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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/2557-0.txt b/2557-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f5bd57 --- /dev/null +++ b/2557-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2390 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Mother West Wind, 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: Old Mother West Wind + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Posting Date: December 23, 2008 [EBook #2557] +Release Date: March, 2001 +Last Updated: March 10, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD MOTHER WEST WIND *** + + + + +Produced by Eve Sobol + + + + + +OLD MOTHER WEST WIND + +By Thornton W. Burgess + + + + + TO MY MOTHER TO WHOM I OWE SO MUCH AND TO MY LITTLE SON WHOSE + LOVE OF STORIES INSPIRED THESE TALES THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS + AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. + + +CONTENTS: + +CHAPTER + + I. MRS. REDWING'S SPECKLED EGG + + II. WHY GRANDFATHER FROG HAS NO TAIL + + III. HOW REDDY FOX WAS SURPRISED + + IV. WHY JIMMY SKUNK WEARS STRIPES + + V. THE WILFUL LITTLE BREEZE + + VI. REDDY FOX GOES FISHING + + VII. JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES + + VIII. BILLY MINK'S SWIMMING PARTY + + IX. PETER RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE + + X. HOW SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT + + XI. JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY + + XII. BOBBY COON AND REDDY FOX PLAY TRICKS + + XIII. JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD + + XIV. LITTLE JOE OTTER'S SLIPPERY SLIDE + + XV. THE TALE OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DIDN'T MIND + + XVI. SPOTTY THE TURTLE WINS A RACE + + + + +CHAPTER I. MRS. REDWING'S SPECKLED EGG + +Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the golden light +of the early morning. Over her shoulders was slung a bag--a great big +bag--and in the bag were all of Old Mother West Wind's children, the +Merry Little Breezes. + +Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills to the Green +Meadows and as she walked she crooned a song: + + “Ships upon the ocean wait; + I must hurry, hurry on! + Mills are idle if I'm late; + I must hurry, hurry on.” + +When she reached the Green Meadows Old Mother West Wind opened her bag, +turned it upside down and shook it. Out tumbled all the Merry Little +Breezes and began to spin round and round for very joy, for you see they +were to lay in the Green Meadows all day long until Old Mother West Wind +should come back at night and take them all to their home behind the +Purple Hills. + +First they raced over to see Johnny Chuck. They found Johnny Chuck +sitting just outside his door eating his breakfast. One, for very +mischief, snatched right out of Johnny Chuck's mouth the green leaf of +corn he was eating, and ran away with it. Another playfully pulled his +whiskers, while a third rumpled up his hair. + +Johnny Chuck pretended to be very cross indeed, but really he didn't +mind a bit, for Johnny Chuck loved the Merry Little Breezes and played +with them everyday. + +And if they teased Johnny Chuck they were good to him, too. When they +saw Farmer Brown coming across the Green Meadows with a gun one of them +would dance over to Johnny Chuck and whisper to him that Farmer Brown +was coming, and then Johnny Chuck would hide away, deep down in his snug +little house under ground, and Farmer Brown would wonder and wonder why +it was that he never, never could get near enough to shoot Johnny Chuck. +But he never, never could. + +When the Merry Little Breezes left Johnny Chuck they raced across the +Green Meadows to the Smiling Pool to say good morning to Grandfather +Frog who sat on a big lily pad watching for green flies for breakfast. + +“Chug-arum,” said Grandfather Frog, which was his way of saying good +morning. + +Just then along came a fat green fly and up jumped Grandfather Frog. +When he sat down again on the lily pad the fat green fly was nowhere to +be seen, but Grandfather Frog looked very well satisfied indeed as he +contentedly rubbed his white waistcoat with one hand. + +“What is the news, Grandfather Frog?” cried the Merry Little Breezes. + +“Mrs. Redwing has a new speckled egg in her nest in the bulrushes,” said +Grandfather Frog. + +“We must see it,” cried the Merry Little Breezes, and away they all ran +to the swamp where the bulrushes grow. + +Now someone else had heard of Mrs. Redwing's dear little nest in the +bulrushes, and he had started out bright and early that morning to +try and find it, for he wanted to steal the little speckled eggs just +because they were pretty. It was Tommy Brown, the farmer's boy. + +When the Merry Little Breezes reached the swamp where the bulrushes +grow they found poor Mrs. Redwing in great distress. She was afraid that +Tommy Brown would find her dear little nest, for he was very, very near +it, and his eyes were very, very sharp. + +“Oh,” cried the Merry Little Breezes, “we must help Mrs. Redwing save +her pretty speckled eggs from bad Tommy Brown!” + +So one of the Merry Little Breezes whisked Tommy Brown's old straw hat +off his head over into the Green Meadows. Of course Tommy ran after it. +Just as he stooped to pick it up another little Breeze ran away with +it. Then they took turns, first one little Breeze, then another little +Breeze running away with the old straw hat just as Tommy Brown would +almost get his hands on it. Down past the Smiling Pool and across the +Laughing Brook they raced and chased the old straw hat, Tommy Brown +running after it, very cross, very red in the face, and breathing very +hard. Way across the Green Meadows they ran to the edge of the wood, +where they hung the old straw hat in the middle of a thorn tree. By the +time Tommy Brown had it once more on his head he had forgotten all about +Mrs. Redwing and her dear little nest. Besides, he heard the breakfast +horn blowing just then, so off he started for home up the Lone Little +Path through the wood. + +And all the Merry Little Breezes danced away across the Green Meadows +to the swamp where the bulrushes grow to see the new speckled egg in the +dear little nest where Mrs. Redwing was singing for joy. And while she +sang the Merry Little Breezes danced among the bulrushes, for they knew, +and Mrs. Redwing knew, that some day out of that pretty new speckled egg +would come a wee baby Redwing. + + + +CHAPTER II WHY GRANDFATHER FROG HAS NO TAIL + +Old Mother West Wind had gone to her day's work, leaving all the Merry +Little Breezes to play in the Green Meadows. They had played tag and run +races with the Bees and played hide and seek with the Sun Beams, and now +they had gathered around the Smiling Pool where on a green lily pad sat +Grandfather Frog. + +Grandfather Frog was old, very old, indeed, and very, very wise. He wore +a green coat and his voice was very deep. When Grandfather Frog +spoke everybody listened very respectfully. Even Billy Mink treated +Grandfather Frog with respect, for Billy Mink's father and his father's +father could not remember when Grandfather Frog had not sat on the lily +pad watching for green flies. + +Down in the Smiling Pool were some of Grandfather Frog's +great-great-great-great-great grandchildren. You wouldn't have known +that they were his grandchildren unless some one told you. They didn't +look the least bit like Grandfather Frog. They were round and fat and +had long tails and perhaps this is why they were called Pollywogs. + +“Oh Grandfather Frog, tell us why you don't have a tail as you did when +you were young,” begged one of the Merry Little Breezes. + +Grandfather Frog snapped up a foolish green fly and settled himself on +his big lily pad, while all the Merry Little Breezes gathered round to +listen. + +“Once on a time,” began Grandfather Frog, “the Frogs ruled the world, +which was mostly water. There was very little dry land--oh, very little +indeed! There were no boys to throw stones and no hungry Mink to gobble +up foolish Frog-babies who were taking a sun bath!” + +Billy Mink, who had joined the Merry Little Breezes and was listening, +squirmed uneasily and looked away guiltily. + +“In those days all the Frogs had tails, long handsome tails of which +they were very, very proud indeed,” continued Grandfather Frog. “The +King of all the Frogs was twice as big as any other Frog, and his tail +was three times as long. He was very proud, oh, very proud indeed of +his long tail. He used to sit and admire it until he thought that there +never had been and never could be another such tail. He used to wave it +back and forth in the water, and every time he waved it all the other +Frogs would cry 'Ah!' and 'Oh!' Every day the King grew more vain. He +did nothing at all but eat and sleep and admire his tail. + +“Now all the other Frogs did just as the King did, so pretty soon none +of the Frogs were doing anything but sitting about eating, sleeping and +admiring their own tails and the King's. + +“Now you all know that people who do nothing worth while in this world +are of no use and there is little room for them. So when Mother Nature +saw how useless had become the Frog tribe she called the King Frog +before her and she said: + +“'Because you can think of nothing but your beautiful tail it shall be +taken away from you. Because you do nothing but eat and sleep your mouth +shall become wide like a door, and your eyes shall start forth from your +head. You shall become bow-legged and ugly to look at, and all the world +shall laugh at you.' + +“The King Frog looked at his beautiful tail and already it seemed to +have grown shorter. He looked again and it was shorter still. Every +time he looked his tail had grown shorter and smaller. By and by when he +looked there was nothing left but a little stub which he couldn't even +wriggle. Then even that disappeared, his eyes popped out of his head and +his mouth grew bigger and bigger.” + +Old Grandfather Frog stopped and looked sadly at a foolish green fly +coming his way. “Chug-arum,” said Grandfather Frog, opening his mouth +very wide and hopping up in the air. When he sat down again on his big +lily pad the green fly was nowhere to be seen. Grandfather Frog smacked +his lips and continued: + +“And from that day to this every Frog has started life with a big tail, +and as he has grown bigger and bigger his tail has grown smaller and +smaller, until finally it disappears, and then he remembers how foolish +and useless it is to be vain of what nature has given us. And that is +how I came to lose my tail,” finished Grandfather Frog. + +“Thank you,” shouted all the Merry Little Breezes. “We won't forget.” + +Then they ran a race to see who could reach Johnny Chuck's home first +and tell him that Farmer Brown was coming down on the Green Meadows with +a gun. + + + +CHAPTER III HOW REDDY FOX WAS SURPRISED + +Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox lived very near together on the edge of the +Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck was fat and roly-poly. Reddy Fox was slim +and wore a bright red coat. Reddy Fox used to like to frighten Johnny +Chuck by suddenly popping out from behind a tree and making believe that +he was going to eat Johnny Chuck all up. + +One bright summer day Johnny Chuck was out looking for a good breakfast +of nice tender clover. He had wandered quite a long way from his snug +little house in the long meadow grass, although his mother had told him +never to go out of sight of the door. But Johnny was like some little +boys I know, and forgot all he had been told. + +He walked and walked and walked. Every few minutes Johnny Chuck saw +something farther on that looked like a patch of nice fresh clover. +And every time when he reached it Johnny Chuck found that he had made a +mistake. So Johnny Chuck walked and walked and walked. + +Old Mother West Wind, coming across the Green Meadows, saw Johnny Chuck +and asked him where he was going. Johnny Chuck pretended not to hear and +just walked faster. + +One of the Merry Little Breezes danced along in front of him. + +“Look out, Johnny Chuck, you will get lost,” cried the Merry Little +Breeze then pulled Johnny's whiskers and ran away. + +Higher and higher up in the sky climbed round, red Mr. Sun. Every time +Johnny Chuck looked up at him Mr. Sun winked. + +“So long as I can see great round, red Mr. Sun and he winks at me I +can't be lost,” thought Johnny Chuck, and trotted on looking for clover. + +By and by Johnny Chuck really did find some clover--just the sweetest +clover that grew in the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck ate and ate and ate +and then what do you think he did? Why, he curled right up in the nice +sweet clover and went fast asleep. + +Great round, red Mr. Sun kept climbing higher and higher up in the sky, +then by and by he began to go down on the other side, and long shadows +began to creep out across the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck didn't know +anything about them: he was fast asleep. + +By and by one of the Merry Little Breezes found Johnny Chuck all curled +up in a funny round ball. + +“Wake up Johnny Chuck! Wake up!” shouted the Merry Little Breeze. + +Johnny Chuck opened his eyes. Then he sat up and rubbed them. For just a +few, few minutes he couldn't remember where he was at all. + +By and by he sat up very straight to look over the grass and see where +he was. But he was so far from home that he didn't see a single thing +that looked at all like the things he was used to. The trees were all +different. The bushes were all different. Everything was different. +Johnny Chuck was lost. + +Now, when Johnny sat up, Reddy Fox happened to be looking over the Green +Meadows and he saw Johnny's head where it popped above the grass. + +“Aha!” said Reddy Fox, “I'll scare Johnny Chuck so he'll wish he'd never +put his nose out of his house.” + +Then Reddy dropped down behind the long grass and crept softly, oh, +ever so softly, through the paths of his own, until he was right behind +Johnny Chuck. Johnny Chuck had been so intent looking for home that he +didn't see anything else. + +Reddy Fox stole right up behind Johnny and pulled Johnny's little short +tail hard. How it did frighten Johnny Chuck! He jumped right straight +up in the air and when he came down he was the maddest little woodchuck +that ever lived in the Green Meadows. + +Reddy Fox had thought that Johnny would run, and then Reddy meant to run +after him and pull his tail and tease him all the way home. Now, Reddy +Fox got as big a surprise as Johnny had had when Reddy pulled his tail. +Johnny didn't stop to think that Reddy Fox was twice as big as he, +but with his eyes snapping, and chattering as only a little Chuck can +chatter, with every little hair on his little body standing right up +on end, so that he seemed twice as big as he really was, he started for +Reddy Fox. + +It surprised Reddy Fox so that he didn't know what to do, and he simply +ran. Johnny Chuck ran after him, nipping Reddy's heels every minute or +two. Peter Rabbit just happened to be down that way. He was sitting up +very straight looking to see what mischief he could get into when he +caught sight of Reddy Fox running as hard as ever he could. “It must +be that Bowser, the hound, is after Reddy Fox,” said Peter Rabbit to +himself. “I must watch out that he doesn't find me.” + +Just then he caught sight of Johnny Chuck with every little hair +standing up on end and running after Reddy Fox as fast as his short legs +could go. + +“Ho! ho! ho!” shouted Peter Rabbit. “Reddy Fox afraid of Johnny Chuck! +Ho! ho! Ho!” + +Then Peter Rabbit scampered away to find Jimmy Skunk and Bobby Coon and +Happy Jack Squirrel to tell them all about how Reddy Fox had run away +from Johnny Chuck, for you see they were all a little afraid of Reddy +Fox. + +Straight home ran Reddy Fox as fast as he could go, and going home he +passed the house of Johnny Chuck. Now Johnny couldn't run so fast as +Reddy Fox and he was puffing and blowing as only a fat little woodchuck +can puff and blow when he has to run hard. Moreover, he had lost his ill +temper now and he thought it was the best joke ever to think that he had +actually frightened Reddy Fox. When he came to his own house he stopped +and sat on his hind legs once more. Then he shrilled out after Reddy +Fox: “Reddy Fox is a 'fraid cat, 'fraid-cat! Reddy Fox is a 'fraid-cat!” + +And all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind, who were +playing on the Green Meadows shouted: “Reddy Fox is a 'fraid-cat, +'fraid-cat!” + +And this is the way that Reddy Fox was surprised and that Johnny Chuck +found his way home. + + + +CHAPTER IV WHY JIMMY SKUNK WEARS STRIPES + +Jimmy Skunk, as everybody knows, wears a striped suit, a suit of black +and white. There was a time, long, long ago, when all the Skunk family +wore black. Very handsome their coats were, too, a beautiful, glossy +black. They were very, very proud of them and took the greatest care of +them, brushing them carefully ever so many times a day. + +There was a Jimmy Skunk then, just as there is now, and he was head of +all the Skunk family. Now this Jimmy Skunk was very proud and thought +himself very much of a gentleman. He was very independent and cared for +no one. Like a great many other independent people, he did not always +consider the rights of others. Indeed, it was hinted in the wood and on +the Green Meadows that not all of Jimmy Skunk's doings would bear the +light of day. It was openly said that he was altogether too fond of +prowling about at night, but no one could prove that he was responsible +for mischief done in the night, for no one saw him. You see his coat was +so black that in the darkness of the night it was not visible at all. + +Now about this time of which I am telling you Mrs. Ruffed Grouse made a +nest at the foot of the Great Pine and in it she laid fifteen beautiful +buff eggs. Mrs. Grouse was very happy, very happy indeed, and all the +little meadow folks who knew of her happiness were happy too, for they +all loved shy, demure, little Mrs. Grouse. Every morning when Peter +Rabbit trotted down the Lone Little Path through the wood past the Great +Pine he would stop for a few minutes to chat with Mrs. Grouse. Happy +Jack Squirrel would bring her the news every afternoon. The Merry Little +Breezes of Old Mother West Wind would run up a dozen times a day to see +how she was getting along. + +One morning Peter Rabbit, coming down the Lone Little Path for his usual +morning call, found a terrible state of affairs. Poor little Mrs. Grouse +was heart-broken. All about the foot of the Great Pine lay the empty +shells of her beautiful eggs. They had been broken and scattered this +way and that. + +“How did it happen?” asked Peter Rabbit. + +“I don't know,” sobbed poor little Mrs. Grouse. “In the night when I was +fast asleep something pounced upon me. I managed to get away and fly up +in the top of the Great Pine. In the morning I found all my eggs broken, +just as you see them here.” + +Peter Rabbit looked the ground over very carefully. He hunted around +behind the Great Pine, he looked under the bushes, he studied the ground +with a very wise air. Then he hopped off down the Lone Little Path to +the Green Meadows. He stopped at the house of Johnny Chuck. + +“What makes your eyes so big and round?” asked Johnny Chuck. + +Peter Rabbit came very close so as to whisper in Johnny Chuck's ear, +and told him all that he had seen. Together they went to Jimmy Skunk's +house. Jimmy Skunk was in bed. He was very sleepy and very cross when he +came to the door. Peter Rabbit told him what he had seen. + +“Too bad! Too bad!” said Jimmy Skunk, and yawned sleepily. + +“Won't you join us in trying to find out who did it?” asked Johnny +Chuck. + +Jimmy Skunk said he would be delighted to come but that he had +some other business that morning and that he would join them in the +afternoon. Peter Rabbit and Johnny Chuck went on. Pretty soon they met +the Merry Little Breezes and told them the dreadful story. + +“What shall we do?” asked Johnny Chuck. + +“We'll hurry over and tell Old Dame Nature,” cried the Merry Little +Breezes, “and ask her what to do.” + +So away flew the Merry Little Breezes to Old Dame Nature and told her +all the dreadful story. Old Dame Nature listened very attentively. Then +she sent the Merry Little Breezes to all the little meadow folks to tell +every one to be at the Great Pine that afternoon. Now whatever Old Dame +Nature commanded all the meadow folks were obliged to do. They did not +dare to disobey her. Promptly at four o'clock that afternoon all +the meadow folks were gathered around the foot of the Great Pine. +Broken-hearted little Mrs. Ruffed Grouse sat beside her empty nest, with +all the broken shells about her. + +Reddy Fox, Peter Rabbit, Johnny Chuck, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, +Jerry Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, Bobby Coon, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow, +Grandfather Frog, Mr. Toad, Spotty the Turtle, the Merry Little Breezes, +all were there. Last of all came Jimmy Skunk. Very handsome he looked in +his shining black coat and very sorry he appeared that such a dreadful +thing should have happened. He told Mrs. Grouse how badly he felt, and +he loudly demanded that the culprit should be found out and severely +punished. + +Old Dame Nature has the most smiling face in the world, but this time it +was very, very grave indeed. First she asked little Mrs. Grouse to tell +her story all over again that all might hear. Then each in turn was +asked to tell where he had been the night before. Johnny Chuck, Happy +Jack Squirrel, Striped Chipmunk, Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow had gone +to bed when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills. Jerry Muskrat, +Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and Spotty the Turtle had +not left the Smiling Pool. Bobby Coon had been down in Farmer Brown's +cornfield. Hooty the Owl had been hunting in the lower end of the Green +Meadows. Peter Rabbit had been down in the berry patch. Mr. Toad had +been under the piece of bark which he called a house. Old Dame Nature +called on Jimmy Skunk last of all. Jimmy protested that he had been +very, very tired and had gone to bed very early indeed and had slept the +whole night through. + +Then Old Dame Nature asked Peter Rabbit what he had found among the egg +shells that morning. + +Peter Rabbit hopped out and laid three long black hairs before Old +Dame Nature. “These,” said Peter Rabbit “are what I found among the egg +shells.” + +Then Old Dame Nature called Johnny Chuck. “Tell us, Johnny Chuck,” said +she, “what you saw when you called at Jimmy Skunk's house this morning.” + +“I saw Jimmy Skunk,” said Johnny Chuck, “and Jimmy seemed very, very +sleepy. It seemed to me that his whiskers were yellow.” + +“That will do,” said Old Dame Nature, and then she called Old Mother +West Wind. + +“What time did you come down on the Green Meadows this morning?” + +“Just at the break of day,” said Old Mother West Wind, “as Mr. Sun was +coming up from