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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:17:39 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:17:39 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/25529-h.zip b/25529-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4dc77d --- /dev/null +++ b/25529-h.zip diff --git a/25529-h/25529-h.htm b/25529-h/25529-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a1f29a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/25529-h/25529-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4015 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse, by Thornton W. Burgess + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + h1 {font-style: italic;} + + h2 {padding-top: 2em; + padding-bottom: 1em;} + + h3 {line-height: 150%; + font-size: x-large;} + + table {margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + } + + td.rightalign {text-align: right;} + + td.leftalign {text-align: left; + padding-left: 1em; + padding-right: 1em;} + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + p.publisher {margin-top: 4em; + text-align: center; + font-size: smaller; + margin-bottom: 3em; + text-indent: 0em; + line-height: 170%; + } + + div.advertisements p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: center; + margin-bottom: .75em; + line-height: 150%; + } + + div.advertisements {margin-top: 1em; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + font-size: smaller; + padding: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em; + background-color: #FBF5E6; + color: black; + } + + div.note {margin: 4em 10% 0 10%; + padding: 1em; + border: 1px dashed black; + color: inherit; + background-color: #F0F8FF; + font-size: smaller; + } + + div.copyright p {text-align: center;} + + div.copyright {font-size: 70%; + line-height: 200%;} + + .dropcap { + float: left; + padding-left: 3px; + font-size: 250%; + line-height: 93%; + overflow: visible; + } + + .firstword { + text-transform: uppercase; + } + + p.newchapter { + text-indent: 0em; + } + + img {border-style: none; + } + + ul {list-style: none; + line-height: 150%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + right: 1%; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: 0ex; + text-indent: 0em; + } + + a:link {text-decoration: none; + color: #104E8B; + background-color: inherit; + } + + a:visited {text-decoration: none; + color: #8B0000; + background-color: inherit; + } + + a:hover {text-decoration: underline;} + + a:active {text-decoration: underline;} + + .center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em;} + + .caption {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + margin-left: 25%; + margin-right: 25%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + padding-top: 1em; + } + + .poem {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; + font-style: italic; + } + + .poem br {display: none;} + + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + + .poem span.i0 {display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; + } + + .poem span.i2 {display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; + } + + .poem span.i4 {display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; + } + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse, by +Thornton W. Burgess + +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 Danny Meadow Mouse + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Illustrator: Harrison Cady + +Release Date: May 19, 2008 [EBook #25529] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVENTURES OF DANNY MEADOW MOUSE *** + + + + +Produced by K Nordquist, E & R Nordquist, Irma Spehar and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>The<br /> +Adventures<br /> +of<br /> +DANNY<br /> +MEADOW MOUSE</h1> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 150%"><i>by Thornton W. Burgess</i></p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a href="images/cover.jpg"><img src="images/cover_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + + + + +<h2>The Adventures of<br /> +Danny Meadow Mouse</h2> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 90%">By THORNTON W. BURGESS</p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 80%; padding-bottom: 4em"><i>Illustrated by</i> HARRISON CADY</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/003.jpg" width="100" height="136" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="publisher">PUBLISHERS<br /> + +Grosset & Dunlap<br /> + +NEW YORK</p> + +<div class="copyright"> + +<p>COPYRIGHT, 1915, 1944,<br /> +BY THORNTON W. BURGESS</p> + +<p>PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<br /> +BY ARRANGEMENT WITH LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY</p> + +<p style="padding-top: 2em">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</p> + +<p><i>The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> +</div> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 105px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/005.jpg" width="105" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2 style="padding-top: 0em"><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2> + + + + + +<table summary="table of contents"> +<tr><td class="rightalign"><span style="font-size: 50%">CHAPTER</span></td><td class="leftalign"> </td><td class="rightalign"><span style="font-size: 50%">PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">I</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#I">Danny Meadow Mouse Is Worried</a></td><td class="rightalign">11</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">II</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#II">Danny Meadow Mouse and His Short Tail</a></td><td class="rightalign">17</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">III</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#III">Danny Meadow Mouse Plays Hide-and-Seek</a></td><td class="rightalign">23</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">IV</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#IV">Old Granny Fox Tries for Danny Meadow Mouse</a></td><td class="rightalign">31</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">V</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#V">What Happened on the Green Meadows</a></td><td class="rightalign">37</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">VI</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#VI">Danny Meadow Mouse Remembers, Reddy Fox Forgets</a></td><td class="rightalign">44</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">VII</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#VII">Old Granny Fox Tries a New Plan</a></td><td class="rightalign">52</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>VIII</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#VIII">Brother North Wind Proves a Friend</a></td><td class="rightalign">59</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">IX</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#IX">Danny Meadow Mouse Is Caught at Last</a></td><td class="rightalign">68</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">X</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#X">A Strange Ride and How It Ended</a></td><td class="rightalign">75</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XI</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XI">Peter Rabbit Gets a Fright</a></td><td class="rightalign">84</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XII</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XII">The Old Briar-Patch Has a New Tenant</a></td><td class="rightalign">91</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XIII</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XIII">Peter Rabbit Visits the Peach Orchard</a></td><td class="rightalign">99</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XIV</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XIV">Farmer Brown Sets a Trap</a></td><td class="rightalign">105</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XV</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XV">Peter Rabbit Is Caught in a Snare</a></td><td class="rightalign">113</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XVI</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XVI">Peter Rabbit's Hard Journey</a></td><td class="rightalign">119</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XVII</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XVII">Danny Meadow Mouse Becomes Worried</a></td><td class="rightalign">126</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XVIII</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XVIII">Danny Meadow Mouse Returns a Kindness</a></td><td class="rightalign">133</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XIX</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XIX">Peter Rabbit and Danny Meadow Mouse Live High</a></td><td class="rightalign">141</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XX</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XX">Timid Danny Meadow Mouse</a></td><td class="rightalign">148</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XXI</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XXI">An Exciting Day for Danny Meadow Mouse</a></td><td class="rightalign">158</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XXII</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XXII">What Happened Next to Danny Meadow Mouse</a></td><td class="rightalign">165</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XXIII</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XXIII">Reddy Fox Grows Curious</a></td><td class="rightalign">172</td></tr> +<tr><td class="rightalign">XXIV</td><td class="leftalign"><a href="#XXIV">Reddy Fox Loses His Temper</a></td><td class="rightalign">179</td></tr> +</table> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 71px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/007.jpg" width="71" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<h2 style="padding-top: 0em"><a name="Illustrations" id="Illustrations"></a>Illustrations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></h2> + + +<table summary="list of illustrations"> +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo1">All Danny Meadow Mouse could think +about was his short tail</a></td><td class="rightalign">10</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo2">“Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't +you?” continued Mr. Toad</a></td><td class="rightalign">19</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo3">Danny popped his head out of another +little doorway and laughed at Reddy</a></td><td class="rightalign">29</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo4">Granny didn't finish, but licked her chops +and smacked her lips</a></td><td class="rightalign">46</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo5">It was a beautiful white world, a very +beautiful white world</a></td><td class="rightalign">64</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo6">Over in the Green Forest Hooty the Owl +had had poor hunting</a></td><td class="rightalign">72</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo7">Danny was being carried through the air +in the cruel claws of Hooty the Owl!</a></td><td class="rightalign">77<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo8">“I tell you what, you stay right here!” said +Peter</a></td><td class="rightalign">97</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo9">All around the trunk of the tree was +wrapped wire netting</a></td><td class="rightalign">109</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo10">Danny Meadow Mouse had set out to +gnaw that piece of stake all to splinters</a></td><td class="rightalign">137</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo11">“Where?” exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning +as pale as a toad can turn</a></td><td class="rightalign">153</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo12">“Why, Mr. Toad, where are you going in +such a hurry?” asked Danny</a></td><td class="rightalign">156</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo13">With a frightened squeak, Danny dived +into the opening just in time</a></td><td class="rightalign">169</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="leftalign"><a href="#illo14">Like a flash, Danny dodged into a tangle +of barbed wire</a></td><td class="rightalign">185</td></tr> +</table> + + +<h2>The Adventures of<br /> +Danny Meadow Mouse</h2> + + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo1" id="illo1"></a><a href="images/010.jpg"><img src="images/010_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>All Danny Meadow Mouse could think about +was his short tail</i></p> + + + +<h3><a name="I" id="I"></a><small>I</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span><br /> + +Danny Meadow<br /> +Mouse Is Worried</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +sat on his doorstep with his +chin in his hands, and it was +very plain to see that Danny had +something on his mind. He had +only a nod for Jimmy Skunk, +and even Peter Rabbit could get +no more than a grumpy “Good +morning.” It wasn't that he had +been caught napping the day before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +by Reddy Fox and nearly +made an end of. No, it wasn't +that. Danny had learned his +lesson, and Reddy would never +catch him again. It wasn't that +he was all alone with no one to +play with. Danny was rather glad +that he was alone. The fact is, +Danny Meadow Mouse was worried.</p> + +<p>Now worry is one of the worst +things in the world, and it didn't +seem as if there was anything +that Danny Meadow Mouse need +worry about. But you know it is +the easiest thing in the world +to find something to worry over +and make yourself uncomfortable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +about. And when you make yourself +uncomfortable, you are almost +sure to make everyone around +you equally uncomfortable. It +was so with Danny Meadow +Mouse. Striped Chipmunk had +twice called him “Cross Patch” +that morning, and Johnny Chuck, +who had fought Reddy Fox for +him the day before, had called +him “Grumpy.” And what do you +think was the matter with Danny +Meadow Mouse? Why, he was +worrying because his tail was +short. Yes, Sir, that is all that +ailed Danny Meadow Mouse that +bright morning.</p> + +<p>You know, some people let<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +their looks make them miserable. +They worry because they are +homely or freckled, or short or +tall, or thin or stout, all of which +is very foolish. And Danny +Meadow Mouse was just as foolish +in worrying because his tail +was short.</p> + +<p>It is short! It certainly is all of +that! Danny never had realized +how short until he chanced to +meet his cousin Whitefoot, who +lives in the Green Forest. He was +very elegantly dressed, but the +most imposing thing about him +was his long, slim, beautiful tail. +Danny had at once become conscious +of his own stubby little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +tail, and he had hardly had pride +enough to hold his head up +as became an honest Meadow +Mouse. Ever since, he had been +thinking and thinking, and wondering +how his family came to +have such short tails. Then he +grew envious and began to wish +and wish and wish that he could +have a long tail like his cousin +Whitefoot.</p> + +<p>He was so busy wishing that he +had a long tail that he quite forgot +to take care of the tail he did +have, and he pretty nearly lost it +and his life with it. Old Whitetail +the Marsh Hawk spied Danny +sitting there moping on his doorstep,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +and came sailing over the +tops of the meadow grasses so +softly that he all but caught +Danny. If it hadn't been for one +of the Merry Little Breezes, +Danny would have been caught. +And all because he was envious. +It's a bad, bad habit.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/016.jpg" width="150" height="93" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="II" id="II"></a><small>II</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span><br /> + +Danny Meadow +Mouse<br /> and His +Short Tail</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">A</span>ll</span> Danny Meadow Mouse +could think about was his +short tail. He was so ashamed of +it that whenever anyone passed, +he crawled out of sight so that +they should not see how short +his tail was. Instead of playing in +the sunshine as he used to do, +he sat and sulked. Pretty soon his +friends began to pass without +stopping. Finally one day old Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +Toad sat down in front of Danny +and began to ask questions.</p> + +<p>“What's the matter?” asked old +Mr. Toad.</p> + +<p>“Nothing,” replied Danny +Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>“I don't suppose there really is +anything the matter, but what do +you think is the matter?” said old +Mr. Toad.</p> + +<p>Danny fidgeted, and old Mr. +Toad looked up at jolly, round, +red Mr. Sun and winked. “Sun +is just as bright as ever, isn't it?” +he inquired.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Danny.</p> + +<p>“Got plenty to eat and drink, +haven't you?” continued Mr. +Toad.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo2" id="illo2"></a><a href="images/019.jpg"><img src="images/019_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>“Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't you?” +continued Mr. Toad</i></p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Danny.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Seems to me that that is a +pretty good-looking suit of clothes +you're wearing,” said Mr. Toad, +eyeing Danny critically. “Sunny +weather, plenty to eat and drink, +and good clothes—must be you +don't know when you're well off, +Danny Meadow Mouse.”</p> + +<p>Danny hung his head. Finally +he looked up and caught a kindly +twinkle in old Mr. Toad's eyes. +“Mr. Toad, how can I get a long +tail like my cousin Whitefoot of +the Green Forest?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“So that's what's the matter! +Ha! ha! ha! Danny Meadow +Mouse, I'm ashamed of you! I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +certainly am ashamed of you!” +said Mr. Toad. “What good would +a long tail do you? Tell me that.”</p> + +<p>For a minute Danny didn't +know just what to say. “I—I—I'd +look so much better if I had a +long tail,” he ventured.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Toad just laughed. +“You never saw a Meadow Mouse +with a long tail, did you? Of +course not. What a sight it would +be! Why, everybody on the Green +Meadows would laugh themselves +sick at the sight! You see, you +need to be slim and trim and +handsome to carry a long tail +well. And then what a nuisance +it would be! You would always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +have to be thinking of your tail +and taking care to keep it out of +harm's way. Look at me. I'm +homely. Some folks call me ugly +to look at. But no one tries to +catch me as Farmer Brown's boy +does Billy Mink because of his +fine coat; and no one wants to +put me in a cage because of +a fine voice. I am satisfied to +be just as I am, and if you'll +take my advice, Danny Meadow +Mouse, you'll be satisfied to be +just as you are.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you are right,” said +Danny Meadow Mouse after a +little. “I'll try.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>”</p> + + +<h3><a name="III" id="III"></a><small>III</small><br /> + +Danny Meadow<br /> +Mouse Plays Hide-and-Seek</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">L</span>ife</span> is always a game of hide-and-seek +to Danny Meadow +Mouse. You see, he is such a fat +little fellow that there are a great +many other furry-coated people, +and almost as many who +wear feathers, who would gobble +Danny up for breakfast or for +dinner if they could. Some of +them pretend to be his friends,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +but Danny always keeps his eyes +open when they are around and +always begins to play hide-and-seek. +Peter Rabbit and Jimmy +Skunk and Striped Chipmunk +and Happy Jack Squirrel are all +friends whom he can trust, but +he always has a bright twinkling +eye open for Reddy Fox and Billy +Mink and Shadow the Weasel +and old Whitetail the Marsh +Hawk, and several more, especially +Hooty the Owl at night.</p> + +<p>Now Danny Meadow Mouse is +a stouthearted little fellow, and +when rough Brother North Wind +came shouting across the Green +Meadows, tearing to pieces the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +snow clouds and shaking out +the snowflakes until they covered +the Green Meadows deep, deep, +deep, Danny just snuggled down +in his warm coat in his snug little +house of grass and waited. Danny +liked the snow. Yes, Sir, Danny +Meadow Mouse liked the snow. +He just loved to dig in it and +make tunnels. Through those +tunnels in every direction he +could go where he pleased and +when he pleased without being +seen by anybody. It was great +fun!</p> + +<p>Every little way he made a +little round doorway up beside +a stiff stalk of grass. Out of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +he could peep at the white world, +and he could get the fresh, cold +air. Sometimes, when he was +quite sure that no one was +around, he would scamper across +on top of the snow from one +doorway to another, and when he +did this, he made the prettiest +little footprints.</p> + +<p>Now Reddy Fox knew all +about those doorways and who +made them. Reddy was having +hard work to get enough to eat +this cold weather, and he was +hungry most of the time. One +morning, as he came tiptoeing +softly over the meadows, what +should he see just ahead of him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +but the head of Danny Meadow +Mouse pop out of one of those +little round doorways! Reddy's +mouth watered, and he stole forward +more softly than ever. +When he got within jumping +distance, he drew his stout hind +legs under him and made ready +to spring. Presto! Danny Meadow +Mouse had disappeared! Reddy +Fox jumped just the same and +began to dig as fast as he could +make his paws go. He could smell +Danny Meadow Mouse and that +made him almost frantic.</p> + +<p>All the time Danny Meadow +Mouse was scurrying along one +of his little tunnels, and when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +finally Reddy Fox stopped digging +because he was quite out of +breath, Danny popped his head +out of another little doorway and +laughed at Reddy. Of course +Reddy saw him, and of course +Reddy tried to catch him there, +and dug frantically just as before. +And of course Danny Meadow +Mouse wasn't there.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo3" id="illo3"></a><a href="images/029.jpg"><img src="images/029_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>Danny popped his head out of another little +doorway and laughed at Reddy</i></p> + +<p>After a while Reddy Fox grew +tired of this kind of a game and +tried another plan. The next +time he saw Danny Meadow +Mouse stick his head out, Reddy +pretended not to see him. He +stretched himself out on the +ground and made believe that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +was very tired and sleepy. He +closed his eyes. Then he opened +them just the tiniest bit, so that +he could see Danny Meadow +Mouse and yet seem to be asleep. +Danny watched him for a long +time. Then he chuckled to himself +and dropped out of sight.</p> + +<p>No sooner was he gone than +Reddy Fox stole over close to +the little doorway and waited. +“He'll surely stick his head out +again to see if I'm asleep, and +then I'll have him,” said Reddy +to himself. So he waited and +waited and waited. By and by +he turned his head. There was +Danny Meadow Mouse at another +little doorway, laughing at him!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="IV" id="IV"></a><small>IV</small><br /> + +Old Granny Fox +Tries<br /> for Danny +Meadow Mouse</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +had not enjoyed anything +so much for a long time as he +did that game of hide-and-seek. +He tickled and chuckled all the +afternoon as he thought about it. +Of course, Reddy had been “it.” +He had been “it” all the time, +for never once had he caught +Danny Meadow Mouse. If he had—well,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +there wouldn't have been +any more stories about Danny +Meadow Mouse, because there +wouldn't have been any Danny +Meadow Mouse any more.</p> + +<p>But Danny never let himself +think about this. He had enjoyed +the game all the more because it +had been such a dangerous game. +It had been such fun to dive +into one of his little round doorways +in the snow, run along one +of his own little tunnels, and +then peep out at another doorway +and watch Reddy Fox digging +as fast as ever he could at +the doorway Danny had just left. +Finally Reddy had given up in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +disgust and gone off muttering +angrily to try to find something +else for dinner. Danny had sat +up on the snow and watched +him go. In his funny little +squeaky voice Danny shouted:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Though Reddy Fox is smart and sly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hi-hum-diddle-de-o!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm just as smart and twice as spry.