in the least bit discouraged. + +"I'll try Johnny Chuck; he'll know," said Sammy to himself. + +He found Johnny sitting on his doorstep, watching the world go by. + +"Good morning, Johnny Chuck," said Sammy, with a low bow. + +"Good morning," replied Johnny Chuck, who always is polite. + +"Isn't that a fine secret of Peter Rabbit's?" exclaimed Sammy, just as +if he knew all about it. + +Johnny Chuck raised his eyebrows and put on the most surprised look. + +"Do tell me what it is!" he begged. + +"Oh, if you don't know, I won't tell, for that wouldn't be fair," +replied Sammy, and tried to look very honest and innocent, and then he +flew over to the Green Forest. And as he flew, he said to himself: +"Johnny Chuck can't fool me; he does know Peter Rabbit's secret." + +Over in the Green Forest he found Drummer the Woodpecker making a +great racket on the hollow limb of an old chestnut. Sammy sat down +near by and listened. "My, that's fine! I wish I could do that. You +must be practising," said Sammy at the end of a long rat-a-tat-tat. + +Drummer the Woodpecker felt very much flattered. "I am," said he. "I'm +practising for Peter Rabbit's party." + +"I thought so," replied Sammy Jay. Of course he hadn't thought +anything of the kind. + +"Won't Unc' Billy Possum be surprised?" remarked Drummer the +Woodpecker, as he sat down to rest. + +"He surely will," replied Sammy Jay, and then he flattered and +flattered Drummer the Woodpecker until finally Drummer told all about +Peter's plan for a surprise party for Unc' Billy Possum. + +By and by, as he flew home, Sammy Jay chuckled and said: + + "You've got to rise 'fore break of day + If you want to fool old Mr. Jay." + + + + +VII + +FOUR LITTLE SCAMPS PLAN MISCHIEF + + "Some folks think they're mighty smart-- + Oh, la me! Oh, la me! + Like the knave who stole the tart-- + Oh, la me! Oh, la me! + Some folks will waken up some day-- + And find they can't fool Mr. Jay!" + + +Sammy Jay was mightily pleased with himself. He had found out all +about Peter Rabbit's plan to give Unc' Billy Possum a surprise party +when his family came up from "Ol' Virginny." He had found out that all +the little forest and meadow people but himself and his cousin, Blacky +the Crow, and Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel had been invited, and +that each was to bring something good to eat. Sammy Jay smacked his +lips as he thought of this. Then he looked up at jolly, round, red Mr. +Sun and winked. + +Now on all the Green Meadows and in all the Green Forest, there live +no greater scamps than Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow and Reddy Fox and +Shadow the Weasel. The worst of it is, they are not honest. They steal +whenever they get a chance, and always they try to get others into +trouble. That was why Peter Rabbit had left them out, when he planned +his surprise party for Unc' Billy Possum. + +Sammy Jay called the three others together under the Lone Pine and +told them all about Peter Rabbit's plan and how they had been left +out. Of course Blacky the Crow and Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel +were angry, very angry indeed, for no one likes to be left out of a +good time. The more Sammy Jay told them, the angrier they grew; and +the angrier they grew, the more Sammy Jay chuckled, way down inside. +Sammy had a plan, and the angrier the others grew, the more likely +were they to help him. + +"You wait till I catch Peter Rabbit!" said Reddy Fox and showed all +his teeth. He quite forgot that, despite all his smartness, he never +yet had caught Peter Rabbit. + +Blacky the Crow scratched his head thoughtfully. "We can spoil his +surprise by telling Unc' Billy Possum all about it beforehand," said +he. + +Sammy Jay winked at each of the others. He cleared his throat and +looked all around, to make sure that no one else was near. Then he +leaned forward and whispered: "Let's invite ourselves to the party." + +"What do you mean?" exclaimed the others, all together. + +"Just what I say," replied Sammy. "We'll be the real surprise. Before +the party begins, you will hide close to where it is to be. When +everybody has got there and brought all the good things to eat, I'll +come flying along and scream: 'Here comes Bowser the Hound!' Of course +every one will run away, and we'll have all the good things to eat." + +"Haw! haw! haw! The very thing! We'll all be there," cried Blacky the +Crow. + +The four little scamps shook hands and separated. As they went across +the Green Meadows, Sammy Jay's voice floated back to the Lone Pine. He +was singing, although he has a very poor voice for singing, and this +was his song: + +[Illustration: "What do you mean?" exclaimed the others all +together.] + + "Some folks think they're mighty smart-- + Oh, la me! Oh, la me! + Like the knave who stole the tart-- + Oh, la me! Oh, la me! + Some folks will waken up some day-- + And find they can't fool Mr. Jay!" + +"Is that so? Really now, I want to know," said old Mr. Toad, crawling +from under the very piece of bark on which Sammy Jay had sat when he +told his plan. Then old Mr. Toad winked slowly and solemnly at jolly, +round, red Mr. Sun and started off to find Peter Rabbit. + + + + +VIII + +PETER RABBIT SENDS OUT WORD + + +It was a beautiful morning. Everybody said so, and what everybody says +is usually so. Peter Rabbit wore the broadest kind of a smile. He +hopped and skipped all the way down the Lone Little Path on to the +Green Meadows and was waiting there when Old Mother West Wind came +down from the Purple Hills and, turning her big bag upside down, +tumbled out all her children, the Merry Little Breezes, to play. Peter +stopped them before they had a chance to run away. He whispered to +each, and each in turn started to dance across the Green Meadows to +carry the news that this was the day of Peter Rabbit's surprise party +for Unc' Billy Possum, whose family would arrive that very morning +from way down in "Ol' Virginny." + +Sammy Jay had risen very early that morning. Almost at once his sharp +eyes had seen Peter Rabbit sending out the Merry Little Breezes. +Sammy's wits are as sharp as his eyes, and you know it is very hard to +really fool sharp wits. Right away Sammy had guessed what the Merry +Little Breezes were hurrying so for, but he sat and waited and +listened. Pretty soon he heard Drummer the Woodpecker start a long +rat-a-tat-tat over by Unc' Billy Possum's hollow tree. Then Sammy was +sure that this was the day of Peter Rabbit's party. Sammy grinned as +he hurried off to find Blacky the Crow and Reddy Fox and Shadow the +Weasel. + +Reddy was not yet out of bed, but when he heard Sammy Jay at his +door, he tumbled out in a hurry. He didn't stop to get any breakfast, +because he had planned to get all he could eat at the party. So he +hurried over to where the party was to be. Very cautiously he crept +up, and when he was quite sure that no one was about, he crawled into +a hollow log which was open at one end. There he stretched himself out +and made himself as comfortable as he could. + +Pretty soon Shadow the Weasel joined Reddy Fox in the hollow log, and +they whispered and chuckled while they waited. They knew that Blacky +the Crow was safely hidden in the top of a tall pine, where he could +see all that went on, and that Sammy Jay was flying about over the +Green Meadows and through the Green Forest, pretending that he was +attending wholly to his own business, but really watching all the +preparations for Peter Rabbit's party. At the foot of a tree, in the +top of which Prickly Porky the Porcupine was eating his breakfast, sat +old Mr. Toad, nodding sleepily. Sammy Jay saw him there but, smart as +Sammy is, he didn't once suspect innocent-looking old Mr. Toad. You +see, he didn't know that old Mr. Toad had overheard all of his plans. + + + + +IX + +MR. TOAD AND PRICKLY PORKY PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER + + +Slowly Prickly Porky the Porcupine climbed down from the top of the +tall poplar tree where he had