behind the Purple Hills.” + +“And whom did you see so early in the morning?” asked Old Dame Nature. + +“I saw Bobby Coon going home from old Farmer Brown's cornfield,” said +Old Mother West Wind. “I saw Hooty the Owl coming back from the lower +end of the Green Meadows. I saw Peter Rabbit down in the berry patch. +Last of all I saw something like a black shadow coming down the Lone +Little Path toward the house of Jimmy Skunk.” + +Every one was looking very hard at Jimmy Skunk. Jimmy began to look very +unhappy and very uneasy. + +“Who wears a black coat?” asked Dame Nature. + +“Jimmy Skunk!” shouted all the little meadow folks. + +“What MIGHT make whiskers yellow?” asked Old Dame Nature. + +No one seemed to know at first. Then Peter Rabbit spoke up. “It MIGHT be +the yolk of an egg,” said Peter Rabbit. + +“Who are likely to be sleepy on a bright sunny morning?” asked Old Dame +Nature. + +“People who have been out all night,” said Johnny Chuck, who himself +always goes to bed with the sun. + +“Jimmy Skunk,” said Old Dame Nature, and her voice was very stern, very +stern indeed, and her face was very grave. “Jimmy Skunk, I accuse you +of having broken and eaten the eggs of Mrs. Grouse. What have you to say +for yourself?” + +Jimmy Skunk hung his head. He hadn't a word to say. He just wanted to +sneak away by himself. + +“Jimmy Skunk,” said Old Dame Nature, “because your handsome black coat +of which you are so proud has made it possible for you to move about +in the night without being seen, and because we can no longer trust +you upon your honor, henceforth you and your descendants shall wear a +striped coat, which is the sign that you cannot be trusted. Your coat +hereafter shall be black and white, that when you move about in the +night you will always be visible.” + +And this is why that to this day Jimmy Skunk wears a striped suit of +black and white. + + + +CHAPTER V THE WILFUL LITTLE BREEZE + +Old Mother West Wind was tired--tired and just a wee bit cross--cross +because she was tired. She had had a very busy day. Ever since early +morning she had been puffing out the white sales of the ships on the big +ocean so that they could go faster; she had kept all the big and little +wind mills whirling and whirling to pump water for thirsty folks and +grind corn for hungry folks; she had blown away all the smoke from tall +chimneys and engines and steamboats. Yes, indeed, Old Mother West Wind +had been very, very busy. + +Now she was coming across the Green Meadows on her way to her home +behind the Purple Hills, and as she came she opened the big bag she +carried and called to her children, the Merry Little Breezes, who had +been playing hard on the Green Meadows all the long day. One by one they +crept into the big bag, for they were tired, too, and ready to go to +their home behind the Purple Hills. + +Pretty soon all were in the bag but one, a willful little Breeze, who +was not quite ready to go home; he wanted to play just a little longer. +He danced ahead of Old Mother West Wind. He kissed the sleepy daisies. +He shook the nodding buttercups. He set all the little poplar leaves a +dancing, too, and he wouldn't come into the big bag. So Old Mother West +Wind closed the big bag and slung it over her shoulder. Then she started +on towards her home behind the Purple Hills. + +When she had gone, the willful little Breeze left behind suddenly felt +very lonely--very lonely indeed! The sleepy daisies didn't want to play. +The nodding buttercups were cross. Great round bright Mr. Sun, who had +been shining and shining all day long, went to bed and put on his night +cap of golden clouds. Black shadows came creeping, creeping out into the +Green Meadows. + +The willful little Breeze began to wish that he was safe in Old Mother +West Wind's big bag with all the other Merry Little Breezes. + +So he started across the Green Meadows to find the Purple Hills. But +all the hills were black now and he could not tell which he should look +behind to find his home with Old Mother West Wind and the Merry Little +Breezes. How he did wish that he had minded Old Mother West Wind. + +By and by he curled up under a bayberry bush and tried to go to sleep, +but he was lonely, oh, so lonely! And he couldn't go to sleep. Old +Mother Moon came up and flooded all the Green Meadows with light, but it +wasn't like the bright light of jolly round Mr. Sun, for it was cold and +white and it made many black shadows. + +Pretty soon the willful little Breeze heard Hooty the Owl out hunting +for a meadow mouse for his dinner. Then down the Lone Little Path which +ran close to the bayberry bush trotted Reddy Fox. He was trotting very +softly and every minute or so he turned his head and looked behind him +to see if he was followed. It was plain to see that Reddy Fox was bent +on mischief. + +When he reached the bayberry bush Reddy Fox sat down and barked twice. +Hooty the Owl answered him at once and flew over to join him. They +didn't see the willful little Breeze curled up under the bayberry bush, +so intent were these two rogues in plotting mischief. They were planning +to steal down across the Green Meadows to the edge of the Brown Pasture +where Mr. Bob White and pretty Mrs. Bob White and a dozen little Bob +Whites had their home. + +“When they run along the ground I'll catch 'em, and when they fly up in +the air you'll catch 'em, and we'll gobble 'em all up,” said Reddy Fox +to Hooty the Owl. Then he licked his chops and Hooty the Owl snapped his +bill, just as if they were tasting tender little Bob Whites that very +minute. It made the willful little Breeze shiver to see them. Pretty +soon they started on towards the Brown Pasture. + +When they were out of sight the willful little Breeze jumped up and +shook himself. Then away he sped across the Green Meadows to the Brown +Pasture. And because he could go faster and because he went a shorter +way he got there first. He had to hunt and hunt to find Mrs. and Mr. Bob +White and all the little Bob Whites, but finally he did find them, all +with their heads tucked under their wings fast asleep. + +The willful little Breeze shook Mr. Bob White very gently. In an instant +he was wide awake. + +“Sh-h-h,” said the willful little Breeze. “Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl +are coming to the Brown Pasture to gobble up you and Mrs. Bob White and +all the little Bob Whites.” + +“Thank you, little Breeze,” said Mr. Bob White, “I think I'll move my +family.” + +Then he woke Mrs. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites. With Mr. +Bob White in the lead away they all flew to the far side of the Brown +Pasture where they were soon safely hidden under a juniper tree. + +The willful little Breeze saw them safely there, and when they were +nicely hidden hurried back to the place where the Bob Whites had been +sleeping. Reddy Fox was stealing up through the grass very, very softly. +Hooty the Owl was flying as silently as a shadow. When Reddy Fox thought +he was near enough he drew himself together, made a quick spring and +landed right in Mr. Bob White's empty bed. Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl +looked so surprised and foolish when they found the Bob Whites were not +there that the willful little Breeze nearly laughed out loud. + +Then Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl hunted here and hunted there, all over +the Brown Pasture, but they couldn't find the Bob Whites. + +And the willful little Breeze went back to the juniper tree and curled +himself beside Mr. Bob White to sleep, for he was lonely no longer. + + +CHAPTER VI REDDY FOX GOES FISHING + +One morning when Mr. Sun was very, very bright and it was very, very +warm, down on the Green Meadows Reddy Fox came hopping and skipping down +the Lone Little Path that leads to the Laughing Brook. Hoppity, skip, +skippity hop! Reddy felt very much pleased with himself that sunny +morning. Pretty soon he saw Johnny Chuck sitting up very straight close +by the little house where he lives. + +“Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny +Woodchuck!” called Reddy fox. + +Johnny Chuck pretended not to hear. His mother had told him not to play +with Reddy Fox, for Reddy Fox was a bad boy. + +“Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!” called Reddy again. + +This time Johnny turned and looked. He could see Reddy Fox turning +somersaults and chasing his tail and rolling over and over in the little +path. + +“Come on!” said Reddy Fox. “Let's go fishing!” + +“Can't,” said Johnny Chuck, because you know, his mother had told him +not to play with Reddy Fox. + +“I'll show you how to catch a fish,” said Reddy Fox, and tried to jump +over his own shadow. + +“Can't,” said good little Johnny Chuck again, and turned away so that he +couldn't see Reddy Fox chasing Butterflies and playing catch with Field +Mice children. + +So Reddy Fox went down to the Laughing Brook all alone. The Brook was +laughing and singing on its way to join the Big River. The sky was blue +and the sun was bright. Reddy Fox jumped on the Big Rock in the middle +of the Laughing Brook and peeped over the other side. What do you think +he saw? Why, right down below in a Dear Little Pool were Mr. And Mrs. +Trout and all the little Trouts. + +Reddy Fox wanted some of those little Trouts to take home for his +dinner, but he didn't know how to catch them. He lay flat down on the +Big Rock and reached way down into the Dear Little Pool, but all the +little Trouts laughed at Reddy Fox and not one came within reach. Then +Mr. Trout swam up so quickly that Reddy Fox didn't see him coming and +bit Reddy's little black paw hard. + +“Ouch!” cried Reddy Fox, pulling his little black paw out of the water. +And all the little Trouts laughed at Reddy Fox. + +Just then along came Billy Mink. + +“Hello, Reddy Fox!” said Billy Mink. “What are you doing here?” + +“I'm trying to catch a fish,” said Reddy Fox. + +“Pooh! That's easy!” said Billy Mink. “I'll show you how.” + +So Billy Mink lay down on the Big Rock side of Reddy Fox and peeped over +into the Dear Little Pool where all the little Trouts were laughing at +Reddy Fox and having such a good time. But Billy Mink took care, such +very great care, that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout should not see him +peeping over into the Dear Little Pool. + +When Billy Mink saw all those little Trouts playing in the Dear Little +Pool he laughed. “You count three, Reddy Fox,” said he, “and I'll show +you how to catch a fish.” + +“One!” said Reddy Fox, “Two! Three!” + +Splash! Billy Mink had dived head first into the Dear Little Pool. He +spattered water way up onto Reddy Fox, and he frightened old Mr. Frog +so that he fell over backwards off the lily pad where he was taking a +morning nap right into the water. In a minute Billy Mink climbed out on +the other side of the Dear Little Pool and sure enough, he had caught +one of the little Trouts. + +“Give it to me,” cried Reddy Fox. + +“Catch one yourself,” said Billy Mink. “Old Grandpa Mink wants a fish +for his dinner, so I am going to take this home. You're afraid, Reddy +Fox! 'Fraid-cat! Fraid-cat!” + +Billy Mink shook the water off of his little brown coat, picked up the +little Trout and ran off home. + +Reddy Fox lay down again on the Big Rock and peeped into the Dear Little +Pool. Not a single Trout could he see. They were all hiding safely with +Mr. and Mrs. Trout. Reddy Fox watched and watched. The sun was warm, the +Laughing Brook was singing a lullaby and--what do you think? Why, Reddy +Fox went fast asleep on the edge of the great Big Rock. + +By and by Reddy Fox began to dream. He dreamed that he had a nice little +brown coat that was waterproof, just like the little brown coat that +Billy Mink wore. Yes, and he dreamed that he had learned to swim and to +catch fish just as Billy Mink did. He dreamed that the Dear Little +Pool was full of little Trouts and that he was just going to catch one +when--splash! Reddy Fox had rolled right off of the Big Rock into the +Dear Little Pool. + +The water went into the eyes of Reddy Fox, and it went up his nose +and he swallowed so much that he felt as if he never, never would want +another drink of water. And his beautiful red coat, which old Mother +Fox had told him to be very, very careful of because he couldn't have +another for a whole year, was oh so wet! And his pants were wet and his +beautiful bushy tail, of which he was so proud, was so full of water +that he couldn't hold it up, but had to drag it up the bank after him as +he crawled out of the Dear Little Pool. + +“Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Mr. Kingfisher, sitting on a tree. + +“Ho! Ho! Ho!” laughed old Mr. Frog, who had climbed back on his lily +pad. + +“He! He! He!” laughed all the little Trouts and Mr. Trout and Mrs. +Trout, swimming round and round in the Dear Little Pool. + +“Ha! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Ho! He! He! He!” laughed Billy Mink, who had come +back to the Big Rock just in time to see Reddy Fox tumble in. + +Reddy Fox didn't say a word, he was so ashamed. He just crept up the +Lone Little Path to his home, dragging his tail, all wet and muddy, +behind him, and dripping water all the way. + +Johnny Chuck was still sitting by his door as his mother had told him +to. Reddy Fox tried to go past without being seen, but Johnny Chuck's +bright little eyes saw him. + +“Where are your fish, Reddy Fox?” called Johnny Chuck. + +“Why don't you turn somersaults, and jump over your shadow and chase +Butterflies and play with the little Field Mice, Reddy Fox?” called +Johnny Chuck. + +But Reddy Fox just walked faster. When he got almost home he saw old +Mother Fox sitting in the doorway with a great big switch across her +lap, for Mother Fox had told Reddy Fox not to go near the Laughing +Brook. + +And this is all I am going to tell you about how Reddy Fox went fishing. + + + +CHAPTER VII JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES + +Jimmy Skunk opened his eyes very early one morning and peeped out of +his snug little house on the hill. Big, round Mr. Sun, with a very red, +smiling face, had just begun to climb up into the sky. Old Mother West +Wind was just starting down to the Green Meadows with her big bag over +her shoulder. In that bag Jimmy Skunk knew she carried all her children, +the Merry Little Breezes, whom she was taking down to the Green Meadows +to play and frolic all day. + +“Good morning, Mother West Wind,” said Jimmy Skunk, politely. “Did you +see any beetles as you came down the hill?” + +Old Mother West Wind said, no, she hadn't seen any beetles as she came +down the hill. + +“Thank you,” said Jimmy Skunk politely. “I guess I'll have to go look +myself, for I'm very, very hungry.” + +So Jimmy Skunk brushed his handsome black and white coat, and washed +his face and hands, and started out to try to find some beetles for his +breakfast. First he went down to the Green Meadows and stopped at Johnny +Chuck's house. But Johnny Chuck was still in bed and fast asleep. Then +Jimmy Skunk went over to see if Reddy Fox would go with him to help find +some beetles for his breakfast. But Reddy Fox had been out very, very +late the night before and was still in bed fast asleep, too. + +So Jimmy Skunk set out all alone along the Crooked Little Path up the +hill to find some beetles for his breakfast. He walked very slowly, for +Jimmy Skunk never hurries. He stopped and peeped under every old log to +see if there were any beetles. By and by he came to a big piece of bark +beside the Crooked Little Path. Jimmy Skunk took hold of the piece of +bark with his two little black paws and pulled and pulled. All of a +sudden, the big piece of bark turned over so quickly that Jimmy Skunk +fell flat on his back. + +When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again, there sat old Mr. +Toad right in the path, and old Mr. Toad was very, very cross indeed. He +swelled and he puffed and he puffed and he swelled, till he was twice as +big as Jimmy Skunk had ever seen him before. + +“Good morning, Mr. Toad,” said Jimmy Skunk. “Have you seen any beetles?” + +But Mr. Toad blinked his great round goggly eyes and he said: “What do +you mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the roof off my house?” + +“Is that the roof of your house?” asked Jimmy Skunk politely. “I won't +do it again.” + +Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over old Mr. Toad, and went on up the +Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles. + +By and by he came to an old stump of a tree which was hollow and had the +nicest little round hole in one side. Jimmy Skunk took hold of one edge +with his two little black paws and pulled and pulled. All of a sudden +the whole side of the old stump tore open and Jimmy Skunk fell flat on +his back. + +When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again there was Striped +Chipmunk hopping up and down right in the middle of the path, he was so +angry. + +“Good morning, Striped Chipmunk,” said Jimmy Skunk. “Have you seen any +beetles?” + +But Striped Chipmunk hopped faster than ever and he said: “What do you +mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the side off my house?” + +“Is that the side of your house?” asked Jimmy Skunk, politely. “I won't +do it again.” + +Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over Striped Chipmunk, and went on up the +Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles. + +Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit hopping along down the Crooked Little +Path. “Good morning, Jimmy Skunk, where are you going so early in the +morning?” said Peter Rabbit. + +“Good morning, Peter Rabbit. Have you seen any beetles?” asked Jimmy +Skunk, politely. + +“No, I haven't seen any beetles, but I'll help you find some,” said +Peter Rabbit. So he turned about and hopped ahead of Jimmy Skunk up the +Crooked Little Path. + +Now because Peter Rabbit's legs are long and he is always in a hurry, +he got to the top of the hill first. When Jimmy Skunk reached the end +of the Crooked Little Path on the top of the hill he found Peter Rabbit +sitting up very straight and looking and looking very hard at a great +flat stone. + +“What are you looking at, Peter Rabbit?” asked Jimmy Skunk. + +“Sh-h-h!” said Peter Rabbit, “I think there are some beetles under that +great flat stone where that little black string is sticking out. Now +when I count three you grab that string and pull hard perhaps you'll +find a beetle at the other end.” + +So Jimmy Skunk got ready and Peter Rabbit began to count. + +“One!” said Peter. “Two!” said Peter. “Three!” + +Jimmy Skunk grabbed the black string and pulled as hard as ever he could +and out came--Mr. Black Snake! The string Jimmy Skunk had pulled was Mr. +Black Snake's tail, and Mr. Black Snake was very, very angry indeed. + +“Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Peter Rabbit. + +“What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk,” said Mr. Black Snake, “by pulling my +tail?” + +“Was that your tail?” said Jimmy Skunk, politely. “I won't do it again. +Have you seen any beetles?” + +But Mr. Black Snake hadn't seen any beetles, and he was so cross that +Jimmy Skunk went on over the hill to look for some beetles. + +Peter Rabbit was still laughing and laughing and laughing. And the more +he laughed the angrier grew Mr. Black Snake, till finally he started +after Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson. + +Then Peter Rabbit stopped laughing, for Mr. Black Snake can run very +fast. Away went Peter Rabbit down the Crooked Little Path as fast as he +could go, and away went Mr. Black Snake after him. + +But Jimmy Skunk didn't even look once to see if Mr. Black Snake had +caught Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson, for Jimmy Skunk had found +some beetles and was eating his breakfast. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII BILLY MINK'S SWIMMING PARTY + +Billy Mink was coming down the bank of the Laughing Brook. Billy Mink +was feeling very good indeed. He had had a good breakfast, the sun was +warm, little white cloud ships were sailing across the blue sky and +their shadows were sailing across the Green Meadows, the birds were +singing and the bees were humming. Billy Mink felt like singing too, but +Billy Mink's voice was not meant for singing. + +By and by Billy Mink came to the Smiling Pool. Here the Laughing Brook +stopped and rested on its way to join the Big River. It stopped its +noisy laughing and singing and just lay smiling and smiling in the warm +sunshine. The little flowers on the bank leaned over and nodded to it. +The beech tree, which was very old, sometimes dropped a leaf into it. +The cat-tails kept their feet cool in the edge of it. + +Billy Mink jumped out on the Big Rock and looked down into the Smiling +Pool. Over on a green lily pad he saw old Grandfather Frog. + +“Hello, Grandfather Frog,” said Billy Mink. + +“Hello, Billy Mink,” said Grandfather Frog. “What mischief are you up to +this fine sunny morning?” + +Just then Billy Mink saw a little brown head swimming along one edge of +the Smiling Pool. + +“Hello, Jerry Muskrat!” shouted Billy Mink. + +“Hello your own self, Billy Mink,” shouted Jerry Muskrat, “Come in and +have a swim; the water's fine!” + +“Good,” said Billy Mink. “We'll have a swimming party.” + +So Billy Mink called all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West +Wind, who were playing with the flowers on the bank, and sent them to +find Little Joe Otter and invite him to come to the swimming party. +Pretty soon back came the Little Breezes and with them came Little Joe +Otter. + +“Hello, Billy Mink,” said Little Joe Otter. “Here I am!” + +“Hello, Little Joe Otter,” said Billy Mink. “Come up here on the Big +Rock and see who can dive the deepest into the Smiling Pool.” + +So Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat climbed up on the Big Rock side of +Billy Mink and they all stood side by side in their little brown bathing +suits looking down into the Smiling Pool. + +“Now when I count three we'll all dive into the Smiling Pool together +and see who can dive the deepest. One!” said Billy Mink. “Two!” said +Billy Mink. “Three!” said Billy Mink. + +And when he said “Three!” in they all went head first. My such a splash +as they did make! They upset old Grandfather Frog so that he fell off +his lily pad. They frightened Mr. and Mrs. Trout so that they jumped +right out of the water. Tiny Tadpole had such a scare that he hid way, +way down in the mud with only the tip of his funny little nose sticking +out. + +“Chug-a-rum,” said old Grandfather Frog, climbing out of his lily pad. +“If I wasn't so old I would show you how to dive.” + +“Come on, Grandfather Frog!” cried Billy Mink. “Show us how to dive.” + +And what do you think? Why, old Grandfather Frog actually got so excited +that he climbed up on the Big Rock to show them how to dive. Splash! +Went Grandfather Frog into the Smiling Pool. Splash! Went Billy Mink +right behind him. Splash! Splash! Went Little Joe Otter and Jerry +Muskrat, right at Billy Mink's heels. + +“Hurrah!” shouted Mr. Kingfisher, sitting on a branch of the old beech +tree. And then just to show them that he could dive, too, splash! He +went into the Smiling Pool. + +Such a noise as they did make! All the Little Breezes of Old Mother West +Wind danced for joy on the bank. Blacky the Crow and Sammy Jay flew over +to see what was going on. + +“Now let's see who can swim the farthest under water,” cried Billy Mink. + +So they all stood side by side on one edge of the Smiling Pool. + +“Go!” shouted Mr. Kingfisher, and in they all plunged. Little ripples +ran across the Smiling Pool and then the water became as smooth and +smiling as if nothing had gone into it with a plunge. + +Now old Grandfather Frog began to realize that he wasn't as young as he +used to be, and he couldn't swim as fast as the others anyway. He began +to get short of breath, so he swam up to the top and stuck just the tip +of his nose out to get some more air. Sammy Jay's sharp eyes saw him. + +“There's Grandfather Frog!” he shouted. + +So then Grandfather Frog popped his head out and swam over to his green +lily pad to rest. + +Way over beyond the Big Rock little bubbles in three long rows kept +coming up to the top of the Smiling Pool. They showed just where Billy +Mink, Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat were swimming way down out +of sight. It was the air from their lungs making the bubbles. Straight +across the Smiling Pool went the lines of little bubbles and then way +out on the farther side two little heads bobbed out of water close +together. They were Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter. A moment later +Jerry Muskrat bobbed up beside them. + +You see, they had swum clear across the Smiling Pool and of course they +could swim no farther. + +So Billy Mink's swimming party was a great success. + + + +CHAPTER IX PETER RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE + +One morning when big round Mr. Sun was climbing up in the sky and Old +Mother West Wind had sent all her Merry Little Breezes to play in the +Green Meadows, Johnny Chuck started out for a walk. First he sat up +very straight and looked and looked all around to see if Reddy Fox was +anywhere about, for you know Reddy Fox liked to tease Johnny Chuck. + +But Reddy Fox was nowhere to be seen, so Johnny Chuck trotted down the +Lone Little Path to the wood. Mr. Sun was shining as brightly as ever he +could and Johnny Chuck, who was very, very fat, grew very, very warm. By +and by he sat down on the end of a log under a big tree to rest. + +Thump! Something hit Johnny Chuck right on the top of his round little +head. It made Johnny Chuck jump. + +“Hello, Johnny Chuck!” said a voice that seemed to come right out of the +sky. Johnny Chuck tipped his head way, way back and looked up. He was +just in time to see Happy Jack Squirrel drop a nut. Down it came and hit +Johnny Chuck right on the tip of his funny, black, little nose. + +“Oh!” said Johnny Chuck, and tumbled right over back off the log. But +Johnny Chuck was so round and so fat and so roly-poly that it didn't +hurt him a bit. + +“Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Happy Jack up in the tree. + +“Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Johnny Chuck, picking himself up. Then they both +laughed together. It was such a good joke. + +“What are you laughing at?” asked a voice so close to Johnny Chuck that +he rolled over three times he was so surprised. It was Peter Rabbit. + +“What are you doing in my wood?” asked Peter Rabbit. + +“I'm taking a walk,” said Johnny Chuck. + +“Good,” said Peter Rabbit, “I'll come along too.” + +So Johnny Chuck and Peter Rabbit set out along the Lone Little Path +through the wood. Peter Rabbit hopped along with great big jumps, for +Peter's legs are long and meant for jumping, but Johnny Chuck couldn't +keep up though he tried very hard, for Johnny's legs are short. Pretty +soon Peter Rabbit came back, walking very softly. He whispered in Johnny +Chuck's ear. + +“I've found something,” said Peter Rabbit. + +“What is it?” asked Johnny Chuck. + +“I'll show you,” said Peter Rabbit, “but you must be very, very still, +and not make the least little bit of noise.” + +Johnny Chuck promised to be very, very still for he wanted very much +to see what Peter Rabbit had found. Peter Rabbit tip-toed down the Lone +Little Path through the wood, his funny long ears pointing right up to +the sky. And behind him tip-toed Johnny Chuck, wondering and wondering +what it could be that Peter Rabbit had found. + +Pretty soon they came to a nice mossy green log right across the Lone +Little Path. Peter Rabbit stopped and sat up very straight. He looked +this way and looked that way. Johnny Chuck stopped too and he sat up +very straight and looked this way and looked that way, but all he could +see was the mossy green log across the Lone Little Path. + +“What is it, Peter Rabbit?” whispered Johnny Chuck. + +“You can't see it yet,” whispered Peter Rabbit, “for first we have to +jump over that mossy green log. Now I'll jump first, and then you jump +just the way I do, and then you'll see what it is I've found,” said +Peter Rabbit. + +So Peter Rabbit jumped first, and because his legs are long and meant +for jumping, he jumped way, way over the mossy green log. Then he turned +around and sat up to see Johnny Chuck jump over the mossy green log, +too. + +Johnny Chuck tried to jump very high and very far, just as he had seen +Peter Rabbit jump, but Johnny Chuck's legs are very short and not meant +for jumping. Besides, Johnny Chuck was very, very fat. So though he +tried very hard indeed to jump just like Peter Rabbit, he stubbed his +toes on the top of the mossy green log and over he tumbled, head first, +and landed with a great big thump right on Reddy Fox, who was lying fast +asleep on the other side of the mossy green log. + +Peter Rabbit laughed and laughed until he had to hold his sides. + +My, how frightened Johnny Chuck was when he saw what he had done! Before +he could get on his feet he had rolled right over behind a little bush, +and there he lay very, very still. + +Reddy Fox awoke with a grunt when Johnny Chuck fell on him so hard, and +the first thing he saw was Peter Rabbit laughing so that he had to hold +his sides. Reddy Fox didn't stop to look around. He thought that Peter +Rabbit had jumped on him. Up jumped Reddy Fox and away ran Peter Rabbit. +Away went Reddy Fox after Peter Rabbit. Peter dodged behind the trees, +and jumped over the bushes, and ran this way and ran that way, just as +hard as ever he could, for Peter Rabbit was very much afraid of Reddy +Fox. And Reddy Fox followed Peter Rabbit behind the trees and over the +bushes this way and that way, but he couldn't catch Peter Rabbit. Pretty +soon Peter Rabbit came to the house of Jimmy Skunk. He knew that Jimmy +Skunk was over in the pasture, so he popped right in and then he was +safe, for the door of Jimmy Skunk's house was too small for Reddy Fox to +squeeze in. Reddy Fox sat down and waited, but Peter Rabbit didn't +come out. By and by Reddy Fox gave it up and trotted off home where old +Mother Fox was waiting for him. + +All this time Johnny Chuck had sat very still, watching Reddy Fox try to +catch Peter Rabbit. And when he saw Peter Rabbit pop into the house +of Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox trot away home, Johnny Chuck stood up and +brushed his little coat very clean and then he trotted back up the Lone +Little Path through the wood to his own dear little path through the +Green Meadows where the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind +were still playing, till he was safe in his own snug little house once +more. + + + +CHAPTER X HOW SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT + +Sammy Jay was very busy, very busy indeed. When anyone happened that way +Sammy Jay pretended to be doing nothing at all, for Sammy Jay thought +himself a very fine gentleman. He was very proud of his handsome blue +coat with white trimmings and his high cap, and he would sit on a fence +post and make fun of Johnny Chuck working at a new door for his snug +little home in the Green Meadows, and of Striped Chipmunk storing up +heaps of corn and nuts for the winter, for most of the time Sammy Jay +was an idle fellow. And when Sammy Jay WAS busy, he was pretty sure +to be doing something that he ought not to do, for idle people almost +always get into mischief. + +Sammy Jay was in mischief now, and that is why he pretended to be doing +nothing when he thought any one was looking. + +Old Mother West Wind had come down from her home behind the Purple Hills +very early that morning. Indeed, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had hardly +gotten out of bed when she crossed the Green Meadows on her way to help +the big ships across the ocean. Old Mother West Wind's eyes were sharp, +and she saw Sammy Jay before Sammy Jay saw her. + +“Now what can Sammy Jay be so busy about, and why is he so very, very +quiet?” thought Old Mother West Wind. “He must be up to some mischief.” + +So when she opened her big bag and turned out all her Merry Little +Breezes to play on the Green Meadows she sent one of them to see what +Sammy Jay was doing in the old chestnut tree. The Merry Little Breeze +danced along over the tree tops just as if he hadn't a thought in the +world but to wake up all the little leaves and set them to dancing too, +and Sammy Jay, watching Old Mother West Wind and the other Merry Little +Breezes, didn't see this Merry Little Breeze at all. + +Pretty soon it danced back to Old Mother West Wind and whispered in her +ear: “Sammy Jay is stealing the nuts Happy Jack Squirrel had hidden in +the hollow of the old chestnut tree, and is hiding them for himself in +the tumble down nest that Blacky the Crow built in the Great Pine last +year.” “Aha!” said Old Mother West Wind. Then she went on across the +Green Meadows. + +“Good morning, Old Mother West Wind,” said Sammy Jay as she passed the +fence post where he was sitting. + +“Good morning, Sammy Jay,” said Old Mother West Wind. “What brings you +out so early in the morning?” + +“I'm out for my health, Old Mother West Wind,” said Sammy Jay politely. +“The doctor has ordered me to take a bath in the dew at sunrise every +morning.” + +Old Mother West Wind said nothing, but went on her way across the Green +Meadows to blow the ships across the ocean. When she had passed, Sammy +Jay hurried to take the last of Happy Jack's nuts to the old nest in the +Great Pine. + +Poor Happy Jack! Soon he came dancing along with another nut to put in +the hollow of the old chestnut tree. When he peeped in and saw that all +his big store of nuts had disappeared, he couldn't believe his own eyes. +He put in one paw and felt all around but not a nut could he feel. Then +he climbed in and sure enough, the hollow was empty. + +Poor Happy Jack! There were tears in his eyes when he crept out again. +He looked all around but no one was to be seen but handsome Sammy Jay, +very busy brushing his beautiful blue coat. + +“Good morning, Sammy Jay, have you seen any one pass this way?” asked +Happy Jack. “Some one has stolen a store of nuts from the hollow in the +old chestnut tree.” + +Sammy Jay pretended to feel very badly indeed, and in his sweetest +voice, for his voice was very sweet in those days, he offered to help +Happy Jack try to catch the thief who had stolen the store of nuts from +the hollow in the old chestnut tree. + +Together they went down cross the Green Meadows asking every one whom +they met if they had seen the thief who had stolen Happy Jack's store +of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. All the Merry Little +Breezes joined in the search, and soon every one who lived in the Green +Meadows or in the wood knew that some one had stolen all of Happy Jack +Squirrel's store of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. And +because every one liked Happy Jack, every one felt very sorry indeed for +him. + +The next morning all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind +were turned out of the big bag into the Green Meadows very early indeed, +for they had a lot of errands to do. All over the Green Meadows they +hurried, all through the wood, up and down the Laughing Brook and all +around the Smiling Pool, inviting everybody to meet at the Great Pine +on the hill at nine o'clock to form a committee of the whole--to try to +find the thief who stole Happy Jack's nuts from the hollow in the old +chestnut tree. + +And because every one liked Happy Jack every one went to the Great Pine +on the hill--Reddy Fox, Bobby Coon, Jimmy Skunk Striped Chipmunk, who +is Happy Jack's cousin you know, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Jerry +Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, who was almost too sleepy to keep his eyes open, +Blacky the Crow, Johnny Chuck, Peter Rabbit, even old Grandfather Frog. +Of course Sammy Jay was there, looking his handsomest. + +When they had all gathered around the Great Pine, Old Mother West Wind +pointed to the old nest way up in the top of it. “Is that your nest?” + she asked Blacky the Crow. + +“It was, but I gave it to my cousin, Sammy Jay,” said Blacky the Crow. + +“Is that your nest, and may I have a stick out of it?” asked Old Mother +West Wind of Sammy Jay. + +“It is,” said Sammy Jay, with his politest bow, “And you are welcome to +a stick out of it.” To himself he thought, “She will only take one from +the top and that won't matter.” + +Old Mother West Wind suddenly puffed out her cheeks and blew so hard +that she blew a big stick right out of the bottom of the old nest. +Down it fell bumpity-bump on the branches of the Great Pine. After it +fell--what do you think? Why, hickory nuts and chestnuts and acorns and +hazel nuts, such a lot of them! + +“Why! Why--e--e!” cried Happy Jack. “There are all my stolen nuts!” + +Everybody turned to look at Sammy Jay, but he was flying off through the +wood as fast as he could go. “Stop thief!” cried Old Mother West Wind. +“Stop thief!” cried all the Merry Little Breezes and Johnny Chuck and +Billy Mink and all the rest. But Sammy Jay didn't stop. + +Then all began to pick up the nuts that had fallen from the old nest +where Sammy Jay had hidden them. By and by, with Happy Jack leading the +way, they all marched back to the old chestnut tree and there Happy Jack +stored all the nuts away in his snug little hollow once more. + +And ever since that day, Sammy Jay, whenever he tries to call, just +screams: “Thief!” “Thief!” “Thief!” + + + +CHAPTER XI JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY + +All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were hurrying over +the Green Meadows. Some flew this way and some ran that way and some +danced the other way. You see, Jerry Muskrat had asked them to carry his +invitations to a party at the Big Rock in the Smiling Pool. + +Of course every one said that they would be delighted to go to Jerry +Muskrat's party. Round Mr. Sun shone his very brightest. The sky was its +bluest and the little birds had promised to be there to sing for Jerry +Muskrat, so of course all the little folks in the Green Meadows and in +the wood wanted to go. + +There were Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox and Jimmy Skunk and Bobby Coon and +Happy Jack Squirrel and Striped Chipmunk and Billy Mink and Little Joe +Otter and Grandfather Frog and old Mr. Toad and Mr. Blacksnake--all +going to Jerry Muskrat's party. + +When they reached the Smiling Pool they found Jerry Muskrat all ready. +His brothers and his sister, his aunts and his uncles and his cousins +were all there. Such a merry, merry time as there was in the Smiling +Pool! How the water did splash! Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and +Grandfather Frog jumped right in as soon as they got there. They played +tag in the water and hid behind the Big Rock. They turned somersaults +down the slippery slide and they had such a good time! + +But Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Johnny Chuck and Jimmy +Skunk and Happy Jack and Striped Chipmunk couldn't swim, so of course +they couldn't play tag in the water or hide and seek or go down the +slippery slide; all they could do was sit around to look on and wish +that they knew how to swim, too. So of course they didn't have a good +time. Soon they began to wish that they hadn't come to Jerry Muskrat's +party. When he found that they were not having a good time, poor Jerry +Muskrat felt very badly indeed. You see he lives in the water so much +that he had quite forgotten that there was anyone who couldn't swim, or +he never, never would have invited all the little meadow folks who live +on dry land. + +“Let's go home,” said Peter Rabbit to Johnny Chuck. + +“We can have more fun up on the hill,” said Jimmy Skunk. + +Just then Little Joe Otter came pushing a great big log across the +Smiling Pool. + +“Here's a ship, Bobby Coon. You get on one end and I'll give you a sail +across the Smiling Pool,” shouted Little Joe Otter. + +So Bobby Coon crawled out on the big log and held on very tight, while +little Joe Otter swam behind and pushed the big log. Across the Smiling +Pool they went and back again. Bobby Coon had such a good ride that he +wanted to go again, but Jimmy Skunk wanted a ride. So Bobby Coon hopped +off of the big log and Jimmy Skunk hopped on and away he went across the +Smiling Pool with little Joe Otter pushing behind. + +Then Jerry Muskrat found another log and gave Peter Rabbit a ride. Jerry +Muskrat's brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins found +logs and took Reddy Fox and Johnny Chuck and even Mr. Toad back and +forth across the Smiling Pool. + +Happy Jack Squirrel sat up very straight on the end of his log and +spread his great bushy tail for a sail. All the little Breezes blew and +blew and Happy Jack Squirrel sailed round and round the Smiling Pool. + +Sometimes someone would fall off into the water and get wet, but Jerry +Muskrat or Billy Mink always pulled them out again, and no one cared the +tiniest bit for a wetting. + +In the bushes around the Smiling Pool the little birds sang and +sang. Reddy Fox barked his loudest. Happy Jack Squirrel chattered +and chir--r--r--ed. All the muskrats squealed and squeaked, for Jerry +Muskrat's party was such fun! + +By and by when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills to his home and +Old Mother West Wind with all her Merry Little Breezes went after him, +and the little stars came out to twinkle and twinkle, the Smiling Pool +lay all quiet and still, but smiling and smiling to think what a good +time every one had had at Jerry Muskrat's party. + + + +CHAPTER XII BOBBY COON AND REDDY FOX PLAY TRICKS + +It was night. All the little stars were looking down and twinkling and +twinkling. Mother Moon was doing her best to make the Green Meadows as +light as Mr. Sun did in the daytime. All the little birds except Hooty +the Owl and Boomer the Night Hawk, and noisy Mr. Whip-poor-will were +fast asleep in their little nests. Old Mother West Wind's Merry Little +Breezes had all gone to sleep, too. It was oh so still! Indeed it was so +very still that Bobby Coon, coming down the Lone Little Path through the +wood, began to talk to himself. + +“I don't see what people want to play all day and sleep all night for,” + said Bobby Coon. “Night's the best time to be about. Now Reddy Fox--” + +“Be careful what you say about Reddy Fox,” said a voice right behind +Bobby Coon. + +Bobby Coon turned around very quickly indeed, for he had thought he was +all alone. There was Reddy Fox himself, trotting down the Lone Little +Path through the wood. + +“I thought you were home and fast asleep, Reddy Fox,” said Bobby Coon. + +“You were mistaken,” said Reddy Fox. “For you see I'm out to take a walk +in the moonlight.” + +So Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox walked together down the Lone Little Path +through the wood to the Green Meadows. They met Jimmy Skunk, who had +dreamed that there were a lot of beetles up on the hill, and was just +going to climb the Crooked Little Path to see. + +“Hello, Jimmy Skunk!” said Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox. “Come down to the +Green Meadows with us.” + +Jimmy Skunk said he would, so they all went down on the Green Meadows +together, Bobby Coon first, Reddy Fox next and Jimmy Skunk last of all, +for Jimmy Skunk never hurries. Pretty soon they came to the house of +Johnny Chuck. + +“Listen,” said Bobby Coon. “Johnny Chuck is fast asleep.” + +They all listened and they could hear Johnny Chuck snoring away down in +his snug little bed. + +“Let's give Johnny Chuck a surprise,” said Reddy Fox. + +“What shall it be?” asked Bobby Coon. + +“I know,” said Reddy Fox. “Let's roll that big stone right over Johnny +Chuck's doorway; then he'll have to dig his way out in the morning.” + +So Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox pulled and tugged and tugged and pulled at +the big stone till they had rolled it over Johnny Chuck's doorway. Jimmy +Skunk pretended not to see what they were doing. + +“Now let's go down to the Laughing Brook and wake up old Grandfather +Frog and hear him say 'Chug-a-rum,'” said Bobby Coon. + +“Come on!” cried Reddy Fox, “I'll get there first!” + +Away raced Reddy Fox down the Lone Little Path and after him ran Bobby +Coon, going to wake old Grandfather Frog from a nice comfortable sleep +on his green lily pad. + +But Jimmy Skunk didn't go. He watched Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon until +they were nearly to the Laughing Brook. Then he began to dig at one side +of the big stone which filled the doorway of Johnny Chuck's house. My, +how he made the dirt fly! Pretty soon he had made a hole big enough to +call through to Johnny Chuck, who was snoring away, fast asleep in his +snug little bed below. + +“Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!” called Jimmy Skunk. + +But Johnny Chuck just snored. + +“Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!” called Jimmy Skunk once +more. + +But Johnny Chuck just snored. Then Jimmy Skunk called again, this time +louder than before. + +“Who is it?” asked a very sleepy voice. + +“It's Jimmy Skunk. Put your coat on and come up here!” called Jimmy +Skunk. + +“Go away, Jimmy Skunk. I want to sleep!” said Johnny Chuck. + +“I've got a surprise for you, Johnny Chuck. You'd better come!” called +Jimmy Skunk through the little hole he had made. When Johnny Chuck heard +that Jimmy Skunk had a surprise for him he wanted to know right away +what it could be, so though he was very, very sleepy, he put on his +coat and started up for his door to see what the surprise was that Jimmy +Skunk had. And there he found the big stone Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon had +put there, and of course he was very much surprised indeed. He thought +Jimmy Skunk had played him a mean trick and for a few minutes he was +very mad. But Jimmy Skunk soon told him who had filled up his doorway +with the big stone. + +“Now you push from that side, Johnny Chuck, and I'll pull from this +side, and we'll soon have this big stone out of your doorway,” said +Jimmy Skunk. + +So Johnny Chuck pushed and Jimmy Skunk pulled, and sure enough they soon +had the big stone out of Johnny Chuck's doorway. + +“Now,” said Jimmy Skunk, “we'll roll this big stone down the Lone Little +Path to Reddy Fox's house and we'll give Reddy Fox a surprise.” + +So Johnny Chuck and Jimmy Skunk tugged and pulled and rolled the big +stone down to the house of Reddy Fox, and sure enough, it filled his +doorway. + +“Good night, Jimmy Skunk,” said Johnny Chuck, and trotted down the Lone +Little Path toward home, chuckling to himself all the way. + +Jimmy Skunk walked slowly up the Lone Little Path to the wood, for Jimmy +Skunk never hurries. Pretty soon he came to the big hollow tree where +Bobby Coon lives, and there he met Hooty the Owl. + +“Hello, Jimmy Skunk, where have you been?” asked Hooty the Owl. + +“Just for a walk,” said Jimmy Skunk. “Who lives in this big hollow +tree?” + +Now of course Jimmy Skunk knew all the time, but he pretended he didn't. + +“Oh, this is Bobby Coon's house,” said Hooty the Owl. + +“Let's give Bobby Coon a surprise,” said Jimmy Skunk. + +“How?” asked Hooty the Owl. + +“We'll fill his house full of sticks and leaves,” said Jimmy Skunk. + +Hooty the Owl thought that would be a good joke so while Jimmy Skunk +gathered all the old sticks and leaves he could find, Hooty the Owl +stuffed them into the old hollow tree which was Bobby Coon's house, +until he couldn't get in another one. + +“Good night,” said Jimmy Skunk as he began to climb the Crooked Little +Path up the hill to his own snug little home. + +“Good night,” said Hooty the Owl, as he flew like a big soft shadow over +to the Great Pine. + +By and by when old Mother Moon was just going to bed and all the little +stars were too sleepy to twinkle any longer, Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon, +very tired and very wet from playing in the Laughing Brook, came up the +Lone Little Path, ready to tumble into their snug little beds. They were +chuckling over the trick they had played on Johnny Chuck, and the way +they had waked up old Grandfather Frog, and all the other mischief they +had done. What do you suppose they said when they reached their homes +and found that someone else had been playing jokes, too? + +I'm sure I don't know, but round, red Mr. Sun was laughing very hard as +he peeped over the hill at Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon, and he won't tell +why. + + + +CHAPTER XIII JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD + +Old Mother West Wind had stopped to talk with the Slender Fir Tree. + +“I've just come across the Green Meadows,” said Old Mother West Wind, +“and there I saw the Best Thing in the World.” + +Striped Chipmunk was sitting under the Slender Fir Tree and he couldn't +help hearing what Old Mother West Wind said. “The Best Thing in the +World--now what can that be?” thought Striped Chipmunk. “Why, it must be +heaps and heaps of nuts and acorns! I'll go and find it.” + +So Striped Chipmunk started down the Lone Little Path through the wood +as fast as he could run. Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit. + +“Where are you going in such a hurry, Striped Chipmunk?” asked Peter +Rabbit. + +“Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World,” replied +Striped Chipmunk, and ran faster. + +“The Best Thing in the World,” said Peter Rabbit. “Why, that must be +great piles of carrots and cabbage! I think I'll go and find it.” + +So Peter Rabbit started down the Lone Little Path through the wood as +fast as he could go after Striped Chipmunk. + +As they passed the great hollow tree Bobby Coon put his head out. “Where +are you going in such a hurry?” asked Bobby Coon. + +“Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!” shouted +Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, and both began to run faster. + +“The Best Thing in the World,” said Bobby Coon to himself. “Why, that +must be a whole field of sweet milky corn. I think I'll go and find it.” + +So Bobby Coon climbed down out of the great hollow tree and started +down the Lone Little Path through the wood as fast as he could go after +Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, for there is nothing that Bobby Coon +likes to eat so well as sweet milky corn. + +At the edge of the wood they met Jimmy Skunk. + +“Where are you going in such a hurry?” asked Jimmy Skunk. + +“Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!” shouted +Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon. Then they all tried to +run faster. + +“The Best Thing in the World,” said Jimmy Skunk. “Why, that must be +packs and packs of beetles!” And for once in his life Jimmy Skunk began +to hurry down the Lone Little Path after Striped Chipmunk and Peter +Rabbit and Bobby Coon. + +They were all running so fast that they didn't see Reddy Fox until he +jumped out of the long grass and asked: “Where are you going in such a +hurry?” + +“To find the Best Thing in the World!” shouted Striped Chipmunk and +Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk, and each did his best to +run faster. + +“The Best Thing in the World,” said Reddy Fox to himself. “Why, that +must be a whole pen full of tender young chickens, and I must have +them.” + +So away went Reddy Fox as fast as he could run down the Lone Little Path +after Striped Chipmunk, Peter Rabbit, Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk. + +By and by they all came to the house of Johnny Chuck. + +“Where are you going in such a hurry?” asked Johnny Chuck. + +“To find the Best Thing in the World,” shouted Striped Chipmunk and +Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox. + +“The Best Thing in the World,” said Johnny Chuck. “Why, I don't know of +anything better than my own little home and the warm sunshine and the +beautiful blue sky.” + +So Johnny Chuck stayed at home and played all day among the flowers with +the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind and was as happy as +could be. + +But all day long Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and +Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox ran this way and ran that way over the Green +Meadows trying to find the Best Thing in the World. The sun was very, +very warm and they ran so far and they ran so fast that they were very, +very hot and tired, and still they hadn't found the Best Thing in the +World. + +When the long day was over they started up the Lone Little Path past +Johnny Chuck's house to their own homes. They didn't hurry now for they +were so very, very tired! And they were cross--oh so cross! Striped +Chipmunk hadn't found a single nut. Peter Rabbit hadn't found so much as +the leaf of a cabbage. Bobby Coon hadn't found the tiniest bit of sweet +milky corn. Jimmy Skunk hadn't seen a single beetle. Reddy Fox hadn't +heard so much as the peep of a chicken. And all were as hungry as hungry +could be. + +Half way up the Lone Little Path they met Old Mother West Wind going to +her home behind the hill. “Did you find the Best Thing in the World?” + asked Old Mother West Wind. + +“NO!” shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy +Skunk and Reddy Fox all together. + +“Johnny Chuck has it,” said Old Mother West Wind. “It is being happy +with the things you have and not wanting things which some one else has. +And it is called Con-tent-ment.” + + + +CHAPTER XIV LITTLE JOE OTTER'S SLIPPERY SLIDE + +Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink had been playing together around the +Smiling Pool all one sunshiny morning. They had been fishing and had +taken home a fine dinner of Trout for old Grandfather Mink and blind old +Granny Otter. They had played tag with the Merry Little Breezes. They +had been in all kinds of mischief and now they just didn't know what to +do. + +They were sitting side by side on the Big Rock trying to push each other +off into the Smiling Pool. Round, smiling red Mr. Sun made the Green +Meadows very warm indeed, and Reddy Fox, over in the tall grass, heard +them splashing and shouting and having such a good time that he wished +he liked the nice cool water and could swim, too. + +“I've thought of something!” cried Little Joe Otter. + +“What is it?” asked Billy Mink. + +Little Joe Otter just looked wise and said nothing. + +“Something to eat?” asked Billy Mink. + +“No,” said Little Joe Otter. + +“I don't believe you've a thought of anything at all,” said Billy Mink. + +“I have too!” said Little Joe Otter. “It's something to do.” + +“What?” demanded Billy Mink. + +Just then Little Joe Otter spied Jerry Muskrat. “Hi, Jerry Muskrat! Come +over here!” he called. + +Jerry Muskrat swam across to the Big Rock and climbed up beside Billy +Mink and Little Joe Otter. + +“What are you fellows doing?” asked Jerry Muskrat. + +“Having some fun,” said Billy Mink. “Little Joe Otter has thought of +something to do, but I don't know what it is.” + +“Let's make a slide,” cried Little Joe Otter. + +“You show us how,” said Billy Mink. + +So Little Joe Otter found a nice smooth place on the bank, and Billy +Mink and Jerry Muskrat brought mud and helped him pat it down smooth +until they had the loveliest slippery slide in the world. Then Little +Joe Otter climbed up the bank to the top of the slippery slide and lay +down flat on his stomach. Billy Mink gave a push and away he went +down, down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. Then Jerry +Muskrat tried it and after him Billy Mink. Then all did it over again. +Sometimes they went down the slippery slide on their backs, sometimes +flat on their stomachs, sometimes head first, sometimes feet first. Oh +such fun as they did have! Even Grandfather Frog came over and tried the +slippery slide. + +Johnny Chuck, over in the Green Meadows, heard the noise and stole down +the Lone Little Path to see. Jimmy Skunk, looking for beetles up on the +hill, heard the noise and forgot that he hadn't had his breakfast. Reddy +Fox, taking a nap, woke up and hurried over to watch the fun. Last of +all came Peter Rabbit. + +Little Joe Otter saw him coming. “Hello, Peter Rabbit!” he shouted. +“Come and try the slippery slide.” + +Now Peter Rabbit couldn't swim, but he pretended that he didn't want to. + +“I've left my bathing suit at home,” said Peter Rabbit. + +“Never mind,” said Billy Mink. “Mr. Sun will dry you off.” + +“And we'll help,” said all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West +Wind. + +But Peter Rabbit shook his head and said, “No.” + +Faster and faster went Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat +and old Grandfather Frog down the slippery slide into the Smiling Pool. + +Peter Rabbit kept coming nearer and nearer until finally he stood right +at the top of the slippery slide. Billy Mink crept up behind him very +softly and gave him a push. Peter Rabbit's long legs flew out from under +him and down he sat with a thump on the slippery slide. “Oh,” cried +Peter Rabbit, and tried to stop himself. But he couldn't do it and so +away he went down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. + +“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed Billy Mink. + +“Ho! ho! ho!” shouted Little Joe Otter. + +“He! he! he!” laughed Jerry Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog and +Sammy Jay and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox and Blacky the Crow and Mr. +Kingfisher, for you know Peter Rabbit was forever playing jokes on them. + +Poor Peter Rabbit! The water got in his eyes and up his nose and into +his mouth and made him choke and splutter, and then he couldn't get back +on the bank, for you know Peter Rabbit couldn't swim. + +When Little Joe Otter saw what a dreadful time Peter Rabbit was having +he dove into the Smiling Pool and took hold of one of Peter Rabbit's +long ears. Billy Mink swam out and took hold of the other long ear. +Jerry Muskrat swam right under Peter Rabbit and took him on his back. +Then with old Grandfather Frog swimming ahead they took Peter Rabbit +right across the Smiling Pool and pulled him out on the grassy bank, +where it was nice and warm. All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother +West Wind came over and helped Mr. Sun dry Peter Rabbit off. + +Then they all sat down together and watched Little Joe Otter turn a +somersault down the slippery slide. + + + +CHAPTER XV THE TAIL OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DID NOT MIND + +In the Laughing Brook, which rippled and sings all day long, lived Mr. +Trout and Mrs. Trout, and a whole lot of little Trouts. There were so +many little Trouts that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout were kept very busy +indeed getting breakfast and dinner and supper for them, and watching +out for them and teaching them how to swim and how to catch foolish +little flies that sometimes fell on the water and how to keep out of +the way of big hungry fish and sharp eyed Mr. Kingfisher and big men and +little boys who came fishing with hooks and lines. + +Now all the little Trouts were very, very good and minded just what Mrs. +Trout told them--all but Tommy Trout, for Tommy Trout--oh, dear, dear! +Tommy Trout never could mind right away. He always had to wait a little +instead of minding when he was spoken to. + +Tommy Trout didn't mean to be bad. Oh dear, no! He just wanted to have +his own way, and because Tommy Trout had his own way and didn't mind +Mrs. Trout there isn't any Tommy Trout now. No sir, there isn't as much +as one little blue spot of his beautiful little coat left because--why, +just because Tommy Trout didn't mind. + +One day when round, red Mr. Sun was shining and the Laughing Brook was +singing on its way to join the Big River, Mrs. Trout started to get some +nice plump flies for dinner. All the little Trouts were playing in their +dear little pool, safe behind the Big Rock. Before she started Mrs. +Trout called all the little Trouts around her and told them not to +leave their little pool while she was gone, “For,” said she, “something +dreadful might happen to you.” + +All the little Trouts, except Tommy Trout, promised that they would +surely, surely stay inside their dear little pool. Then they all began +to jump and chase each other and play as happy as could be, all but +Tommy Trout. + +As soon as Mrs. Trout had started, Tommy Trout swam off by himself to +the edge of the pool. “I wonder what is on the other side of the Big +Rock,” said Tommy Trout. “The sun is shining and the brook is laughing +and nothing could happen if I go just a little speck of a ways.” + +So, when no one was looking, Tommy Trout slipped out of the safe little +pool where all the other little Trouts were playing. He swam just a +little speck of a ways farther still. Now he could see almost around +the Big Rock. Then he swam just a little speck of a ways farther and--oh +dear, dear! he looked right into the mouth of a great big, big fish +called Mr. Pickerel, who is very fond of little Trouts and would like to +eat one for breakfast every day. + +“Ah ha!” said Mr. Pickerel, opening his big, big mouth very, very wide. + +Tommy Trout turned to run back to the dear, dear safe little pool where +all the other little Trouts were playing so happily, but he was too +late. Into that great big, big mouth he went instead, and Mr. Pickerel +swallowed him whole. + +“Ah ha,” said Mr. Pickerel, “I like little Trouts.” + +And nothing more was ever heard of Tommy Trout, who didn't mind. + + + +CHAPTER XVI SPOTTY THE TURTLE WINS A RACE + +All the little people who live on the Green Meadows and in the Smiling +Pool and along the Laughing Brook were to have a holiday. The Merry +Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had been very busy, oh very busy +indeed, in sending word to all the little meadow folks. You see, Peter +Rabbit had been boasting of how fast he could run. Reddy Fox was quite +sure that he could run faster than Peter Rabbit. Billy Mink, who can +move so quickly you hardly can see him, was quite sure that neither +Peter Rabbit nor Reddy Fox could run as fast as he. They all met one +day beside the Smiling Pool and agreed that old Grandfather Frog should +decide who was the swiftest. + +Now Grandfather Frog was accounted very wise. You see he had lived a +long time, oh, very much longer than any of the others, and therefore, +because of the wisdom of age, Grandfather Frog was always called on to +decide all disputes. He sat on his green lily-pad while Billy Mink sat +on the Big Rock, and Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox sat on the bank. Each +in turn told why he thought he was the fastest. Old Grandfather Frog +listened and listened and said never a word until they were all through. +When they had finished, he stopped to catch a foolish green fly and then +he said: “The best way to decide who is the swiftest is to have a race.” + +So it was agreed that Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink should +start together from the old butternut tree on one edge of the Green +Meadows, race away across the Green Meadows to the little hill on the +other side and each bring back a nut from the big hickory which grew +there. The one who first reached the old butternut tree with a hickory +nut would be declared the winner. The Merry Little Breezes flew about +over the Green Meadows telling everyone about the race and everyone +planned to be there. + +It was a beautiful summer day. Mr. Sun smiled and smiled, and the +more he smiled the warmer it grew. Everyone was there to see the +race--Striped Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow, +Hooty the Owl and Bobby Coon all sat up in the old butternut tree where +it was cool and shady. Johnny Chuck, Jerry Muskrat, Jimmy Skunk, Little +Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and even old Mr. Toad, were there. Last of +all came Spotty the Turtle. Now Spotty the Turtle is a very slow walker, +and he cannot run at all. When Peter Rabbit saw him coming up towards +the old butternut tree he shouted: “Come, Spotty, don't you want to race +with us?” + +Everybody laughed because you know Spotty is so very, very slow but +Spotty didn't laugh and he didn't get cross because everyone else +laughed. + +“There is a wise old saying, Peter Rabbit,” said Spotty the Turtle, +“which shows that those who run fastest do not always reach a place +first. I think I WILL enter this race.” + +Every one thought that that was the best joke they had heard for a long +time, and all laughed harder than ever. They all agreed that Spotty the +Turtle should start in the race too. + +So they all stood in a row, Peter Rabbit first, the Billy Mink, then +Reddy Fox, and right side of Reddy Fox Spotty the Turtle. + +“Are you ready?” asked Grandfather Frog. “Go!” + +Away went Peter Rabbit with great big jumps. After him went Billy Mink +so fast that was just a little brown streak going through the tall +grass, and side by side with him ran Reddy Fox. Now just as they started +Spotty the Turtle reached up and grabbed the long hair on the end of +Reddy's big tail. Of course Reddy couldn't have stopped to shake him +off, because Peter Rabbit and Billy Mink were running so fast that he +had to run his very best to keep up with them. But he didn't even know +that Spotty the Turtle was there. You see Spotty is not very heavy and +Reddy Fox was so excited that he did not notice that his big tail was +heavier than usual. + +The Merry Little Breezes flew along, too, to see that the race was fair. +Peter Rabbit went with great big jumps. Whenever he came to a little +bush he jumped right over it, for Peter Rabbit's legs are long and meant +for jumping. Billy Mink is so slim that he slipped between the bushes +and through the long grass like a little brown streak. Reddy Fox, who is +bigger than either Peter Rabbit or Billy Mink, had no trouble in keeping +up with them. Not one of them noticed that Spotty the Turtle was hanging +fast to the end of Reddy's tail. + +Now just at the foot of the little hill on which the big hickory tree +grew was a little pond. It wasn't very wide but it was quite long. Billy +Mink remembered this pond and he chuckled to himself as he raced along, +for he knew that Peter Rabbit couldn't swim and he knew that Reddy Fox +does not like the water, so therefore both would have to run around it. +He himself can swim even faster than he can run. The more he thought of +this, the more foolish it seemed that he should hurry so on such a warm +day. “For,” said Billy Mink to himself, “even if they reach the pond +first, they will have to run around it, while I can swim across it and +cool off while I am swimming. I will surely get there first.” So Billy +Mink ran slower and slower, and pretty soon he had dropped behind. + +Mr. Sun, round and red, looking down, smiled and smiled to see the race. +The more he smiled the warmer it grew. Now, Peter Rabbit had a thick +gray coat and Reddy Fox had a thick red coat, and they both began to get +very, very warm. Peter Rabbit did not make such long jumps as when he +first started. Reddy Fox began to feel very thirsty, and his tongue hung +out. Now that Billy Mink was behind them they thought they did not need +to hurry so. + +Peter Rabbit reached the little pond first. He had not thought of that +pond when he agreed to enter the race. He stopped right on the edge +of it and sat up on his hind legs. Right across he could see the big +hickory tree, so near and yet so far, for he knew that he must run +around the pond then back again, and it was a long, long way. In just +a moment Reddy Fox ran out of the bushes and Reddy felt much as +Peter Rabbit did. Way, way behind them was Billy Mink, trotting along +comfortably and chuckling to himself. Peter Rabbit looked at Reddy Fox +in dismay, and Reddy Fox looked at Peter Rabbit in dismay. Then they +both looked at Billy Mink and remembered that Billy Mink could swim +right across. + +Then off Peter Rabbit started as fast as he could go around the pond one +way, and Reddy Fox started around the pond the other way. They were +so excited that neither noticed a little splash in the pond. That was +Spotty the Turtle who had let go of Reddy's tail and now was swimming +across the pond, for you know that Spotty is a splendid swimmer. Only +once or twice he stuck his little black nose up to get some air. The +rest of the time he swam under water and no one but the Merry Little +Breezes saw him. Right across he swam, and climbed up the bank right +under the big hickory tree. + +Now there were just three nuts left under the hickory trees. Two of +these Spotty took down to the edge of the pond and buried in the mud. +The other he took in his mouth and started back across the pond. Just as +he reached the other shore up trotted Billy Mink, but Billy Mink didn't +see Spotty. He was too intent watching Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit, who +were now half way around the pond. In he jumped with a splash. My! How +good that cool water did feel! He didn't have to hurry now, because he +felt sure that the race was his. So he swam round and round and chased +some fish and had a beautiful time in the water. By and by he looked up +and saw that Peter Rabbit was almost around the pond one way and Reddy +Fox was almost around the pond the other way. They both looked tired and +hot and discouraged. + +Then Billy Mink swam slowly across and climbed out on the bank under the +big hickory tree. But where were the nuts? Look as he would, he could +not see a nut anywhere, yet the Merry Little Breezes had said there were +three nuts lying under the hickory tree. Billy Mink ran this way and +ran that way. He was still running around, poking over the leaves and +looking under the twigs and pieces of bark when Peter Rabbit and Reddy +Fox came up. + +Then they, too, began to look under the leaves and under the bark. They +pawed around in the grass, they hunted in every nook and cranny, but +not a nut could they find. They were tired and cross and hot and +they accused Billy Mink of having hidden the nuts. Billy Mink stoutly +insisted that he had not hidden the nuts, that he had not found the +nuts, and when they saw how hard he was hunting they believed him. + +All the afternoon they hunted and hunted and hunted, and all the +afternoon Spotty the Turtle, with the nut in his mouth, was slowly, oh, +so slowly, crawling straight back across the Green Meadows towards the +old butternut tree. Round, red Mr. Sun was getting very close to the +Purple Hills, where he goes to bed every night, and all the little +meadow folks were getting ready to go to their homes. They were +wondering and wondering what could have happened to the racers, when +Sammy Jay spied the Merry Little Breezes dancing across the Green +Meadows. + +“Here come the Merry Little Breezes; they'll tell us who wins the race,” + cried Sammy Jay. + +When the Merry Little Breezes reached the old butternut tree, all the +little meadow folks crowded around them, but the Merry Little Breezes +just laughed and laughed and wouldn't say a word. Then all of a sudden, +out of the tall meadow grass crept Spotty the Turtle and laid the +hickory nut at the feet of old Grandfather Frog. Old Grandfather Frog +was so surprised that he actually let a great green fly buzz right past +his nose. + +“Where did you get that hickory nut?” asked Grandfather Frog. + +“Under the big hickory tree on the hill on the other side of the Green +Meadows,” said Spotty. + +Then all the Merry Little Breezes clapped their hands and shouted: “He +did! He did! Spotty wins the race!” + +Then they told how Spotty reached the pond by clinging to the tip of +Reddy Fox's tail, and had hidden the other two nuts, and then how he had +patiently crawled home while Billy Mink and Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit +were hunting and hunting and hunting for the nuts they could not find. + +And so Spotty the Turtle was awarded the race, and to this day Peter +Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink can't bear the sight of a hickory +nut. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Old Mother West Wind, by Thornton W. 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Burgess + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Mother West Wind, 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: Old Mother West Wind + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Release Date: December 23, 2008 [EBook #2557] +Last Updated: March 10, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD MOTHER WEST WIND *** + + + + +Produced by Eve Sobol, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + OLD MOTHER WEST WIND + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Thornton W. Burgess + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + TO MY MOTHER TO WHOM I OWE SO MUCH AND TO MY LITTLE SON WHOSE + LOVE OF STORIES INSPIRED THESE TALES THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS + AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. + </pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> MRS. REDWING'S + SPECKLED EGG <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> WHY + GRANDFATHER FROG HAS NO TAIL <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER + III. </a> HOW REDDY FOX WAS SURPRISED <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> WHY JIMMY SKUNK WEARS + STRIPES <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> THE + WILFUL LITTLE BREEZE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. + </a> REDDY FOX GOES FISHING <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0007"> + CHAPTER VII. </a> JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> BILLY MINK'S + SWIMMING PARTY <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> PETER + RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> HOW + SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. + </a> JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0012"> + CHAPTER XII. </a> BOBBY COON AND REDDY FOX PLAY TRICKS <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> JOHNNY + CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> LITTLE JOE OTTER'S + SLIPPERY SLIDE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> THE + TAIL OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DID NOT MIND <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0016"> + CHAPTER XVI. </a> SPOTTY THE TURTLE WINS A RACE <br /><br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. MRS. REDWING'S SPECKLED EGG + </h2> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the golden light + of the early morning. Over her shoulders was slung a bag—a great big + bag—and in the bag were all of Old Mother West Wind's children, the + Merry Little Breezes. + </p> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills to the Green Meadows + and as she walked she crooned a song: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ships upon the ocean wait; + I must hurry, hurry on! + Mills are idle if I'm late; + I must hurry, hurry on.” + </pre> + <p> + When she reached the Green Meadows Old Mother West Wind opened her bag, + turned it upside down and shook it. Out tumbled all the Merry Little + Breezes and began to spin round and round for very joy, for you see they + were to lay in the Green Meadows all day long until Old Mother West Wind + should come back at night and take them all to their home behind the + Purple Hills. + </p> + <p> + First they raced over to see Johnny Chuck. They found Johnny Chuck sitting + just outside his door eating his breakfast. One, for very mischief, + snatched right out of Johnny Chuck's mouth the green leaf of corn he was + eating, and ran away with it. Another playfully pulled his whiskers, while + a third rumpled up his hair. + </p> + <p> + Johnny Chuck pretended to be very cross indeed, but really he didn't mind + a bit, for Johnny Chuck loved the Merry Little Breezes and played with + them everyday. + </p> + <p> + And if they teased Johnny Chuck they were good to him, too. When they saw + Farmer Brown coming across the Green Meadows with a gun one of them would + dance over to Johnny Chuck and whisper to him that Farmer Brown was + coming, and then Johnny Chuck would hide away, deep down in his snug + little house under ground, and Farmer Brown would wonder and wonder why it + was that he never, never could get near enough to shoot Johnny Chuck. But + he never, never could. + </p> + <p> + When the Merry Little Breezes left Johnny Chuck they raced across the + Green Meadows to the Smiling Pool to say good morning to Grandfather Frog + who sat on a big lily pad watching for green flies for breakfast. + </p> + <p> + “Chug-arum,” said Grandfather Frog, which was his way of saying good + morning. + </p> + <p> + Just then along came a fat green fly and up jumped Grandfather Frog. When + he sat down again on the lily pad the fat green fly was nowhere to be + seen, but Grandfather Frog looked very well satisfied indeed as he + contentedly rubbed his white waistcoat with one hand. + </p> + <p> + “What is the news, Grandfather Frog?” cried the Merry Little Breezes. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Redwing has a new speckled egg in her nest in the bulrushes,” said + Grandfather Frog. + </p> + <p> + “We must see it,” cried the Merry Little Breezes, and away they all ran to + the swamp where the bulrushes grow. + </p> + <p> + Now someone else had heard of Mrs. Redwing's dear little nest in the + bulrushes, and he had started out bright and early that morning to try and + find it, for he wanted to steal the little speckled eggs just because they + were pretty. It was Tommy Brown, the farmer's boy. + </p> + <p> + When the Merry Little Breezes reached the swamp where the bulrushes grow + they found poor Mrs. Redwing in great distress. She was afraid that Tommy + Brown would find her dear little nest, for he was very, very near it, and + his eyes were very, very sharp. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” cried the Merry Little Breezes, “we must help Mrs. Redwing save her + pretty speckled eggs from bad Tommy Brown!” + </p> + <p> + So one of the Merry Little Breezes whisked Tommy Brown's old straw hat off + his head over into the Green Meadows. Of course Tommy ran after it. Just + as he stooped to pick it up another little Breeze ran away with it. Then + they took turns, first one little Breeze, then another little Breeze + running away with the old straw hat just as Tommy Brown would almost get + his hands on it. Down past the Smiling Pool and across the Laughing Brook + they raced and chased the old straw hat, Tommy Brown running after it, + very cross, very red in the face, and breathing very hard. Way across the + Green Meadows they ran to the edge of the wood, where they hung the old + straw hat in the middle of a thorn tree. By the time Tommy Brown had it + once more on his head he had forgotten all about Mrs. Redwing and her dear + little nest. Besides, he heard the breakfast horn blowing just then, so + off he started for home up the Lone Little Path through the wood. + </p> + <p> + And all the Merry Little Breezes danced away across the Green Meadows to + the swamp where the bulrushes grow to see the new speckled egg in the dear + little nest where Mrs. Redwing was singing for joy. And while she sang the + Merry Little Breezes danced among the bulrushes, for they knew, and Mrs. + Redwing knew, that some day out of that pretty new speckled egg would come + a wee baby Redwing. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II WHY GRANDFATHER FROG HAS NO TAIL + </h2> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind had gone to her day's work, leaving all the Merry + Little Breezes to play in the Green Meadows. They had played tag and run + races with the Bees and played hide and seek with the Sun Beams, and now + they had gathered around the Smiling Pool where on a green lily pad sat + Grandfather Frog. + </p> + <p> + Grandfather Frog was old, very old, indeed, and very, very wise. He wore a + green coat and his voice was very deep. When Grandfather Frog spoke + everybody listened very respectfully. Even Billy Mink treated Grandfather + Frog with respect, for Billy Mink's father and his father's father could + not remember when Grandfather Frog had not sat on the lily pad watching + for green flies. + </p> + <p> + Down in the Smiling Pool were some of Grandfather Frog's + great-great-great-great-great grandchildren. You wouldn't have known that + they were his grandchildren unless some one told you. They didn't look the + least bit like Grandfather Frog. They were round and fat and had long + tails and perhaps this is why they were called Pollywogs. + </p> + <p> + “Oh Grandfather Frog, tell us why you don't have a tail as you did when + you were young,” begged one of the Merry Little Breezes. + </p> + <p> + Grandfather Frog snapped up a foolish green fly and settled himself on his + big lily pad, while all the Merry Little Breezes gathered round to listen. + </p> + <p> + “Once on a time,” began Grandfather Frog, “the Frogs ruled the world, + which was mostly water. There was very little dry land—oh, very + little indeed! There were no boys to throw stones and no hungry Mink to + gobble up foolish Frog-babies who were taking a sun bath!” + </p> + <p> + Billy Mink, who had joined the Merry Little Breezes and was listening, + squirmed uneasily and looked away guiltily. + </p> + <p> + “In those days all the Frogs had tails, long handsome tails of which they + were very, very proud indeed,” continued Grandfather Frog. “The King of + all the Frogs was twice as big as any other Frog, and his tail was three + times as long. He was very proud, oh, very proud indeed of his long tail. + He used to sit and admire it until he thought that there never had been + and never could be another such tail. He used to wave it back and forth in + the water, and every time he waved it all the other Frogs would cry 'Ah!' + and 'Oh!' Every day the King grew more vain. He did nothing at all but eat + and sleep and admire his tail. + </p> + <p> + “Now all the other Frogs did just as the King did, so pretty soon none of + the Frogs were doing anything but sitting about eating, sleeping and + admiring their own tails and the King's. + </p> + <p> + “Now you all know that people who do nothing worth while in this world are + of no use and there is little room for them. So when Mother Nature saw how + useless had become the Frog tribe she called the King Frog before her and + she said: + </p> + <p> + “'Because you can think of nothing but your beautiful tail it shall be + taken away from you. Because you do nothing but eat and sleep your mouth + shall become wide like a door, and your eyes shall start forth from your + head. You shall become bow-legged and ugly to look at, and all the world + shall laugh at you.' + </p> + <p> + “The King Frog looked at his beautiful tail and already it seemed to have + grown shorter. He looked again and it was shorter still. Every time he + looked his tail had grown shorter and smaller. By and by when he looked + there was nothing left but a little stub which he couldn't even wriggle. + Then even that disappeared, his eyes popped out of his head and his mouth + grew bigger and bigger.” + </p> + <p> + Old Grandfather Frog stopped and looked sadly at a foolish green fly + coming his way. “Chug-arum,” said Grandfather Frog, opening his mouth very + wide and hopping up in the air. When he sat down again on his big lily pad + the green fly was nowhere to be seen. Grandfather Frog smacked his lips + and continued: + </p> + <p> + “And from that day to this every Frog has started life with a big tail, + and as he has grown bigger and bigger his tail has grown smaller and + smaller, until finally it disappears, and then he remembers how foolish + and useless it is to be vain of what nature has given us. And that is how + I came to lose my tail,” finished Grandfather Frog. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” shouted all the Merry Little Breezes. “We won't forget.” + </p> + <p> + Then they ran a race to see who could reach Johnny Chuck's home first and + tell him that Farmer Brown was coming down on the Green Meadows with a + gun. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III HOW REDDY FOX WAS SURPRISED + </h2> + <p> + Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox lived very near together on the edge of the + Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck was fat and roly-poly. Reddy Fox was slim and + wore a bright red coat. Reddy Fox used to like to frighten Johnny Chuck by + suddenly popping out from behind a tree and making believe that he was + going to eat Johnny Chuck all up. + </p> + <p> + One bright summer day Johnny Chuck was out looking for a good breakfast of + nice tender clover. He had wandered quite a long way from his snug little + house in the long meadow grass, although his mother had told him never to + go out of sight of the door. But Johnny was like some little boys I know, + and forgot all he had been told. + </p> + <p> + He walked and walked and walked. Every few minutes Johnny Chuck saw + something farther on that looked like a patch of nice fresh clover. And + every time when he reached it Johnny Chuck found that he had made a + mistake. So Johnny Chuck walked and walked and walked. + </p> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind, coming across the Green Meadows, saw Johnny Chuck + and asked him where he was going. Johnny Chuck pretended not to hear and + just walked faster. + </p> + <p> + One of the Merry Little Breezes danced along in front of him. + </p> + <p> + “Look out, Johnny Chuck, you will get lost,” cried the Merry Little Breeze + then pulled Johnny's whiskers and ran away. + </p> + <p> + Higher and higher up in the sky climbed round, red Mr. Sun. Every time + Johnny Chuck looked up at him Mr. Sun winked. + </p> + <p> + “So long as I can see great round, red Mr. Sun and he winks at me I can't + be lost,” thought Johnny Chuck, and trotted on looking for clover. + </p> + <p> + By and by Johnny Chuck really did find some clover—just the sweetest + clover that grew in the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck ate and ate and ate + and then what do you think he did? Why, he curled right up in the nice + sweet clover and went fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + Great round, red Mr. Sun kept climbing higher and higher up in the sky, + then by and by he began to go down on the other side, and long shadows + began to creep out across the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck didn't know + anything about them: he was fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + By and by one of the Merry Little Breezes found Johnny Chuck all curled up + in a funny round ball. + </p> + <p> + “Wake up Johnny Chuck! Wake up!” shouted the Merry Little Breeze. + </p> + <p> + Johnny Chuck opened his eyes. Then he sat up and rubbed them. For just a + few, few minutes he couldn't remember where he was at all. + </p> + <p> + By and by he sat up very straight to look over the grass and see where he + was. But he was so far from home that he didn't see a single thing that + looked at all like the things he was used to. The trees were all + different. The bushes were all different. Everything was different. Johnny + Chuck was lost. + </p> + <p> + Now, when Johnny sat up, Reddy Fox happened to be looking over the Green + Meadows and he saw Johnny's head where it popped above the grass. + </p> + <p> + “Aha!” said Reddy Fox, “I'll scare Johnny Chuck so he'll wish he'd never + put his nose out of his house.” + </p> + <p> + Then Reddy dropped down behind the long grass and crept softly, oh, ever + so softly, through the paths of his own, until he was right behind Johnny + Chuck. Johnny Chuck had been so intent looking for home that he didn't see + anything else. + </p> + <p> + Reddy Fox stole right up behind Johnny and pulled Johnny's little short + tail hard. How it did frighten Johnny Chuck! He jumped right straight up + in the air and when he came down he was the maddest little woodchuck that + ever lived in the Green Meadows. + </p> + <p> + Reddy Fox had thought that Johnny would run, and then Reddy meant to run + after him and pull his tail and tease him all the way home. Now, Reddy Fox + got as big a surprise as Johnny had had when Reddy pulled his tail. Johnny + didn't stop to think that Reddy Fox was twice as big as he, but with his + eyes snapping, and chattering as only a little Chuck can chatter, with + every little hair on his little body standing right up on end, so that he + seemed twice as big as he really was, he started for Reddy Fox. + </p> + <p> + It surprised Reddy Fox so that he didn't know what to do, and he simply + ran. Johnny Chuck ran after him, nipping Reddy's heels every minute or + two. Peter Rabbit just happened to be down that way. He was sitting up + very straight looking to see what mischief he could get into when he + caught sight of Reddy Fox running as hard as ever he could. “It must be + that Bowser, the hound, is after Reddy Fox,” said Peter Rabbit to himself. + “I must watch out that he doesn't find me.” + </p> + <p> + Just then he caught sight of Johnny Chuck with every little hair standing + up on end and running after Reddy Fox as fast as his short legs could go. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! ho! ho!” shouted Peter Rabbit. “Reddy Fox afraid of Johnny Chuck! Ho! + ho! Ho!” + </p> + <p> + Then Peter Rabbit scampered away to find Jimmy Skunk and Bobby Coon and + Happy Jack Squirrel to tell them all about how Reddy Fox had run away from + Johnny Chuck, for you see they were all a little afraid of Reddy Fox. + </p> + <p> + Straight home ran Reddy Fox as fast as he could go, and going home he + passed the house of Johnny Chuck. Now Johnny couldn't run so fast as Reddy + Fox and he was puffing and blowing as only a fat little woodchuck can puff + and blow when he has to run hard. Moreover, he had lost his ill temper now + and he thought it was the best joke ever to think that he had actually + frightened Reddy Fox. When he came to his own house he stopped and sat on + his hind legs once more. Then he shrilled out after Reddy Fox: “Reddy Fox + is a 'fraid cat, 'fraid-cat! Reddy Fox is a 'fraid-cat!” + </p> + <p> + And all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind, who were playing + on the Green Meadows shouted: “Reddy Fox is a 'fraid-cat, 'fraid-cat!” + </p> + <p> + And this is the way that Reddy Fox was surprised and that Johnny Chuck + found his way home. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV WHY JIMMY SKUNK WEARS STRIPES + </h2> + <p> + Jimmy Skunk, as everybody knows, wears a striped suit, a suit of black and + white. There was a time, long, long ago, when all the Skunk family wore + black. Very handsome their coats were, too, a beautiful, glossy black. + They were very, very proud of them and took the greatest care of them, + brushing them carefully ever so many times a day. + </p> + <p> + There was a Jimmy Skunk then, just as there is now, and he was head of all + the Skunk family. Now this Jimmy Skunk was very proud and thought himself + very much of a gentleman. He was very independent and cared for no one. + Like a great many other independent people, he did not always consider the + rights of others. Indeed, it was hinted in the wood and on the Green + Meadows that not all of Jimmy Skunk's doings would bear the light of day. + It was openly said that he was altogether too fond of prowling about at + night, but no one could prove that he was responsible for mischief done in + the night, for no one saw him. You see his coat was so black that in the + darkness of the night it was not visible at all. + </p> + <p> + Now about this time of which I am telling you Mrs. Ruffed Grouse made a + nest at the foot of the Great Pine and in it she laid fifteen beautiful + buff eggs. Mrs. Grouse was very happy, very happy indeed, and all the + little meadow folks who knew of her happiness were happy too, for they all + loved shy, demure, little Mrs. Grouse. Every morning when Peter Rabbit + trotted down the Lone Little Path through the wood past the Great Pine he + would stop for a few minutes to chat with Mrs. Grouse. Happy Jack Squirrel + would bring her the news every afternoon. The Merry Little Breezes of Old + Mother West Wind would run up a dozen times a day to see how she was + getting along. + </p> + <p> + One morning Peter Rabbit, coming down the Lone Little Path for his usual + morning call, found a terrible state of affairs. Poor little Mrs. Grouse + was heart-broken. All about the foot of the Great Pine lay the empty + shells of her beautiful eggs. They had been broken and scattered this way + and that. + </p> + <p> + “How did it happen?” asked Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “I don't know,” sobbed poor little Mrs. Grouse. “In the night when I was + fast asleep something pounced upon me. I managed to get away and fly up in + the top of the Great Pine. In the morning I found all my eggs broken, just + as you see them here.” + </p> + <p> + Peter Rabbit looked the ground over very carefully. He hunted around + behind the Great Pine, he looked under the bushes, he studied the ground + with a very wise air. Then he hopped off down the Lone Little Path to the + Green Meadows. He stopped at the house of Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “What makes your eyes so big and round?” asked Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + Peter Rabbit came very close so as to whisper in Johnny Chuck's ear, and + told him all that he had seen. Together they went to Jimmy Skunk's house. + Jimmy Skunk was in bed. He was very sleepy and very cross when he came to + the door. Peter Rabbit told him what he had seen. + </p> + <p> + “Too bad! Too bad!” said Jimmy Skunk, and yawned sleepily. + </p> + <p> + “Won't you join us in trying to find out who did it?” asked Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + Jimmy Skunk said he would be delighted to come but that he had some other + business that morning and that he would join them in the afternoon. Peter + Rabbit and Johnny Chuck went on. Pretty soon they met the Merry Little + Breezes and told them the dreadful story. + </p> + <p> + “What shall we do?” asked Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “We'll hurry over and tell Old Dame Nature,” cried the Merry Little + Breezes, “and ask her what to do.” + </p> + <p> + So away flew the Merry Little Breezes to Old Dame Nature and told her all + the dreadful story. Old Dame Nature listened very attentively. Then she + sent the Merry Little Breezes to all the little meadow folks to tell every + one to be at the Great Pine that afternoon. Now whatever Old Dame Nature + commanded all the meadow folks were obliged to do. They did not dare to + disobey her. Promptly at four o'clock that afternoon all the meadow folks + were gathered around the foot of the Great Pine. Broken-hearted little + Mrs. Ruffed Grouse sat beside her empty nest, with all the broken shells + about her. + </p> + <p> + Reddy Fox, Peter Rabbit, Johnny Chuck, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Jerry + Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, Bobby Coon, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow, + Grandfather Frog, Mr. Toad, Spotty the Turtle, the Merry Little Breezes, + all were there. Last of all came Jimmy Skunk. Very handsome he looked in + his shining black coat and very sorry he appeared that such a dreadful + thing should have happened. He told Mrs. Grouse how badly he felt, and he + loudly demanded that the culprit should be found out and severely + punished. + </p> + <p> + Old Dame Nature has the most smiling face in the world, but this time it + was very, very grave indeed. First she asked little Mrs. Grouse to tell + her story all over again that all might hear. Then each in turn was asked + to tell where he had been the night before. Johnny Chuck, Happy Jack + Squirrel, Striped Chipmunk, Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow had gone to bed + when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills. Jerry Muskrat, Billy Mink, + Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and Spotty the Turtle had not left the + Smiling Pool. Bobby Coon had been down in Farmer Brown's cornfield. Hooty + the Owl had been hunting in the lower end of the Green Meadows. Peter + Rabbit had been down in the berry patch. Mr. Toad had been under the piece + of bark which he called a house. Old Dame Nature called on Jimmy Skunk + last of all. Jimmy protested that he had been very, very tired and had + gone to bed very early indeed and had slept the whole night through. + </p> + <p> + Then Old Dame Nature asked Peter Rabbit what he had found among the egg + shells that morning. + </p> + <p> + Peter Rabbit hopped out and laid three long black hairs before Old Dame + Nature. “These,” said Peter Rabbit “are what I found among the egg + shells.” + </p> + <p> + Then Old Dame Nature called Johnny Chuck. “Tell us, Johnny Chuck,” said + she, “what you saw when you called at Jimmy Skunk's house this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “I saw Jimmy Skunk,” said Johnny Chuck, “and Jimmy seemed very, very + sleepy. It seemed to me that his whiskers were yellow.” + </p> + <p> + “That will do,” said Old Dame Nature, and then she called Old Mother West + Wind. + </p> + <p> + “What time did you come down on the Green Meadows this morning?” + </p> + <p> + “Just at the break of day,” said Old Mother West Wind, “as Mr. Sun was + coming up from behind the Purple Hills.” + </p> + <p> + “And whom did you see so early in the morning?” asked Old Dame Nature. + </p> + <p> + “I saw Bobby Coon going home from old Farmer Brown's cornfield,” said Old + Mother West Wind. “I saw Hooty the Owl coming back from the lower end of + the Green Meadows. I saw Peter Rabbit down in the berry patch. Last of all + I saw something like a black shadow coming down the Lone Little Path + toward the house of Jimmy Skunk.” + </p> + <p> + Every one was looking very hard at Jimmy Skunk. Jimmy began to look very + unhappy and very uneasy. + </p> + <p> + “Who wears a black coat?” asked Dame Nature. + </p> + <p> + “Jimmy Skunk!” shouted all the little meadow folks. + </p> + <p> + “What MIGHT make whiskers yellow?” asked Old Dame Nature. + </p> + <p> + No one seemed to know at first. Then Peter Rabbit spoke up. “It MIGHT be + the yolk of an egg,” said Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “Who are likely to be sleepy on a bright sunny morning?” asked Old Dame + Nature. + </p> + <p> + “People who have been out all night,” said Johnny Chuck, who himself + always goes to bed with the sun. + </p> + <p> + “Jimmy Skunk,” said Old Dame Nature, and her voice was very stern, very + stern indeed, and her face was very grave. “Jimmy Skunk, I accuse you of + having broken and eaten the eggs of Mrs. Grouse. What have you to say for + yourself?” + </p> + <p> + Jimmy Skunk hung his head. He hadn't a word to say. He just wanted to + sneak away by himself. + </p> + <p> + “Jimmy Skunk,” said Old Dame Nature, “because your handsome black coat of + which you are so proud has made it possible for you to move about in the + night without being seen, and because we can no longer trust you upon your + honor, henceforth you and your descendants shall wear a striped coat, + which is the sign that you cannot be trusted. Your coat hereafter shall be + black and white, that when you move about in the night you will always be + visible.” + </p> + <p> + And this is why that to this day Jimmy Skunk wears a striped suit of black + and white. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V THE WILFUL LITTLE BREEZE + </h2> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind was tired—tired and just a wee bit cross—cross + because she was tired. She had had a very busy day. Ever since early + morning she had been puffing out the white sales of the ships on the big + ocean so that they could go faster; she had kept all the big and little + wind mills whirling and whirling to pump water for thirsty folks and grind + corn for hungry folks; she had blown away all the smoke from tall chimneys + and engines and steamboats. Yes, indeed, Old Mother West Wind had been + very, very busy. + </p> + <p> + Now she was coming across the Green Meadows on her way to her home behind + the Purple Hills, and as she came she opened the big bag she carried and + called to her children, the Merry Little Breezes, who had been playing + hard on the Green Meadows all the long day. One by one they crept into the + big bag, for they were tired, too, and ready to go to their home behind + the Purple Hills. + </p> + <p> + Pretty soon all were in the bag but one, a willful little Breeze, who was + not quite ready to go home; he wanted to play just a little longer. He + danced ahead of Old Mother West Wind. He kissed the sleepy daisies. He + shook the nodding buttercups. He set all the little poplar leaves a + dancing, too, and he wouldn't come into the big bag. So Old Mother West + Wind closed the big bag and slung it over her shoulder. Then she started + on towards her home behind the Purple Hills. + </p> + <p> + When she had gone, the willful little Breeze left behind suddenly felt + very lonely—very lonely indeed! The sleepy daisies didn't want to + play. The nodding buttercups were cross. Great round bright Mr. Sun, who + had been shining and shining all day long, went to bed and put on his + night cap of golden clouds. Black shadows came creeping, creeping out into + the Green Meadows. + </p> + <p> + The willful little Breeze began to wish that he was safe in Old Mother + West Wind's big bag with all the other Merry Little Breezes. + </p> + <p> + So he started across the Green Meadows to find the Purple Hills. But all + the hills were black now and he could not tell which he should look behind + to find his home with Old Mother West Wind and the Merry Little Breezes. + How he did wish that he had minded Old Mother West Wind. + </p> + <p> + By and by he curled up under a bayberry bush and tried to go to sleep, but + he was lonely, oh, so lonely! And he couldn't go to sleep. Old Mother Moon + came up and flooded all the Green Meadows with light, but it wasn't like + the bright light of jolly round Mr. Sun, for it was cold and white and it + made many black shadows. + </p> + <p> + Pretty soon the willful little Breeze heard Hooty the Owl out hunting for + a meadow mouse for his dinner. Then down the Lone Little Path which ran + close to the bayberry bush trotted Reddy Fox. He was trotting very softly + and every minute or so he turned his head and looked behind him to see if + he was followed. It was plain to see that Reddy Fox was bent on mischief. + </p> + <p> + When he reached the bayberry bush Reddy Fox sat down and barked twice. + Hooty the Owl answered him at once and flew over to join him. They didn't + see the willful little Breeze curled up under the bayberry bush, so intent + were these two rogues in plotting mischief. They were planning to steal + down across the Green Meadows to the edge of the Brown Pasture where Mr. + Bob White and pretty Mrs. Bob White and a dozen little Bob Whites had + their home. + </p> + <p> + “When they run along the ground I'll catch 'em, and when they fly up in + the air you'll catch 'em, and we'll gobble 'em all up,” said Reddy Fox to + Hooty the Owl. Then he licked his chops and Hooty the Owl snapped his + bill, just as if they were tasting tender little Bob Whites that very + minute. It made the willful little Breeze shiver to see them. Pretty soon + they started on towards the Brown Pasture. + </p> + <p> + When they were out of sight the willful little Breeze jumped up and shook + himself. Then away he sped across the Green Meadows to the Brown Pasture. + And because he could go faster and because he went a shorter way he got + there first. He had to hunt and hunt to find Mrs. and Mr. Bob White and + all the little Bob Whites, but finally he did find them, all with their + heads tucked under their wings fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + The willful little Breeze shook Mr. Bob White very gently. In an instant + he was wide awake. + </p> + <p> + “Sh-h-h,” said the willful little Breeze. “Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl are + coming to the Brown Pasture to gobble up you and Mrs. Bob White and all + the little Bob Whites.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, little Breeze,” said Mr. Bob White, “I think I'll move my + family.” + </p> + <p> + Then he woke Mrs. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites. With Mr. Bob + White in the lead away they all flew to the far side of the Brown Pasture + where they were soon safely hidden under a juniper tree. + </p> + <p> + The willful little Breeze saw them safely there, and when they were nicely + hidden hurried back to the place where the Bob Whites had been sleeping. + Reddy Fox was stealing up through the grass very, very softly. Hooty the + Owl was flying as silently as a shadow. When Reddy Fox thought he was near + enough he drew himself together, made a quick spring and landed right in + Mr. Bob White's empty bed. Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl looked so surprised + and foolish when they found the Bob Whites were not there that the willful + little Breeze nearly laughed out loud. + </p> + <p> + Then Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl hunted here and hunted there, all over + the Brown Pasture, but they couldn't find the Bob Whites. + </p> + <p> + And the willful little Breeze went back to the juniper tree and curled + himself beside Mr. Bob White to sleep, for he was lonely no longer. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI REDDY FOX GOES FISHING + </h2> + <p> + One morning when Mr. Sun was very, very bright and it was very, very warm, + down on the Green Meadows Reddy Fox came hopping and skipping down the + Lone Little Path that leads to the Laughing Brook. Hoppity, skip, skippity + hop! Reddy felt very much pleased with himself that sunny morning. Pretty + soon he saw Johnny Chuck sitting up very straight close by the little + house where he lives. + </p> + <p> + “Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny + Woodchuck!” called Reddy fox. + </p> + <p> + Johnny Chuck pretended not to hear. His mother had told him not to play + with Reddy Fox, for Reddy Fox was a bad boy. + </p> + <p> + “Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!” called Reddy again. + </p> + <p> + This time Johnny turned and looked. He could see Reddy Fox turning + somersaults and chasing his tail and rolling over and over in the little + path. + </p> + <p> + “Come on!” said Reddy Fox. “Let's go fishing!” + </p> + <p> + “Can't,” said Johnny Chuck, because you know, his mother had told him not + to play with Reddy Fox. + </p> + <p> + “I'll show you how to catch a fish,” said Reddy Fox, and tried to jump + over his own shadow. + </p> + <p> + “Can't,” said good little Johnny Chuck again, and turned away so that he + couldn't see Reddy Fox chasing Butterflies and playing catch with Field + Mice children. + </p> + <p> + So Reddy Fox went down to the Laughing Brook all alone. The Brook was + laughing and singing on its way to join the Big River. The sky was blue + and the sun was bright. Reddy Fox jumped on the Big Rock in the middle of + the Laughing Brook and peeped over the other side. What do you think he + saw? Why, right down below in a Dear Little Pool were Mr. And Mrs. Trout + and all the little Trouts. + </p> + <p> + Reddy Fox wanted some of those little Trouts to take home for his dinner, + but he didn't know how to catch them. He lay flat down on the Big Rock and + reached way down into the Dear Little Pool, but all the little Trouts + laughed at Reddy Fox and not one came within reach. Then Mr. Trout swam up + so quickly that Reddy Fox didn't see him coming and bit Reddy's little + black paw hard. + </p> + <p> + “Ouch!” cried Reddy Fox, pulling his little black paw out of the water. + And all the little Trouts laughed at Reddy Fox. + </p> + <p> + Just then along came Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Reddy Fox!” said Billy Mink. “What are you doing here?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm trying to catch a fish,” said Reddy Fox. + </p> + <p> + “Pooh! That's easy!” said Billy Mink. “I'll show you how.” + </p> + <p> + So Billy Mink lay down on the Big Rock side of Reddy Fox and peeped over + into the Dear Little Pool where all the little Trouts were laughing at + Reddy Fox and having such a good time. But Billy Mink took care, such very + great care, that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout should not see him peeping over + into the Dear Little Pool. + </p> + <p> + When Billy Mink saw all those little Trouts playing in the Dear Little + Pool he laughed. “You count three, Reddy Fox,” said he, “and I'll show you + how to catch a fish.” + </p> + <p> + “One!” said Reddy Fox, “Two! Three!” + </p> + <p> + Splash! Billy Mink had dived head first into the Dear Little Pool. He + spattered water way up onto Reddy Fox, and he frightened old Mr. Frog so + that he fell over backwards off the lily pad where he was taking a morning + nap right into the water. In a minute Billy Mink climbed out on the other + side of the Dear Little Pool and sure enough, he had caught one of the + little Trouts. + </p> + <p> + “Give it to me,” cried Reddy Fox. + </p> + <p> + “Catch one yourself,” said Billy Mink. “Old Grandpa Mink wants a fish for + his dinner, so I am going to take this home. You're afraid, Reddy Fox! + 'Fraid-cat! Fraid-cat!” + </p> + <p> + Billy Mink shook the water off of his little brown coat, picked up the + little Trout and ran off home. + </p> + <p> + Reddy Fox lay down again on the Big Rock and peeped into the Dear Little + Pool. Not a single Trout could he see. They were all hiding safely with + Mr. and Mrs. Trout. Reddy Fox watched and watched. The sun was warm, the + Laughing Brook was singing a lullaby and—what do you think? Why, + Reddy Fox went fast asleep on the edge of the great Big Rock. + </p> + <p> + By and by Reddy Fox began to dream. He dreamed that he had a nice little + brown coat that was waterproof, just like the little brown coat that Billy + Mink wore. Yes, and he dreamed that he had learned to swim and to catch + fish just as Billy Mink did. He dreamed that the Dear Little Pool was full + of little Trouts and that he was just going to catch one when—splash! + Reddy Fox had rolled right off of the Big Rock into the Dear Little Pool. + </p> + <p> + The water went into the eyes of Reddy Fox, and it went up his nose and he + swallowed so much that he felt as if he never, never would want another + drink of water. And his beautiful red coat, which old Mother Fox had told + him to be very, very careful of because he couldn't have another for a + whole year, was oh so wet! And his pants were wet and his beautiful bushy + tail, of which he was so proud, was so full of water that he couldn't hold + it up, but had to drag it up the bank after him as he crawled out of the + Dear Little Pool. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Mr. Kingfisher, sitting on a tree. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! Ho! Ho!” laughed old Mr. Frog, who had climbed back on his lily pad. + </p> + <p> + “He! He! He!” laughed all the little Trouts and Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout, + swimming round and round in the Dear Little Pool. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Ho! He! He! He!” laughed Billy Mink, who had come + back to the Big Rock just in time to see Reddy Fox tumble in. + </p> + <p> + Reddy Fox didn't say a word, he was so ashamed. He just crept up the Lone + Little Path to his home, dragging his tail, all wet and muddy, behind him, + and dripping water all the way. + </p> + <p> + Johnny Chuck was still sitting by his door as his mother had told him to. + Reddy Fox tried to go past without being seen, but Johnny Chuck's bright + little eyes saw him. + </p> + <p> + “Where are your fish, Reddy Fox?” called Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “Why don't you turn somersaults, and jump over your shadow and chase + Butterflies and play with the little Field Mice, Reddy Fox?” called Johnny + Chuck. + </p> + <p> + But Reddy Fox just walked faster. When he got almost home he saw old + Mother Fox sitting in the doorway with a great big switch across her lap, + for Mother Fox had told Reddy Fox not to go near the Laughing Brook. + </p> + <p> + And this is all I am going to tell you about how Reddy Fox went fishing. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES + </h2> + <p> + Jimmy Skunk opened his eyes very early one morning and peeped out of his + snug little house on the hill. Big, round Mr. Sun, with a very red, + smiling face, had just begun to climb up into the sky. Old Mother West + Wind was just starting down to the Green Meadows with her big bag over her + shoulder. In that bag Jimmy Skunk knew she carried all her children, the + Merry Little Breezes, whom she was taking down to the Green Meadows to + play and frolic all day. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Mother West Wind,” said Jimmy Skunk, politely. “Did you see + any beetles as you came down the hill?” + </p> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind said, no, she hadn't seen any beetles as she came + down the hill. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” said Jimmy Skunk politely. “I guess I'll have to go look + myself, for I'm very, very hungry.” + </p> + <p> + So Jimmy Skunk brushed his handsome black and white coat, and washed his + face and hands, and started out to try to find some beetles for his + breakfast. First he went down to the Green Meadows and stopped at Johnny + Chuck's house. But Johnny Chuck was still in bed and fast asleep. Then + Jimmy Skunk went over to see if Reddy Fox would go with him to help find + some beetles for his breakfast. But Reddy Fox had been out very, very late + the night before and was still in bed fast asleep, too. + </p> + <p> + So Jimmy Skunk set out all alone along the Crooked Little Path up the hill + to find some beetles for his breakfast. He walked very slowly, for Jimmy + Skunk never hurries. He stopped and peeped under every old log to see if + there were any beetles. By and by he came to a big piece of bark beside + the Crooked Little Path. Jimmy Skunk took hold of the piece of bark with + his two little black paws and pulled and pulled. All of a sudden, the big + piece of bark turned over so quickly that Jimmy Skunk fell flat on his + back. + </p> + <p> + When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again, there sat old Mr. + Toad right in the path, and old Mr. Toad was very, very cross indeed. He + swelled and he puffed and he puffed and he swelled, till he was twice as + big as Jimmy Skunk had ever seen him before. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Mr. Toad,” said Jimmy Skunk. “Have you seen any beetles?” + </p> + <p> + But Mr. Toad blinked his great round goggly eyes and he said: “What do you + mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the roof off my house?” + </p> + <p> + “Is that the roof of your house?” asked Jimmy Skunk politely. “I won't do + it again.” + </p> + <p> + Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over old Mr. Toad, and went on up the + Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles. + </p> + <p> + By and by he came to an old stump of a tree which was hollow and had the + nicest little round hole in one side. Jimmy Skunk took hold of one edge + with his two little black paws and pulled and pulled. All of a sudden the + whole side of the old stump tore open and Jimmy Skunk fell flat on his + back. + </p> + <p> + When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again there was Striped + Chipmunk hopping up and down right in the middle of the path, he was so + angry. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Striped Chipmunk,” said Jimmy Skunk. “Have you seen any + beetles?” + </p> + <p> + But Striped Chipmunk hopped faster than ever and he said: “What do you + mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the side off my house?” + </p> + <p> + “Is that the side of your house?” asked Jimmy Skunk, politely. “I won't do + it again.” + </p> + <p> + Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over Striped Chipmunk, and went on up the + Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles. + </p> + <p> + Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit hopping along down the Crooked Little + Path. “Good morning, Jimmy Skunk, where are you going so early in the + morning?” said Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Peter Rabbit. Have you seen any beetles?” asked Jimmy + Skunk, politely. + </p> + <p> + “No, I haven't seen any beetles, but I'll help you find some,” said Peter + Rabbit. So he turned about and hopped ahead of Jimmy Skunk up the Crooked + Little Path. + </p> + <p> + Now because Peter Rabbit's legs are long and he is always in a hurry, he + got to the top of the hill first. When Jimmy Skunk reached the end of the + Crooked Little Path on the top of the hill he found Peter Rabbit sitting + up very straight and looking and looking very hard at a great flat stone. + </p> + <p> + “What are you looking at, Peter Rabbit?” asked Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + “Sh-h-h!” said Peter Rabbit, “I think there are some beetles under that + great flat stone where that little black string is sticking out. Now when + I count three you grab that string and pull hard perhaps you'll find a + beetle at the other end.” + </p> + <p> + So Jimmy Skunk got ready and Peter Rabbit began to count. + </p> + <p> + “One!” said Peter. “Two!” said Peter. “Three!” + </p> + <p> + Jimmy Skunk grabbed the black string and pulled as hard as ever he could + and out came—Mr. Black Snake! The string Jimmy Skunk had pulled was + Mr. Black Snake's tail, and Mr. Black Snake was very, very angry indeed. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk,” said Mr. Black Snake, “by pulling my + tail?” + </p> + <p> + “Was that your tail?” said Jimmy Skunk, politely. “I won't do it again. + Have you seen any beetles?” + </p> + <p> + But Mr. Black Snake hadn't seen any beetles, and he was so cross that + Jimmy Skunk went on over the hill to look for some beetles. + </p> + <p> + Peter Rabbit was still laughing and laughing and laughing. And the more he + laughed the angrier grew Mr. Black Snake, till finally he started after + Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson. + </p> + <p> + Then Peter Rabbit stopped laughing, for Mr. Black Snake can run very fast. + Away went Peter Rabbit down the Crooked Little Path as fast as he could + go, and away went Mr. Black Snake after him. + </p> + <p> + But Jimmy Skunk didn't even look once to see if Mr. Black Snake had caught + Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson, for Jimmy Skunk had found some beetles + and was eating his breakfast. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII BILLY MINK'S SWIMMING PARTY + </h2> + <p> + Billy Mink was coming down the bank of the Laughing Brook. Billy Mink was + feeling very good indeed. He had had a good breakfast, the sun was warm, + little white cloud ships were sailing across the blue sky and their + shadows were sailing across the Green Meadows, the birds were singing and + the bees were humming. Billy Mink felt like singing too, but Billy Mink's + voice was not meant for singing. + </p> + <p> + By and by Billy Mink came to the Smiling Pool. Here the Laughing Brook + stopped and rested on its way to join the Big River. It stopped its noisy + laughing and singing and just lay smiling and smiling in the warm + sunshine. The little flowers on the bank leaned over and nodded to it. The + beech tree, which was very old, sometimes dropped a leaf into it. The + cat-tails kept their feet cool in the edge of it. + </p> + <p> + Billy Mink jumped out on the Big Rock and looked down into the Smiling + Pool. Over on a green lily pad he saw old Grandfather Frog. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Grandfather Frog,” said Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Billy Mink,” said Grandfather Frog. “What mischief are you up to + this fine sunny morning?” + </p> + <p> + Just then Billy Mink saw a little brown head swimming along one edge of + the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Jerry Muskrat!” shouted Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + “Hello your own self, Billy Mink,” shouted Jerry Muskrat, “Come in and + have a swim; the water's fine!” + </p> + <p> + “Good,” said Billy Mink. “We'll have a swimming party.” + </p> + <p> + So Billy Mink called all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind, + who were playing with the flowers on the bank, and sent them to find + Little Joe Otter and invite him to come to the swimming party. Pretty soon + back came the Little Breezes and with them came Little Joe Otter. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Billy Mink,” said Little Joe Otter. “Here I am!” + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Little Joe Otter,” said Billy Mink. “Come up here on the Big Rock + and see who can dive the deepest into the Smiling Pool.” + </p> + <p> + So Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat climbed up on the Big Rock side of + Billy Mink and they all stood side by side in their little brown bathing + suits looking down into the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + “Now when I count three we'll all dive into the Smiling Pool together and + see who can dive the deepest. One!” said Billy Mink. “Two!” said Billy + Mink. “Three!” said Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + And when he said “Three!” in they all went head first. My such a splash as + they did make! They upset old Grandfather Frog so that he fell off his + lily pad. They frightened Mr. and Mrs. Trout so that they jumped right out + of the water. Tiny Tadpole had such a scare that he hid way, way down in + the mud with only the tip of his funny little nose sticking out. + </p> + <p> + “Chug-a-rum,” said old Grandfather Frog, climbing out of his lily pad. “If + I wasn't so old I would show you how to dive.” + </p> + <p> + “Come on, Grandfather Frog!” cried Billy Mink. “Show us how to dive.” + </p> + <p> + And what do you think? Why, old Grandfather Frog actually got so excited + that he climbed up on the Big Rock to show them how to dive. Splash! Went + Grandfather Frog into the Smiling Pool. Splash! Went Billy Mink right + behind him. Splash! Splash! Went Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat, right + at Billy Mink's heels. + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah!” shouted Mr. Kingfisher, sitting on a branch of the old beech + tree. And then just to show them that he could dive, too, splash! He went + into the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + Such a noise as they did make! All the Little Breezes of Old Mother West + Wind danced for joy on the bank. Blacky the Crow and Sammy Jay flew over + to see what was going on. + </p> + <p> + “Now let's see who can swim the farthest under water,” cried Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + So they all stood side by side on one edge of the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + “Go!” shouted Mr. Kingfisher, and in they all plunged. Little ripples ran + across the Smiling Pool and then the water became as smooth and smiling as + if nothing had gone into it with a plunge. + </p> + <p> + Now old Grandfather Frog began to realize that he wasn't as young as he + used to be, and he couldn't swim as fast as the others anyway. He began to + get short of breath, so he swam up to the top and stuck just the tip of + his nose out to get some more air. Sammy Jay's sharp eyes saw him. + </p> + <p> + “There's Grandfather Frog!” he shouted. + </p> + <p> + So then Grandfather Frog popped his head out and swam over to his green + lily pad to rest. + </p> + <p> + Way over beyond the Big Rock little bubbles in three long rows kept coming + up to the top of the Smiling Pool. They showed just where Billy Mink, + Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat were swimming way down out of sight. It + was the air from their lungs making the bubbles. Straight across the + Smiling Pool went the lines of little bubbles and then way out on the + farther side two little heads bobbed out of water close together. They + were Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter. A moment later Jerry Muskrat bobbed + up beside them. + </p> + <p> + You see, they had swum clear across the Smiling Pool and of course they + could swim no farther. + </p> + <p> + So Billy Mink's swimming party was a great success. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX PETER RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE + </h2> + <p> + One morning when big round Mr. Sun was climbing up in the sky and Old + Mother West Wind had sent all her Merry Little Breezes to play in the + Green Meadows, Johnny Chuck started out for a walk. First he sat up very + straight and looked and looked all around to see if Reddy Fox was anywhere + about, for you know Reddy Fox liked to tease Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + But Reddy Fox was nowhere to be seen, so Johnny Chuck trotted down the + Lone Little Path to the wood. Mr. Sun was shining as brightly as ever he + could and Johnny Chuck, who was very, very fat, grew very, very warm. By + and by he sat down on the end of a log under a big tree to rest. + </p> + <p> + Thump! Something hit Johnny Chuck right on the top of his round little + head. It made Johnny Chuck jump. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Johnny Chuck!” said a voice that seemed to come right out of the + sky. Johnny Chuck tipped his head way, way back and looked up. He was just + in time to see Happy Jack Squirrel drop a nut. Down it came and hit Johnny + Chuck right on the tip of his funny, black, little nose. + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” said Johnny Chuck, and tumbled right over back off the log. But + Johnny Chuck was so round and so fat and so roly-poly that it didn't hurt + him a bit. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Happy Jack up in the tree. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Johnny Chuck, picking himself up. Then they both + laughed together. It was such a good joke. + </p> + <p> + “What are you laughing at?” asked a voice so close to Johnny Chuck that he + rolled over three times he was so surprised. It was Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “What are you doing in my wood?” asked Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “I'm taking a walk,” said Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “Good,” said Peter Rabbit, “I'll come along too.” + </p> + <p> + So Johnny Chuck and Peter Rabbit set out along the Lone Little Path + through the wood. Peter Rabbit hopped along with great big jumps, for + Peter's legs are long and meant for jumping, but Johnny Chuck couldn't + keep up though he tried very hard, for Johnny's legs are short. Pretty + soon Peter Rabbit came back, walking very softly. He whispered in Johnny + Chuck's ear. + </p> + <p> + “I've found something,” said Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” asked Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “I'll show you,” said Peter Rabbit, “but you must be very, very still, and + not make the least little bit of noise.” + </p> + <p> + Johnny Chuck promised to be very, very still for he wanted very much to + see what Peter Rabbit had found. Peter Rabbit tip-toed down the Lone + Little Path through the wood, his funny long ears pointing right up to the + sky. And behind him tip-toed Johnny Chuck, wondering and wondering what it + could be that Peter Rabbit had found. + </p> + <p> + Pretty soon they came to a nice mossy green log right across the Lone + Little Path. Peter Rabbit stopped and sat up very straight. He looked this + way and looked that way. Johnny Chuck stopped too and he sat up very + straight and looked this way and looked that way, but all he could see was + the mossy green log across the Lone Little Path. + </p> + <p> + “What is it, Peter Rabbit?” whispered Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “You can't see it yet,” whispered Peter Rabbit, “for first we have to jump + over that mossy green log. Now I'll jump first, and then you jump just the + way I do, and then you'll see what it is I've found,” said Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + So Peter Rabbit jumped first, and because his legs are long and meant for + jumping, he jumped way, way over the mossy green log. Then he turned + around and sat up to see Johnny Chuck jump over the mossy green log, too. + </p> + <p> + Johnny Chuck tried to jump very high and very far, just as he had seen + Peter Rabbit jump, but Johnny Chuck's legs are very short and not meant + for jumping. Besides, Johnny Chuck was very, very fat. So though he tried + very hard indeed to jump just like Peter Rabbit, he stubbed his toes on + the top of the mossy green log and over he tumbled, head first, and landed + with a great big thump right on Reddy Fox, who was lying fast asleep on + the other side of the mossy green log. + </p> + <p> + Peter Rabbit laughed and laughed until he had to hold his sides. + </p> + <p> + My, how frightened Johnny Chuck was when he saw what he had done! Before + he could get on his feet he had rolled right over behind a little bush, + and there he lay very, very still. + </p> + <p> + Reddy Fox awoke with a grunt when Johnny Chuck fell on him so hard, and + the first thing he saw was Peter Rabbit laughing so that he had to hold + his sides. Reddy Fox didn't stop to look around. He thought that Peter + Rabbit had jumped on him. Up jumped Reddy Fox and away ran Peter Rabbit. + Away went Reddy Fox after Peter Rabbit. Peter dodged behind the trees, and + jumped over the bushes, and ran this way and ran that way, just as hard as + ever he could, for Peter Rabbit was very much afraid of Reddy Fox. And + Reddy Fox followed Peter Rabbit behind the trees and over the bushes this + way and that way, but he couldn't catch Peter Rabbit. Pretty soon Peter + Rabbit came to the house of Jimmy Skunk. He knew that Jimmy Skunk was over + in the pasture, so he popped right in and then he was safe, for the door + of Jimmy Skunk's house was too small for Reddy Fox to squeeze in. Reddy + Fox sat down and waited, but Peter Rabbit didn't come out. By and by Reddy + Fox gave it up and trotted off home where old Mother Fox was waiting for + him. + </p> + <p> + All this time Johnny Chuck had sat very still, watching Reddy Fox try to + catch Peter Rabbit. And when he saw Peter Rabbit pop into the house of + Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox trot away home, Johnny Chuck stood up and + brushed his little coat very clean and then he trotted back up the Lone + Little Path through the wood to his own dear little path through the Green + Meadows where the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were still + playing, till he was safe in his own snug little house once more. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X HOW SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT + </h2> + <p> + Sammy Jay was very busy, very busy indeed. When anyone happened that way + Sammy Jay pretended to be doing nothing at all, for Sammy Jay thought + himself a very fine gentleman. He was very proud of his handsome blue coat + with white trimmings and his high cap, and he would sit on a fence post + and make fun of Johnny Chuck working at a new door for his snug little + home in the Green Meadows, and of Striped Chipmunk storing up heaps of + corn and nuts for the winter, for most of the time Sammy Jay was an idle + fellow. And when Sammy Jay WAS busy, he was pretty sure to be doing + something that he ought not to do, for idle people almost always get into + mischief. + </p> + <p> + Sammy Jay was in mischief now, and that is why he pretended to be doing + nothing when he thought any one was looking. + </p> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind had come down from her home behind the Purple Hills + very early that morning. Indeed, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had hardly + gotten out of bed when she crossed the Green Meadows on her way to help + the big ships across the ocean. Old Mother West Wind's eyes were sharp, + and she saw Sammy Jay before Sammy Jay saw her. + </p> + <p> + “Now what can Sammy Jay be so busy about, and why is he so very, very + quiet?” thought Old Mother West Wind. “He must be up to some mischief.” + </p> + <p> + So when she opened her big bag and turned out all her Merry Little Breezes + to play on the Green Meadows she sent one of them to see what Sammy Jay + was doing in the old chestnut tree. The Merry Little Breeze danced along + over the tree tops just as if he hadn't a thought in the world but to wake + up all the little leaves and set them to dancing too, and Sammy Jay, + watching Old Mother West Wind and the other Merry Little Breezes, didn't + see this Merry Little Breeze at all. + </p> + <p> + Pretty soon it danced back to Old Mother West Wind and whispered in her + ear: “Sammy Jay is stealing the nuts Happy Jack Squirrel had hidden in the + hollow of the old chestnut tree, and is hiding them for himself in the + tumble down nest that Blacky the Crow built in the Great Pine last year.” + “Aha!” said Old Mother West Wind. Then she went on across the Green + Meadows. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Old Mother West Wind,” said Sammy Jay as she passed the + fence post where he was sitting. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Sammy Jay,” said Old Mother West Wind. “What brings you out + so early in the morning?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm out for my health, Old Mother West Wind,” said Sammy Jay politely. + “The doctor has ordered me to take a bath in the dew at sunrise every + morning.” + </p> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind said nothing, but went on her way across the Green + Meadows to blow the ships across the ocean. When she had passed, Sammy Jay + hurried to take the last of Happy Jack's nuts to the old nest in the Great + Pine. + </p> + <p> + Poor Happy Jack! Soon he came dancing along with another nut to put in the + hollow of the old chestnut tree. When he peeped in and saw that all his + big store of nuts had disappeared, he couldn't believe his own eyes. He + put in one paw and felt all around but not a nut could he feel. Then he + climbed in and sure enough, the hollow was empty. + </p> + <p> + Poor Happy Jack! There were tears in his eyes when he crept out again. He + looked all around but no one was to be seen but handsome Sammy Jay, very + busy brushing his beautiful blue coat. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Sammy Jay, have you seen any one pass this way?” asked + Happy Jack. “Some one has stolen a store of nuts from the hollow in the + old chestnut tree.” + </p> + <p> + Sammy Jay pretended to feel very badly indeed, and in his sweetest voice, + for his voice was very sweet in those days, he offered to help Happy Jack + try to catch the thief who had stolen the store of nuts from the hollow in + the old chestnut tree. + </p> + <p> + Together they went down cross the Green Meadows asking every one whom they + met if they had seen the thief who had stolen Happy Jack's store of nuts + from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. All the Merry Little Breezes + joined in the search, and soon every one who lived in the Green Meadows or + in the wood knew that some one had stolen all of Happy Jack Squirrel's + store of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. And because every + one liked Happy Jack, every one felt very sorry indeed for him. + </p> + <p> + The next morning all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were + turned out of the big bag into the Green Meadows very early indeed, for + they had a lot of errands to do. All over the Green Meadows they hurried, + all through the wood, up and down the Laughing Brook and all around the + Smiling Pool, inviting everybody to meet at the Great Pine on the hill at + nine o'clock to form a committee of the whole—to try to find the + thief who stole Happy Jack's nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut + tree. + </p> + <p> + And because every one liked Happy Jack every one went to the Great Pine on + the hill—Reddy Fox, Bobby Coon, Jimmy Skunk Striped Chipmunk, who is + Happy Jack's cousin you know, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Jerry Muskrat, + Hooty the Owl, who was almost too sleepy to keep his eyes open, Blacky the + Crow, Johnny Chuck, Peter Rabbit, even old Grandfather Frog. Of course + Sammy Jay was there, looking his handsomest. + </p> + <p> + When they had all gathered around the Great Pine, Old Mother West Wind + pointed to the old nest way up in the top of it. “Is that your nest?” she + asked Blacky the Crow. + </p> + <p> + “It was, but I gave it to my cousin, Sammy Jay,” said Blacky the Crow. + </p> + <p> + “Is that your nest, and may I have a stick out of it?” asked Old Mother + West Wind of Sammy Jay. + </p> + <p> + “It is,” said Sammy Jay, with his politest bow, “And you are welcome to a + stick out of it.” To himself he thought, “She will only take one from the + top and that won't matter.” + </p> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind suddenly puffed out her cheeks and blew so hard that + she blew a big stick right out of the bottom of the old nest. Down it fell + bumpity-bump on the branches of the Great Pine. After it fell—what + do you think? Why, hickory nuts and chestnuts and acorns and hazel nuts, + such a lot of them! + </p> + <p> + “Why! Why—e—e!” cried Happy Jack. “There are all my stolen + nuts!” + </p> + <p> + Everybody turned to look at Sammy Jay, but he was flying off through the + wood as fast as he could go. “Stop thief!” cried Old Mother West Wind. + “Stop thief!” cried all the Merry Little Breezes and Johnny Chuck and + Billy Mink and all the rest. But Sammy Jay didn't stop. + </p> + <p> + Then all began to pick up the nuts that had fallen from the old nest where + Sammy Jay had hidden them. By and by, with Happy Jack leading the way, + they all marched back to the old chestnut tree and there Happy Jack stored + all the nuts away in his snug little hollow once more. + </p> + <p> + And ever since that day, Sammy Jay, whenever he tries to call, just + screams: “Thief!” “Thief!” “Thief!