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hi-hum-diddle-de-o!”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>That night Reddy Fox told +old Granny Fox all about how +he had tried to catch Danny +Meadow Mouse. Granny listened +with her head cocked on one +side. When Reddy told how fat +Danny Meadow Mouse was, her +mouth watered. You see, now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +that snow covered the Green +Meadows and the Green Forest, +Granny and Reddy Fox had hard +work to get enough to eat, and +they were hungry most of the +time.</p> + +<p>“I'll go with you down on the +meadows tomorrow morning, and +then we'll see if Danny Meadow +Mouse is as smart as he thinks +he is,” said Granny Fox.</p> + +<p>So, bright and early the next +morning, old Granny Fox and +Reddy Fox went down on the +meadows where Danny Meadow +Mouse lives. Danny had felt in +his bones that Reddy would come +back, so he was watching, and he +saw them as soon as they came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +out of the Green Forest. When +he saw old Granny Fox, Danny's +heart beat a little faster than +before, for he knew that Granny +Fox is very smart and very wise, +and has learned most of the tricks +of all the other little meadow +and forest people.</p> + +<p>“This is going to be a more +exciting game than the other,” +said Danny to himself, and scurried +down out of sight to see +that all his little tunnels were +clear so that he could run fast +through them if he had to. Then +he peeped out of one of his little +doorways hidden in a clump of +tall grass.</p> + +<p>Old Granny Fox set Reddy to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +hunting for Danny's little round +doorways, and as fast as he found +them, Granny came up and +sniffed at each. She knew that +she could tell by the smell which +one he had been at last. Finally +she came straight toward the tall +bunch of grass. Danny ducked +down and scurried along one +of his little tunnels. He heard +Granny Fox sniff at the doorway +he had just left. Suddenly something +plunged down through the +snow right at his very heels. +Danny didn't have to look to +know that it was Granny Fox +herself, and he squeaked with +fright.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="V" id="V"></a><small>V</small><br /> + +What Happened on<br /> +the Green Meadows</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">T</span>hick</span> and fast, things were +happening to Danny Meadow +Mouse down on the snow-covered +Green Meadows. Rather, they +were almost happening. He +hadn't minded when Reddy Fox +all alone tried to catch him. +Indeed, he had made a regular +game of hide-and-seek of it and +had enjoyed it immensely. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +now it was different. Granny Fox +wasn't so easily fooled as Reddy +Fox. Just Granny alone would +have made the game dangerous +for Danny Meadow Mouse. But +Reddy was with her, and so +Danny had two to look out for, +and he got so many frights that +it seemed to him as if his heart +had moved right up into his +mouth and was going to stay +there. Yes, Sir, that is just how +it seemed.</p> + +<p>Down in his little tunnels +underneath the snow Danny +Meadow Mouse felt perfectly safe +from Reddy Fox, who would +stop and dig frantically at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +little round doorway where he +had last seen Danny. But old +Granny Fox knew all about those +little tunnels, and she didn't +waste any time digging at the +doorways. Instead she cocked her +sharp little ears and listened +with all her might. Now Granny +Fox has very keen ears, oh, very +keen ears, and she heard just +what she hoped she would hear. +She heard Danny Meadow Mouse +running along one of his little +tunnels under the snow.</p> + +<p>Plunge! Old Granny Fox dived +right into the snow and right +through into the tunnel of Danny +Meadow Mouse. Her two black<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +paws actually touched Danny's +tail. He was glad then that it was +no longer.</p> + +<p>“Ha!” cried Granny Fox, “I +almost got him that time!”</p> + +<p>Then she ran ahead a little +way over the snow, listening as +before. Plunge! Into the snow +she went again. It was lucky for +him that Danny had just turned +into another tunnel, for otherwise +she would surely have caught +him.</p> + +<p>Granny Fox blew the snow out +of her nose. “Next time I'll get +him!” said she.</p> + +<p>Now Reddy Fox is quick to +learn, especially when it is a way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +to get something to eat. He +watched Granny Fox, and when +he understood what she was doing, +he made up his mind to +have a try himself, for he was +afraid that if she caught Danny +Meadow Mouse, she would think +that he was not big enough to +divide. Perhaps that was because +Reddy is very selfish himself. So +the next time Granny plunged +into the snow and missed Danny +Meadow Mouse just as before, +Reddy rushed in ahead of her, +and the minute he heard Danny +running down below, he plunged +in just as he had seen Granny +do. But he didn't take the pains<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +to make sure of just where Danny +was, and so of course he didn't +come anywhere near him. But he +frightened Danny still more and +made old Granny Fox lose her +temper.</p> + +<p>Poor Danny Meadow Mouse! +He had never been so frightened +in all his life. He didn't know +which way to turn or where to +run. And so he sat still, which, +although he didn't know it, was +the very best thing he could do. +When he sat still he made no +noise, and so of course Granny +and Reddy Fox could not tell +where he was. Old Granny Fox +sat and listened and listened and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +listened, and wondered where +Danny Meadow Mouse was. And +down under the snow Danny +Meadow Mouse sat and listened +and listened and listened, and +wondered where Granny and +Reddy Fox were.</p> + +<p>“Pooh!” said Granny Fox after +a while, “that Meadow Mouse +thinks he can fool me by sitting +still. I'll give him a scare.”</p> + +<p>Then she began to plunge into +the snow this way and that way, +and sure enough, pretty soon she +landed so close to Danny Meadow +Mouse that one of her claws +scratched him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="VI" id="VI"></a><small>VI</small><br /> + +Danny Meadow +Mouse<br /> Remembers, +Reddy Fox Forgets</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">“T</span>here</span> he goes!” cried old +Granny Fox. “Don't let him +sit still again!”</p> + +<p>“I hear him!” shouted Reddy +Fox, and plunged down into the +snow just as Granny Fox had +done a minute before. But he +didn't catch anything, and when +he had blown the snow out of +his nose and wiped it out of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +eyes, he saw Granny Fox dive +into the snow with no better +luck.</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said Granny +Fox, “as long as we keep him +running, we can hear him, and +some one of these times we'll +catch him. Pretty soon he'll get +too tired to be so spry, and when +he is—” Granny didn't finish, but +licked her chops and smacked her +lips. Reddy Fox grinned, then +licked his chops and smacked his +lips. Then once more they took +turns diving into the snow.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo4" id="illo4"></a><a href="images/046.jpg"><img src="images/046_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>Granny didn't finish, but licked her chops +and smacked her lips</i></p> + +<p>And down underneath in the +little tunnels he had made, +Danny Meadow Mouse was running<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +for his life. He was getting +tired, just as old Granny Fox had +said he would. He was almost +out of breath. He was sore and +one leg smarted, for in one of +her jumps old Granny Fox had +so nearly caught him that her +claws had torn his pants and +scratched him.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear! Oh dear! If only +I had time to think!” panted +Danny Meadow Mouse, and then +he squealed in still greater fright +as Reddy Fox crashed down into +his tunnel right at his very heels. +“I've got to get somewhere! I've +got to get somewhere where they +can't get at me!” he sobbed. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +right that very instant he remembered +the old fence post!</p> + +<p>The old fence post lay on the +ground and was hollow. Fastened +to it were long wires with sharp, +cruel barbs. Danny had made a +tunnel over to that old fence +post the very first day after the +snow came, for in that hollow in +the old post he had a secret +store of seeds. Why hadn't he +thought of it before? It must +have been because he was too +frightened to think. But he remembered +now, and he dodged +into the tunnel that led to the +old fence post, running faster +than ever, for though his heart<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +was in his mouth from fear, in +his heart was hope, and hope is +a wonderful thing.</p> + +<p>Now old Granny Fox knew all +about that old fence post and +she remembered all about those +barbed wires fastened to it. Although +they were covered with +snow she knew just about where +they lay, and just before she +reached them she stopped plunging +down into the snow. Reddy +Fox knew about those wires, too, +but he was so excited that he +forgot all about them.</p> + +<p>“Stop!” cried old Granny Fox +sharply.</p> + +<p>But Reddy Fox didn't hear, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +if he heard he didn't heed. His +sharp ears could hear Danny +Meadow Mouse running almost +underneath him. Granny Fox +could stop if she wanted to, but +he was going to have Danny +Meadow Mouse for his breakfast! +Down into the snow he plunged +as hard as ever he could.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh! Wow! Wow! Oh +dear! Oh dear!”</p> + +<p>That wasn't the voice of Danny +Meadow Mouse. Oh, my, no! It +was the voice of Reddy Fox. Yes, +Sir, it was the voice of Reddy +Fox. He had landed with one of +his black paws right on one of +those sharp wire barbs, and it +did hurt dreadfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I never did know a young +Fox who could get into as much +trouble as you can!” snapped old +Granny Fox, as Reddy hobbled +along on three legs behind her, +across the snow-covered Green +Meadows. “It serves you right for +forgetting!”</p> + +<p>“Yes'm,” said Reddy meekly.</p> + +<p>And safe in the hollow of the +old fence post, Danny Meadow +Mouse was dressing the scratch +on his leg made by the claws of +old Granny Fox.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="VII" id="VII"></a><small>VII</small><br /> + +Old Granny Fox<br /> +Tries a New Plan</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">O</span>ld Granny Fox</span> kept +thinking about Danny +Meadow Mouse. She knew that +he was fat, and it made her +mouth water every time she +thought of him. She made up +her mind that she must and +would have him. She knew that +Danny had been very, very much +frightened when she and Reddy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +Fox had tried so hard to catch +him by plunging down through +the snow into his little tunnels +after him, and she felt pretty +sure that he wouldn't go far away +from the old fence post, in the +hollow of which he was snug and +safe.</p> + +<p>Old Granny Fox is very smart. +“Danny Meadow Mouse won't +put his nose out of that old +fence post for a day or two. +Then he'll get tired of staying inside +all the time, and he'll peep +out of one of his little round +doorways to see if the way is +clear. If he doesn't see any danger, +he'll come out and run<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +around on top of the snow to get +some of the seeds in the tops of +the tall grasses that stick out +through the snow. If nothing +frightens him, he'll keep going a +little farther and a little farther +from that old fence post. I must +see to it that Danny Meadow +Mouse isn't frightened for a few +days.” So said old Granny Fox to +herself, as she lay under a hemlock +tree, studying how she could +best get the next meal.</p> + +<p>Then she called Reddy Fox to +her and forbade him to go down +on the meadows until she should +tell him he might. Reddy grumbled +and mumbled and didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +see why he shouldn't go where +he pleased, but he didn't dare +disobey. You see, he had a sore +foot. He had hurt it on a wire +barb when he was plunging +through the snow after Danny +Meadow Mouse, and now he had +to run on three legs. That meant +that he must depend upon +Granny Fox to help him get +enough to eat. So Reddy didn't +dare to disobey.</p> + +<p>It all came out just as Granny +Fox had thought it would. +Danny Meadow Mouse did get +tired of staying in the old fence +post. He did peep out first, and +then he did run a little way on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +the snow, and then a little farther +and a little farther. But all the +time he took great care not to get +more than a jump or two from +one of his little round doorways +leading down to his tunnels under +the snow.</p> + +<p>Hidden on the edge of the +Green Forest, Granny Fox +watched him. She looked up at +the sky, and she knew that it was +going to snow again. “That's +good,” said she. “Tomorrow +morning I'll have fat Meadow +Mouse for breakfast,” and she +smiled a hungry smile.</p> + +<p>The next morning, before +jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +out of bed, old Granny Fox +trotted down onto the meadows +and straight over to where, down +under the snow, lay the old fence +post. It had snowed again, and +all the little doorways of Danny +Meadow Mouse were covered up +with soft, fleecy snow. Behind +Granny Fox limped Reddy Fox, +grumbling to himself.</p> + +<p>When they reached the place +where the old fence post lay +buried under the snow, old +Granny Fox stretched out as flat +as she could. Then she told +Reddy to cover her up with the +new soft snow. Reddy did as he +was told, but all the time he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +grumbled. “Now you go off to +the Green Forest and keep out of +sight,” said Granny Fox. “By and +by I'll bring you some Meadow +Mouse for your breakfast,” and +Granny Fox chuckled to think +how smart she was and how +she was going to catch Danny +Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 126px;"> +<img src="images/058.jpg" width="126" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a><small>VIII</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span><br /> + +Brother North Wind<br /> +Proves a Friend</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +had seen nothing of old +Granny Fox or Reddy Fox for +several days. Every morning the +first thing he did, even before he +had breakfast, was to climb up +to one of his little round doorways +and peep out over the beautiful +white meadows, to see if +there was any danger near. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +every time he did this, Danny +used a different doorway. “For,” +said Danny to himself, “if anyone +should happen, just happen, +to see me this morning, they +might be waiting just outside my +doorway to catch me tomorrow +morning.” You see, there is a +great deal of wisdom in the little +head that Danny Meadow Mouse +carries on his shoulders.</p> + +<p>But the first day and the second +day and the third day he saw +nothing of old Granny Fox or of +Reddy Fox, and he began to enjoy +running through his tunnels +under the snow and scurrying +across from one doorway to another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +on top of the snow, just +as he had before the Foxes had +tried so hard to catch him. But +he hadn't forgotten, as Granny +Fox had hoped he would. No, +indeed, Danny Meadow Mouse +hadn't forgotten. He was too wise +for that.</p> + +<p>One morning, when he started +to climb up to one of his little +doorways, he found that it was +closed. Yes, Sir, it was closed. In +fact, there wasn't any doorway. +More snow had fallen from the +clouds in the night and had +covered up every one of the +little round doorways of Danny +Meadow Mouse.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ha!” said Danny, “I shall have +a busy day, a very busy day, opening +all my doorways. I'll eat my +breakfast, and then I'll go to +work.”</p> + +<p>So Danny Meadow Mouse ate a +good breakfast of seeds which he +had stored in the hollow in the +old fence post buried under the +snow, and then he began work on +the nearest doorway. It really +wasn't work at all, for you see, +the snow was soft and light, and +Danny dearly loved to dig in it. +In a few minutes he had made a +wee hole through which he could +peep up at jolly, round, red Mr. +Sun. In a few minutes more he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +had made it big enough to put +his head out. He looked this way +and he looked that way. Far, far +off on the top of a tree he could +see old Roughleg the Hawk, but +he was so far away that Danny +didn't fear him at all.</p> + +<p>“I don't see anything or anybody +to be afraid of,” said Danny +and poked his head out a little +farther.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo5" id="illo5"></a><a href="images/064.jpg"><img src="images/064_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>It was a beautiful white world, a very +beautiful white world</i></p> + +<p>Then he sat and studied +everything around him a long, +long time. It was a beautiful +white world, a very beautiful +white world. Everything was so +white and pure and beautiful that +it didn't seem possible that harm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +or danger for anyone could even +be thought of. But Danny +Meadow Mouse learned long ago +that things are not always what +they seem, and so he sat with +just his little head sticking out +of his doorway and studied and +studied. Just a little way off was +a little heap of snow.</p> + +<p>“I don't remember that,” said +Danny. “And I don't remember +anything that would make that. +There isn't any little bush or old +log or anything underneath it. +Perhaps rough Brother North +Wind heaped it up, just for fun.”</p> + +<p>But all the time Danny Meadow +Mouse kept studying and studying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +that little heap of snow. +Pretty soon he saw rough Brother +North Wind coming his way and +tossing the snow about as he +came. He caught a handful from +the top of the little heap of snow +that Danny was studying, and +when he had passed, Danny's +sharp eyes saw something red +there. It was just the color of the +cloak old Granny Fox wears.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Granny Fox, you can't fool me!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I see you plain as plain can be!”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>shouted Danny Meadow Mouse +and dropped down out of sight, +while old Granny Fox shook the +snow from her red cloak and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +with a snarl of disappointment +and anger, slowly started for the +Green Forest, where Reddy Fox +was waiting for her.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 108px;"> +<img src="images/067.jpg" width="108" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="IX" id="IX"></a><small>IX</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span><br /> + +Danny Meadow +Mouse<br /> Is Caught +at Last</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Tippy-toppy-tippy-toe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Play and frolic in the snow!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now you see me! Now you don't!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Think you'll catch me, but you won't!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tippy-toppy-tippy-toe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, such fun to play in snow!”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +sang this, or at least he tried +to sing it, as he skipped about on +the snow that covered the Green +Meadows. But Danny Meadow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +Mouse has such a little voice, such +a funny little squeaky voice, that +had you been there you probably +would never have guessed that he +was singing. He thought he was, +though, and was enjoying it just +as much as if he had the most +beautiful voice in the world. You +know, singing is nothing in the +world but happiness in the heart +making itself heard.</p> + +<p>Oh, yes, Danny Meadow Mouse +was happy! Why shouldn't he +have been? Hadn't he proved himself +smarter than old Granny Fox? +That is something to make anyone +happy. Some folks may fool +Granny Fox once; some may fool<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +her twice; but there are very few +who can keep right on fooling +her until she gives up in disgust. +That is just what Danny Meadow +Mouse had done, and he felt very +smart and of course he felt very +happy.</p> + +<p>So Danny sang his little song +and skipped about in the moonlight, +and dodged in and out of +his little round doorways, and all +the time kept his sharp little eyes +open for any sign of Granny Fox +or Reddy Fox. But with all his +smartness, Danny forgot. Yes, Sir, +Danny forgot one thing. He forgot +to watch up in the sky. He +knew that of course old Roughleg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +the Hawk was asleep, so he had +nothing to fear from him. But he +never once thought of Hooty the +Owl.</p> + +<p>Dear me, dear me! Forgetting is +a dreadful habit. If nobody ever +forgot, there wouldn't be nearly +so much trouble in the world. No, +indeed, there wouldn't be nearly +so much trouble. And Danny +Meadow Mouse forgot. He +skipped and sang and was happy +as could be, and never once +thought to watch up in the sky.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo6" id="illo6"></a><a href="images/072.jpg"><img src="images/072_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>Over in the Green Forest Hooty the Owl +had had poor hunting</i></p> + +<p>Over in the Green Forest Hooty +the Owl had had poor hunting, +and he was feeling cross. You see, +Hooty was hungry, and hunger is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +apt to make one feel cross. The +longer he hunted, the hungrier +and crosser he grew. Suddenly he +thought of Danny Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>“I suppose he is asleep somewhere +safe and snug under the +snow,” grumbled Hooty, “but he +might, he just might, be out +for a frolic in the moonlight. I +believe I'll go down on the +meadows and see.”</p> + +<p>Now Hooty the Owl can fly +without making the teeniest, +weeniest sound. It seems as if he +just drifts along through the air +like a great shadow. Now he +spread his great wings and floated +out over the meadows. You know +Hooty can see as well at night as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +most folks can by day, and it was +not long before he saw Danny +Meadow Mouse skipping about +on the snow and dodging in and +out of his little round doorways. +Hooty's great eyes grew brighter +and fiercer. Without a sound he +floated through the moonlight +until he was just over Danny +Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>Too late Danny looked up. His +little song ended in a tiny squeak +of fear, and he started for his +nearest little round doorway. +Hooty the Owl reached down +with his long cruel claws and—Danny +Meadow Mouse was caught +at last!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="X" id="X"></a><small>X</small><br /> + +A Strange Ride and<br /> +How It Ended</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +often had sat watching Skimmer +the Swallow sailing around +up in the blue, blue sky. He had +watched Ol' Mistah Buzzard go +up, up, up, until he was nothing +but a tiny speck, and Danny had +wondered how it would seem to +be way up above the Green +Meadows and the Green Forest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +and look down. It had seemed to +him that it must be very wonderful +and beautiful. Sometimes he +had wished that he had wings +and could go up in the air and +look down. And now here he was, +he, Danny Meadow Mouse, actually +doing that very thing!</p> + +<p>But Danny could see nothing +wonderful or beautiful now. No, +indeed! Everything was terrible, +for you see, Danny Meadow +Mouse wasn't flying himself. He +was being carried. Yes, Sir, Danny +Meadow Mouse was being carried +through the air in the cruel claws +of Hooty the Owl! And all because +Danny had forgotten—forgotten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +to watch up in the sky for +danger.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo7" id="illo7"></a><a href="images/077.jpg"><img src="images/077_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>Danny was being carried through the air in +the cruel claws of Hooty the Owl!</i></p> + +<p>Poor, poor Danny Meadow +Mouse! Hooty's great cruel claws +hurt him dreadfully! But it wasn't +the pain that was the worst. No, +indeed! It wasn't the pain! It was +the thought of what would happen +when Hooty reached his +home in the Green Forest, for he +knew that there Hooty would +gobble him up, bones and all. As +he flew, Hooty kept chuckling, +and Danny Meadow Mouse knew +just what those chuckles meant. +They meant that Hooty was thinking +of the good meal he was going +to have.