been getting his breakfast of tender +young bark. He grunted as he worked his way down, for he had with him +a bundle of bark to take over to Peter Rabbit's surprise party. When +he reached the ground, Prickly Porky shook himself until he rattled +the thousand little spears hidden in his long coat. + +"Tee-hee-hee!" + +"Who dares to laugh at me?" demanded Pricky Porky, shaking himself +until all the little spears rattled again, and some of them began to +peep out of his long coat. + +"No one is laughing at you," replied a voice right behind him. + +Prickly Porky turned around. There sat old Mr. Toad. His big mouth was +stretched wide open, and he was laughing all to himself. Something was +tickling old Mr. Toad mightily. + +Prickly Porky scowled, and a few more little spears peeped out of his +long coat. You know no one likes to be laughed at, and it certainly +did look as if old Mr. Toad was laughing at him. + +Mr. Toad stopped laughing and hopped a step nearer. "It's a joke," +said he, and slowly winked one eye. + +"I don't see any joke," said Prickly Porky, and his voice was very +fretful. + +Mr. Toad hopped a step nearer. "Are you going to Peter Rabbit's +party?" + +"Of course I am. What a foolish question," replied Prickly Porky. + +"To be sure, a very foolish question, a very foolish question, +indeed," assented Mr. Toad. "Do you know that Sammy Jay and Blacky the +Crow and Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel, who have not been invited, +are planning to break up the party and then gobble up all the good +things to eat?" he continued. + +Prickly Porky laid down his bundle of tender young bark and stared at +old Mr. Toad, "How do you know?" he demanded. + +Old Mr. Toad chuckled deep down in his throat. "I was underneath a +piece of bark on which Sammy Jay was sitting when the plan was made. +Of course he didn't know I was there, and of course I didn't tell +him." + +"Of course not," interrupted Prickly Porky, beginning to grin. + +"Of course not," continued Mr. Toad, grinning, too. Then he told +Prickly Porky all about the plan he had overheard, how Reddy Fox and +Shadow the Weasel and Blacky the Crow were to hide near Unc' Billy +Possum's hollow tree, and how Sammy Jay was to frighten away everybody +else by pretending that Bowser the Hound was coming. + +"Have you told Peter Rabbit?" asked Prickly Porky. + +"Not yet, but I'm going to, by and by," replied old Mr. Toad. "But +first, I want you to help me fool Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow and +Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel. Will you?" + +"Of course I will if I can, but how can I?" answered Prickly Porky +promptly. + +Old Mr. Toad hopped up, and stretching up on tiptoe, whispered in one +of Prickly Porky's ears. Prickly Porky began to smile. Then he began +to chuckle. Finally he laughed until he had to hold his sides. + +"Will you do it?" asked Mr. Toad. + +Prickly Porky reached for his bundle of tender young bark. "Of course +I will," said he, still chuckling. "Come on, Mr. Toad, it's time we +were going." + + + + +X + +THE RUNAWAY CABBAGE + + +Reddy Fox, hiding with Shadow the Weasel in a hollow log near Unc' +Billy Possum's home, nudged Shadow with his elbow. + +"I hear some one coming," he whispered. + +Shadow peeped out. "It's old Mr. Toad and Prickly Porky," he whispered +back. + +Something that sounded very much like a growl sounded way down deep in +the throat of Reddy Fox, for Reddy has no love for Prickly Porky. + +"And there comes Jimmy Skunk, with a big-goose egg under each arm!" +continued Shadow, smacking his lips. Reddy Fox wriggled up where he +could peep out, too. + +"My goodness! What's that coming down the Lone Little Path?" whispered +Reddy. + +Shadow looked. Then he began to laugh, and Reddy began to laugh, too. +But it was laughter that made no sound, for Reddy and Shadow didn't +want any one to know that they were hiding there. It was a funny sight +they were peeping out at. It certainly was a funny sight. Down the +Lone Little Path came Peter Rabbit and his cousin, Juniper the Hare, +rolling a huge cabbage. + +Right at the top of a little hill the cabbage got away from them. Down +it started, rolling and bounding along, with Peter Rabbit and Jumper +the Hare frantically trying to catch it. Just ahead was Johnny Chuck +with a big bundle of sweet clover, which he was bringing to Peter +Rabbit's party. He didn't see the big cabbage coming. It knocked his +feet from under him, and down he went with a thump, flat on his back. +Right on top of him fell Jumper the Hare, who was close behind the +runaway cabbage and had no time to turn aside. Over the two of them +fell Peter Rabbit. Such a mix-up! + +And the big cabbage kept right on running away. Jimmy Skunk, who never +hurries, heard the noise behind him and turned to see what it all +meant. But he didn't have time to more than blink his eyes before the +runaway cabbage hit him full in the stomach. Down went Jimmy Skunk +with a grunt. One big egg flew over against a tree and broke. Jimmy +landed on the other, and this broke, too. + +Such a sight as Jimmy Skunk was! Egg dripped from every part of his +handsome black and white coat. It was in his eyes and all over his +face and dripped from his whiskers. Shadow the Weasel and Reddy Fox, +hiding in the hollow log, laughed until the tears rolled down their +cheeks, though down in the heart of Shadow was bitter disappointment, +for he had planned to steal those very eggs. + +Just a little way beyond Jimmy Skunk the runaway cabbage brought up +with a thump against a stump on which sat Striped Chipmunk, with the +pockets in his cheeks filled full of yellow corn. The sudden bump of +the big cabbage made Striped Chipmunk lose his balance, and off he +tumbled, right down on to old Mr. Toad, who had just sat down behind +the stump for a few minutes of rest. It knocked all the wind out of +Mr. Toad, and of course Striped Chipmunk spilled all his corn. + +Prickly Porky the Porcupine heard the noise. He looked up to see a +strange thing bounding down the Lone Little Path. Prickly Porky +didn't wait to see what it was. He did just what he always does when +he thinks there may be danger; he rolled himself up with his face +hidden in his waistcoat, and when he did that, the thousand little +spears hidden in his coat stood out until he looked like a giant +chestnut burr. + +The runaway cabbage bounced off the stump and hit Prickly Porky. Then +it stopped. Where it had touched Prickly Porky, the sharp little +spears had stuck into it, so that when Peter Rabbit and Jumper the +Hare hurried up, there lay the runaway cabbage, looking for all the +world like a great green pincushion. + + + + +XI + +REDDY FOX GOES HUNGRY + + +Like a great green pincushion lay the runaway cabbage of Peter Rabbit +and Jumper the Hare. Every one thought it was the very best joke ever. +Jimmy Skunk had gone off to take a bath and get two more eggs for +Peter Rabbit's party. Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel, peeping out +from the hollow log where they were hiding, could see Jimmy on his way +back with a big goose egg under each arm. Shadow smacked his lips. He +meant to have those eggs himself. + +Pretty soon all the little forest and meadow people whom Peter Rabbit +had invited were gathered around the foot of Unc' Billy Possum's +hollow tree, and each had brought something good to eat. My, such a +feast as was spread out there! Now they were waiting for Unc' Billy +Possum, who had gone to meet his family, coming up from "Ol' +Virginny." + +Over in the top of a tall pine tree Blacky the Crow was hiding and +chuckling to himself as he watched. Reddy Fox was getting impatient. +He was hungry. He had had no breakfast, and as he lay hiding in the +hollow log, he could peep out and see all the good things, and he +could smell them, too. It seemed as if his stomach would just give him +no peace at all. He wished that Sammy Jay would bring the false +message that Bowser the Hound was coming, so as to frighten all the +rest away. + +"I'm nearly starved!" whispered Reddy Fox. "I hope Sammy Jay will +hurry up." + +Just then they noticed that Peter Rabbit was very busy. He hopped from +guest to guest and whispered in the ear of each. + +"Now I wonder what Peter Rabbit is whispering about," said Reddy. + +Suddenly the light at the end of the hollow log disappeared. There was +a queer rattling sound that sent shivers up and down Reddy's backbone. +Prickly Porky the Porcupine had sat down with his back against the end +of the hollow log, and the queer rattling sound was made by the +thousand little spears in his long coat. Reddy Fox and Shadow the +Weasel were in a prison. You see there was no other opening to the +hollow log. + +"Never mind," whispered Shadow the Weasel, "he'll go away when Sammy +Jay shouts that Bowser the Hound is coming." + +Blacky the Crow, hidden in the top of the tall pine, was also +wondering what Peter was whispering. His sharp eyes watched Peter, and +every time that Peter whispered in the ear of one of the little meadow +or forest people, they would laugh. + +Now, Sammy Jay knew nothing about all this. By and by, when he thought +that every one was there, Sammy came flying through the Green Forest, +just as if he knew nothing about Peter Rabbit's party. Now, Sammy, +with all his faults, is one of the best watchmen in the Green Forest. +If there is any danger which his sharp eyes discover, he always +screams at the top of his lungs. So, though he steals and plays tricks +and makes life very uncomfortable for the others, they always stop to +listen when Sammy sounds a warning. Because Sammy knew this he felt +sure of breaking up this party. + +As soon as he came in sight of all the little meadow and forest +people, he began to shriek at the top of his lungs. + +"Run! run! run! Here comes Bowser the Hound," he shouted. + +No one moved, and this puzzled Sammy so that he hardly knew what to +do, but he kept right on shrieking, just as if Bowser was right close +at hand. Still no one moved. Sammy stopped on a tall pine and +pretended to be terribly excited. + +"You had better run before Bowser gets here," he shouted. + +What do you think happened then? Why, everybody set up a great shout. +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Peter Rabbit. + +"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Johnny Chuck. + +"Hee! hee! hee!" giggled Danny Meadow Mouse. + +"What time will Bowser get here?" asked Bobby Coon, gravely. + +"Tell Bowser that we are all waiting for him," added Jimmy Skunk. + +"Is Bowser quite out of breath?" inquired Jerry Muskrat. + +"I would like nothing better than to run a race with Bowser the +Hound," said Jumper the Hare, sitting up very straight. + +Sammy Jay didn't know what to do or what to say. He was just the most +disgusted looking Jay that ever flew through the Green Forest, and all +the time he wondered and wondered and wondered how it could be that +Peter Rabbit and his friends knew that Bowser the Hound was not in the +Green Forest at all. You see, old Mr. Toad had told Peter all about +Sammy's plan, and this is what Peter had been whispering to the +others. + + + + +XII + +PRICKLY PORKY MAKES HIMSELF AT HOME + + +Peter Rabbit's party promised to be a great success. When old Mr. +Toad, who had overheard Sammy Jay's plan, had told Peter Rabbit all +about it, he had also told Peter that Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel +were hiding in an old hollow log close by. + +Peter had whispered the news in the ear of each of the little forest +and meadow people and had told them how Prickly Porky was even then +sitting with his back against the opening in the hollow log. + +Every one had thought this the best joke ever, for, of course, they +all knew that Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel could not get out past +the thousand little spears hidden in the long coat of Prickly Porky. + +Prickly Porky settled himself very comfortably and began to tell +stories about his home, way up in the North Woods. Every few minutes +he would rattle the thousand little spears in his coat, and though no +one could see Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel inside the hollow log, +every one could guess just how little shivers were running up and down +the backbones of the two little scamps held prisoners there. + +Prickly Porky told how in the cold, cold winter the snow piled up and +piled up in his far northern home, until nearly all the forest folk +who lived there had to make a long journey into the South, or else +went into warm, snug hollows in the trees or caves in the rocks and +slept the long winter through, just as Johnny Chuck does. He told how +the Indians came through the great forest on big webbed shoes, that +kept them from sinking into the snow, and hunted for Lightfoot the +Deer, and how they never bothered Prickly Porky, but always treated +him with the greatest respect. He told so many, many interesting +things about the great North Woods, that all the little meadow people +and forest folk gathered close around to listen, but every few +minutes, while he was talking, he would shake his thousand little +spears, and then every one would smile. + +Inside the hollow log Reddy Fox was getting stiff and sore, because, +you know, he didn't have room enough to even turn over. Worse still, +he was so hungry that he could cry. You see, he had crept in there +very early in the morning without any breakfast, because he had +planned that when Sammy Jay should break up Peter Rabbit's party, he +would steal all the good things he wanted. Now, he could smell them, +and hear the others talking about the feast they were going to have, +and he knew that not so much as a tiny, tiny crumb would be left for +him, when Prickly Porky should choose to let him out. + +Shadow the Weasel felt just as uncomfortable as Reddy Fox, and Shadow +is very short-tempered. Every time Reddy moved and squeezed Shadow, +Shadow would snap at him. Now, of course, they could hear everything +that was said outside, and the things that were said were not pleasant +to listen to. Bobby Coon and Billy Mink and Johnny Chuck and Little +Joe Otter and Jimmy Skunk told about all the mean things and all the +sharp tricks that Reddy Fox and Shadow had done. It made the two +little prisoners so angry that they ground their teeth, but every time +they made the least little movement, Prickly Porky would shake his +thousand little spears and settle himself still more firmly against +the opening in the hollow log. He certainly was enjoying himself. It +tickled him almost to pieces to think how easily he had trapped smart +Reddy Fox, the boaster. + +So they waited all the long day for the coming of Unc' Billy Possum's +family, and when at last they did arrive, there was the merriest +surprise party ever seen. Only Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow, Reddy Fox +and Shadow the Weasel were unhappy, and of course no one cared for +that. + + + + +XIII + +UNC' BILLY POSSUM GROWS HUNGRY + + +Unc' Billy Possum spent the very coldest days of winter curled up in +his warm, snug home in the big hollow tree in the Green Forest. Unc' +Billy didn't like the cold weather. Sometimes he would stick his head +out of his doorway and then, as he heard rough Brother North Wind +whooping through the Green Forest, he would turn right around and go +back to his bed for another nap. And all the time he would be saying: + + "Way down Souf de sun am shinin'-- + Yas, Sah, dat am so! + Fo' dat lan' mah heart am pinin'-- + Yas, Sah, dat am so! + + "De mocking-bird he sings all day, + De alligators am at play, + De flowers dey am bloomin' fair, + And mah heart aches to be down there-- + Yas, Sah, dat am so!" + +Now Unc' Billy had prepared for the winter by getting just as fat as +he knew how. He was so fat that he could hardly waddle when Jack Frost +first came to the Green Forest. You see he knew that if he was very, +very fat he wouldn't have to worry about getting anything to