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>Hanging there in Hooty's great +cruel claws, Danny looked down +on the snow-covered Green Meadows +he loved so well. They +seemed a frightfully long way below +him, though really they were +not far at all, for Hooty was flying +very low. But Danny Meadow +Mouse had never in all his life +been so high up before, and so it +seemed to him that he was way, +way up in the sky, and he shut +his eyes so as not to see. But he +couldn't keep them shut. No, Sir, +he couldn't keep them shut! He +just had to keep opening them. +There was the dear old Green +Forest drawing nearer and nearer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +It always had looked very beautiful +to Danny Meadow Mouse, but +now it looked terrible, very terrible +indeed, because over in it, +hidden away there in some dark +place, was the home of Hooty the +Owl.</p> + +<p>Just ahead of him was the Old +Briar-patch where Peter Rabbit +lives so safely. Every old bramble +in it was covered with snow and +it was very, very beautiful. Really +everything was just as beautiful as +ever—the moonlight, the Green +Forest, the snow-covered Green +Meadows, the Old Briar-patch. +The only change was in Danny +Meadow Mouse himself, and it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +was all because he had forgotten.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Danny began to wriggle +and struggle. “Keep still!” +snapped Hooty the Owl.</p> + +<p>But Danny only struggled +harder than ever. It seemed to +him that Hooty wasn't holding +him as tightly as at first. He felt +one of Hooty's claws slip. It tore +his coat and hurt dreadfully, but +it slipped! The fact is, Hooty had +only grabbed Danny Meadow +Mouse by the loose part of his +coat, and up in the air he couldn't +get hold of Danny any better. +Danny kicked, squirmed, and +twisted, and twisted, squirmed, +and kicked. He felt his coat tear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +and of course the skin with it, +but he kept right on, for now +he was hanging almost free. Hooty +had started down now, so as to +get a better hold. Danny gave one +more kick and then—he felt himself +falling!</p> + +<p>Danny Meadow Mouse shut +his eyes and held his breath. +Down, down, down he fell. It +seemed to him that he never +would strike the snow-covered +meadows! Really he fell only a +very little distance. But it seemed +a terrible distance to Danny. He +hit something that scratched him, +and then—plump!—he landed in +the soft snow right in the very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +middle of the Old Briar-patch, +and the last thing he remembered +was hearing the scream of disappointment +and rage of Hooty the +Owl.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/083.jpg" width="100" height="137" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="XI" id="XI"></a><small>XI</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span><br /> + +Peter Rabbit Gets<br /> +a Fright</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">P</span>eter Rabbit</span> sat in his +favorite place in the middle +of the dear Old Briar-patch, trying +to decide which way he +would go on his travels that +night. The night before he had +had a narrow escape from old +Granny Fox over in the Green +Forest. There was nothing to eat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +around the Smiling Pool and no +one to talk to there any more, +and you know that Peter must +either eat or ask questions in +order to be perfectly happy. No, +the Smiling Pool was too dull a +place to interest Peter on such a +beautiful moonlight night, and +Peter had no mind to try his legs +against those of old Granny Fox +again in the Green Forest.</p> + +<p>Early that morning, just after +Peter had settled down for his +morning nap, Tommy Tit the +Chickadee had dropped into the +dear Old Briar-patch just to be +neighborly. Peter was just dozing +off when he heard the cheeriest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +little voice in the world. It was +saying:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Dee-dee-chickadee!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I see you! Can you see me?”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Peter began to smile even before +he could get his eyes open +and look up. There, right over +his head, was Tommy Tit hanging +head down from a nodding +old bramble. In a twinkling he +was down on the snow right in +front of Peter, then up in the +brambles again, right side up, upside +down, here, there, everywhere, +never still a minute, and +all the time chattering away in +the cheeriest little voice in the +world:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Dee-dee-chickadee!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm as happy as can be!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Find it much the better way<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To be happy all the day.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dee-dee-chickadee!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Everybody's good to me!”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>“Hello, Tommy!” said Peter +Rabbit. “Where'd you come +from?”</p> + +<p>“From Farmer Brown's new orchard +up on the hill. It's a fine +orchard, Peter Rabbit, a fine orchard. +I go there every morning +for my breakfast. If the winter +lasts long enough, I'll have all the +trees cleaned up for Farmer +Brown.”</p> + +<p>Peter looked puzzled. “What do +you mean?” he asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Just what I say,” replied +Tommy Tit, almost turning a +somersault in the air. “There's a +million eggs of insects on those +young peach trees, but I'm clearing +them all off as fast as I can. +They're mighty fine eating, Peter +Rabbit, mighty fine eating!” And +with that Tommy Tit had said +good-by and flitted away.</p> + +<p>Peter was thinking of that +young orchard now, as he sat in +the moonlight trying to make up +his mind where to go. The +thought of those young peach +trees made his mouth water. It +was a long way up to the orchard +on the hill, a very long way, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +Peter was wondering if it really +was safe to go. He had just about +made up his mind to try it, for +Peter is very, very fond of the +bark of young peach trees, when +thump! something dropped out +of the sky at his very feet.</p> + +<p>It startled Peter so that he +nearly tumbled over backward. +And right at the same instant +came the fierce, angry scream of +Hooty the Owl. That almost +made Peter's heart stop beating, +although he knew that Hooty +couldn't get him down there in +the Old Briar-patch. When Peter +got his wits together and his +heart didn't go so jumpy, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +looked to see what had dropped +so close to him out of the sky. +His big eyes grew bigger than +ever, and he rubbed them to +make quite sure that he really +saw what he thought he saw. +Yes, there was no doubt about +it—there at his feet lay Danny +Meadow Mouse!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 105px;"> +<img src="images/005.jpg" width="105" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="XII" id="XII"></a><small>XII</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span><br /> + +The Old Briar-Patch<br /> +Has a New Tenant</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +slowly opened his eyes and +then closed them again quickly, +as if afraid to look around. He +could hear someone talking. It +was a pleasant voice, not at all +like the terrible voice of Hooty +the Owl, which was the very last +thing that Danny Meadow Mouse +could remember. Danny lay still +a minute and listened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Why, Danny Meadow Mouse, +where in the world did you +drop from?” asked the voice. It +sounded like—why, very much +like Peter Rabbit speaking. Danny +opened his eyes again. It was +Peter Rabbit.</p> + +<p>“Where—where am I?” asked +Danny Meadow Mouse in a very +weak and small voice.</p> + +<p>“In the middle of the dear +Old Briar-patch with me,” replied +Peter Rabbit. “But how did +you get here? You seemed to +drop right out of the sky.”</p> + +<p>Danny Meadow Mouse shuddered. +Suddenly he remembered +everything: how Hooty the Owl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +had caught him in great cruel +claws and had carried him +through the moonlight across +the snow-covered Green Meadows; +how he had felt Hooty's claws +slip and then had struggled and +kicked and twisted and turned +until his coat had torn and he +had dropped down, down, down, +until he had landed in the soft +snow and knocked all the breath +out of his little body. The very +last thing he could remember +was Hooty's fierce scream of rage +and disappointment. Danny shuddered +again.</p> + +<p>Then a new thought came to +him. He must get out of sight!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +Hooty might catch him again! +Danny tried to scramble to his +feet.</p> + +<p>“Ouch! Oh!” groaned Danny +and lay still again.</p> + +<p>“There, there. Keep still, +Danny Meadow Mouse. There's +nothing to be afraid of here,” +said Peter Rabbit gently. His big +eyes filled with tears as he looked +at Danny Meadow Mouse, for +Danny was all torn and hurt by +the cruel claws of Hooty the Owl, +and you know Peter has a very +tender heart.</p> + +<p>So Danny lay still, and while +Peter Rabbit tried to make him +comfortable and dress his hurts,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +he told Peter all about how he +had forgotten to watch up in the +sky and so had been caught by +Hooty the Owl, and all about his +terrible ride in Hooty's cruel +claws.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, whatever shall I do +now?” he ended. “However shall +I get back home to my warm +house of grass, my safe little tunnels +under the snow, and my +little store of seeds in the snug +hollow in the old fence post?”</p> + +<p>Peter Rabbit looked thoughtful. +“You can't do it,” said he. “You +simply can't do it. It is such a +long way for a little fellow like +you that it wouldn't be safe to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +try. If you went at night, Hooty +the Owl might catch you again. +If you tried in daylight, old +Roughleg the Hawk would be +almost sure to see you. And night +or day, old Granny Fox or Reddy +Fox might come snooping +around, and if they did, they +would be sure to catch you. I +tell you what, you stay right +here! The dear Old Briar-patch +is the safest place in the world. +Why, just think, here you can +come out in broad daylight and +laugh at Granny and Reddy Fox +and at old Roughleg the Hawk, +because the good old brambles +will keep them out if they try to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +get you. You can make just as +good tunnels under the snow +here as you had there, and there +are lots and lots of seeds on the +ground to eat. You know I don't +care for them myself. I'm lonesome +sometimes, living here all +alone. You stay here, and we'll +have the Old Briar-patch to ourselves.”</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo8" id="illo8"></a><a href="images/097.jpg"><img src="images/097_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>“I tell you what, you stay right here!” +said Peter</i></p> + +<p>Danny Meadow Mouse looked +at Peter gratefully. “I will, and +thank you ever so much, Peter +Rabbit,” he said.</p> + +<p>And this is how the dear +Old Briar-patch happened to +have another tenant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a><small>XIII</small><br /> + +Peter Rabbit Visits<br /> +the Peach Orchard</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">“D</span>on't</span> go, Peter Rabbit! +Don't go!” begged Danny +Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>Peter hopped to the edge of +the Old Briar-patch and looked +over the moonlit, snow-covered +meadows to the hill back of +Farmer Brown's house. On that +hill was the young peach orchard +of which Tommy Tit the Chickadee +had told him, and ever since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +Peter's mouth had watered and +watered every time he thought +of those young peach trees and +the tender bark on them.</p> + +<p>“I think I will, Danny, just +this once,” said Peter. “It's a long +way, and I've never been there +before; but I guess it's just as +safe as the Meadows or the Green +Forest.”</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Oh I'm as bold as bold can be!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll hie me forth the world to see!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My ears are long,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My legs are strong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So now good day;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll hie away!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!”<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>And with that, Peter Rabbit +left the dear, safe Old Briar-patch, +and away he went lipperty-lipperty-lip, +across the Green Meadows +toward the hill and the +young orchard back of Farmer +Brown's house.</p> + +<p>Danny Meadow Mouse watched +him go and shook his head in +disapproval. “Foolish, foolish, +foolish!” he said over and over +to himself. “Why can't Peter be +content with the good things +that he has?”</p> + +<p>Peter Rabbit hurried along +through the moonlight, stopping +every few minutes to sit up to +look and listen. He heard the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +fierce hunting call of Hooty the +Owl way over in the Green Forest, +so he felt sure that at present +there was nothing to fear from +him. He knew that since their +return to the Green Meadows +and the Green Forest, Granny +and Reddy Fox had kept away +from Farmer Brown's, so he did +not worry about them.</p> + +<p>All in good time Peter came +to the young orchard. It was just +as Tommy Tit the Chickadee +had told him. Peter hopped up +to the nearest peach tree and +nibbled the bark. My, how good +it tasted! He went all around +the tree, stripping off the bark. +He stood up on his long hind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +legs and reached as high as he +could. Then he dug the snow +away and ate down as far as he +could. When he could get no +more tender young bark, he went +on to the next tree.</p> + +<p>Now, though Peter didn't know +it, he was in the very worst kind +of mischief. You see, when he +took off all the bark all the way +around the young peach tree, he +killed the tree, for you know it +is on the inside of the bark that +the sap which gives life to a tree +and makes it grow goes up from +the roots to all the branches. So +when Peter ate the bark all the +way around the trunk of the +young tree, he had made it impossible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +for the sap to come up +in the spring. Oh, it was the +worst kind of mischief that Peter +Rabbit was in.</p> + +<p>But Peter didn't know it, and +he kept right on filling that big +stomach of his and enjoying it so +much that he forgot to watch out +for danger. Suddenly, just as he +had begun on another tree, a +great roar right behind him made +him jump almost out of his skin. +He knew that voice, and without +waiting to even look behind him, +he started for the stone wall on +the other side of the orchard. +Right at his heels, his great +mouth wide open, was Bowser +the Hound.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a><small>XIV</small><br /> + +Farmer Brown<br /> +Sets a Trap</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">P</span>eter Rabbit</span> was in trouble. +He had got into mischief +and now, like everyone who gets +into mischief, he wished that he +hadn't. The worst of it was that +he was a long way from his +home in the dear Old Briar-patch, +and he didn't know how he ever +could get back there again. +Where was he? Why, in the stone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +wall on one side of Farmer +Brown's young peach orchard. +How Peter blessed the old stone +wall in which he had found a +safe hiding place! Bowser had +hung around nearly all night, so +that Peter had not dared to try +to go home. Now it was daylight, +and Peter knew it would not be +safe to put his nose outside.</p> + +<p>Peter was worried, so worried +that he couldn't go to sleep as +he usually does in the daytime. +So he sat hidden in the old wall +and waited and watched. By and +by he saw Farmer Brown and +Farmer Brown's boy come out +into the orchard. Right away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +they saw the mischief which +Peter had done, and he could +tell by the sound of their voices +that they were very, very angry. +They went away, but before long +they were back again, and all day +long Peter watched them work +putting something around each +of the young peach trees. Peter +grew so curious that he forgot +all about his troubles and how +far away from home he was. He +could hardly wait for night to +come so that he might see what +they had been doing.</p> + +<p>Just as jolly, round, red Mr. +Sun started to go to bed behind +the Purple Hills, Farmer Brown<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +and his boy started back to the +house. Farmer Brown was smiling +now.</p> + +<p>“I guess that will fix him!” +he said.</p> + +<p>“Now what does he mean by +that?” thought Peter. “Whom will +it fix? Can it be me? I don't +need any fixing.”</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo9" id="illo9"></a><a href="images/109.jpg"><img src="images/109_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>All around the trunk of the tree was +wrapped wire netting</i></p> + +<p>He waited just as long as he +could. When all was still, and +the moonlight had begun to +make shadows of the trees on the +snow, Peter very cautiously crept +out of his hiding place. Bowser +the Hound was nowhere in sight, +and everything was as quiet and +peaceful as it had been when he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +first came into the orchard the +night before. Peter had fully +made up his mind to go straight +home as fast as his long legs +would take him, but his dreadful +curiosity insisted that first he +must find out what Farmer +Brown and his boy had been +doing to the young peach trees.</p> + +<p>So Peter hurried over to the +nearest tree. All around the trunk +of the tree, from the ground +clear up higher than Peter could +reach, was wrapped wire netting. +Peter couldn't get so much as a +nibble of the delicious bark. He +hadn't intended to take any, for +he had meant to go right straight +home, but now that he couldn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +get any, he wanted some more +than ever—just a bite. Peter +looked around. Everything was +quiet. He would try the next +tree, and then he would go home.</p> + +<p>But the next tree was wrapped +with wire. Peter hesitated, looked +around, turned to go home, +thought of how good that bark +had tasted the night before, hesitated +again, and then hurried +over to the third tree. It was +protected just like the others. +Then Peter forgot all about +going home. He wanted some of +that delicious bark, and he ran +from one tree to another as fast +as he could go.</p> + +<p>At last, way down at the end<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +of the orchard, Peter found a +tree that had no wire around it. +“They must have forgotten this +one!” he thought, and his eyes +sparkled. All around on the snow +were a lot of shiny little wires, +but Peter didn't notice them. +All he saw was that delicious +bark on the young peach tree. +He hopped right into the middle +of the wires, and then, just as he +reached up to take the first bite +of bark, he felt something tugging +at one of his hind legs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="XV" id="XV"></a><small>XV</small><br /> + +Peter Rabbit Is<br /> +Caught in a Snare</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">W</span>hen</span> Peter Rabbit, reaching +up to nibble the bark of +one of Farmer Brown's young +trees, felt something tugging at +one of his hind legs, he was so +startled that he jumped to get +away. Instead of doing this, he +fell flat on his face. The thing +on his hind leg had tightened +and held him fast. A great fear +came to Peter Rabbit, and lying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +there in the snow, he kicked and +struggled with all his might. But +the more he kicked, the tighter +grew that hateful thing on his +leg! Finally he grew too tired to +kick any more and lay still. The +dreadful thing that held him +hurt his leg, but it didn't pull +when he lay still.</p> + +<p>When he had grown a little +calmer, Peter sat up to examine +the thing which held him so +fast. It was something like one +of the blackberry vines he had +sometimes tripped over, only it +was bright and shiny, and had +no branches or tiny prickers, and +one end was fastened to a stake.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +Peter tried to bite off the shiny +thing, but even his great, sharp +front teeth couldn't cut it. Then +Peter knew what it was. It was +wire! It was a snare which Farmer +Brown had set to catch him, and +which he had walked right into +because he had been so greedy +for the bark of the young peach +tree that he had not used his eyes +to look out for danger.</p> + +<p>Oh, how Peter Rabbit did wish +that he had not been so curious +to know what Farmer Brown had +been doing that day, and that he +had gone straight home as he had +meant to do, instead of trying +to get one more meal of young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +peach bark! Big tears rolled down +Peter's cheeks. What should he +do? What could he do? For +a long time Peter sat in the +moonlight, trying to think of +something to do. At last he +thought of the stake to which +that hateful wire was fastened. +The stake was of wood, and +Peter's teeth would cut wood. +Peter's heart gave a great leap +of hope, and he began at once +to dig away the snow from +around the stake, and then settled +himself to gnaw the stake in two.</p> + +<p>Peter had been hard at work +on the stake a long time and had +it a little more than half cut +through, when he heard a loud<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +sniff down at the other end of +the orchard. He looked up to +see—whom do you think? Why, +Bowser the Hound! He hadn't +seen Peter yet, but he had already +found Peter's tracks, and +it would be but a few minutes +before he found Peter himself.</p> + +<p>Poor Peter Rabbit! There +wasn't time to finish cutting off +the stake. What could he do? He +made a frightened jump just as +he had when he first felt the +wire tugging at his leg. Just as +before, he was thrown flat on his +face. He scrambled to his feet +and jumped again, only to be +thrown just as before. Just then +Bowser the Hound saw him and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +opening his mouth sent forth a +great roar. Peter made one more +frantic jump. Snap! The stake had +broken! Peter pitched forward on +his head, turned a somersault, +and scrambled to his feet. He was +free at last! That is, he could +run, but after him dragged a +piece of the stake.</p> + +<p>How Peter did run! It was +hard work, for you know he had +to drag that piece of stake after +him. But he did it, and just in +time he crawled into the old +stone wall on one side of the +orchard, while Bowser the Hound +barked his disappointment to the +moon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a><small>XVI</small><br /> + +Peter Rabbit's<br /> +Hard Journey</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">P</span>eter Rabbit</span> sat in the +old stone wall along one side +of Farmer Brown's orchard, waiting +for Mrs. Moon to put out her +light and leave the world in darkness +until jolly, round, red Mr. +Sun should kick off his rosy bed-clothes +and begin his daily climb +up in the blue, blue sky. In the +winter, Mr. Sun is a late sleeper,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +and Peter knew that there would +be two or three hours after Mrs. +Moon put out her light when it +would be quite dark. And Peter +also knew that by this time +Hooty the Owl would probably +have caught his dinner. So would +old Granny Fox and Reddy Fox. +Bowser the Hound would be too +sleepy to be on the watch. It +would be the very safest time for +Peter to try to get to his home +in the dear Old Briar-patch.</p> + +<p>So Peter waited and waited. +Twice Bowser the Hound, who +had chased him into the old wall, +came over and barked at him +and tried to get at him. But the +old wall kept Peter safe, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +Bowser gave it up. And all the +time Peter sat waiting he was in +great pain. You see, that shiny +wire was drawn so tight that it +cut into his flesh and hurt dreadfully, +and to the other end of the +wire was fastened a piece of +wood, part of the stake to which +the snare had been made fast +and which Peter had managed to +gnaw and break off.</p> + +<p>It was on account of this that +Peter was waiting for Mrs. Moon +to put out her light. He knew +that with that stake dragging +after him he would have to go +very slowly, and he could not +run any more risk of danger than +he actually had to. So he waited<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +and waited, and by and by, sure +enough, Mrs. Moon put out her +light. Peter waited a little longer, +listening with all his might. +Everything was still. Then Peter +crept out of the old stone wall.</p> + +<p>Right away trouble began. The +stake dragging at the end of the +wire fast to his leg caught among +the stones and pulled Peter up +short. My, how it did hurt! It +made the tears come. But Peter +shut his teeth hard, and turning +back, he worked until he got the +stake free. Then he started on +once more, dragging the stake +after him.</p> + +<p>Very slowly across the orchard +and under the fence on the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +side crept Peter Rabbit, his leg +so stiff and sore that he could +hardly touch it to the snow, and +all the time dragging that piece +of stake, which seemed to grow +heavier and harder to drag every +minute. Peter did not dare to go +out across the open fields, for +fear some danger might happen +along, and he would have no +place to hide. So he crept along +close to the fences where bushes +grow, and this made it very, very +hard, for the dragging stake was +forever catching in the bushes +with a yank at the sore leg which +brought Peter up short with a +squeal of pain.</p> + +<p>This was bad enough, but all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +the time Peter was filled with a +dreadful fear that Hooty the Owl +or Granny Fox might just happen +along. He had to stop to rest +very, very often, and then he +would listen and listen. Over and +over again he said to himself:</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, whatever did I go +up to the young peach orchard +for when I knew I had no +business there? Why couldn't I +have been content with all the +good things that were mine in +the Green Forest and on the +Green Meadows? Oh dear! Oh +dear!”</p> + +<p>Just as jolly, round, red Mr. +Sun began to light up the Green<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +Meadows, Peter Rabbit reached +the dear Old Briar-patch. Danny +Meadow Mouse was sitting on the +edge of it anxiously watching for +him. Peter crawled up and started +to creep in along one of his little +private paths. He got in himself, +but the dragging stake caught +among the brambles, and Peter +just fell down in the snow right +where he was, too tired and worn +out to move.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/003.jpg" width="100" height="136" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + + +<h3><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a><small>XVII</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span><br /> + +Danny Meadow +Mouse<br /> Becomes +Worried</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +limped around through the +dear Old Briar-patch, where he +had lived with Peter Rabbit ever +since he had squirmed out of the +claws of Hooty the Owl and +dropped there, right at the feet +of Peter Rabbit. Danny limped +because he was still lame and +sore from Hooty's terrible claws,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +but he didn't let himself think +much about that, because he was +so thankful to be alive at all. +So he limped around in the +Old Briar-patch, picking up seed +which had fallen on the snow, +and sometimes pulling down a +few of the red berries which cling +all winter to the wild rose +bushes. The seeds in these were +very nice indeed, and Danny always +felt especially good after a +meal of them.</p> + +<p>Danny Meadow Mouse had +grown very fond of Peter Rabbit, +for Peter had been very, very +good to him. Danny felt that he +never, never could repay all of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +Peter's kindness. It had been very +good of Peter to offer to share +the Old Briar-patch with Danny +because Danny was so far from +his own home that it would not +be safe for him to try to get back +there. But Peter had done more +than that. He had taken care of +Danny, such good care, during +the first few days after Danny's +escape from Hooty the Owl. He +had brought good things to eat +while Danny was too weak and +sore to get things for himself. +Oh, Peter had been very good +indeed to him!</p> + +<p>But now, as Danny limped +around, he was not happy. No,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +Sir, he was not happy. The truth +is, Danny Meadow Mouse was +worried. It was a different kind +of worry from any he had known +before. You see, for the first time +in his life, Danny was worrying +about someone else. He was +worrying about Peter Rabbit. +Peter had been gone from the +Old Briar-patch a whole night +and a whole day. He often was +gone all night, but never all day +too. Danny was sure that something +had happened to Peter. He +thought of how he had begged +Peter not to go up to Farmer +Brown's young peach orchard. He +had felt in his bones that it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +not safe, that something dreadful +would happen to Peter. How +Peter had laughed at him and bravely +started off! Why hadn't +he come home?</p> + +<p>As he limped around, Danny +talked to himself:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Why cannot people be content<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With all the good things that are sent,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mind their own affairs at home<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Instead of going forth to roam?”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It was now the second night +since Peter Rabbit had gone +away. Danny Meadow Mouse +couldn't sleep at all. Round and +round through the Old Briar-patch +he limped, and finally sat +down at the edge of it to wait<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +and watch. At last, just as jolly, +round, red Mr. Sun sent his first +long rays of light across the +Green Meadows, Danny saw something +crawling toward the Old +Briar-patch. He rubbed his eyes +and looked again. It was—no, it +couldn't be—yes, it was Peter +Rabbit! But what was the matter +with him? Always before Peter +had come home lipperty-lipperty-lipperty-lip, +but now he was +crawling, actually crawling! Danny +Meadow Mouse didn't know what +to make of it.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer came Peter. +Something was following him. No, +Peter was dragging something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +after him. At last Peter started +to crawl along one of his little +private paths into the Old Briar-patch. +The thing dragging behind +caught in the brambles, and +Peter fell headlong in the snow, +too tired and worn out to move. +Then Danny saw what the +trouble was. A wire was fast to +one of Peter's long hind legs, +and to the other end of the wire +was fastened part of a stake. +Peter had been caught in a +snare! Danny hurried over to +Peter and tears stood in his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Poor Peter Rabbit! Oh, I'm +so sorry, Peter!” he whispered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + + + +<h3><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a><small>XVIII</small><br /> + +Danny Meadow +Mouse<br /> Returns +a Kindness</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">T</span>here</span> Peter Rabbit lay. He +had dragged that piece of +stake a long way, a very long +way, indeed. But now he could +drag it no farther, for it had +caught in the bramble bushes. +So Peter just dropped on the +snow and cried. Yes, Sir, he cried! +You see, he was so tired and +worn out and frightened, and his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +leg was so stiff and sore and hurt +him so! And then it was so +dreadful to actually get home and +be stopped right on your very +own doorstep. So Peter just lay +there and cried. Just supposing +old Granny Fox should come +poking around and find Peter +caught that way! All she would +have to do would be to get hold +of that hateful stake caught in +the bramble bushes and pull +Peter out where she could get +him. Do you wonder that Peter +cried?</p> + +<p>By and by he became aware +that someone was wiping away +his tears. It was Danny Meadow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +Mouse. And Danny was singing +in a funny little voice. Pretty +soon Peter stopped crying and +listened, and this is what he +heard:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Isn't any use to cry!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not a bit! Not a bit!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wipe your eyes and wipe 'em dry!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Use your wit! Use your wit!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Just remember that tomorrow<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Never brings a single sorrow.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yesterday has gone forever<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And tomorrow gets here never.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Chase your worries all away;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nothing's worse than just today.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Peter smiled in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>“That's right! That's right! +Smile away, Peter Rabbit. Smile +away! Your troubles, Sir, are all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +today. And between you and me, +I don't believe they are so bad +as you think they are. Now you +lie still just where you are, while +I go see what can be done.”</p> + +<p>With that, off whisked Danny +Meadow Mouse as spry as you +please, in spite of his lame leg, +and in a few minutes Peter knew +by little twitches of the wire on +his leg that Danny was doing +something at the other end. He +was. Danny Meadow Mouse had +set out to gnaw that piece of +stake all to splinters. So there he +sat and gnawed and gnawed and +gnawed. Jolly, round, red Mr. +Sun climbed higher and higher<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +in the sky, and Danny Meadow +Mouse grew hungry, but still he +kept right on gnawing at that +bothersome stake.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo10" id="illo10"></a><a href="images/137.jpg"><img src="images/137_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>Danny Meadow Mouse had set out to gnaw +that piece of stake all to splinters</i></p> + +<p>By and by, happening to look +across the snow-covered Green +Meadows, he saw something that +made his heart jump. It was +Farmer Brown's boy coming +straight over toward the dear +Old Briar-patch.</p> + +<p>Danny didn't say a word to +Peter Rabbit, but gnawed faster +than ever.</p> + +<p>Farmer Brown's boy was almost +there when Danny stopped gnawing. +There was only a tiny bit of +the stake left now, and Danny<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +hurried to tell Peter Rabbit that +there was nothing to stop him +now from going to his most +secret retreat in the very heart of +the Old Briar-patch. While Peter +slowly dragged his way along, +Danny trotted behind to see that +the wire did not catch on the +bushes.</p> + +<p>They had safely reached Peter +Rabbit's secretest retreat when +Farmer Brown's boy came up to +the edge of the dear Old Briar-patch.</p> + +<p>“So this is where that rabbit +that killed our peach tree lives!” +said he. “We'll try a few snares +and put you out of mischief.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>”</p> + +<p>And for the rest of the afternoon +Farmer Brown's boy was +very busy around the edge of the +Old Briar-patch.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 86px;"> +<img src="images/140.jpg" width="86" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a><small>XIX</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span><br /> + +Peter Rabbit and<br /> +Danny Meadow +Mouse Live High</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">P</span>eter Rabbit</span> sat in his +secretest place in the dear +Old Briar-patch with one of his +long hind legs all swelled up and +terribly sore because of the fine +wire fast around it and cutting +into it. He could hear Farmer +Brown's boy going around on the +edge of the dear Old Briar-patch +and stopping every little while to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +do something. In spite of his +pain, Peter was curious. Finally +he called Danny Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>“Danny, you are small and can +keep out of sight easier than I +can. Go as near as ever you dare +to Farmer Brown's boy and find +out what he is doing,” said Peter +Rabbit.</p> + +<p>So Danny Meadow Mouse crept +out as near to Farmer Brown's +boy as ever he dared, and studied +and studied to make out what +Farmer Brown's boy was doing. +By and by he returned to Peter +Rabbit.</p> + +<p>“I don't know what he's doing, +Peter, but he's putting something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +in every one of your private little +paths leading into the Briar-patch +from the Green Meadows.”</p> + +<p>“Ha!” said Peter Rabbit.</p> + +<p>“There are little loops of that +queer stuff you've got hanging +to your leg, Peter,” continued +Danny Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>“Just so!” said Peter Rabbit.</p> + +<p>“And he's put cabbage leaves +and pieces of apple all around,” +said Danny.</p> + +<p>“We must be careful!” said +Peter Rabbit.</p> + +<p>Peter's leg was in a very bad +way, indeed, and Peter suffered a +great deal of pain. The worst of +it was, he didn't know how to get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +off the wire that was cutting into +it so. He had tried to cut the +wire with his big teeth, but he +couldn't do it. Danny Meadow +Mouse had tried and tried to +gnaw the wire, but it wasn't the +least bit of use. But Danny wasn't +easily discouraged, and he kept +working and working at it. Once +he thought he felt it slip a little. +He said nothing, but kept right +on working. Pretty soon he was +sure that it slipped. He went +right on working harder than +ever. By and by he had it so +loose that he slipped it right off +Peter's leg, and Peter didn't know +anything about it. You see, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +cruel wire snare had been so +tight that Peter didn't have any +feeling except of pain left in his +leg, and so when Danny Meadow +Mouse pulled the cruel wire +snare off, Peter didn't know it +until Danny held it up in front +of him.</p> + +<p>My, how thankful Peter was, +and how he did thank Danny +Meadow Mouse! But Danny said +that it was nothing at all, just +nothing at all, and that he owed +more than that to Peter Rabbit +for being so good to him and +letting him live in the dear Old +Briar-patch.</p> + +<p>It was a long time before Peter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +could hop as he used to, but +after the first day he managed +to get around. He found that +Farmer Brown's boy had spread +those miserable wire snares in +every one of his private little +paths. But Peter knew what they +were now. He showed Danny +Meadow Mouse how he, because +he was so small, could safely +run about among the snares and +steal all the cabbage leaves and +apples which Farmer Brown's boy +had put there for bait.</p> + +<p>Danny Meadow Mouse thought +this great fun and a great joke +on Farmer Brown's boy. So every +day he stole the bait, and he and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +Peter Rabbit lived high while +Peter's leg was getting well. And +all the time Farmer Brown's boy +wondered why he couldn't catch +Peter Rabbit.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 123px;"> +<img src="images/147.jpg" width="123" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="XX" id="XX"></a><small>XX</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span><br /> + +Timid Danny +Meadow Mouse</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +is timid. Everybody says so, +and what everybody says ought to +be so. But just as anybody can +make a mistake sometimes, so +can everybody. Still, in this case, +it is quite likely that everybody +is right. Danny Meadow Mouse +is timid. Ask Peter Rabbit. Ask +Sammy Jay. Ask Striped Chipmunk. +They will all tell you the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +same thing. Sammy Jay might +even tell you that Danny is +afraid of his own shadow, or that +he tries to run away from his +own tail. Of course this isn't +true. Sammy Jay likes to say +mean things. It isn't fair to +Danny Meadow Mouse to believe +what Sammy Jay says.</p> + +<p>But the fact is Danny certainly +is timid. More than this, he isn't +ashamed of it—not the least little +bit.</p> + +<p>“You see, it's this way,” said +Danny, as he sat on his doorstep +one sunny morning talking to +his friend, old Mr. Toad. “If I +weren't afraid, I wouldn't be all +the time watching out, and if I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +weren't all the time watching out, +I wouldn't have any more chance +than that foolish red ant running +across in front of you.”</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Toad looked where +Danny was pointing, and his +tongue darted out and back again +so quickly that Danny wasn't sure +that he saw it at all, but when +he looked for the ant it was nowhere +to be seen, and there was +a satisfied twinkle in Mr. Toad's +eyes. There was an answering +twinkle in Danny's own eyes as +he continued.</p> + +<p>“No, Sir,” said he, “I wouldn't +stand a particle more chance than +that foolish ant did. Now if I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +were big and strong, like Old +Man Coyote, or had swift wings, +like Skimmer the Swallow, or +were so homely and ugly looking +that no one wanted me, like—like—” +Danny hesitated and then +finished rather lamely, “like some +folks I know, I suppose I +wouldn't be afraid.”</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Toad looked up +sharply when Danny mentioned +homely and ugly-looking people, +but Danny was gazing far out +across the Green Meadows and +looked so innocent that Mr. +Toad concluded that he couldn't +have had him in mind.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said he, thoughtfully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +scratching his nose, “I suppose +you may be right, but for my +part fear seems a very foolish +thing. Now, I don't know what it +is. I mind my own business, and +no one ever bothers me. I should +think it would be a very uncomfortable +feeling.”</p> + +<p>“It is,” replied Danny, “but, as +I said before, it is a very good +thing to keep one on guard +when there are as many watching +for one as there are for me. Now +there's Mr. Blacksnake and—”</p> + +<p>“Where?” exclaimed old Mr. +Toad, turning as pale as a toad +can turn, and looking uneasily +and anxiously in every direction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo11" id="illo11"></a><a href="images/153.jpg"><img src="images/153_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>“Where?” exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning +as pale as a toad can turn</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>Danny turned his head to hide +a smile. If old Mr. Toad wasn't +showing fear, no one ever did. +“Oh,” said he, “I didn't mean +that he is anywhere around here +now. What I was going to say +was that there is Mr. Blacksnake +and Granny Fox and Reddy Fox +and Redtail the Hawk and Hooty +the Owl and others I might +name, always watching for a +chance to make a dinner from +poor little me. Do you wonder +that I am afraid most of the +time?”</p> + +<p>“No,” replied old Mr. Toad. +“No, I don't wonder that you +are afraid. It must be dreadful to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +feel hungry eyes are watching for +you every minute of the day and +night, too.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it's not so bad,” replied +Danny. “It's rather exciting. Besides, +it keeps my wits sharp all +the time. I am afraid I should +find life very dull indeed if, like +you, I feared nothing and nobody. +By the way, see how +queerly that grass is moving over +there. It looks as if Mr. Blacksnake— +Why, Mr. Toad, where +are you going in such a hurry?”</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo12" id="illo12"></a><a href="images/156.jpg"><img src="images/156_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>“Why, Mr. Toad, where are you going in +such a hurry?” asked Danny</i></p> + +<p>“I've just remembered an important +engagement with my +cousin, Grandfather Frog, at the +Smiling Pool,” shouted old Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +Toad over his shoulder, as he +hurried so that he fell over his +own feet.</p> + +<p>Danny chuckled as he sat alone +on his doorstep. “Oh, no, old +Mr. Toad doesn't know what +fear is!” said he. “Funny how +some people won't admit what +everybody can see for themselves. +Now, I am afraid, and I'm willing +to say so.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/003.jpg" width="100" height="136" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a><small>XXI</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span><br /> + +An Exciting Day +for<br /> Danny Meadow +Mouse</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +started along one of his private +little paths very early one +morning. He was on his way to +get a supply of a certain kind +of grass seed of which he is very +fond. He had been thinking +about that seed for some time +and waiting for it to get ripe. +Now it was just right, as he had +found out the day before by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +visit to the place where this particular +grass grew. The only +trouble was it grew a long way +from Danny's home, and to reach +it he had to cross an open place +where the grass was so short that +he couldn't make a path under it.</p> + +<p>“I feel it in my bones that this +is going to be an exciting day,” +said Danny to himself as he +trotted along. “I suppose that if +I were really wise, I would stay +nearer home and do without that +nice seed. But nothing is really +worth having unless it is worth +working for, and that seed will +taste all the better if I have hard +work getting it.”</p> + +<p>So he trotted along his private<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +little path, his ears wide open, +and his eyes wide open, and his +little nose carefully testing every +Merry Little Breeze who happened +along for any scent of danger +which it might carry. Most +of all he depended upon his ears, +for the grass was so tall that he +couldn't see over it, even when +he sat up. He had gone only a +little way when he thought he +heard a queer rustling behind +him. He stopped to listen. There +it was again, and it certainly was +right in the path behind him! +He didn't need to be told who +was making it. There was only +one who could make such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +sound as that—Mr. Blacksnake.</p> + +<p>Now Danny can run very fast +along his private little paths, but +he knew that Mr. Blacksnake +could run faster. “If my legs +can't save me, my wits must,” +thought Danny as he started to +run as fast as ever he could. “I +must reach that fallen old hollow +fence post.”</p> + +<p>He was almost out of breath +when he reached the post and +scurried into the open end. He +knew by the sound of the rustling +that Mr. Blacksnake was +right at his heels. Now the old +post was hollow its whole length, +but halfway there was an old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +knothole just big enough for +Danny to squeeze through. Mr. +Blacksnake didn't know anything +about that hole, and because it +was dark inside the old post, he +didn't see Danny pop through it. +Danny ran back along the top of +the log and was just in time to +see the tip of Mr. Blacksnake's +tail disappear inside. Then what +do you think Danny did? Why, +he followed Mr. Blacksnake right +into the old post, but in doing +it he didn't make the least little +bit of noise.</p> + +<p>Mr. Blacksnake kept right on +through the old post and out the +other end, for he was sure that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +that was the way Danny had +gone. He kept right on along the +little path. Now Danny knew +that he wouldn't go very far before +he found out that he had +been fooled, and of course he +would come back. So Danny +waited only long enough to get +his breath and then ran back +along the path to where another +little path branched off. For just +a minute he paused.</p> + +<p>“If Mr. Blacksnake follows me, +he will be sure to think that of +course I have taken this other +little path,” thought Danny, “so +I won't do it.”</p> + +<p>Then he ran harder than ever,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +until he came to a place where +two little paths branched off, one +to the right and one to the left. +He took the latter and scampered +on, sure that by this time Mr. +Blacksnake would be so badly +fooled that he would give up the +chase. And Danny was right.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Brains are better far than speed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As wise men long ago agreed,”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>said Danny, as he trotted on his +way for the grass seed he liked +so well. “I felt it in my bones +that this would be an exciting +day. I wonder what next.