eat, not +for a long time, anyway. So when the ice and snow came, and Unc' Billy +decided that it was more comfortable indoors than outdoors, he was +almost as fat as Johnny Chuck was when he went to sleep for the long +winter. + +Now Johnny Chuck just slept and slept and slept, without waking once +the whole winter long. But Unc' Billy Possum couldn't sleep like that. +He had to stick his head out every little while to see how the world +was getting along without him. When the sun was bright and the air was +not too cold, Unc' Billy would sometimes climb down from his hollow +tree and walk about a little on the snow. But he didn't enjoy it much. +It made his feet cold, and then he didn't like the tracks he made. He +scowled at them, for he knew well enough that if Farmer Brown's boy +should happen along, he would know right away who had made those +tracks, and then he would hunt for Unc' Billy's home in the hollow +tree. So Unc' Billy didn't go out very much, and very seldom indeed +when the snow was soft. + +It seemed to Unc' Billy Possum as if the winter never, never would go. +He was beginning to grow thin now, and of course he was getting +hungry. He began to think about it, and the more he thought about it, +the hungrier he grew. One morning he stuck his head out of his +doorway, and whom should he see trotting along below but Jimmy Skunk. +Jimmy looked fat and comfortable and as if he did not mind the cold +weather at all. + +"Good mo'ning, Jimmy Skunk," said Unc' Billy. + +Jimmy Skunk looked up. "Hello, Unc' Billy!" he exclaimed. "I haven't +seen you for a long time!" + +"Whar yo' been, Jimmy Skunk?" asked Unc' Billy. + +Jimmy winked one eye. "Getting my breakfast of nice fresh eggs," he +replied. + +Unc' Billy Possum's mouth began to water. "Did yo' leave any?" he +anxiously inquired. + +Jimmy Skunk allowed that he did, and Unc' Billy gave a long sigh, as +he watched Jimmy Skunk amble off up the Lone Little Path. Unc' Billy +couldn't sleep any more now. No, Sir, he couldn't sleep a wink. All he +could do was to think how hungry he was. He would shut his eyes, and +then it seemed as if he could see right into Farmer Brown's hen-house, +and there were eggs, eggs, eggs, everywhere. Finally Unc' Billy made +up his mind. + +"Ah'm going up there the very first dark night!" said he. + + + + +XIV + +OLD MRS. POSSUM GROWS WORRIED + + +Old Mrs. Possum counted her babies to be sure that they all were +tucked snug and warm in their bed in the old hollow tree in the Green +Forest. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight." They were +all there. Mrs. Possum looked at them with a great deal of pride and +sighed as she thought of how soon they would be leaving the old hollow +tree to see the great world and make homes for themselves. Just as +soon as the beautiful spring came, they would one by one slip away. +Mrs. Possum sighed again. She didn't like winter. No, Sir, she didn't +like winter one bit. But when she thought of how her babies would +leave her, she almost wished that spring never would come. + +Sure that her babies were warm and comfortable, old Mrs. Possum went +to the door and looked out. It was plain to be seen that Mrs. Possum +was worried. That was the tenth time she had looked out in half an +hour. Her sharp little old face looked sharper than ever. It always +looks sharper when she is worried, just as the tongues of some people +always grow sharper when they are worried. + +"Ah don' see what can be keepin' mah ol' man! Ah'm plumb worried to +death," muttered old Mrs. Possum. + +Right that very minute she heard a noise outside that made her hurry +to the door and thrust her head out once more. It was Sammy Jay, +shrieking: + +"Thief! Thief! Thief!" at the top of his lungs. + +"He's a thief himself and just a low-down mischief-maker, for all his +smart clo'es, but he knows a powerful lot about what is going on in +the Green Forest, and perhaps he has seen mah ol' man," said old Mrs. +Possum, as she tried to make her sharp face as pleasant as possible. +She looked over at Sammy Jay, who was in the next tree, and smiled, +and when she smiled she showed all her sharp teeth. + +"Good mo'ning, Brer Jay," said she. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Sammy Jay, not at all politely. "Where's Uncle +Billy Possum?" + +Old Mrs. Possum shook her head, and the worried look came back into +her face, although she tried hard, oh, so hard, not to let it. + +"He done go out fo' a walk," replied old Mrs. Possum. "Ah reckons +yo'all just got up, or yo' would have met up with him somewhere." + +Old Mrs. Possum said this just to try to make Sammy Jay talk, for +Sammy is very quick-tempered, and quick-tempered people often say a +lot more than they mean to. You see, Mrs. Possum was quite sure that +if Sammy Jay knew how worried she was over Unc' Billy Possum, he would +refuse to tell her whether or not he had seen Unc' Billy, for Sammy +Jay is mean and loves to torment others. + +Sammy's temper flared up right away. "I've been up ever since sun-up!" +he sputtered. "Your old man isn't anywhere in the Green Forest, unless +he's gone to sleep in some other hollow tree, and I wouldn't blame him +a bit if he had! No, Sir, I wouldn't blame him the least bit!" + + "Keep your temper, Brer Jay! + Keep your temper, do, Oh pray!" + +said old Mrs. Possum, grinning in the most aggravating way as she +turned back to her babies. She had found out what she wanted to +know--Sammy Jay had seen nothing of Unc' Billy Possum. Old Mrs. Possum +sat down with her head in her hands. She was more worried than ever. + + + + +XV + +THE FOOLISHNESS OF UNC' BILLY POSSUM + + +If Unc' Billy Possum hadn't happened to look out of his doorway in the +big hollow tree in the Green Forest, or if Jimmy Skunk hadn't happened +to come along just that very minute, or if Unc' Billy hadn't asked +Jimmy where he had been, or if Jimmy hadn't mentioned nice fresh eggs, +Unc' Billy wouldn't have been foolish, and old Mrs. Possum wouldn't +have been worried. But all those things did happen. + +After Jimmy Skunk had mentioned his fine breakfast of fresh eggs, Unc' +Billy Possum couldn't think of anything else. He knew well enough +where Jimmy had found those eggs. Yes, indeed, Unc' Billy knew all +about it. He could shut his eyes and just see the inside of Farmer +Brown's hen-house with the rows of hens and roosters sitting on the +roosts at one end, their heads tucked under their wings. He could see +the rows of nests and the beautiful brown eggs in them. Jimmy Skunk +couldn't climb, and so he could have gotten only the eggs in the lower +nests. Now if he, Unc' Billy, had been there, he could have climbed to +the very topmost nest and--but what was the use of thinking about it? +He hadn't been there, and he couldn't go now, because it was daylight. + +All the rest of the day Unc' Billy tried to sleep, but when he did +sleep he dreamed about eggs, nice, fresh, delicious eggs, and when he +was awake he though about eggs. It made him more and more uneasy and +fidgety. Old Mrs. Possum couldn't stand it. + +"What all am the matter with yo'?" she snapped. "Ah do wish yo' would +keep still a minute!" + +Unc' Billy muttered something, but all that Mrs. Possum could hear was +"eggs." + +"Now don't yo'all get to thinking of such foolishness as eggs," she +commanded. "It isn't safe to be snooping around Farmer Brown's +hen-house when there's snow on the ground. Yo' just fo'get all about +eggs! Do yo' hear what Ah say?" + +Unc' Billy nodded that he did. But just the same he couldn't think of +anything else. He knew that old Mrs. Possum was right, and that it +wasn't safe to go fooling around Farmer Brown's hen-house and leaving +his tracks for everybody who came along to see. Just the same, Unc' +Billy felt that he had got to have a nice fresh egg. He had got to +have it. That is all there was about it. + +As soon as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had gone to bed behind the Purple +Hills that night, Unc' Billy crept out of his home