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>”</p> + + + +<h3><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a><small>XXII</small><br /> + +What Happened +Next<br /> to Danny +Meadow Mouse</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny</span> is so used to narrow +escapes that he doesn't waste +any time thinking about them. +He didn't this time. “He who +tries to look two ways at once is +pretty sure to see nothing,” says +Danny, and he knew that if he +thought too much about the +things that had already happened,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +he couldn't keep a sharp watch +for the things that might happen.</p> + +<p>Nothing more happened as he +hurried along his private little +path to the edge of a great patch +of grass so short that he couldn't +hide under it. He had to cross +this, and all the way he would +be in plain sight of anyone who +happened to be near. Very cautiously +he peeped out and looked +this way and looked that way, +not forgetting to look up in the +sky. He could see no one anywhere. +Drawing a long breath, +Danny started across the open +place as fast as his short legs +could take him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now all the time, Redtail the +Hawk had been sitting in a tree +some distance away, sitting so still +that he looked like a part of the +tree itself. That is why Danny +hadn't seen him. But Redtail saw +Danny the instant he started across +the open place, for Redtail's eyes +are very keen, and he can see a +great distance. With a satisfied +chuckle, he spread his broad +wings and started after Danny.</p> + +<p>Just about halfway to the safety +of the long grass on the other +side, Danny gave a hurried look +behind him, and his heart seemed +to jump right into his mouth, +for there was Redtail with his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +cruel claws already set to seize +him! Danny gave a frightened +squeak, for he thought that surely +this time he would be caught. +But he didn't mean to give up +without trying to escape. Three +jumps ahead of him was a queer-looking +thing. He didn't know +what it was, but if there was a +hole in it he might yet fool Redtail.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo13" id="illo13"></a><a href="images/169.jpg"><img src="images/169_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>With a frightened squeak, Danny dived into +the opening just in time</i></p> + +<p>One jump! Would he be able +to reach it? Two jumps! There +was a hole in it! Three jumps! +With another frightened squeak, +Danny dived into the opening +just in time. And what do you +think he was in? Why, an old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +tomato can Farmer Brown's boy +had once used to carry bait in +when he went fishing at the +Smiling Pool. He had dropped it +there on his way home.</p> + +<p>Redtail screamed with rage and +disappointment as he struck the +old can with his great claws. He +had been sure, very sure, of Danny +Meadow Mouse this time! He +tried to pick the can up, but he +couldn't get hold of it. It just +rolled away from him every time, +try as he would. Finally, in disgust, +he gave up and flew back +to the tree from which he had +first seen Danny.</p> + +<p>Of course Danny had been terribly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +frightened when the can +rolled, and by the noise the claws +of Redtail made when they struck +his queer hiding place. But he +wisely decided that the best thing +he could do was to stay there +for a while. And it was very fortunate +that he did so, as he was +very soon to find out.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/016.jpg" width="150" height="93" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + + +<h3><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a><small>XXIII</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span><br /> + +Reddy Fox Grows +Curious</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">D</span>anny Meadow Mouse</span> +had sat perfectly still for a +long time inside the old tomato +can in which he had found a +refuge from Redtail the Hawk. +He didn't dare so much as put +his head out for a look around, +lest Redtail should be circling +overhead ready to pounce on +him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>“If I stay here long enough, +he'll get tired and go away, if he +hasn't already,” thought Danny. +“This has been a pretty exciting +morning so far, and I find that I +am a little tired. I may as well +take a nap while I am waiting to +make sure that the way is clear.”</p> + +<p>With that Danny curled up in +the old tomato can. But it wasn't +meant that Danny should have +that nap. He had closed his eyes, +but his ears were still open, and +presently he heard soft footsteps +drawing near. His eyes flew open, +and he forgot all about sleep, +you may be sure, for those footsteps +sounded familiar. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +sounded to Danny very, very +much like the footsteps of—whom +do you think? Why, +Reddy Fox! Danny's heart began +to beat faster as he listened. +Could it be? He didn't dare peep +out. Presently a little whiff of +scent blew into the old tomato +can. Then Danny knew—it was +Reddy Fox.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear! I hope he doesn't +find that I am in here!” thought +Danny. “I wonder what under +the sun has brought him up here +just now.”</p> + +<p>If the truth were to be known, +it was curiosity that had brought +Reddy up there. Reddy had been +hunting for his breakfast some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +distance away on the Green +Meadows when Redtail the Hawk +had tried so hard to catch Danny +Meadow Mouse. Reddy's sharp +eyes had seen Redtail the minute +he left the tree in pursuit of +Danny, and he had known by the +way Redtail flew that he saw +something he wanted to catch. +He had watched Redtail swoop +down and had heard his scream +of rage when he missed Danny +because Danny had dodged into +the old tomato can. He had seen +Redtail strike and strike again at +something on the ground, and +finally fly off in disgust with +empty claws.</p> + +<p>“Now I wonder what it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Redtail was after and why he +didn't get it,” thought Reddy. +“He acts terribly put out and disappointed. +I believe I'll go over +there and find out.”</p> + +<p>Off he started at a smart trot +toward the patch of short grass +where he had seen Redtail the +Hawk striking at something on +the ground. As he drew near, he +crept very softly until he reached +the very edge of the open patch. +There he stopped and looked +sharply all over it. There was +nothing to be seen but an old +tomato can. Reddy had seen it +many times before.</p> + +<p>“Now what under the sun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +could Redtail have been after +here?” thought Reddy. “The +grass isn't long enough for a +grasshopper to hide in, and yet +Redtail didn't get what he was +after. It's very queer. It certainly +is very queer.”</p> + +<p>He trotted out and began to +run back and forth with his nose +to the ground, hoping that his +nose would tell him what his +eyes couldn't. Back and forth, +back and forth he ran, and then +suddenly he stopped.</p> + +<p>“Ha!” exclaimed Reddy. He +had found the scent left by +Danny Meadow Mouse when he +ran across toward the old tomato<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +can. Right up to the old can +Reddy's nose led him. He hopped +over the old can, but on the +other side he could find no scent +of Danny Meadow Mouse. In a +flash he understood, and a gleam +of satisfaction shone in his yellow +eyes as he turned back to the +old can. He knew that Danny +must be hiding in there.</p> + +<p>“I've got you this time!” he +snarled, as he sniffed at the opening +in the end of the can.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/003.jpg" width="100" height="136" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a><small>XXIV</small><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span><br /> + +Reddy Fox Loses +His Temper</h3> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">R</span>eddy Fox</span> had caught +Danny Meadow Mouse, and +yet he hadn't caught him. He +had found Danny hiding in the +old tomato can, and it didn't enter +Reddy's head that he couldn't +get Danny out when he wanted +to. He was in no hurry. He had +had a pretty good breakfast of +grasshoppers, and so he thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +he would torment Danny awhile +before gobbling him up. He lay +down so that he could peep in at +the open end of the old can and +see Danny trying to make himself +as small as possible at the other +end. Reddy grinned until he +showed all his long teeth. Reddy +always is a bully, especially when +his victim is a great deal smaller +and weaker than himself.</p> + +<p>“I've got you this time, +Mr. Smarty, haven't I?” taunted +Reddy.</p> + +<p>Danny didn't say anything.</p> + +<p>“You think you've been very +clever because you have fooled +me two or three times, don't you?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +Well, this time I've got you +where your tricks won't work,” +continued Reddy, “so what are +you going to do about it?”</p> + +<p>Danny didn't answer. The fact +is, he was too frightened to answer. +Besides, he didn't know +what he could do. So he just +kept still, but his bright eyes +never once left Reddy's cruel +face. For all his fright, Danny +was doing some hard thinking. +He had been in tight places before +and had learned never to +give up hope. Something might +happen to frighten Reddy away. +Anyway, Reddy had to get him +out of that old can before he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +would admit that he was really +caught.</p> + +<p>For a long time Reddy lay +there licking his chops and saying +all the things he could think +of to frighten poor Danny +Meadow Mouse. At last he grew +tired of this and made up his +mind that that it was time to end +it and Danny Meadow Mouse at +the same time. He thrust his +sharp nose in at the opening in +the end of the old can, but the +opening was too small for him +to get more than his nose in, +and he only scratched it on the +sharp edges without so much as +touching Danny.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I'll pull you out,” said Reddy +and thrust in one black paw.</p> + +<p>Danny promptly bit it so hard +that Reddy yelped with pain +and pulled it out in a hurry. +Presently he tried again with the +other paw. Danny bit this one +harder still, and Reddy danced +with pain and anger. Then he +lost his temper completely, a very +foolish thing to do, as it always +is. He hit the old can, and away +it rolled with Danny Meadow +Mouse inside. This seemed to +make Reddy angrier than ever. +He sprang after it and hit it +again. Then he batted it first this +way and then that way, growing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +angrier and angrier. And all the +time Danny Meadow Mouse managed +to keep inside, although he +got a terrible shaking up.</p> + +<p>Back and forth across the patch +of short grass Reddy knocked the +old can, and he was in such a +rage that he didn't notice where +he was knocking it to. Finally he +sent it spinning into the long +grass on the far side of the open +patch, close to one of Danny's +private little paths. Like a flash +Danny was out and scurrying +along the little path. He dodged +into another and presently into a +third, which brought him to +a tangle of barbed wire left there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +by Farmer Brown when he had +built a new fence. Under this he +was safe.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="illo14" id="illo14"></a><a href="images/185.jpg"><img src="images/185_th.jpg" +alt="" title="" /></a></p> + +<p class="caption"><i>Like a flash, Danny dodged into a tangle +of barbed wire</i></p> + +<p>“Phew!” exclaimed Danny, +breathing very hard. “That was +the narrowest escape yet! But I +guess I'll get that special grass +seed I started out for, after all.”</p> + +<p>And he did, while to this day +Reddy Fox wonders how Danny +got out of the old tomato can +without his knowing it.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And so you see what temper does<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For those who give it rein;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It cheats them of the very thing<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They seek so hard to gain.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Danny has had many more adventures, +but there isn't room to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +tell about them here. Besides, +Grandfather Frog is anxious that +you should hear about the queer +things that have happened to +him. They are told in the next +book.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 116px;"> +<img src="images/187.jpg" width="116" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<div class="advertisements"> + +<h3><i>Bedtime Story-Books</i><br /> + +<small>By THORNTON W. BURGESS</small></h3> + +<p> +The Adventures of Reddy Fox<br /> +The Adventures of Johnny Chuck<br /> +The Adventures of Peter Cottontail<br /> +The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum<br /> +The Adventures of Mr. Mocker<br /> +The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat<br /> +The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse<br /> +The Adventures of Grandfather Frog<br /> +The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel<br /> +The Adventures of Sammy Jay<br /> +The Adventures of Buster Bear<br /> +The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad<br /> +The Adventures of Prickly Porky<br /> +The Adventures of Old Man Coyote<br /> +The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver<br /> +The Adventures of Poor Mrs. Quack<br /> +The Adventures of Bobby Coon<br /> +The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk<br /> +The Adventures of Bob White<br /> +The Adventures of Ol' Mistah Buzzard</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse, by +Thornton W. 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b/25529-h/images/187.jpg diff --git a/25529-h/images/cover.jpg b/25529-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..14e3d31 --- /dev/null +++ b/25529-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/25529-h/images/cover_th.jpg b/25529-h/images/cover_th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f9f4106 --- /dev/null +++ b/25529-h/images/cover_th.jpg diff --git a/25529.txt b/25529.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c03641 --- /dev/null +++ b/25529.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2451 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse, by +Thornton W. Burgess + +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 Danny Meadow Mouse + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Illustrator: Harrison Cady + +Release Date: May 19, 2008 [EBook #25529] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVENTURES OF DANNY MEADOW MOUSE *** + + + + +Produced by K Nordquist, E & R Nordquist, Irma Spehar and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + _The Adventures of + DANNY MEADOW MOUSE_ + + _by Thornton W. Burgess_ + + [Illustration] + + + + + + + + + The Adventures of + Danny Meadow Mouse + + By THORNTON W. BURGESS + + _Illustrated by_ HARRISON CADY + + [Illustration] + + PUBLISHERS + Grosset & Dunlap + NEW YORK + + COPYRIGHT, 1915, 1944, + BY THORNTON W. BURGESS + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + BY ARRANGEMENT WITH LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY + + ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + + _The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse_ + + + + + [Illustration] + + Contents + + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I Danny Meadow Mouse Is Worried 11 + + II Danny Meadow Mouse and His Short Tail 17 + + III Danny Meadow Mouse Plays Hide-and-Seek 23 + + IV Old Granny Fox Tries for Danny + Meadow Mouse 31 + + V What Happened on the Green Meadows 37 + + VI Danny Meadow Mouse Remembers, + Reddy Fox Forgets 44 + + VII Old Granny Fox Tries a New Plan 52 + + VIII Brother North Wind Proves a Friend 59 + + IX Danny Meadow Mouse Is Caught at Last 68 + + X A Strange Ride and How It Ended 75 + + XI Peter Rabbit Gets a Fright 84 + + XII The Old Briar-Patch Has a New Tenant 91 + + XIII Peter Rabbit Visits the Peach Orchard 99 + + XIV Farmer Brown Sets a Trap 105 + + XV Peter Rabbit Is Caught in a Snare 113 + + XVI Peter Rabbit's Hard Journey 119 + + XVII Danny Meadow Mouse Becomes Worried 126 + +XVIII Danny Meadow Mouse Returns a Kindness 133 + + XIX Peter Rabbit and Danny Meadow Mouse + Live High 141 + + XX Timid Danny Meadow Mouse 148 + + XXI An Exciting Day for Danny Meadow Mouse 158 + + XXII What Happened Next to Danny Meadow Mouse 165 + +XXIII Reddy Fox Grows Curious 172 + + XXIV Reddy Fox Loses His Temper 179 + + + + + [Illustration] + + Illustrations + + +All Danny Meadow Mouse could think +about was his short tail 10 + +"Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't +you?" continued Mr. Toad 19 + +Danny popped his head out of another +little doorway and laughed at Reddy 29 + +Granny didn't finish, but licked her chops +and smacked her lips 46 + +It was a beautiful white world, a very +beautiful white world 64 + +Over in the Green Forest Hooty the Owl +had had poor hunting 72 + +Danny was being carried through the air +in the cruel claws of Hooty the Owl! 77 + +"I tell you what, you stay right here!" said +Peter 97 + +All around the trunk of the tree was +wrapped wire netting 109 + +Danny Meadow Mouse had set out to +gnaw that piece of stake all to splinters 137 + +"Where?" exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning +as pale as a toad can turn 153 + +"Why, Mr. Toad, where are you going in +such a hurry?" asked Danny 156 + +With a frightened squeak, Danny dived +into the opening just in time 169 + +Like a flash, Danny dodged into a tangle +of barbed wire 185 + + + + + The Adventures of + Danny Meadow Mouse + +[Illustration: _All Danny Meadow Mouse could think about was +his short tail_] + + + + + I + + Danny Meadow Mouse Is Worried + + +Danny Meadow Mouse sat on his doorstep with his chin in his +hands, and it was very plain to see that Danny had something on +his mind. He had only a nod for Jimmy Skunk, and even Peter +Rabbit could get no more than a grumpy "Good morning." It wasn't +that he had been caught napping the day before by Reddy Fox and +nearly made an end of. No, it wasn't that. Danny had learned his +lesson, and Reddy would never catch him again. It wasn't that he +was all alone with no one to play with. Danny was rather glad +that he was alone. The fact is, Danny Meadow Mouse was worried. + +Now worry is one of the worst things in the world, and it didn't +seem as if there was anything that Danny Meadow Mouse need worry +about. But you know it is the easiest thing in the world to find +something to worry over and make yourself uncomfortable about. +And when you make yourself uncomfortable, you are almost sure to +make everyone around you equally uncomfortable. It was so with +Danny Meadow Mouse. Striped Chipmunk had twice called him "Cross +Patch" that morning, and Johnny Chuck, who had fought Reddy Fox +for him the day before, had called him "Grumpy." And what do you +think was the matter with Danny Meadow Mouse? Why, he was +worrying because his tail was short. Yes, Sir, that is all that +ailed Danny Meadow Mouse that bright morning. + +You know, some people let their looks make them miserable. They +worry because they are homely or freckled, or short or tall, or +thin or stout, all of which is very foolish. And Danny Meadow +Mouse was just as foolish in worrying because his tail was short. + +It is short! It certainly is all of that! Danny never had +realized how short until he chanced to meet his cousin Whitefoot, +who lives in the Green Forest. He was very elegantly dressed, but +the most imposing thing about him was his long, slim, beautiful +tail. Danny had at once become conscious of his own stubby +little tail, and he had hardly had pride enough to hold his head +up as became an honest Meadow Mouse. Ever since, he had been +thinking and thinking, and wondering how his family came to have +such short tails. Then he grew envious and began to wish and wish +and wish that he could have a long tail like his cousin +Whitefoot. + +He was so busy wishing that he had a long tail that he quite +forgot to take care of the tail he did have, and he pretty nearly +lost it and his life with it. Old Whitetail the Marsh Hawk spied +Danny sitting there moping on his doorstep, and came sailing +over the tops of the meadow grasses so softly that he all but +caught Danny. If it hadn't been for one of the Merry Little +Breezes, Danny would have been caught. And all because he was +envious. It's a bad, bad habit. + +[Illustration] + + + + + II + + Danny Meadow Mouse and His Short Tail + + +All Danny Meadow Mouse could think about was his short tail. He +was so ashamed of it that whenever anyone passed, he crawled out +of sight so that they should not see how short his tail was. +Instead of playing in the sunshine as he used to do, he sat and +sulked. Pretty soon his friends began to pass without stopping. +Finally one day old Mr. Toad sat down in front of Danny and +began to ask questions. + +"What's the matter?" asked old Mr. Toad. + +"Nothing," replied Danny Meadow Mouse. + +"I don't suppose there really is anything the matter, but what do +you think is the matter?" said old Mr. Toad. + +Danny fidgeted, and old Mr. Toad looked up at jolly, round, red +Mr. Sun and winked. "Sun is just as bright as ever, isn't it?" he +inquired. + +"Yes," said Danny. + +"Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't you?" continued Mr. Toad. + +[Illustration: _"Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't you?" +continued Mr. Toad_] + +"Yes," said Danny. + +"Seems to me that that is a pretty good-looking suit of clothes +you're wearing," said Mr. Toad, eyeing Danny critically. "Sunny +weather, plenty to eat and drink, and good clothes--must be you +don't know when you're well off, Danny Meadow Mouse." + +Danny hung his head. Finally he looked up and caught a kindly +twinkle in old Mr. Toad's eyes. "Mr. Toad, how can I get a long +tail like my cousin Whitefoot of the Green Forest?" he asked. + +"So that's what's the matter! Ha! ha! ha! Danny Meadow Mouse, I'm +ashamed of you! I certainly am ashamed of you!" said Mr. Toad. +"What good would a long tail do you? Tell me that." + +For a minute Danny didn't know just what to say. "I--I--I'd look +so much better if I had a long tail," he ventured. + +Old Mr. Toad just laughed. "You never saw a Meadow Mouse with a +long tail, did you? Of course not. What a sight it would be! Why, +everybody on the Green Meadows would laugh themselves sick at the +sight! You see, you need to be slim and trim and handsome to +carry a long tail well. And then what a nuisance it would be! You +would always have to be thinking of your tail and taking care to +keep it out of harm's way. Look at me. I'm homely. Some folks +call me ugly to look at. But no one tries to catch me as Farmer +Brown's boy does Billy Mink because of his fine coat; and no one +wants to put me in a cage because of a fine voice. I am satisfied +to be just as I am, and if you'll take my advice, Danny Meadow +Mouse, you'll be satisfied to be just as you are." + +"Perhaps you are right," said Danny Meadow Mouse after a little. +"I'll try." + + + + + III + + Danny Meadow Mouse Plays Hide-and-Seek + + +Life is always a game of hide-and-seek to Danny Meadow Mouse. You +see, he is such a fat little fellow that there are a great many +other furry-coated people, and almost as many who wear feathers, +who would gobble Danny up for breakfast or for dinner if they +could. Some of them pretend to be his friends, but Danny always +keeps his eyes open when they are around and always begins to +play hide-and-seek. Peter Rabbit and Jimmy Skunk and Striped +Chipmunk and Happy Jack Squirrel are all friends whom he can +trust, but he always has a bright twinkling eye open for Reddy +Fox and Billy Mink and Shadow the Weasel and old Whitetail the +Marsh Hawk, and several more, especially Hooty the Owl at night. + +Now Danny Meadow Mouse is a stouthearted little fellow, and when +rough Brother North Wind came shouting across the Green Meadows, +tearing to pieces the snow clouds and shaking out the snowflakes +until they covered the Green Meadows deep, deep, deep, Danny just +snuggled down in his warm coat in his snug little house of grass +and waited. Danny liked the snow. Yes, Sir, Danny Meadow Mouse +liked the snow. He just loved to dig in it and make tunnels. +Through those tunnels in every direction he could go where he +pleased and when he pleased without being seen by anybody. It was +great fun! + +Every little way he made a little round doorway up beside a stiff +stalk of grass. Out of this he could peep at the white world, +and he could get the fresh, cold air. Sometimes, when he was +quite sure that no one was around, he would scamper across on top +of the snow from one doorway to another, and when he did this, he +made the prettiest little footprints. + +Now Reddy Fox knew all about those doorways and who made them. +Reddy was having hard work to get enough to eat this cold +weather, and he was hungry most of the time. One morning, as he +came tiptoeing softly over the meadows, what should he see just +ahead of him but the head of Danny Meadow Mouse pop out of one +of those little round doorways! Reddy's mouth watered, and he +stole forward more softly than ever. When he got within jumping +distance, he drew his stout hind legs under him and made ready to +spring. Presto! Danny Meadow Mouse had disappeared! Reddy Fox +jumped just the same and began to dig as fast as he could make +his paws go. He could smell Danny Meadow Mouse and that made him +almost frantic. + +All the time Danny Meadow Mouse was scurrying along one of his +little tunnels, and when finally Reddy Fox stopped digging +because he was quite out of breath, Danny popped his head out of +another little doorway and laughed at Reddy. Of course Reddy saw +him, and of course Reddy tried to catch him there, and dug +frantically just as before. And of course Danny Meadow Mouse +wasn't there. + +[Illustration: _Danny popped his head out of another little +doorway and laughed at Reddy_] + +After a while Reddy Fox grew tired of this kind of a game and +tried another plan. The next time he saw Danny Meadow Mouse stick +his head out, Reddy pretended not to see him. He stretched +himself out on the ground and made believe that he was very +tired and sleepy. He closed his eyes. Then he opened them just +the tiniest bit, so that he could see Danny Meadow Mouse and yet +seem to be asleep. Danny watched him for a long time. Then he +chuckled to himself and dropped out of sight. + +No sooner was he gone than Reddy Fox stole over close to the +little doorway and waited. "He'll surely stick his head out again +to see if I'm asleep, and then I'll have him," said Reddy to +himself. So he waited and waited and waited. By and by he turned +his head. There was Danny Meadow Mouse at another little doorway, +laughing at him! + + + + + IV + + Old Granny Fox Tries for Danny Meadow Mouse + + +Danny Meadow Mouse had not enjoyed anything so much for a long +time as he did that game of hide-and-seek. He tickled and +chuckled all the afternoon as he thought about it. Of course, +Reddy had been "it." He had been "it" all the time, for never +once had he caught Danny Meadow Mouse. If he had--well, there +wouldn't have been any more stories about Danny Meadow Mouse, +because there wouldn't have been any Danny Meadow Mouse any more. + +But Danny never let himself think about this. He had enjoyed the +game all the more because it had been such a dangerous game. It +had been such fun to dive into one of his little round doorways +in the snow, run along one of his own little tunnels, and then +peep out at another doorway and watch Reddy Fox digging as fast +as ever he could at the doorway Danny had just left. Finally +Reddy had given up in disgust and gone off muttering angrily to +try to find something else for dinner. Danny had sat up on the +snow and watched him go. In his funny little squeaky voice Danny +shouted: + + "_Though Reddy Fox is smart and sly, + Hi-hum-diddle-de-o! + I'm just as smart and twice as spry. + Hi-hum-diddle-de-o!_" + +That night Reddy Fox told old Granny Fox all about how he had +tried to catch Danny Meadow Mouse. Granny listened with her head +cocked on one side. When Reddy told how fat Danny Meadow Mouse +was, her mouth watered. You see, now that snow covered the Green +Meadows and the Green Forest, Granny and Reddy Fox had hard work +to get enough to eat, and they were hungry most of the time. + +"I'll go with you down on the meadows tomorrow morning, and then +we'll see if Danny Meadow Mouse is as smart as he thinks he is," +said Granny Fox. + +So, bright and early the next morning, old Granny Fox and Reddy +Fox went down on the meadows where Danny Meadow Mouse lives. +Danny had felt in his bones that Reddy would come back, so he was +watching, and he saw them as soon as they came out of the Green +Forest. When he saw old Granny Fox, Danny's heart beat a little +faster than before, for he knew that Granny Fox is very smart and +very wise, and has learned most of the tricks of all the other +little meadow and forest people. + +"This is going to be a more exciting game than the other," said +Danny to himself, and scurried down out of sight to see that all +his little tunnels were clear so that he could run fast through +them if he had to. Then he peeped out of one of his little +doorways hidden in a clump of tall grass. + +Old Granny Fox set Reddy to hunting for Danny's little round +doorways, and as fast as he found them, Granny came up and +sniffed at each. She knew that she could tell by the smell which +one he had been at last. Finally she came straight toward the +tall bunch of grass. Danny ducked down and scurried along one of +his little tunnels. He heard Granny Fox sniff at the doorway he +had just left. Suddenly something plunged down through the snow +right at his very heels. Danny didn't have to look to know that +it was Granny Fox herself, and he squeaked with fright. + + + + + V + + What Happened on the Green Meadows + + +Thick and fast, things were happening to Danny Meadow Mouse down +on the snow-covered Green Meadows. Rather, they were almost +happening. He hadn't minded when Reddy Fox all alone tried to +catch him. Indeed, he had made a regular game of hide-and-seek of +it and had enjoyed it immensely. But now it was different. +Granny Fox wasn't so easily fooled as Reddy Fox. Just Granny +alone would have made the game dangerous for Danny Meadow Mouse. +But Reddy was with her, and so Danny had two to look out for, and +he got so many frights that it seemed to him as if his heart had +moved right up into his mouth and was going to stay there. Yes, +Sir, that is just how it seemed. + +Down in his little tunnels underneath the snow Danny Meadow Mouse +felt perfectly safe from Reddy Fox, who would stop and dig +frantically at the little round doorway where he had last seen +Danny. But old Granny Fox knew all about those little tunnels, +and she didn't waste any time digging at the doorways. Instead +she cocked her sharp little ears and listened with all her might. +Now Granny Fox has very keen ears, oh, very keen ears, and she +heard just what she hoped she would hear. She heard Danny Meadow +Mouse running along one of his little tunnels under the snow. + +Plunge! Old Granny Fox dived right into the snow and right +through into the tunnel of Danny Meadow Mouse. Her two black +paws actually touched Danny's tail. He was glad then that it was +no longer. + +"Ha!" cried Granny Fox, "I almost got him that time!" + +Then she ran ahead a little way over the snow, listening as +before. Plunge! Into the snow she went again. It was lucky for +him that Danny had just turned into another tunnel, for otherwise +she would surely have caught him. + +Granny Fox blew the snow out of her nose. "Next time I'll get +him!" said she. + +Now Reddy Fox is quick to learn, especially when it is a way to +get something to eat. He watched Granny Fox, and when he +understood what she was doing, he made up his mind to have a try +himself, for he was afraid that if she caught Danny Meadow Mouse, +she would think that he was not big enough to divide. Perhaps +that was because Reddy is very selfish himself. So the next time +Granny plunged into the snow and missed Danny Meadow Mouse just +as before, Reddy rushed in ahead of her, and the minute he heard +Danny running down below, he plunged in just as he had seen +Granny do. But he didn't take the pains to make sure of just +where Danny was, and so of course he didn't come anywhere near +him. But he frightened Danny still more and made old Granny Fox +lose her temper. + +Poor Danny Meadow Mouse! He had never been so frightened in all +his life. He didn't know which way to turn or where to run. And +so he sat still, which, although he didn't know it, was the very +best thing he could do. When he sat still he made no noise, and +so of course Granny and Reddy Fox could not tell where he was. +Old Granny Fox sat and listened and listened and listened, and +wondered where Danny Meadow Mouse was. And down under the snow +Danny Meadow Mouse sat and listened and listened and listened, +and wondered where Granny and Reddy Fox were. + +"Pooh!" said Granny Fox after a while, "that Meadow Mouse thinks +he can fool me by sitting still. I'll give him a scare." + +Then she began to plunge into the snow this way and that way, and +sure enough, pretty soon she landed so close to Danny Meadow +Mouse that one of her claws scratched him. + + + + + VI + + Danny Meadow Mouse Remembers, Reddy Fox Forgets + + +"There he goes!" cried old Granny Fox. "Don't let him sit still +again!" + +"I hear him!" shouted Reddy Fox, and plunged down into the snow +just as Granny Fox had done a minute before. But he didn't catch +anything, and when he had blown the snow out of his nose and +wiped it out of his eyes, he saw Granny Fox dive into the snow +with no better luck. + +"Never mind," said Granny Fox, "as long as we keep him running, +we can hear him, and some one of these times we'll catch him. +Pretty soon he'll get too tired to be so spry, and when he is--" +Granny didn't finish, but licked her chops and smacked her lips. +Reddy Fox grinned, then licked his chops and smacked his lips. +Then once more they took turns diving into the snow. + +[Illustration: _Granny didn't finish, but licked her chops and +smacked her lips_] + +And down underneath in the little tunnels he had made, Danny +Meadow Mouse was running for his life. He was getting tired, +just as old Granny Fox had said he would. He was almost out of +breath. He was sore and one leg smarted, for in one of her jumps +old Granny Fox had so nearly caught him that her claws had torn +his pants and scratched him. + +"Oh dear! Oh dear! If only I had time to think!" panted Danny +Meadow Mouse, and then he squealed in still greater fright as +Reddy Fox crashed down into his tunnel right at his very heels. +"I've got to get somewhere! I've got to get somewhere where they +can't get at me!" he sobbed. And right that very instant he +remembered the old fence post! + +The old fence post lay on the ground and was hollow. Fastened to +it were long wires with sharp, cruel barbs. Danny had made a +tunnel over to that old fence post the very first day after the +snow came, for in that hollow in the old post he had a secret +store of seeds. Why hadn't he thought of it before? It must have +been because he was too frightened to think. But he remembered +now, and he dodged into the tunnel that led to the old fence +post, running faster than ever, for though his heart was in his +mouth from fear, in his heart was hope, and hope is a wonderful +thing. + +Now old Granny Fox knew all about that old fence post and she +remembered all about those barbed wires fastened to it. Although +they were covered with snow she knew just about where they lay, +and just before she reached them she stopped plunging down into +the snow. Reddy Fox knew about those wires, too, but he was so +excited that he forgot all about them. + +"Stop!" cried old Granny Fox sharply. + +But Reddy Fox didn't hear, or if he heard he didn't heed. His +sharp ears could hear Danny Meadow Mouse running almost +underneath him. Granny Fox could stop if she wanted to, but he +was going to have Danny Meadow Mouse for his breakfast! Down into +the snow he plunged as hard as ever he could. + +"Oh! Oh! Wow! Wow! Oh dear! Oh dear!" + +That wasn't the voice of Danny Meadow Mouse. Oh, my, no! It was +the voice of Reddy Fox. Yes, Sir, it was the voice of Reddy Fox. +He had landed with one of his black paws right on one of those +sharp wire barbs, and it did hurt dreadfully. + +"I never did know a young Fox who could get into as much trouble +as you can!" snapped old Granny Fox, as Reddy hobbled along on +three legs behind her, across the snow-covered Green Meadows. "It +serves you right for forgetting!" + +"Yes'm," said Reddy meekly. + +And safe in the hollow of the old fence post, Danny Meadow Mouse +was dressing the scratch on his leg made by the claws of old +Granny Fox. + + + + + VII + + Old Granny Fox Tries a New Plan + + +Old Granny Fox kept thinking about Danny Meadow Mouse. She knew +that he was fat, and it made her mouth water every time she +thought of him. She made up her mind that she must and would have +him. She knew that Danny had been very, very much frightened when +she and Reddy Fox had tried so hard to catch him by plunging +down through the snow into his little tunnels after him, and she +felt pretty sure that he wouldn't go far away from the old fence +post, in the hollow of which he was snug and safe. + +Old Granny Fox is very smart. "Danny Meadow Mouse won't put his +nose out of that old fence post for a day or two. Then he'll get +tired of staying inside all the time, and he'll peep out of one +of his little round doorways to see if the way is clear. If he +doesn't see any danger, he'll come out and run around on top of +the snow to get some of the seeds in the tops of the tall grasses +that stick out through the snow. If nothing frightens him, he'll +keep going a little farther and a little farther from that old +fence post. I must see to it that Danny Meadow Mouse isn't +frightened for a few days." So said old Granny Fox to herself, as +she lay under a hemlock tree, studying how she could best get the +next meal. + +Then she called Reddy Fox to her and forbade him to go down on +the meadows until she should tell him he might. Reddy grumbled +and mumbled and didn't see why he shouldn't go where he pleased, +but he didn't dare disobey. You see, he had a sore foot. He had +hurt it on a wire barb when he was plunging through the snow +after Danny Meadow Mouse, and now he had to run on three legs. +That meant that he must depend upon Granny Fox to help him get +enough to eat. So Reddy didn't dare to disobey. + +It all came out just as Granny Fox had thought it would. Danny +Meadow Mouse did get tired of staying in the old fence post. He +did peep out first, and then he did run a little way on the +snow, and then a little farther and a little farther. But all the +time he took great care not to get more than a jump or two from +one of his little round doorways leading down to his tunnels +under the snow. + +Hidden on the edge of the Green Forest, Granny Fox watched him. +She looked up at the sky, and she knew that it was going to snow +again. "That's good," said she. "Tomorrow morning I'll have fat +Meadow Mouse for breakfast," and she smiled a hungry smile. + +The next morning, before jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was out of +bed, old Granny Fox trotted down onto the meadows and straight +over to where, down under the snow, lay the old fence post. It +had snowed again, and all the little doorways of Danny Meadow +Mouse were covered up with soft, fleecy snow. Behind Granny Fox +limped Reddy Fox, grumbling to himself. + +When they reached the place where the old fence post lay buried +under the snow, old Granny Fox stretched out as flat as she +could. Then she told Reddy to cover her up with the new soft +snow. Reddy did as he was told, but all the time he grumbled. +"Now you go off to the Green Forest and keep out of sight," said +Granny Fox. "By and by I'll bring you some Meadow Mouse for your +breakfast," and Granny Fox chuckled to think how smart she was +and how she was going to catch Danny Meadow Mouse. + +[Illustration] + + + + + VIII + + Brother North Wind Proves a Friend + + +Danny Meadow Mouse had seen nothing of old Granny Fox or Reddy +Fox for several days. Every morning the first thing he did, even +before he had breakfast, was to climb up to one of his little +round doorways and peep out over the beautiful white meadows, to +see if there was any danger near. But every time he did this, +Danny used a different doorway. "For," said Danny to himself, "if +anyone should happen, just happen, to see me this morning, they +might be waiting just outside my doorway to catch me tomorrow +morning." You see, there is a great deal of wisdom in the little +head that Danny Meadow Mouse carries on his shoulders. + +But the first day and the second day and the third day he saw +nothing of old Granny Fox or of Reddy Fox, and he began to enjoy +running through his tunnels under the snow and scurrying across +from one doorway to another on top of the snow, just as he had +before the Foxes had tried so hard to catch him. But he hadn't +forgotten, as Granny Fox had hoped he would. No, indeed, Danny +Meadow Mouse hadn't forgotten. He was too wise for that. + +One morning, when he started to climb up to one of his little +doorways, he found that it was closed. Yes, Sir, it was closed. +In fact, there wasn't any doorway. More snow had fallen from the +clouds in the night and had covered up every one of the little +round doorways of Danny Meadow Mouse. + +"Ha!" said Danny, "I shall have a busy day, a very busy day, +opening all my doorways. I'll eat my breakfast, and then I'll go +to work." + +So Danny Meadow Mouse ate a good breakfast of seeds which he had +stored in the hollow in the old fence post buried under the snow, +and then he began work on the nearest doorway. It really wasn't +work at all, for you see, the snow was soft and light, and Danny +dearly loved to dig in it. In a few minutes he had made a wee +hole through which he could peep up at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun. +In a few minutes more he had made it big enough to put his head +out. He looked this way and he looked that way. Far, far off on +the top of a tree he could see old Roughleg the Hawk, but he was +so far away that Danny didn't fear him at all. + +"I don't see anything or anybody to be afraid of," said Danny and +poked his head out a little farther. + +[Illustration: _It was a beautiful white world, a very beautiful +white world_] + +Then he sat and studied everything around him a long, long time. +It was a beautiful white world, a very beautiful white world. +Everything was so white and pure and beautiful that it didn't +seem possible that harm or danger for anyone could even be +thought of. But Danny Meadow Mouse learned long ago that things +are not always what they seem, and so he sat with just his little +head sticking out of his doorway and studied and studied. Just a +little way off was a little heap of snow. + +"I don't remember that," said Danny. "And I don't remember +anything that would make that. There isn't any little bush or old +log or anything underneath it. Perhaps rough Brother North Wind +heaped it up, just for fun." + +But all the time Danny Meadow Mouse kept studying and studying +that little heap of snow. Pretty soon he saw rough Brother North +Wind coming his way and tossing the snow about as he came. He +caught a handful from the top of the little heap of snow that +Danny was studying, and when he had passed, Danny's sharp eyes +saw something red there. It was just the color of the cloak old +Granny Fox wears. + + "_Granny Fox, you can't fool me! + I see you plain as plain can be!_" + +shouted Danny Meadow Mouse and dropped down out of sight, while +old Granny Fox shook the snow from her red cloak and, with a +snarl of disappointment and anger, slowly started for the Green +Forest, where Reddy Fox was waiting for her. + +[Illustration] + + + + + IX + + Danny Meadow Mouse Is Caught at Last + + + "_Tippy-toppy-tippy-toe, + Play and frolic in the snow! + Now you see me! Now you don't! + Think you'll catch me, but you won't! + Tippy-toppy-tippy-toe, + Oh, such fun to play in snow!_" + +Danny Meadow Mouse sang this, or at least he tried to sing it, as +he skipped about on the snow that covered the Green Meadows. But +Danny Meadow Mouse has such a little voice, such a funny little +squeaky voice, that had you been there you probably would never +have guessed that he was singing. He thought he was, though, and +was enjoying it just as much as if he had the most beautiful +voice in the world. You know, singing is nothing in the world but +happiness in the heart making itself heard. + +Oh, yes, Danny Meadow Mouse was happy! Why shouldn't he have +been? Hadn't he proved himself smarter than old Granny Fox? That +is something to make anyone happy. Some folks may fool Granny Fox +once; some may fool her twice; but there are very few who can +keep right on fooling her until she gives up in disgust. That is +just what Danny Meadow Mouse had done, and he felt very smart and +of course he felt very happy. + +So Danny sang his little song and skipped about in the moonlight, +and dodged in and out of his little round doorways, and all the +time kept his sharp little eyes open for any sign of Granny Fox +or Reddy Fox. But with all his smartness, Danny forgot. Yes, Sir, +Danny forgot one thing. He forgot to watch up in the sky. He knew +that of course old Roughleg the Hawk was asleep, so he had +nothing to fear from him. But he never once thought of Hooty the +Owl. + +Dear me, dear me! Forgetting is a dreadful habit. If nobody ever +forgot, there wouldn't be nearly so much trouble in the world. +No, indeed, there wouldn't be nearly so much trouble. And Danny +Meadow Mouse forgot. He skipped and sang and was happy as could +be, and never once thought to watch up in the sky. + +[Illustration: _Over in the Green Forest Hooty the Owl had had +poor hunting_] + +Over in the Green Forest Hooty the Owl had had poor hunting, and +he was feeling cross. You see, Hooty was hungry, and hunger is +apt to make one feel cross. The longer he hunted, the hungrier +and crosser he grew. Suddenly he thought of Danny Meadow Mouse. + +"I suppose he is asleep somewhere safe and snug under the snow," +grumbled Hooty, "but he might, he just might, be out for a frolic +in the moonlight. I believe I'll go down on the meadows and see." + +Now Hooty the Owl can fly without making the teeniest, weeniest +sound. It seems as if he just drifts along through the air like a +great shadow. Now he spread his great wings and floated out over +the meadows. You know Hooty can see as well at night as most +folks can by day, and it was not long before he saw Danny Meadow +Mouse skipping about on the snow and dodging in and out of his +little round doorways. Hooty's great eyes grew brighter and +fiercer. Without a sound he floated through the moonlight until +he was just over Danny Meadow Mouse. + +Too late Danny looked up. His little song ended in a tiny squeak +of fear, and he started for his nearest little round doorway. +Hooty the Owl reached down with his long cruel claws and--Danny +Meadow Mouse was caught at last! + + + + + X + + A Strange Ride and How It Ended + + +Danny Meadow Mouse often had sat watching Skimmer the Swallow +sailing around up in the blue, blue sky. He had watched Ol' +Mistah Buzzard go up, up, up, until he was nothing but a tiny +speck, and Danny had wondered how it would seem to be way up +above the Green Meadows and the Green Forest and look down. It +had seemed to him that it must be very wonderful and beautiful. +Sometimes he had wished that he had wings and could go up in the +air and look down. And now here he was, he, Danny Meadow Mouse, +actually doing that very thing! + +But Danny could see nothing wonderful or beautiful now. No, +indeed! Everything was terrible, for you see, Danny Meadow Mouse +wasn't flying himself. He was being carried. Yes, Sir, Danny +Meadow Mouse was being carried through the air in the cruel claws +of Hooty the Owl! And all because Danny had forgotten--forgotten +to watch up in the sky for danger. + +[Illustration: _Danny was being carried through the air in the +cruel claws of Hooty the Owl!_] + +Poor, poor Danny Meadow Mouse! Hooty's great cruel claws hurt him +dreadfully! But it wasn't the pain that was the worst. No, +indeed! It wasn't the pain! It was the thought of what would +happen when Hooty reached his home in the Green Forest, for he +knew that there Hooty would gobble him up, bones and all. As he +flew, Hooty kept chuckling, and Danny Meadow Mouse knew just what +those chuckles meant. They meant that Hooty was thinking of the +good meal he was going to have. + +Hanging there in Hooty's great cruel claws, Danny looked down on +the snow-covered Green Meadows he loved so well. They seemed a +frightfully long way below him, though really they were not far +at all, for Hooty was flying very low. But Danny Meadow Mouse had +never in all his life been so high up before, and so it seemed to +him that he was way, way up in the sky, and he shut his eyes so +as not to see. But he couldn't keep them shut. No, Sir, he +couldn't keep them shut! He just had to keep opening them. There +was the dear old Green Forest drawing nearer and nearer. It +always had looked very beautiful to Danny Meadow Mouse, but now +it looked terrible, very terrible indeed, because over in it, +hidden away there in some dark place, was the home of Hooty the +Owl. + +Just ahead of him was the Old Briar-patch where Peter Rabbit +lives so safely. Every old bramble in it was covered with snow +and it was very, very beautiful. Really everything was just as +beautiful as ever--the moonlight, the Green Forest, the +snow-covered Green Meadows, the Old Briar-patch. The only change +was in Danny Meadow Mouse himself, and it was all because he had +forgotten. + +Suddenly Danny began to wriggle and struggle. "Keep still!" +snapped Hooty the Owl. + +But Danny only struggled harder than ever. It seemed to him that +Hooty wasn't holding him as tightly as at first. He felt one of +Hooty's claws slip. It tore his coat and hurt dreadfully, but it +slipped! The fact is, Hooty had only grabbed Danny Meadow Mouse +by the loose part of his coat, and up in the air he couldn't get +hold of Danny any better. Danny kicked, squirmed, and twisted, +and twisted, squirmed, and kicked. He felt his coat tear and of +course the skin with it, but he kept right on, for now he was +hanging almost free. Hooty had started down now, so as to get a +better hold. Danny gave one more kick and then--he felt himself +falling! + +Danny Meadow Mouse shut his eyes and held his breath. Down, down, +down he fell. It seemed to him that he never would strike the +snow-covered meadows! Really he fell only a very little distance. +But it seemed a terrible distance to Danny. He hit something that +scratched him, and then--plump!