in the hollow tree. + +"Where are yo' going?" demanded Mrs. Possum. + +"Just to stretch the kinks out of mah legs," replied Unc' Billy. + +Old Mrs. Possum looked after him suspiciously. "Don't yo' go fo' to do +any foolishness!" she called. + +Unc' Billy didn't answer. He was on his way to Farmer Brown's +hen-house. + + + + +XVI + +WHY UNC' BILLY POSSUM DIDN'T GO HOME + + +Unc' Billy Possum had a very good reason for not going home, a very good +reason, indeed. Even old Mrs. Possum would have thought it was a good +reason, could she have known it. But she didn't know it, and so she +sat in the home in the big hollow tree in the Green Forest and worried +herself almost sick, because Unc' Billy didn't come home, and she +didn't know what might have happened to him. + +Sometimes Unc' Billy wished that he was back in the old hollow tree, +and sometimes he was glad that he was right where he was. Sometimes +he felt little shivers of fear run all over him as he thought of what +might become of him if he should be found. Sometimes a little tickly +feeling of pleasure ran all over him, as he bit a hole in the end of a +freshly laid egg and sucked the egg out of the shell. + +Now Unc' Billy was very, very crafty. He had found Jimmy Skunk's +tracks boldly leading up to the hen-house, so Unc' Billy had stepped +as carefully as he knew how in the footprints of Jimmy Skunk, in order +that Farmer Brown's boy might think that Jimmy Skunk was the only +visitor to the hen-house. But with all his craft, there was one thing +that Unc' Billy forgot. Yes, Sir, there was one thing Unc' Billy +forgot all about. He forgot to keep his tail up. He was trying so hard +to step in the footprints of Jimmy Skunk, that he forgot all about +that little, smooth, handy old tail of his, and he let it drag along +the snow. + +[Illustration: He just ate and ate until he couldn't eat another one.] + +When Unc' Billy was safely in the hen-house, he hurried from one nest +to another. There were eggs, plenty of them. It seemed to him that +nothing he had ever seen before had looked half so good as those eggs. +He just ate and ate and ate until he couldn't eat another one. Now a +full stomach is very apt to make a sleepy head. Unc' Billy knew that +the thing for him to do was to hurry home as fast as he could go, but +he didn't. No, Sir, he didn't do it. The hen-house was warm and here +were some of the nicest nests of hay. He was tired after his long walk +from the Green Forest, for Unc' Billy had done so little walking this +winter that he was rather out of practice. Why not take a teeny, weeny +nap before he started back home? + +Unc' Billy climbed to the very last nest in the topmost row, way up in +a dark corner. It hadn't been used for a long time, but it was full of +nice, soft hay. Unc' Billy curled himself up in it, and with a great +sigh of contentment, closed his eyes for that teeny, weeny nap. He +didn't open them again until he heard an angry voice right close to +him. He peeped out. It was broad daylight, and there, just below him, +was Farmer Brown's boy, looking at the empty egg-shells left by Unc' +Billy. Farmer Brown's boy was angry. Yes, indeed, he was very, very +angry. Unc' Billy shivered as he listened. Then he snuggled down out +of sight under the hay of the nest. + + + + +XVII + +UNC' BILLY POSSUM LIES LOW + + +Farmer Brown's boy was angry. Yes, Sir, he was angry. There was no +doubt about that. He had found the empty shells of the eggs which Unc' +Billy had eaten in the night, and Unc' Billy knew by the sound of his +voice that Farmer Brown's boy meant to find the thief. + +It was a terrible position to be in, right there in the hen-house, +with no chance to run. Unc' Billy wished with all his might that he +had never thought of eggs, and that he was safe back home in the dear +old hollow tree in the Green Forest. Oh, dear! oh, dear! Why hadn't he +gone right straight back there, after eating those eggs, instead of +taking a nap? But he hadn't. He had taken a nap and overslept, and +here he was, right in the hen-house, in broad daylight. + +"It must have been a Skunk," said Farmer Brown's boy, "and if it was, +he must have left some tracks in the snow outside. I'll just look +around a bit." + +Unc' Billy almost chuckled as he heard Farmer Brown's boy go out. + +"He'll find Jimmy Skunk's tracks, but he won't find mine," thought +Unc' Billy. "Isn't it lucky that I thought to step right in Jimmy +Skunk's tracks when I came here?" + +He lay still and listened to Farmer Brown's boy poking around outside. +He heard him exclaim: "Ah, I thought so!" and knew that he had found +the tracks Jimmy Skunk had made in the snow. Unc' Billy almost +chuckled again as he thought what a smart fellow he had been to step +in Jimmy Skunk's tracks. And right then he heard something that put an +end to all his fine thoughts about his own smartness, and sent little +cold shivers up and down his backbone. + +"Hello!" said the voice of Farmer Brown's boy. "These are queer +tracks! That Skunk must have had a queer tail, for here are the marks +of it in the snow, and they look as if they might have been made by +the tail of a very big rat." + +Unc' Billy remembered then for the first time that when he had thought +he was so smart, he had forgotten to hold his tail up. He had dragged +it in the snow, and of course it had left a mark. + +"I guess that there was more than one visitor here last night," +continued the voice of Farmer Brown's boy. "Here are the tracks of the +Skunk going away from the hen-house, but I don't see any of those +other queer tracks going away. Whoever made them must be right around +here now." + +Back into the hen-house came Farmer Brown's boy and began to poke +around in all the corners. He moved all the boxes and looked in the +grain bin. Then he began to look in the nests. Unc' Billy could hear +him coming nearer and nearer. He was looking in the very next nest to +the one in which Unc' Billy was. Finally he looked into that very +nest. Unc' Billy Possum held his breath. + +Now the nest in which Unc' Billy was hiding was on the topmost row in +the darkest corner of the hen-house, and Unc' Billy had crawled down +underneath the hay. Perhaps it was because that corner was so dark, or +perhaps it was because that nest was so high up, that Farmer Brown's +boy really didn't expect to find anything there. Anyway, all he saw +was the hay, and he didn't take the trouble to put his hand in and +feel for anything under the hay. + +"It's queer," said Farmer Brown's boy. "It's very queer! I guess I +shall have to set some traps." + +And all the time Unc' Billy Possum held his breath and lay low. + + + + +XVIII + +UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS A PRISONER + + + "Mah home is in a holler tree-- + It's a long way home! + Ah wish Ah's there, but here Ah be-- + It's a long way home! + If Ah had only been content + Instead of out on mischief bent, + Ah'd have no reason to repent-- + It's a long way home!" + + +Unc' Billy Possum lay curled up under the hay in the highest nest in +the darkest corner in Farmer Brown's hen-house. Unc' Billy didn't dare +go to sleep, because he was afraid that Farmer Brown's boy might find +him. And, anyway, he wanted to see just what Farmer Brown's boy was +doing. So peeping out, he watched Farmer Brown's boy, who seemed to +be very busy indeed. What do you think he was doing? Unc' Billy knew. +Yes, Sir, Unc' Billy knew just what Farmer Brown's boy was doing. He +was setting traps. + +Unc' Billy's eyes twinkled as he watched Farmer Brown's boy, for Unc' +Billy knew that those traps were being set for him, and now that he +knew just where each one was, of course he wasn't a bit afraid. It +seemed to Unc' Billy that it was just the greatest kind of a joke to +be watching Farmer Brown's boy set those traps, while all the time +Farmer Brown's boy thought he was hiding them so cleverly that the +only way they would be found would be by some one stepping into one +and getting caught. + +"There," said