--he landed in the soft snow right +in the very middle of the Old Briar-patch, and the last thing he +remembered was hearing the scream of disappointment and rage of +Hooty the Owl. + +[Illustration] + + + + + XI + + Peter Rabbit Gets a Fright + + +Peter Rabbit sat in his favorite place in the middle of the dear +Old Briar-patch, trying to decide which way he would go on his +travels that night. The night before he had had a narrow escape +from old Granny Fox over in the Green Forest. There was nothing +to eat around the Smiling Pool and no one to talk to there any +more, and you know that Peter must either eat or ask questions in +order to be perfectly happy. No, the Smiling Pool was too dull a +place to interest Peter on such a beautiful moonlight night, and +Peter had no mind to try his legs against those of old Granny Fox +again in the Green Forest. + +Early that morning, just after Peter had settled down for his +morning nap, Tommy Tit the Chickadee had dropped into the dear +Old Briar-patch just to be neighborly. Peter was just dozing off +when he heard the cheeriest little voice in the world. It was +saying: + + "_Dee-dee-chickadee! + I see you! Can you see me?_" + +Peter began to smile even before he could get his eyes open and +look up. There, right over his head, was Tommy Tit hanging head +down from a nodding old bramble. In a twinkling he was down on +the snow right in front of Peter, then up in the brambles again, +right side up, upside down, here, there, everywhere, never still +a minute, and all the time chattering away in the cheeriest +little voice in the world: + + "_Dee-dee-chickadee! + I'm as happy as can be! + Find it much the better way + To be happy all the day. + Dee-dee-chickadee! + Everybody's good to me!_" + +"Hello, Tommy!" said Peter Rabbit. "Where'd you come from?" + +"From Farmer Brown's new orchard up on the hill. It's a fine +orchard, Peter Rabbit, a fine orchard. I go there every morning +for my breakfast. If the winter lasts long enough, I'll have all +the trees cleaned up for Farmer Brown." + +Peter looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" he asked. + +"Just what I say," replied Tommy Tit, almost turning a somersault +in the air. "There's a million eggs of insects on those young +peach trees, but I'm clearing them all off as fast as I can. +They're mighty fine eating, Peter Rabbit, mighty fine eating!" +And with that Tommy Tit had said good-by and flitted away. + +Peter was thinking of that young orchard now, as he sat in the +moonlight trying to make up his mind where to go. The thought of +those young peach trees made his mouth water. It was a long way +up to the orchard on the hill, a very long way, and Peter was +wondering if it really was safe to go. He had just about made up +his mind to try it, for Peter is very, very fond of the bark of +young peach trees, when thump! something dropped out of the sky +at his very feet. + +It startled Peter so that he nearly tumbled over backward. And +right at the same instant came the fierce, angry scream of Hooty +the Owl. That almost made Peter's heart stop beating, although he +knew that Hooty couldn't get him down there in the Old Briar-patch. +When Peter got his wits together and his heart didn't go so +jumpy, he looked to see what had dropped so close to him out of +the sky. His big eyes grew bigger than ever, and he rubbed them +to make quite sure that he really saw what he thought he saw. +Yes, there was no doubt about it--there at his feet lay Danny +Meadow Mouse! + +[Illustration] + + + + + XII + + The Old Briar-Patch Has a New Tenant + + +Danny Meadow Mouse slowly opened his eyes and then closed them +again quickly, as if afraid to look around. He could hear someone +talking. It was a pleasant voice, not at all like the terrible +voice of Hooty the Owl, which was the very last thing that Danny +Meadow Mouse could remember. Danny lay still a minute and +listened. + +"Why, Danny Meadow Mouse, where in the world did you drop from?" +asked the voice. It sounded like--why, very much like Peter +Rabbit speaking. Danny opened his eyes again. It was Peter +Rabbit. + +"Where--where am I?" asked Danny Meadow Mouse in a very weak and +small voice. + +"In the middle of the dear Old Briar-patch with me," replied +Peter Rabbit. "But how did you get here? You seemed to drop right +out of the sky." + +Danny Meadow Mouse shuddered. Suddenly he remembered everything: +how Hooty the Owl had caught him in great cruel claws and had +carried him through the moonlight across the snow-covered Green +Meadows; how he had felt Hooty's claws slip and then had +struggled and kicked and twisted and turned until his coat had +torn and he had dropped down, down, down, until he had landed in +the soft snow and knocked all the breath out of his little body. +The very last thing he could remember was Hooty's fierce scream +of rage and disappointment. Danny shuddered again. + +Then a new thought came to him. He must get out of sight! Hooty +might catch him again! Danny tried to scramble to his feet. + +"Ouch! Oh!" groaned Danny and lay still again. + +"There, there. Keep still, Danny Meadow Mouse. There's nothing to +be afraid of here," said Peter Rabbit gently. His big eyes filled +with tears as he looked at Danny Meadow Mouse, for Danny was all +torn and hurt by the cruel claws of Hooty the Owl, and you know +Peter has a very tender heart. + +So Danny lay still, and while Peter Rabbit tried to make him +comfortable and dress his hurts, he told Peter all about how he +had forgotten to watch up in the sky and so had been caught by +Hooty the Owl, and all about his terrible ride in Hooty's cruel +claws. + +"Oh dear, whatever shall I do now?" he ended. "However shall I +get back home to my warm house of grass, my safe little tunnels +under the snow, and my little store of seeds in the snug hollow +in the old fence post?" + +Peter Rabbit looked thoughtful. "You can't do it," said he. "You +simply can't do it. It is such a long way for a little fellow +like you that it wouldn't be safe to try. If you went at night, +Hooty the Owl might catch you again. If you tried in daylight, +old Roughleg the Hawk would be almost sure to see you. And night +or day, old Granny Fox or Reddy Fox might come snooping around, +and if they did, they would be sure to catch you. I tell you +what, you stay right here! The dear Old Briar-patch is the safest +place in the world. Why, just think, here you can come out in +broad daylight and laugh at Granny and Reddy Fox and at old +Roughleg the Hawk, because the good old brambles will keep them +out if they try to get you. You can make just as good tunnels +under the snow here as you had there, and there are lots and lots +of seeds on the ground to eat. You know I don't care for them +myself. I'm lonesome sometimes, living here all alone. You stay +here, and we'll have the Old Briar-patch to ourselves." + +[Illustration: _"I tell you what, you stay right here!" said +Peter_] + +Danny Meadow Mouse looked at Peter gratefully. "I will, and thank +you ever so much, Peter Rabbit," he said. + +And this is how the dear Old Briar-patch happened to have another +tenant. + + + + + XIII + + Peter Rabbit Visits the Peach Orchard + + +"Don't go, Peter Rabbit! Don't go!" begged Danny Meadow Mouse. + +Peter hopped to the edge of the Old Briar-patch and looked over +the moonlit, snow-covered meadows to the hill back of Farmer +Brown's house. On that hill was the young peach orchard of which +Tommy Tit the Chickadee had told him, and ever since Peter's +mouth had watered and watered every time he thought of those +young peach trees and the tender bark on them. + +"I think I will, Danny, just this once," said Peter. "It's a long +way, and I've never been there before; but I guess it's just as +safe as the Meadows or the Green Forest." + + "_Oh I'm as bold as bold can be! + Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o! + I'll hie me forth the world to see! + Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o! + My ears are long, + My legs are strong, + So now good day; + I'll hie away! + Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!_" + +And with that, Peter Rabbit left the dear, safe Old Briar-patch, +and away he went lipperty-lipperty-lip, across the Green Meadows +toward the hill and the young orchard back of Farmer Brown's +house. + +Danny Meadow Mouse watched him go and shook his head in +disapproval. "Foolish, foolish, foolish!" he said over and over +to himself. "Why can't Peter be content with the good things that +he has?" + +Peter Rabbit hurried along through the moonlight, stopping every +few minutes to sit up to look and listen. He heard the fierce +hunting call of Hooty the Owl way over in the Green Forest, so he +felt sure that at present there was nothing to fear from him. He +knew that since their return to the Green Meadows and the Green +Forest, Granny and Reddy Fox had kept away from Farmer Brown's, +so he did not worry about them. + +All in good time Peter came to the young orchard. It was just as +Tommy Tit the Chickadee had told him. Peter hopped up to the +nearest peach tree and nibbled the bark. My, how good it tasted! +He went all around the tree, stripping off the bark. He stood up +on his long hind legs and reached as high as he could. Then he +dug the snow away and ate down as far as he could. When he could +get no more tender young bark, he went on to the next tree. + +Now, though Peter didn't know it, he was in the very worst kind +of mischief. You see, when he took off all the bark all the way +around the young peach tree, he killed the tree, for you know it +is on the inside of the bark that the sap which gives life to a +tree and makes it grow goes up from the roots to all the +branches. So when Peter ate the bark all the way around the trunk +of the young tree, he had made it impossible for the sap to come +up in the spring. Oh, it was the worst kind of mischief that +Peter Rabbit was in. + +But Peter didn't know it, and he kept right on filling that big +stomach of his and enjoying it so much that he forgot to watch +out for danger. Suddenly, just as he had begun on another tree, a +great roar right behind him made him jump almost out of his skin. +He knew that voice, and without waiting to even look behind him, +he started for the stone wall on the other side of the orchard. +Right at his heels, his great mouth wide open, was Bowser the +Hound. + + + + + XIV + + Farmer Brown Sets a Trap + + +Peter Rabbit was in trouble. He had got into mischief and now, +like everyone who gets into mischief, he wished that he hadn't. +The worst of it was that he was a long way from his home in the +dear Old Briar-patch, and he didn't know how he ever could get +back there again. Where was he? Why, in the stone wall on one +side of Farmer Brown's young peach orchard. How Peter blessed the +old stone wall in which he had found a safe hiding place! Bowser +had hung around nearly all night, so that Peter had not dared to +try to go home. Now it was daylight, and Peter knew it would not +be safe to put his nose outside. + +Peter was worried, so worried that he couldn't go to sleep as he +usually does in the daytime. So he sat hidden in the old wall and +waited and watched. By and by he saw Farmer Brown and Farmer +Brown's boy come out into the orchard. Right away they saw the +mischief which Peter had done, and he could tell by the sound of +their voices that they were very, very angry. They went away, but +before long they were back again, and all day long Peter watched +them work putting something around each of the young peach trees. +Peter grew so curious that he forgot all about his troubles and +how far away from home he was. He could hardly wait for night to +come so that he might see what they had been doing. + +Just as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun started to go to bed behind the +Purple Hills, Farmer Brown and his boy started back to the +house. Farmer Brown was smiling now. + +"I guess that will fix him!" he said. + +"Now what does he mean by that?" thought Peter. "Whom will it +fix? Can it be me? I don't need any fixing." + +[Illustration: _All around the trunk of the tree was wrapped wire +netting_] + +He waited just as long as he could. When all was still, and the +moonlight had begun to make shadows of the trees on the snow, +Peter very cautiously crept out of his hiding place. Bowser the +Hound was nowhere in sight, and everything was as quiet and +peaceful as it had been when he first came into the orchard the +night before. Peter had fully made up his mind to go straight +home as fast as his long legs would take him, but his dreadful +curiosity insisted that first he must find out what Farmer Brown +and his boy had been doing to the young peach trees. + +So Peter hurried over to the nearest tree. All around the trunk +of the tree, from the ground clear up higher than Peter could +reach, was wrapped wire netting. Peter couldn't get so much as a +nibble of the delicious bark. He hadn't intended to take any, for +he had meant to go right straight home, but now that he couldn't +get any, he wanted some more than ever--just a bite. Peter looked +around. Everything was quiet. He would try the next tree, and +then he would go home. + +But the next tree was wrapped with wire. Peter hesitated, looked +around, turned to go home, thought of how good that bark had +tasted the night before, hesitated again, and then hurried over +to the third tree. It was protected just like the others. Then +Peter forgot all about going home. He wanted some of that +delicious bark, and he ran from one tree to another as fast as he +could go. + +At last, way down at the end of the orchard, Peter found a tree +that had no wire around it. "They must have forgotten this one!" +he thought, and his eyes sparkled. All around on the snow were a +lot of shiny little wires, but Peter didn't notice them. All he +saw was that delicious bark on the young peach tree. He hopped +right into the middle of the wires, and then, just as he reached +up to take the first bite of bark, he felt something tugging at +one of his hind legs. + + + + + XV + + Peter Rabbit Is Caught in a Snare + + +When Peter Rabbit, reaching up to nibble the bark of one of +Farmer Brown's young trees, felt something tugging at one of his +hind legs, he was so startled that he jumped to get away. Instead +of doing this, he fell flat on his face. The thing on his hind +leg had tightened and held him fast. A great fear came to Peter +Rabbit, and lying there in the snow, he kicked and struggled +with all his might. But the more he kicked, the tighter grew that +hateful thing on his leg! Finally he grew too tired to kick any +more and lay still. The dreadful thing that held him hurt his +leg, but it didn't pull when he lay still. + +When he had grown a little calmer, Peter sat up to examine the +thing which held him so fast. It was something like one of the +blackberry vines he had sometimes tripped over, only it was +bright and shiny, and had no branches or tiny prickers, and one +end was fastened to a stake. Peter tried to bite off the shiny +thing, but even his great, sharp front teeth couldn't cut it. +Then Peter knew what it was. It was wire! It was a snare which +Farmer Brown had set to catch him, and which he had walked right +into because he had been so greedy for the bark of the young +peach tree that he had not used his eyes to look out for danger. + +Oh, how Peter Rabbit did wish that he had not been so curious to +know what Farmer Brown had been doing that day, and that he had +gone straight home as he had meant to do, instead of trying to +get one more meal of young peach bark! Big tears rolled down +Peter's cheeks. What should he do? What could he do? For a long +time Peter sat in the moonlight, trying to think of something to +do. At last he thought of the stake to which that hateful wire +was fastened. The stake was of wood, and Peter's teeth would cut +wood. Peter's heart gave a great leap of hope, and he began at +once to dig away the snow from around the stake, and then settled +himself to gnaw the stake in two. + +Peter had been hard at work on the stake a long time and had it a +little more than half cut through, when he heard a loud sniff +down at the other end of the orchard. He looked up to see--whom +do you think? Why, Bowser the Hound! He hadn't seen Peter yet, +but he had already found Peter's tracks, and it would be but a +few minutes before he found Peter himself. + +Poor Peter Rabbit! There wasn't time to finish cutting off the +stake. What could he do? He made a frightened jump just as he had +when he first felt the wire tugging at his leg. Just as before, +he was thrown flat on his face. He scrambled to his feet and +jumped again, only to be thrown just as before. Just then Bowser +the Hound saw him and opening his mouth sent forth a great roar. +Peter made one more frantic jump. Snap! The stake had broken! +Peter pitched forward on his head, turned a somersault, and +scrambled to his feet. He was free at last! That is, he could +run, but after him dragged a piece of the stake. + +How Peter did run! It was hard work, for you know he had to drag +that piece of stake after him. But he did it, and just in time he +crawled into the old stone wall on one side of the orchard, while +Bowser the Hound barked his disappointment to the moon. + + + + + XVI + + Peter Rabbit's Hard Journey + + +Peter Rabbit sat in the old stone wall along one side of Farmer +Brown's orchard, waiting for Mrs. Moon to put out her light and +leave the world in darkness until jolly, round, red Mr. Sun +should kick off his rosy bed-clothes and begin his daily climb up +in the blue, blue sky. In the winter, Mr. Sun is a late sleeper, +and Peter knew that there would be two or three hours after Mrs. +Moon put out her light when it would be quite dark. And Peter +also knew that by this time Hooty the Owl would probably have +caught his dinner. So would old Granny Fox and Reddy Fox. Bowser +the Hound would be too sleepy to be on the watch. It would be the +very safest time for Peter to try to get to his home in the dear +Old Briar-patch. + +So Peter waited and waited. Twice Bowser the Hound, who had +chased him into the old wall, came over and barked at him and +tried to get at him. But the old wall kept Peter safe, and +Bowser gave it up. And all the time Peter sat waiting he was in +great pain. You see, that shiny wire was drawn so tight that it +cut into his flesh and hurt dreadfully, and to the other end of +the wire was fastened a piece of wood, part of the stake to which +the snare had been made fast and which Peter had managed to gnaw +and break off. + +It was on account of this that Peter was waiting for Mrs. Moon to +put out her light. He knew that with that stake dragging after +him he would have to go very slowly, and he could not run any +more risk of danger than he actually had to. So he waited and +waited, and by and by, sure enough, Mrs. Moon put out her light. +Peter waited a little longer, listening with all his might. +Everything was still. Then Peter crept out of the old stone wall. + +Right away trouble began. The stake dragging at the end of the +wire fast to his leg caught among the stones and pulled Peter up +short. My, how it did hurt! It made the tears come. But Peter +shut his teeth hard, and turning back, he worked until he got the +stake free. Then he started on once more, dragging the stake +after him. + +Very slowly across the orchard and under the fence on the other +side crept Peter Rabbit, his leg so stiff and sore that he could +hardly touch it to the snow, and all the time dragging that piece +of stake, which seemed to grow heavier and harder to drag every +minute. Peter did not dare to go out across the open fields, for +fear some danger might happen along, and he would have no place +to hide. So he crept along close to the fences where bushes grow, +and this made it very, very hard, for the dragging stake was +forever catching in the bushes with a yank at the sore leg which +brought Peter up short with a squeal of pain. + +This was bad enough, but all the time Peter was filled with a +dreadful fear that Hooty the Owl or Granny Fox might just happen +along. He had to stop to rest very, very often, and then he would +listen and listen. Over and over again he said to himself: + +"Oh dear, whatever did I go up to the young peach orchard for +when I knew I had no business there? Why couldn't I have been +content with all the good things that were mine in the Green +Forest and on the Green Meadows? Oh dear! Oh dear!" + +Just as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun began to light up the Green +Meadows, Peter Rabbit reached the dear Old Briar-patch. Danny +Meadow Mouse was sitting on the edge of it anxiously watching for +him. Peter crawled up and started to creep in along one of his +little private paths. He got in himself, but the dragging stake +caught among the brambles, and Peter just fell down in the snow +right where he was, too tired and worn out to move. + +[Illustration] + + + + + XVII + + Danny Meadow Mouse Becomes Worried + + +Danny Meadow Mouse limped around through the dear Old +Briar-patch, where he had lived with Peter Rabbit ever since he +had squirmed out of the claws of Hooty the Owl and dropped there, +right at the feet of Peter Rabbit. Danny limped because he was +still lame and sore from Hooty's terrible claws, but he didn't +let himself think much about that, because he was so thankful to +be alive at all. So he limped around in the Old Briar-patch, +picking up seed which had fallen on the snow, and sometimes +pulling down a few of the red berries which cling all winter to +the wild rose bushes. The seeds in these were very nice indeed, +and Danny always felt especially good after a meal of them. + +Danny Meadow Mouse had grown very fond of Peter Rabbit, for Peter +had been very, very good to him. Danny felt that he never, never +could repay all of Peter's kindness. It had been very good of +Peter to offer to share the Old Briar-patch with Danny because +Danny was so far from his own home that it would not be safe for +him to try to get back there. But Peter had done more than that. +He had taken care of Danny, such good care, during the first few +days after Danny's escape from Hooty the Owl. He had brought good +things to eat while Danny was too weak and sore to get things for +himself. Oh, Peter had been very good indeed to him! + +But now, as Danny limped around, he was not happy. No, Sir, he +was not happy. The truth is, Danny Meadow Mouse was worried. It +was a different kind of worry from any he had known before. You +see, for the first time in his life, Danny was worrying about +someone else. He was worrying about Peter Rabbit. Peter had been +gone from the Old Briar-patch a whole night and a whole day. He +often was gone all night, but never all day too. Danny was sure +that something had happened to Peter. He thought of how he had +begged Peter not to go up to Farmer Brown's young peach orchard. +He had felt in his bones that it was not safe, that something +dreadful would happen to Peter. How Peter had laughed at him and +bravely started off! Why hadn't he come home? + +As he limped around, Danny talked to himself: + + "_Why cannot people be content + With all the good things that are sent, + And mind their own affairs at home + Instead of going forth to roam?_" + +It was now the second night since Peter Rabbit had gone away. +Danny Meadow Mouse couldn't sleep at all. Round and round through +the Old Briar-patch he limped, and finally sat down at the edge +of it to wait and watch. At last, just as jolly, round, red Mr. +Sun sent his first long rays of light across the Green Meadows, +Danny saw something crawling toward the Old Briar-patch. He +rubbed his eyes and looked again. It was--no, it couldn't +be--yes, it was Peter Rabbit! But what was the matter with him? +Always before Peter had come home lipperty-lipperty-lipperty-lip, +but now he was crawling, actually crawling! Danny Meadow Mouse +didn't know what to make of it. + +Nearer and nearer came Peter. Something was following him. No, +Peter was dragging something after him. At last Peter started to +crawl along one of his little private paths into the Old +Briar-patch. The thing dragging behind caught in the brambles, +and Peter fell headlong in the snow, too tired and worn out to +move. Then Danny saw what the trouble was. A wire was fast to one +of Peter's long hind legs, and to the other end of the wire was +fastened part of a stake. Peter had been caught in a snare! Danny +hurried over to Peter and tears stood in his eyes. + +"Poor Peter Rabbit! Oh, I'm so sorry, Peter!" he whispered. + + + + + XVIII + + Danny Meadow Mouse Returns a Kindness + + +There Peter Rabbit lay. He had dragged that piece of stake a long +way, a very long way, indeed. But now he could drag it no +farther, for it had caught in the bramble bushes. So Peter just +dropped on the snow and cried. Yes, Sir, he cried! You see, he +was so tired and worn out and frightened, and his leg was so +stiff and sore and hurt him so! And then it was so dreadful to +actually get home and be stopped right on your very own doorstep. +So Peter just lay there and cried. Just supposing old Granny Fox +should come poking around and find Peter caught that way! All she +would have to do would be to get hold of that hateful stake +caught in the bramble bushes and pull Peter out where she could +get him. Do you wonder that Peter cried? + +By and by he became aware that someone was wiping away his tears. +It was Danny Meadow Mouse. And Danny was singing in a funny +little voice. Pretty soon Peter stopped crying and listened, and +this is what he heard: + + "_Isn't any use to cry! + Not a bit! Not a bit! + Wipe your eyes and wipe 'em dry! + Use your wit! Use your wit! + Just remember that tomorrow + Never brings a single sorrow. + Yesterday has gone forever + And tomorrow gets here never. + Chase your worries all away; + Nothing's worse than just today._" + +Peter smiled in spite of himself. + +"That's right! That's right! Smile away, Peter Rabbit. Smile +away! Your troubles, Sir, are all today. And between you and me, +I don't believe they are so bad as you think they are. Now you +lie still just where you are, while I go see what can be done." + +With that, off whisked Danny Meadow Mouse as spry as you please, +in spite of his lame leg, and in a few minutes Peter knew by +little twitches of the wire on his leg that Danny was doing +something at the other end. He was. Danny Meadow Mouse had set +out to gnaw that piece of stake all to splinters. So there he sat +and gnawed and gnawed and gnawed. Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun +climbed higher and higher in the sky, and Danny Meadow Mouse +grew hungry, but still he kept right on gnawing at that +bothersome stake. + +[Illustration: _Danny Meadow Mouse had set out to gnaw that piece +of stake all to splinters_] + +By and by, happening to look across the snow-covered Green +Meadows, he saw something that made his heart jump. It was Farmer +Brown's boy coming straight over toward the dear Old Briar-patch. + +Danny didn't say a word to Peter Rabbit, but gnawed faster than +ever. + +Farmer Brown's boy was almost there when Danny stopped gnawing. +There was only a tiny bit of the stake left now, and Danny +hurried to tell Peter Rabbit that there was nothing to stop him +now from going to his most secret retreat in the very heart of +the Old Briar-patch. While Peter slowly dragged his way along, +Danny trotted behind to see that the wire did not catch on the +bushes. + +They had safely reached Peter Rabbit's secretest retreat when +Farmer Brown's boy came up to the edge of the dear Old Briar-patch. + +"So this is where that rabbit that killed our peach tree lives!" +said he. "We'll try a few snares and put you out of mischief." + +And for the rest of the afternoon Farmer Brown's boy was very +busy around the edge of the Old Briar-patch. + +[Illustration] + + + + + XIX + + Peter Rabbit and Danny Meadow Mouse Live High + + +Peter Rabbit sat in his secretest place in the dear Old +Briar-patch with one of his long hind legs all swelled up and +terribly sore because of the fine wire fast around it and cutting +into it. He could hear Farmer Brown's boy going around on the +edge of the dear Old Briar-patch and stopping every little while +to do something. In spite of his pain, Peter was curious. +Finally he called Danny Meadow Mouse. + +"Danny, you are small and can keep out of sight easier than I +can. Go as near as ever you dare to Farmer Brown's boy and find +out what he is doing," said Peter Rabbit. + +So Danny Meadow Mouse crept out as near to Farmer Brown's boy as +ever he dared, and studied and studied to make out what Farmer +Brown's boy was doing. By and by he returned to Peter Rabbit. + +"I don't know what he's doing, Peter, but he's putting something +in every one of your private little paths leading into the +Briar-patch from the Green Meadows." + +"Ha!" said Peter Rabbit. + +"There are little loops of that queer stuff you've got hanging to +your leg, Peter," continued Danny Meadow Mouse. + +"Just so!" said Peter Rabbit. + +"And he's put cabbage leaves and pieces of apple all around," +said Danny. + +"We must be careful!" said Peter Rabbit. + +Peter's leg was in a very bad way, indeed, and Peter suffered a +great deal of pain. The worst of it was, he didn't know how to +get off the wire that was cutting into it so. He had tried to +cut the wire with his big teeth, but he couldn't do it. Danny +Meadow Mouse had tried and tried to gnaw the wire, but it wasn't +the least bit of use. But Danny wasn't easily discouraged, and he +kept working and working at it. Once he thought he felt it slip a +little. He said nothing, but kept right on working. Pretty soon +he was sure that it slipped. He went right on working harder than +ever. By and by he had it so loose that he slipped it right off +Peter's leg, and Peter didn't know anything about it. You see, +that cruel wire snare had been so tight that Peter didn't have +any feeling except of pain left in his leg, and so when Danny +Meadow Mouse pulled the cruel wire snare off, Peter didn't know +it until Danny held it up in front of him. + +My, how thankful Peter was, and how he did thank Danny Meadow +Mouse! But Danny said that it was nothing at all, just nothing at +all, and that he owed more than that to Peter Rabbit for being so +good to him and letting him live in the dear Old Briar-patch. + +It was a long time before Peter could hop as he used to, but +after the first day he managed to get around. He found that +Farmer Brown's boy had spread those miserable wire snares in +every one of his private little paths. But Peter knew what they +were now. He showed Danny Meadow Mouse how he, because he was so +small, could safely run about among the snares and steal all the +cabbage leaves and apples which Farmer Brown's boy had put there +for bait. + +Danny Meadow Mouse thought this great fun and a great joke on +Farmer Brown's boy. So every day he stole the bait, and he and +Peter Rabbit lived high while Peter's leg was getting well. And +all the time Farmer Brown's boy wondered why he couldn't catch +Peter Rabbit. + +[Illustration] + + + + + XX + + Timid Danny Meadow Mouse + + +Danny Meadow Mouse is timid. Everybody says so, and what +everybody says ought to be so. But just as anybody can make a +mistake sometimes, so can everybody. Still, in this case, it is +quite likely that everybody is right. Danny Meadow Mouse is +timid. Ask Peter Rabbit. Ask Sammy Jay. Ask Striped Chipmunk. +They will all tell you the same thing. Sammy Jay might even tell +you that Danny is afraid of his own shadow, or that he tries to +run away from his own tail. Of course this isn't true. Sammy Jay +likes to say mean things. It isn't fair to Danny Meadow Mouse to +believe what Sammy Jay says. + +But the fact is Danny certainly is timid. More than this, he +isn't ashamed of it--not the least little bit. + +"You see, it's this way," said Danny, as he sat on his doorstep +one sunny morning talking to his friend, old Mr. Toad. "If I +weren't afraid, I wouldn't be all the time watching out, and if +I weren't all the time watching out, I wouldn't have any more +chance than that foolish red ant running across in front of you." + +Old Mr. Toad looked where Danny was pointing, and his tongue +darted out and back again so quickly that Danny wasn't sure that +he saw it at all, but when he looked for the ant it was nowhere +to be seen, and there was a satisfied twinkle in Mr. Toad's eyes. +There was an answering twinkle in Danny's own eyes as he +continued. + +"No, Sir," said he, "I wouldn't stand a particle more chance than +that foolish ant did. Now if I were big and strong, like Old Man +Coyote, or had swift wings, like Skimmer the Swallow, or were so +homely and ugly looking that no one wanted me, like--like--" +Danny hesitated and then finished rather lamely, "like some folks +I know, I suppose I wouldn't be afraid." + +Old Mr. Toad looked up sharply when Danny mentioned homely and +ugly-looking people, but Danny was gazing far out across the +Green Meadows and looked so innocent that Mr. Toad concluded that +he couldn't have had him in mind. + +"Well," said he, thoughtfully scratching his nose, "I suppose +you may be right, but for my part fear seems a very foolish +thing. Now, I don't know what it is. I mind my own business, and +no one ever bothers me. I should think it would be a very +uncomfortable feeling." + +"It is," replied Danny, "but, as I said before, it is a very good +thing to keep one on guard when there are as many watching for +one as there are for me. Now there's Mr. Blacksnake and--" + +"Where?" exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning as pale as a toad can +turn, and looking uneasily and anxiously in every direction. + +[Illustration: _"Where?" exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning as pale +as a toad can turn_] + +Danny turned his head to hide a smile. If old Mr. Toad wasn't +showing fear, no one ever did. "Oh," said he, "I didn't mean that +he is anywhere around here now. What I was going to say was that +there is Mr. Blacksnake and Granny Fox and Reddy Fox and Redtail +the Hawk and Hooty the Owl and others I might name, always +watching for a chance to make a dinner from poor little me. Do +you wonder that I am afraid most of the time?" + +"No," replied old Mr. Toad. "No, I don't wonder that you are +afraid. It must be dreadful to feel hungry eyes are watching for +you every minute of the day and night, too." + +"Oh, it's not so bad," replied Danny. "It's rather exciting. +Besides, it keeps my wits sharp all the time. I am afraid I +should find life very dull indeed if, like you, I feared nothing +and nobody. By the way, see how queerly that grass is moving over +there. It looks as if Mr. Blacksnake--Why, Mr. Toad, where are +you going in such a hurry?" + +[Illustration: _"Why, Mr. Toad, where are you going in such a +hurry?" asked Danny_] + +"I've just remembered an important engagement with my cousin, +Grandfather Frog, at the Smiling Pool," shouted old Mr. Toad +over his shoulder, as he hurried so that he fell over his own +feet. + +Danny chuckled as he sat alone on his doorstep. "Oh, no, old Mr. +Toad doesn't know what fear is!" said he. "Funny how some people +won't admit what everybody can see for themselves. Now, I am +afraid, and I'm willing to say so." + +[Illustration] + + + + + XXI + + An Exciting Day for Danny Meadow Mouse + + +Danny Meadow Mouse started along one of his private little paths +very early one morning. He was on his way to get a supply of a +certain kind of grass seed of which he is very fond. He had been +thinking about that seed for some time and waiting for it to get +ripe. Now it was just right, as he had found out the day before +by a visit to the place where this particular grass grew. The +only trouble was it grew a long way from Danny's home, and to +reach it he had to cross an open place where the grass was so +short that he couldn't make a path under it. + +"I feel it in my bones that this is going to be an exciting day," +said Danny to himself as he trotted along. "I suppose that if I +were really wise, I would stay nearer home and do without that +nice seed. But nothing is really worth having unless it is worth +working for, and that seed will taste all the better if I have +hard work getting it." + +So he trotted along his private little path, his ears wide open, +and his eyes wide open, and his little nose carefully testing +every Merry Little Breeze who happened along for any scent of +danger which it might carry. Most of all he depended upon his +ears, for the grass was so tall that he couldn't see over it, +even when he sat up. He had gone only a little way when he +thought he heard a queer rustling behind him. He stopped to +listen. There it was again, and it certainly was right in the +path behind him! He didn't need to be told who was making it. +There was only one who could make such a sound as that--Mr. +Blacksnake. + +Now Danny can run very fast along his private little paths, but +he knew that Mr. Blacksnake could run faster. "If my legs can't +save me, my wits must," thought Danny as he started to run as +fast as ever he could. "I must reach that fallen old hollow fence +post." + +He was almost out of breath when he reached the post and scurried +into the open end. He knew by the sound of the rustling that Mr. +Blacksnake was right at his heels. Now the old post was hollow +its whole length, but halfway there was an old knothole just big +enough for Danny to squeeze through. Mr. Blacksnake didn't know +anything about that hole, and because it was dark inside the old +post, he didn't see Danny pop through it. Danny ran back along +the top of the log and was just in time to see the tip of Mr. +Blacksnake's tail disappear inside. Then what do you think Danny +did? Why, he followed Mr. Blacksnake right into the old post, but +in doing it he didn't make the least little bit of noise. + +Mr. Blacksnake kept right on through the old post and out the +other end, for he was sure that that was the way Danny had gone. +He kept right on along the little path. Now Danny knew that he +wouldn't go very far before he found out that he had been fooled, +and of course he would come back. So Danny waited only long +enough to get his breath and then ran back along the path to +where another little path branched off. For just a minute he +paused. + +"If Mr. Blacksnake follows me, he will be sure to think that of +course I have taken this other little path," thought Danny, "so I +won't do it." + +Then he ran harder than ever, until he came to a place where two +little paths branched off, one to the right and one to the left. +He took the latter and scampered on, sure that by this time Mr. +Blacksnake would be so badly fooled that he would give up the +chase. And Danny was right. + + "_Brains are better far than speed + As wise men long ago agreed,_" + +said Danny, as he trotted on his way for the grass seed he liked +so well. "I felt it in my bones that this would be an exciting +day. I wonder what next." + + + + + XXII + + What Happened Next to Danny Meadow Mouse + + +Danny is so used to narrow escapes that he doesn't waste any time +thinking about them. He didn't this time. "He who tries to look +two ways at once is pretty sure to see nothing," says Danny, and +he knew that if he thought too much about the things that had +already happened, he couldn't keep a sharp watch for the things +that might happen. + +Nothing more happened as he hurried along his private little path +to the edge of a great patch of grass so short that he couldn't +hide under it. He had to cross this, and all the way he would be +in plain sight of anyone who happened to be near. Very cautiously +he peeped out and looked this way and looked that way, not +forgetting to look up in the sky. He could see no one anywhere. +Drawing a long breath, Danny started across the open place as +fast as his short legs could take him. + +Now all the time, Redtail the Hawk had been sitting in a tree +some distance away, sitting so still that he looked like a part +of the tree itself. That is why Danny hadn't seen him. But +Redtail saw Danny the instant he started across the open place, +for Redtail's eyes are very keen, and he can see a great +distance. With a satisfied chuckle, he spread his broad wings and +started after Danny. + +Just about halfway to the safety of the long grass on the other +side, Danny gave a hurried look behind him, and his heart seemed +to jump right into his mouth, for there was Redtail with his +cruel claws already set to seize him! Danny gave a frightened +squeak, for he thought that surely this time he would be caught. +But he didn't mean to give up without trying to escape. Three +jumps ahead of him was a queer-looking thing. He didn't know what +it was, but if there was a hole in it he might yet fool Redtail. + +[Illustration: _With a frightened squeak, Danny dived into the +opening just in time_] + +One jump! Would he be able to reach it? Two jumps! There was a +hole in it! Three jumps! With another frightened squeak, Danny +dived into the opening just in time. And what do you think he was +in? Why, an old tomato can Farmer Brown's boy had once used to +carry bait in when he went fishing at the Smiling Pool. He had +dropped it there on his way home. + +Redtail screamed with rage and disappointment as he struck the +old can with his great claws. He had been sure, very sure, of +Danny Meadow Mouse this time! He tried to pick the can up, but he +couldn't get hold of it. It just rolled away from him every time, +try as he would. Finally, in disgust, he gave up and flew back to +the tree from which he had first seen Danny. + +Of course Danny had been terribly frightened when the can +rolled, and by the noise the claws of Redtail made when they +struck his queer hiding place. But he wisely decided that the +best thing he could do was to stay there for a while. And it was +very fortunate that he did so, as he was very soon to find out. + +[Illustration] + + + + + XXIII + + Reddy Fox Grows Curious + + +Danny Meadow Mouse had sat perfectly still for a long time inside +the old tomato can in which he had found a refuge from Redtail +the Hawk. He didn't dare so much as put his head out for a look +around, lest Redtail should be circling overhead ready to pounce +on him. + +"If I stay here long enough, he'll get tired and go away, if he +hasn't already," thought Danny. "This has been a pretty exciting +morning so far, and I find that I am a little tired. I may as +well take a nap while I am waiting to make sure that the way is +clear." + +With that Danny curled up in the old tomato can. But it wasn't +meant that Danny should have that nap. He had closed his eyes, +but his ears were still open, and presently he heard soft +footsteps drawing near. His eyes flew open, and he forgot all +about sleep, you may be sure, for those footsteps sounded +familiar. They sounded to Danny very, very much like the +footsteps of--whom do you think? Why, Reddy Fox! Danny's heart +began to beat faster as he listened. Could it be? He didn't dare +peep out. Presently a little whiff of scent blew into the old +tomato can. Then Danny knew--it was Reddy Fox. + +"Oh dear! I hope he doesn't find that I am in here!" thought +Danny. "I wonder what under the sun has brought him up here just +now." + +If the truth were to be known, it was curiosity that had brought +Reddy up there. Reddy had been hunting for his breakfast some +distance away on the Green Meadows when Redtail the Hawk had +tried so hard to catch Danny Meadow Mouse. Reddy's sharp eyes had +seen Redtail the minute he left the tree in pursuit of Danny, and +he had known by the way Redtail flew that he saw something he +wanted to catch. He had watched Redtail swoop down and had heard +his scream of rage when he missed Danny because Danny had dodged +into the old tomato can. He had seen Redtail strike and strike +again at something on the ground, and finally fly off in disgust +with empty claws. + +"Now I wonder what it was Redtail was after and why he didn't +get it," thought Reddy. "He acts terribly put out and disappointed. +I believe I'll go over there and find out." + +Off he started at a smart trot toward the patch of short grass +where he had seen Redtail the Hawk striking at something on the +ground. As he drew near, he crept very softly until he reached +the very edge of the open patch. There he stopped and looked +sharply all over it. There was nothing to be seen but an old +tomato can. Reddy had seen it many times before. + +"Now what under the sun could Redtail have been after here?" +thought Reddy. "The grass isn't long enough for a grasshopper to +hide in, and yet Redtail didn't get what he was after. It's very +queer. It certainly is very queer." + +He trotted out and began to run back and forth with his nose to +the ground, hoping that his nose would tell him what his eyes +couldn't. Back and forth, back and forth he ran, and then +suddenly he stopped. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Reddy. He had found the scent left by Danny +Meadow Mouse when he ran across toward the old tomato can. Right +up to the old can Reddy's nose led him. He hopped over the old +can, but on the other side he could find no scent of Danny Meadow +Mouse. In a flash he understood, and a gleam of satisfaction +shone in his yellow eyes as he turned back to the old can. He +knew that Danny must be hiding in there. + +"I've got you this time!" he snarled, as he sniffed at the +opening in the end of the can. + +[Illustration] + + + + + XXIV + + Reddy Fox Loses His Temper + + +Reddy Fox had caught Danny Meadow Mouse, and yet he hadn't caught +him. He had found Danny hiding in the old tomato can, and it +didn't enter Reddy's head that he couldn't get Danny out when he +wanted to. He was in no hurry. He had had a pretty good breakfast +of grasshoppers, and so he thought he would torment Danny awhile +before gobbling him up. He lay down so that he could peep in at +the open end of the old can and see Danny trying to make himself +as small as possible at the other end. Reddy grinned until he +showed all his long teeth. Reddy always is a bully, especially +when his victim is a great deal smaller and weaker than himself. + +"I've got you this time, Mr. Smarty, haven't I?" taunted Reddy. + +Danny didn't say anything. + +"You think you've been very clever because you have fooled me two +or three times, don't you? Well, this time I've got you where +your tricks won't work," continued Reddy, "so what are you going +to do about it?" + +Danny didn't answer. The fact is, he was too frightened to +answer. Besides, he didn't know what he could do. So he just kept +still, but his bright eyes never once left Reddy's cruel face. +For all his fright, Danny was doing some hard thinking. He had +been in tight places before and had learned never to give up +hope. Something might happen to frighten Reddy away. Anyway, +Reddy had to get him out of that old can before he would admit +that he was really caught. + +For a long time Reddy lay there licking his chops and saying all +the things he could think of to frighten poor Danny Meadow Mouse. +At last he grew tired of this and made up his mind that that it +was time to end it and Danny Meadow Mouse at the same time. He +thrust his sharp nose in at the opening in the end of the old +can, but the opening was too small for him to get more than his +nose in, and he only scratched it on the sharp edges without so +much as touching Danny. + +"I'll pull you out," said Reddy and thrust in one black paw. + +Danny promptly bit it so hard that Reddy yelped with pain and +pulled it out in a hurry. Presently he tried again with the other +paw. Danny bit this one harder still, and Reddy danced with pain +and anger. Then he lost his temper completely, a very foolish +thing to do, as it always is. He hit the old can, and away it +rolled with Danny Meadow Mouse inside. This seemed to make Reddy +angrier than ever. He sprang after it and hit it again. Then he +batted it first this way and then that way, growing angrier and +angrier. And all the time Danny Meadow Mouse managed to keep +inside, although he got a terrible shaking up. + +Back and forth across the patch of short grass Reddy knocked the +old can, and he was in such a rage that he didn't notice where he +was knocking it to. Finally he sent it spinning into the long +grass on the far side of the open patch, close to one of Danny's +private little paths. Like a flash Danny was out and scurrying +along the little path. He dodged into another and presently into +a third, which brought him to a tangle of barbed wire left +there by Farmer Brown when he had built a new fence. Under this +he was safe. + +[Illustration: _Like a flash, Danny dodged into a tangle of +barbed wire_] + +"Phew!" exclaimed Danny, breathing very hard. "That was the +narrowest escape yet! But I guess I'll get that special grass +seed I started out for, after all." + +And he did, while to this day Reddy Fox wonders how Danny got out +of the old tomato can without his knowing it. + + _And so you see what temper does + For those who give it rein; + It cheats them of the very thing + They seek so hard to gain._ + +Danny has had many more adventures, but there isn't room to tell +about them here. Besides, Grandfather Frog is anxious that you +should hear about the queer things that have happened to him. +They are told in the next book. + +[Illustration] + + + + + _Bedtime Story-Books_ + + By THORNTON W. BURGESS + + The Adventures of Reddy Fox + The Adventures of Johnny Chuck + The Adventures of Peter Cottontail + The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum + The Adventures of Mr. Mocker + The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat + The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse + The Adventures of Grandfather Frog + The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel + The Adventures of Sammy Jay + The Adventures of Buster Bear + The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad + The Adventures of Prickly Porky + The Adventures of Old Man Coyote + The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver + The Adventures of Poor Mrs. Quack + The Adventures of Bobby Coon + The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk + The Adventures of Bob White + The Adventures of Ol' Mistah Buzzard + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse, by +Thornton W. 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