Farmer Brown's boy, as he set the last trap, "I'd like +to see anything get into this hen-house now without getting caught!" + +Unc' Billy almost chuckled aloud. Yes, Sir, he almost chuckled aloud. +It was such a funny idea that Farmer Brown's boy should have taken all +the trouble to set those traps to catch Unc' Billy trying to get into +the hen-house, when all the time he was already in there. + +Unc' Billy laughed under his breath as Farmer Brown's boy closed the +door of the hen-house and went off whistling. "Ho, ho, ho! Ha, ha, ha! +Hee, hee!" Unc' Billy broke off short, right in the very middle of his +laugh. He had just thought of something, and it wasn't funny at all. +With all those traps set at every opening to the hen-house, no one +could get in without getting caught, and of course no one who was in +could get out without getting caught! + +The joke wasn't on Farmer Brown's boy, after all; it was on Unc' Billy +Possum. But Unc' Billy couldn't see that it was any joke at all. Unc' +Billy was a prisoner, a prisoner in Farmer Brown's hen-house, and he +didn't know how ever he was going to get out of there. + +"It's a long way home," said Unc' Billy mournfully, as he peeped out +of a crack toward the Green Forest. + + + + +XIX + +WHAT THE SNOW DID + + +Unc' Billy Possum did a lot of thinking. He was a prisoner, just as +much a prisoner as if he were in a cage. Now Unc' Billy Possum +wouldn't have minded being a prisoner in the hen-house but for two +things; he was dreadfully afraid that his old friend and partner, +Jimmy Skunk, would get hungry for eggs and would get caught in the +traps, and he was still more afraid that Farmer Brown's boy would +think to put his hand down under the hay in the last nest of the top +row in the darkest corner. So Unc' Billy spent most of his time +studying and thinking of some way to get out, and if he couldn't do +that, of some way to warn Jimmy Skunk to keep away from Farmer Brown's +hen-house. + +If it hadn't been for those two worries, Unc' Billy would have been +willing to stay there the rest of the winter. It was delightfully warm +and cosy. He knew which nest Mrs. Speckles always used and which one +Mrs. Feathertoes liked best, and he knew that of all the eggs laid in +Farmer Brown's hen-house those laid by Mrs. Speckles and Mrs. +Feathertoes were the best. Having all the eggs he could eat, Unc' +Billy had grown very particular. Nothing but the best, the very best, +would do for him. So he would lie curled up in the last nest of the +top row in the darkest corner and wait until he heard the high-pitched +voice of Mrs. Speckles proudly crying: + +"Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut-aa-cut! I lay the finest eggs in the +world!" + +Then Unc' Billy would chuckle to himself and wait a few minutes longer +for the voice of Mrs. Feathertoes, saying: "Cut, cut, cut, cut, +cut-aa-cut, cut, cut, cut! No one lays such splendid eggs as I do!" +Then, while Mrs. Speckles and Mrs. Feathertoes were disputing as to +which laid the best eggs, Unc' Billy would slip out and breakfast on +both those newly laid eggs. + +So for almost a week Unc' Billy lived in Farmer Brown's hen-house and +ate the eggs of Mrs. Speckles and Mrs. Feathertoes and hid in the last +nest of the top row in the darkest corner and shivered as he heard +Farmer Brown's boy tell what would happen if he caught the one who was +stealing those eggs. Sometimes the door was left open during the day, +and Unc' Billy would peep out and wish that he dared to run. But he +didn't, for Bowser the Hound was always prowling around, and then +again he was almost sure to be seen by some one. + +At last one day it began to snow. It snowed all day and it snowed all +night. Rough Brother North Wind piled it up in great drifts in front +of the hen-house door and all along one side of the hen-house. It +covered the traps so deep that they couldn't possibly catch any one. +As soon as the snow stopped falling, Unc' Billy began to dig his way +up to the top from the very hole by which he had entered the +hen-house. He didn't like it, for he doesn't like snow, but now was +his chance to get away, and he meant to make the most of it. + + + + +XX + +UNC' BILLY POSSUM WISHES HE HAD SNOWSHOES + + +Unc' Billy Possum didn't know whether he liked the snow more than he +hated it or hated it more than he liked it, just now. Usually he +dislikes the snow very much, and doesn't go out in it any more than he +has to. But this time the snow had done Unc' Billy a good turn, a very +good turn, indeed. Once out of the hen-house, Unc' Billy lost no time +in starting for the Green Forest. But it was slow, hard work. You see, +the snow was newly fallen and very soft. Of course Unc' Billy sank +into it almost up to his middle at every step. He huffed and he puffed +and he grunted and groaned. You see Unc' Billy had slept so much +through the winter that he was not at all used to hard work of any +kind, and he wasn't half way to the Green Forest before he was so +tired it seemed to him that he could hardly move, and so out of breath +that he could only gasp. It was then that he was sure that he hated +the snow more than he liked it, even if it had set him free from the +hen-house of Farmer Brown. + +Now it never does to let one's wits go to sleep. Some folks call it +forgetting, but forgetting is nothing but sleepy wits. And sleepy wits +get more people into trouble than anything else in the world. Unc' +Billy Possum's wits were asleep when he left Farmer Brown's hen-house. +If they hadn't been, he would have remembered this little saying: + + The wits that live within my head + Must never, never go to sleep, + For if they should I might forget + And Trouble on me swiftly leap. + +But Unc' Billy's wits certainly were asleep. He was so tickled over +the idea that he could get out of the hen-house, that he couldn't +think of anything else, and so he forgot. Yes, Sir, Unc' Billy forgot! +What did he forget? Why, he forgot that that nice, soft snow, which so +kindly buried the dreadful traps so that they could do no harm, +couldn't be waded through without leaving tracks. Unc' Billy forgot +all about that, until he was half way to the Green Forest, and then, +as he sat down to rest and get his breath, he remembered. + +[Illustration: There all the way from Farmer Brown's hen-house was a +broad trail in the smooth white snow.] + +Unc' Billy looked behind him, and he turned pale. Yes, Sir, Unc' Billy +Possum turned pale! There, all the way from Farmer Brown's hen-house, +was a broad trail in the smooth white snow, where he had plowed his +way through. If Farmer Brown's boy should come out to look at his +traps, he would see that track at once, and all he would have to do +would be to follow it until it led him to Unc' Billy. + +"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Whatever did Ah leave the hen-house for?" wailed +Unc' Billy. + +His wits were all wide awake now. It wouldn't do to go back. Farmer +Brown's boy would see that he had gone back, and then he would hunt +that hen-house through until he found Unc' Billy. No, there was +nothing to do but to go on, and trust that Farmer Brown's boy was so +snowed in and would be kept so busy shovelling out paths, that he +would forget all about looking at his traps. Unc' Billy drew a long +breath and began to wade ahead toward the Green Forest. + +"If Ah only had snowshoes!" he panted. "If Ah only had snowshoes like +Mrs. Grouse." + + + + +XXI + +FARMER BROWN'S BOY CHOPS DOWN A TREE + + + "There was an old Possum lived up in a tree; + Hi, ho, see the chips fly! + The sliest old thief that you ever did see; + Hi, ho, see the chips fly! + He ate and he ate in the dark of the night, + And when the day came not an egg was in sight, + But now that I know where he's making his bed, + I'll do without eggs and will eat him instead! + Hi, ho, see the chips fly!" + +Farmer Brown's boy sang as he swung his keen axe, and the chips did +fly. They flew out on the white snow in all directions. And the louder +Farmer Brown's boy sang, the faster the chips flew. Farmer Brown's boy +had come to the Green Forest bright and early that morning, and he +had made up his mind that he would take home a fat Possum for dinner. +He didn't have the least doubt about it, and that is why he sang as he +made the chips fly. He had tracked that Possum right up to that tree, +and there were no tracks going away from it. Right up near the top he +could see a hollow, just such a hollow as a Possum likes. All he had +to do was to cut the tree down and split it open, and Mr. Possum would +be his. + +So Farmer Brown's boy swung his axe, chop, chop, chop, and the chips +flew out on the white snow, and Farmer Brown's boy sang, never once +thinking of how the Possum he was after might feel. Of course it was +Unc' Billy Possum whose tracks he had followed. He had seen them +outside of the hen-house, just as Unc' Billy had been afraid that he +would. He couldn't very well have helped it, those tracks were so +very plain to be seen. + +That had been a long, hard, anxious journey for Unc' Billy from Farmer +Brown's hen-house to the Green Forest. The snow was so deep that he +could hardly wade through it. When he reached that hollow tree, he was +so tired that it was all he could do to climb it. Of course it wasn't +his own hollow tree, where old Mrs. Possum and the eight little +Possums lived. He knew better than to go there, leaving a plain track +for Farmer Brown's boy to follow. So he had been very thankful to +climb up this hollow tree. And, just as he had feared, there was +Farmer Brown's boy. + +Chop, chop, chop! The snow was covered with chips now. Chop, chop, +chop! The tree began to shiver and then to shake. Cra-a-ck! With a +great crash over it went! + +Bowser the Hound barked excitedly, and with Farmer Brown's boy rushed +to the hollow near the top to catch Mr. Possum, if he should run out. +But he didn't run out. Farmer Brown's boy rapped on the tree with the +handle of his axe, but no one ran out. + +"I guess he's playing dead," said Farmer Brown's boy, and began to +split open the tree, so as to get into the hollow. And as he chopped, +he began to sing again. Pretty soon he had split the tree wide open. +In the bottom of the hollow was an old nest of Chatterer the Red +Squirrel, and that was all. Farmer Brown's boy rubbed his eyes and +stared and stared and stared. There were Unc' Billy's tracks leading +straight up to that tree and none leading away. Did that Possum have +wings? + + + + +XXII + +WHERE UNC' BILLY POSSUM WAS + + +Where was Unc' Billy Possum? That is what Farmer Brown's boy wanted to +know. That is what Bowser the Hound wanted to know. Where was Unc' +Billy Possum? He was in another hollow tree all the time and laughing +till his sides ached as he peeped out and saw how hard Farmer Brown's +boy worked. + +"Ah done fool him that time," said Unc' Billy, as he watched Farmer +Brown's boy wading off home through the snow, with Bowser the Hound at +his heels. + +"You certainly did, Unc' Billy! How did you do it?" asked a voice +right over Unc' Billy's head. + +Unc' Billy looked up in surprise. There was Tommy Tit the Chickadee. +Unc' Billy grinned. + +"Ah just naturally expected Ah was gwine to have visitors, and so Ah +prepared a little surprise. Yes, Sah, Ah done prepare a little +surprise. Yo' see, mah tracks in the snow was powerful plain. Yes, +Sah, they sho'ly was! When Ah had climbed up that tree and looked down +and saw all those tracks what Ah done made, Ah began to get powerful +anxious. Yes, Sah, Ah done get so anxious Ah just couldn't get any +rest in mah mind. Ah knew Farmer Brown's boy was gwine to find those +tracks, and when he did, he was gwine to follow 'em right smart quick. +Sho' enough, just before sundown, here he comes. He followed mah +tracks right up to the foot of the tree whar Ah was hiding in the +hollow, and Ah heard him say: + +"So this is whar yo' live, is it, Mistah Possum? Ah reckon Bowser and +Ah'll make yo' a call to-morrow." + +"When I heard him say that, Ah felt right bad. Yes, Sah, Ah sho'ly did +feel right smart bad. Ah studied and Ah studied how Ah was gwine to +fool Farmer Brown's boy and Bowser the Hound. If Ah climbed down and +went somewhere else, Ah would have to leave tracks, and that boy done +bound to find me just the same. Ah done wish Ah had wings like yo' and +Brer Buzzard. + +"So po' ol' Unc' Billy sat studying and studying and getting mo' and +mo' troubled in his mind. By and by Ah noticed that a branch from that +holler tree rubbed against a branch of another tree, and a branch of +that tree rubbed against a branch of another tree, and if Ah made a +right smart jump from that Ah could get into this tree, which had a +holler just made fo' me. Ah didn't waste no mo' time studying. No, +Sah, Ah just moved right away, and here Ah am." + +"And you didn't leave any tracks, and you didn't have any wings," said +Tommy Tit the Chickadee. + +"No," said Unc' Billy, "but Ah done find that yo' can most always find +a way out, if yo' look hard enough. Just now, Ah am looking right +smart hard fo' a way to get home, but Ah reckon mah eyesight am +failing; Ah don' see any yet." + +"Dee, dee, dee!" laughed Tommy Tit merrily. "Be patient, Unc' Billy, +and perhaps you will." + + + + +XXIII + +HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL MAKES AN UNEXPECTED CALL + + +Happy Jack Squirrel likes the snow. He always has liked the snow. It +makes him feel frisky. He likes to run and jump in it and dig little +holes in it after nuts, which he hid under the leaves before the snow +fell. When his feet get cold, all he has to do is to scamper up a tree +and warm them in his own fur coat. So the big snowstorm which made so +much trouble for Unc' Billy Possum just suited Happy Jack Squirrel, +and he had a whole lot of fun making his funny little tracks all +through that part of the Green Forest in which he lives. + +Happy Jack didn't know anything about Unc' Billy Possum's troubles. He +supposed that Unc' Billy was safe at home in his own big hollow tree, +fast asleep, as he had been most of the winter. Happy Jack couldn't +understand how anybody could want to sleep such fine weather, but that +was their own business, and Happy Jack had learned a long time ago not +to worry about other people's business. + +After frisking about he would stop to rest. Then he would sit up very +straight and fold his hands across his breast, where they would get +nice and warm in the fur of his coat. His beautiful, great gray tail +would be arched up over his back. His bright eyes would snap and +twinkle, and then he would shout just for joy, and every time he +shouted he jerked his big tail. Farmer Brown's boy called it barking, +but it was Happy Jack's way of shouting. + + "I love to romp! I love to play! + I'm happy, happy, all the day! + I love the snow, so soft and white! + I love the sun that shines so bright! + I love the whole world, for, you see, + The world is very good to me!" + +By and by Happy Jack came to the hollow tree that Farmer Brown's boy +had cut down because he thought that Unc' Billy Possum was inside of +it. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Happy Jack. "That's one of the old storehouses of +my cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel! I've got an old storehouse near +here, and I guess I'll see if I have left any nuts in it." + +He scampered over to another hollow tree standing near. He scampered +up the tree as only Happy Jack can and whisked in at the open doorway +of the hollow. Now Happy Jack had been in that hollow tree so often +that he didn't once think of looking to see where he was going, and he +landed plump on something that was soft and warm! Happy Jack was so +surprised that he didn't know what to do for a second. And then all in +a flash that something soft and warm was full of sharp claws and +sharper teeth, and an angry growling tilled the hollow tree. + +Happy Jack was so frightened that he scrambled out as fast as he +could. When he was safely outside, he grew very angry to think that +any one should be in his storehouse, even if it was an old one. He +could hear a very angry voice inside, and in a minute who should +appear at the doorway but Unc' Billy Possum. + +Unc' Billy had been waked out of a sound sleep, and that was enough +to make any one cross. Besides, he had been badly frightened, and that +made him crosser still. + +"What do yo' mean by trying to frighten honest people?" snapped Unc' +Billy, when he caught sight of Happy Jack. + +"What do you mean by stealing into other folk's houses?" demanded +Happy Jack, just as angrily. + + + + +XXIV + +HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL HELPS UNC' BILLY POSSUM + + +It is very startling, very startling indeed, to rush into your own +storehouse, which you had supposed was empty, and run right into some +one sleeping there as if he owned it. It is enough to make any one +lose his temper. Happy Jack Squirrel lost his. + +And it is very startling, very startling, indeed, to be wakened out of +pleasant dreams of warm summer days by having some one suddenly jump +on you. It is enough to make any one lose his temper. Unc' Billy +Possum lost his. + +So Happy Jack sat outside on a branch of the hollow tree where his old +storehouse was and scolded, and called Unc' Billy Possum names, and +jerked his tail angrily with every word he said. And Unc' Billy Possum +sat in the doorway of the hollow tree and showed his teeth to Happy +Jack and said unpleasant things. It really was very dreadful the way +those two did talk. + +But Unc' Billy Possum is really very good-natured, and when he had +gotten over the fright Happy Jack had given him and began to +understand that he was in one of Happy Jack's storehouses, all his +temper vanished, and presently he began to grin and then to laugh. Now +it always takes two to make a quarrel, and one of the hardest things +in the world is to keep cross when the one you are cross with won't +keep cross, too. Happy Jack tried hard to stay angry, but every time +he looked at Unc' Billy Possum's twinkling eyes and broad grin, Happy +Jack lost a little of his own temper. Pretty soon he was laughing just +as hard as Unc' Billy Possum. + +"Ho, ho, ho! Ha, ha, ha!" they laughed together. Finally they had to +stop for breath. + +"What are you doing in my storehouse, Unc' Billy?" asked Happy Jack, +when he could stop laughing. + +Then Unc' Billy told him all about how he had climbed there from +another tree, so as to leave no tracks in the snow for Farmer Brown's +boy to follow. + +"But now Ah want to go to mah own home in the big hollow tree way down +in the Green Forest, but Ah can't, on account of mah tracks in the +snow," concluded Unc' Billy mournfully. + +Happy Jack put his head on one side and thought very hard. "Why don't +you stay right here until the snow goes, Unc' Billy?" he asked. + +"Because Ah 'spects that mah ol' woman am worried most to death," said +Unc' Billy, in a mournful voice. "Besides," he added, "Ah just done +found out that this right nice lil' house belongs to one of mah +neighbors." There was a twinkle in Unc' Billy's eyes. + +Happy Jack laughed. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like, Unc' +Billy," he said. "You better stay right where you are, and I'll go +tell old Mrs. Possum where you are." + +"Thank yo'! Thank yo'! That is very kind of yo', Brer Squirrel. That +will be a great help, fo' it will lift a great load off mah mind," +said Unc' Billy. + +"Don't mention it, Unc' Billy!" replied Happy Jack and started off +with the message to old Mrs. Possum, and as he scampered through the +snow he said: + + "To get yourself in trouble is a very easy thing. + I notice that to others it will always worries bring. + But getting out of trouble's always quite the other way-- + The more you try to wriggle out, the longer you must stay." + + + + +XXV + +HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL'S BRIGHT IDEA + + +Happy Jack Squirrel frisked along through the snow on his way to Unc' +Billy Possum's house in the big hollow tree in the Green Forest to +tell old Mrs. Possum that Unc' Billy was safe in another hollow tree +on the edge of the Green Forest, but that he didn't dare to come home +because he would leave tracks in the snow. He found old Mrs. Possum +very much worried and very much out of sorts. You see Unc' Billy had +been gone a long time for him, and she didn't know what had become of +him. + +Now of course old Mrs. Possum was very much relieved when she heard +that Unc' Billy was safe, for she had been afraid that something +dreadful had happened to him. But just as soon as she knew that he was +safe, she forgot all about how worried she had been. All she thought +of was how Unc' Billy had gone to get some fresh eggs to put in his +own stomach and left her to take care of herself and eight baby +Possums. + +"Yo' tell Unc' Billy Possum that Ah don' care if he never comes back. +Ah done got other things to bother about more'n a worthless, no'count +Possum what don' take care of his fam'ly," she said crossly, and +hurried into the house to see that the eight little Possums were +properly tucked in bed, for it was a cold day, and the eight little +Possums had to stay in bed to keep warm. + +Happy Jack chuckled as he started back to tell Unc' Billy Possum. He +knew perfectly well that old Mrs. Possum didn't mean what she said. +He knew that Unc' Billy would know that she didn't mean it. But he +knew, and he knew that Unc' Billy knew, that when he did get home, he +would get a great scolding. Then all of a sudden Happy Jack thought of +a way for Unc' Billy to get home without waiting until the snow melted +away. That might be a very long time, for there was a great deal of +snow on the ground. + +What do you suppose gave Happy Jack his idea? Why, a tiny little +snowflake that hit Happy Jack right on the end of his nose! Yes, Sir, +it was that tiny little snowflake that gave Happy Jack Squirrel his +bright idea. + +He hurried back to the hollow tree where Unc' Billy was hiding and +scrambled up to the doorway. + +"Hello, Unc' Billy! You can go home to-night!" he shouted. + +Unc' Billy Possum stuck his head out of the doorway. "What's that yo' +say, Brer Squirrel?" he said. "Ah don' see as the snow has gone away, +and your tracks are powerful plain to see, and Ah makes bigger tracks +than yo', Brer Squirrel." + +"Just look up in the sky, Unc' Billy!" said Happy Jack. + +Unc' Billy looked. The sky was full of dancing snowflakes. They got in +his eyes and clung to his whiskers. Unc' Billy shook his head in +disgust. + +"Ah don' see anything but mo' snow, and yo' know Ah don' like snow!" +he said. "What yo' driving at, Brer Squirrel?" + +Happy Jack laughed. "Why, it's just as simple as can be, Unc' Billy!" +he cried. "Just as soon as it's dark, you start for home. It's going +to snow all night, and in the morning there won't be any tracks. The +snowflakes will have covered them all up." + +Unc' Billy grinned. "Ah believe yo' are right, Brer Squirrel, Ah +believe yo' are right!" said Unc' Billy. + +And Happy Jack was right, for Unc' Billy got safely home that very +night, and the next morning, when Farmer Brown's boy visited the Green +Forest, there wasn't a footprint to be seen anywhere. + +So Unc' Billy Possum learned how easy it is to get into trouble and +how hard to get out of it. But he isn't the only one who has found +this out. Just ask Unc' Billy's particular friend, Mistah Mocker the +Mocking Bird. He will tell you the very same thing. He and Unc' Billy +have been in all kinds of scrapes together, and if you care to read +about some of them, you may do so in the next book--The Adventures of +Mistah Mocker. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF UNC' BILLY +POSSUM*** + + +******* This file should be named 14732.txt or 14732.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/3/14732 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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