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY + </h2> + <p> + All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were hurrying over + the Green Meadows. Some flew this way and some ran that way and some + danced the other way. You see, Jerry Muskrat had asked them to carry his + invitations to a party at the Big Rock in the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + Of course every one said that they would be delighted to go to Jerry + Muskrat's party. Round Mr. Sun shone his very brightest. The sky was its + bluest and the little birds had promised to be there to sing for Jerry + Muskrat, so of course all the little folks in the Green Meadows and in the + wood wanted to go. + </p> + <p> + There were Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox and Jimmy Skunk and Bobby Coon and + Happy Jack Squirrel and Striped Chipmunk and Billy Mink and Little Joe + Otter and Grandfather Frog and old Mr. Toad and Mr. Blacksnake—all + going to Jerry Muskrat's party. + </p> + <p> + When they reached the Smiling Pool they found Jerry Muskrat all ready. His + brothers and his sister, his aunts and his uncles and his cousins were all + there. Such a merry, merry time as there was in the Smiling Pool! How the + water did splash! Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Grandfather Frog + jumped right in as soon as they got there. They played tag in the water + and hid behind the Big Rock. They turned somersaults down the slippery + slide and they had such a good time! + </p> + <p> + But Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Johnny Chuck and Jimmy + Skunk and Happy Jack and Striped Chipmunk couldn't swim, so of course they + couldn't play tag in the water or hide and seek or go down the slippery + slide; all they could do was sit around to look on and wish that they knew + how to swim, too. So of course they didn't have a good time. Soon they + began to wish that they hadn't come to Jerry Muskrat's party. When he + found that they were not having a good time, poor Jerry Muskrat felt very + badly indeed. You see he lives in the water so much that he had quite + forgotten that there was anyone who couldn't swim, or he never, never + would have invited all the little meadow folks who live on dry land. + </p> + <p> + “Let's go home,” said Peter Rabbit to Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “We can have more fun up on the hill,” said Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + Just then Little Joe Otter came pushing a great big log across the Smiling + Pool. + </p> + <p> + “Here's a ship, Bobby Coon. You get on one end and I'll give you a sail + across the Smiling Pool,” shouted Little Joe Otter. + </p> + <p> + So Bobby Coon crawled out on the big log and held on very tight, while + little Joe Otter swam behind and pushed the big log. Across the Smiling + Pool they went and back again. Bobby Coon had such a good ride that he + wanted to go again, but Jimmy Skunk wanted a ride. So Bobby Coon hopped + off of the big log and Jimmy Skunk hopped on and away he went across the + Smiling Pool with little Joe Otter pushing behind. + </p> + <p> + Then Jerry Muskrat found another log and gave Peter Rabbit a ride. Jerry + Muskrat's brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins found logs + and took Reddy Fox and Johnny Chuck and even Mr. Toad back and forth + across the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + Happy Jack Squirrel sat up very straight on the end of his log and spread + his great bushy tail for a sail. All the little Breezes blew and blew and + Happy Jack Squirrel sailed round and round the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes someone would fall off into the water and get wet, but Jerry + Muskrat or Billy Mink always pulled them out again, and no one cared the + tiniest bit for a wetting. + </p> + <p> + In the bushes around the Smiling Pool the little birds sang and sang. + Reddy Fox barked his loudest. Happy Jack Squirrel chattered and chir—r—r—ed. + All the muskrats squealed and squeaked, for Jerry Muskrat's party was such + fun! + </p> + <p> + By and by when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills to his home and + Old Mother West Wind with all her Merry Little Breezes went after him, and + the little stars came out to twinkle and twinkle, the Smiling Pool lay all + quiet and still, but smiling and smiling to think what a good time every + one had had at Jerry Muskrat's party. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII BOBBY COON AND REDDY FOX PLAY TRICKS + </h2> + <p> + It was night. All the little stars were looking down and twinkling and + twinkling. Mother Moon was doing her best to make the Green Meadows as + light as Mr. Sun did in the daytime. All the little birds except Hooty the + Owl and Boomer the Night Hawk, and noisy Mr. Whip-poor-will were fast + asleep in their little nests. Old Mother West Wind's Merry Little Breezes + had all gone to sleep, too. It was oh so still! Indeed it was so very + still that Bobby Coon, coming down the Lone Little Path through the wood, + began to talk to himself. + </p> + <p> + “I don't see what people want to play all day and sleep all night for,” + said Bobby Coon. “Night's the best time to be about. Now Reddy Fox—” + </p> + <p> + “Be careful what you say about Reddy Fox,” said a voice right behind Bobby + Coon. + </p> + <p> + Bobby Coon turned around very quickly indeed, for he had thought he was + all alone. There was Reddy Fox himself, trotting down the Lone Little Path + through the wood. + </p> + <p> + “I thought you were home and fast asleep, Reddy Fox,” said Bobby Coon. + </p> + <p> + “You were mistaken,” said Reddy Fox. “For you see I'm out to take a walk + in the moonlight.” + </p> + <p> + So Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox walked together down the Lone Little Path + through the wood to the Green Meadows. They met Jimmy Skunk, who had + dreamed that there were a lot of beetles up on the hill, and was just + going to climb the Crooked Little Path to see. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Jimmy Skunk!” said Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox. “Come down to the + Green Meadows with us.” + </p> + <p> + Jimmy Skunk said he would, so they all went down on the Green Meadows + together, Bobby Coon first, Reddy Fox next and Jimmy Skunk last of all, + for Jimmy Skunk never hurries. Pretty soon they came to the house of + Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “Listen,” said Bobby Coon. “Johnny Chuck is fast asleep.” + </p> + <p> + They all listened and they could hear Johnny Chuck snoring away down in + his snug little bed. + </p> + <p> + “Let's give Johnny Chuck a surprise,” said Reddy Fox. + </p> + <p> + “What shall it be?” asked Bobby Coon. + </p> + <p> + “I know,” said Reddy Fox. “Let's roll that big stone right over Johnny + Chuck's doorway; then he'll have to dig his way out in the morning.” + </p> + <p> + So Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox pulled and tugged and tugged and pulled at the + big stone till they had rolled it over Johnny Chuck's doorway. Jimmy Skunk + pretended not to see what they were doing. + </p> + <p> + “Now let's go down to the Laughing Brook and wake up old Grandfather Frog + and hear him say 'Chug-a-rum,'” said Bobby Coon. + </p> + <p> + “Come on!” cried Reddy Fox, “I'll get there first!” + </p> + <p> + Away raced Reddy Fox down the Lone Little Path and after him ran Bobby + Coon, going to wake old Grandfather Frog from a nice comfortable sleep on + his green lily pad. + </p> + <p> + But Jimmy Skunk didn't go. He watched Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon until they + were nearly to the Laughing Brook. Then he began to dig at one side of the + big stone which filled the doorway of Johnny Chuck's house. My, how he + made the dirt fly! Pretty soon he had made a hole big enough to call + through to Johnny Chuck, who was snoring away, fast asleep in his snug + little bed below. + </p> + <p> + “Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!” called Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + But Johnny Chuck just snored. + </p> + <p> + “Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!” called Jimmy Skunk once + more. + </p> + <p> + But Johnny Chuck just snored. Then Jimmy Skunk called again, this time + louder than before. + </p> + <p> + “Who is it?” asked a very sleepy voice. + </p> + <p> + “It's Jimmy Skunk. Put your coat on and come up here!” called Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + “Go away, Jimmy Skunk. I want to sleep!” said Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “I've got a surprise for you, Johnny Chuck. You'd better come!” called + Jimmy Skunk through the little hole he had made. When Johnny Chuck heard + that Jimmy Skunk had a surprise for him he wanted to know right away what + it could be, so though he was very, very sleepy, he put on his coat and + started up for his door to see what the surprise was that Jimmy Skunk had. + And there he found the big stone Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon had put there, + and of course he was very much surprised indeed. He thought Jimmy Skunk + had played him a mean trick and for a few minutes he was very mad. But + Jimmy Skunk soon told him who had filled up his doorway with the big + stone. + </p> + <p> + “Now you push from that side, Johnny Chuck, and I'll pull from this side, + and we'll soon have this big stone out of your doorway,” said Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + So Johnny Chuck pushed and Jimmy Skunk pulled, and sure enough they soon + had the big stone out of Johnny Chuck's doorway. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Jimmy Skunk, “we'll roll this big stone down the Lone Little + Path to Reddy Fox's house and we'll give Reddy Fox a surprise.” + </p> + <p> + So Johnny Chuck and Jimmy Skunk tugged and pulled and rolled the big stone + down to the house of Reddy Fox, and sure enough, it filled his doorway. + </p> + <p> + “Good night, Jimmy Skunk,” said Johnny Chuck, and trotted down the Lone + Little Path toward home, chuckling to himself all the way. + </p> + <p> + Jimmy Skunk walked slowly up the Lone Little Path to the wood, for Jimmy + Skunk never hurries. Pretty soon he came to the big hollow tree where + Bobby Coon lives, and there he met Hooty the Owl. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Jimmy Skunk, where have you been?” asked Hooty the Owl. + </p> + <p> + “Just for a walk,” said Jimmy Skunk. “Who lives in this big hollow tree?” + </p> + <p> + Now of course Jimmy Skunk knew all the time, but he pretended he didn't. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, this is Bobby Coon's house,” said Hooty the Owl. + </p> + <p> + “Let's give Bobby Coon a surprise,” said Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + “How?” asked Hooty the Owl. + </p> + <p> + “We'll fill his house full of sticks and leaves,” said Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + Hooty the Owl thought that would be a good joke so while Jimmy Skunk + gathered all the old sticks and leaves he could find, Hooty the Owl + stuffed them into the old hollow tree which was Bobby Coon's house, until + he couldn't get in another one. + </p> + <p> + “Good night,” said Jimmy Skunk as he began to climb the Crooked Little + Path up the hill to his own snug little home. + </p> + <p> + “Good night,” said Hooty the Owl, as he flew like a big soft shadow over + to the Great Pine. + </p> + <p> + By and by when old Mother Moon was just going to bed and all the little + stars were too sleepy to twinkle any longer, Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon, + very tired and very wet from playing in the Laughing Brook, came up the + Lone Little Path, ready to tumble into their snug little beds. They were + chuckling over the trick they had played on Johnny Chuck, and the way they + had waked up old Grandfather Frog, and all the other mischief they had + done. What do you suppose they said when they reached their homes and + found that someone else had been playing jokes, too? + </p> + <p> + I'm sure I don't know, but round, red Mr. Sun was laughing very hard as he + peeped over the hill at Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon, and he won't tell why. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD + </h2> + <p> + Old Mother West Wind had stopped to talk with the Slender Fir Tree. “I've + just come across the Green Meadows,” said Old Mother West Wind, “and there + I saw the Best Thing in the World.” + </p> + <p> + Striped Chipmunk was sitting under the Slender Fir Tree and he couldn't + help hearing what Old Mother West Wind said. “The Best Thing in the World—now + what can that be?” thought Striped Chipmunk. “Why, it must be heaps and + heaps of nuts and acorns! I'll go and find it.” + </p> + <p> + So Striped Chipmunk started down the Lone Little Path through the wood as + fast as he could run. Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “Where are you going in such a hurry, Striped Chipmunk?” asked Peter + Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World,” replied + Striped Chipmunk, and ran faster. + </p> + <p> + “The Best Thing in the World,” said Peter Rabbit. “Why, that must be great + piles of carrots and cabbage! I think I'll go and find it.” + </p> + <p> + So Peter Rabbit started down the Lone Little Path through the wood as fast + as he could go after Striped Chipmunk. + </p> + <p> + As they passed the great hollow tree Bobby Coon put his head out. “Where + are you going in such a hurry?” asked Bobby Coon. + </p> + <p> + “Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!” shouted + Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, and both began to run faster. + </p> + <p> + “The Best Thing in the World,” said Bobby Coon to himself. “Why, that must + be a whole field of sweet milky corn. I think I'll go and find it.” + </p> + <p> + So Bobby Coon climbed down out of the great hollow tree and started down + the Lone Little Path through the wood as fast as he could go after Striped + Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, for there is nothing that Bobby Coon likes to + eat so well as sweet milky corn. + </p> + <p> + At the edge of the wood they met Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + “Where are you going in such a hurry?” asked Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + “Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!” shouted + Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon. Then they all tried to + run faster. + </p> + <p> + “The Best Thing in the World,” said Jimmy Skunk. “Why, that must be packs + and packs of beetles!” And for once in his life Jimmy Skunk began to hurry + down the Lone Little Path after Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and + Bobby Coon. + </p> + <p> + They were all running so fast that they didn't see Reddy Fox until he + jumped out of the long grass and asked: “Where are you going in such a + hurry?” + </p> + <p> + “To find the Best Thing in the World!” shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter + Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk, and each did his best to run + faster. + </p> + <p> + “The Best Thing in the World,” said Reddy Fox to himself. “Why, that must + be a whole pen full of tender young chickens, and I must have them.” + </p> + <p> + So away went Reddy Fox as fast as he could run down the Lone Little Path + after Striped Chipmunk, Peter Rabbit, Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk. + </p> + <p> + By and by they all came to the house of Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “Where are you going in such a hurry?” asked Johnny Chuck. + </p> + <p> + “To find the Best Thing in the World,” shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter + Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox. + </p> + <p> + “The Best Thing in the World,” said Johnny Chuck. “Why, I don't know of + anything better than my own little home and the warm sunshine and the + beautiful blue sky.” + </p> + <p> + So Johnny Chuck stayed at home and played all day among the flowers with + the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind and was as happy as could + be. + </p> + <p> + But all day long Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and + Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox ran this way and ran that way over the Green + Meadows trying to find the Best Thing in the World. The sun was very, very + warm and they ran so far and they ran so fast that they were very, very + hot and tired, and still they hadn't found the Best Thing in the World. + </p> + <p> + When the long day was over they started up the Lone Little Path past + Johnny Chuck's house to their own homes. They didn't hurry now for they + were so very, very tired! And they were cross—oh so cross! Striped + Chipmunk hadn't found a single nut. Peter Rabbit hadn't found so much as + the leaf of a cabbage. Bobby Coon hadn't found the tiniest bit of sweet + milky corn. Jimmy Skunk hadn't seen a single beetle. Reddy Fox hadn't + heard so much as the peep of a chicken. And all were as hungry as hungry + could be. + </p> + <p> + Half way up the Lone Little Path they met Old Mother West Wind going to + her home behind the hill. “Did you find the Best Thing in the World?” + asked Old Mother West Wind. + </p> + <p> + “NO!” shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy + Skunk and Reddy Fox all together. + </p> + <p> + “Johnny Chuck has it,” said Old Mother West Wind. “It is being happy with + the things you have and not wanting things which some one else has. And it + is called Con-tent-ment.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV LITTLE JOE OTTER'S SLIPPERY SLIDE + </h2> + <p> + Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink had been playing together around the + Smiling Pool all one sunshiny morning. They had been fishing and had taken + home a fine dinner of Trout for old Grandfather Mink and blind old Granny + Otter. They had played tag with the Merry Little Breezes. They had been in + all kinds of mischief and now they just didn't know what to do. + </p> + <p> + They were sitting side by side on the Big Rock trying to push each other + off into the Smiling Pool. Round, smiling red Mr. Sun made the Green + Meadows very warm indeed, and Reddy Fox, over in the tall grass, heard + them splashing and shouting and having such a good time that he wished he + liked the nice cool water and could swim, too. + </p> + <p> + “I've thought of something!” cried Little Joe Otter. + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” asked Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + Little Joe Otter just looked wise and said nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Something to eat?” asked Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Little Joe Otter. + </p> + <p> + “I don't believe you've a thought of anything at all,” said Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + “I have too!” said Little Joe Otter. “It's something to do.” + </p> + <p> + “What?” demanded Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + Just then Little Joe Otter spied Jerry Muskrat. “Hi, Jerry Muskrat! Come + over here!” he called. + </p> + <p> + Jerry Muskrat swam across to the Big Rock and climbed up beside Billy Mink + and Little Joe Otter. + </p> + <p> + “What are you fellows doing?” asked Jerry Muskrat. + </p> + <p> + “Having some fun,” said Billy Mink. “Little Joe Otter has thought of + something to do, but I don't know what it is.” + </p> + <p> + “Let's make a slide,” cried Little Joe Otter. + </p> + <p> + “You show us how,” said Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + So Little Joe Otter found a nice smooth place on the bank, and Billy Mink + and Jerry Muskrat brought mud and helped him pat it down smooth until they + had the loveliest slippery slide in the world. Then Little Joe Otter + climbed up the bank to the top of the slippery slide and lay down flat on + his stomach. Billy Mink gave a push and away he went down, down the + slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. Then Jerry Muskrat tried it + and after him Billy Mink. Then all did it over again. Sometimes they went + down the slippery slide on their backs, sometimes flat on their stomachs, + sometimes head first, sometimes feet first. Oh such fun as they did have! + Even Grandfather Frog came over and tried the slippery slide. + </p> + <p> + Johnny Chuck, over in the Green Meadows, heard the noise and stole down + the Lone Little Path to see. Jimmy Skunk, looking for beetles up on the + hill, heard the noise and forgot that he hadn't had his breakfast. Reddy + Fox, taking a nap, woke up and hurried over to watch the fun. Last of all + came Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + Little Joe Otter saw him coming. “Hello, Peter Rabbit!” he shouted. “Come + and try the slippery slide.” + </p> + <p> + Now Peter Rabbit couldn't swim, but he pretended that he didn't want to. + </p> + <p> + “I've left my bathing suit at home,” said Peter Rabbit. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind,” said Billy Mink. “Mr. Sun will dry you off.” + </p> + <p> + “And we'll help,” said all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West + Wind. + </p> + <p> + But Peter Rabbit shook his head and said, “No.” + </p> + <p> + Faster and faster went Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat + and old Grandfather Frog down the slippery slide into the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + Peter Rabbit kept coming nearer and nearer until finally he stood right at + the top of the slippery slide. Billy Mink crept up behind him very softly + and gave him a push. Peter Rabbit's long legs flew out from under him and + down he sat with a thump on the slippery slide. “Oh,” cried Peter Rabbit, + and tried to stop himself. But he couldn't do it and so away he went down + the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! ha! ha!” laughed Billy Mink. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! ho! ho!” shouted Little Joe Otter. + </p> + <p> + “He! he! he!” laughed Jerry Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog and Sammy Jay + and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox and Blacky the Crow and Mr. Kingfisher, for + you know Peter Rabbit was forever playing jokes on them. + </p> + <p> + Poor Peter Rabbit! The water got in his eyes and up his nose and into his + mouth and made him choke and splutter, and then he couldn't get back on + the bank, for you know Peter Rabbit couldn't swim. + </p> + <p> + When Little Joe Otter saw what a dreadful time Peter Rabbit was having he + dove into the Smiling Pool and took hold of one of Peter Rabbit's long + ears. Billy Mink swam out and took hold of the other long ear. Jerry + Muskrat swam right under Peter Rabbit and took him on his back. Then with + old Grandfather Frog swimming ahead they took Peter Rabbit right across + the Smiling Pool and pulled him out on the grassy bank, where it was nice + and warm. All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind came over + and helped Mr. Sun dry Peter Rabbit off. + </p> + <p> + Then they all sat down together and watched Little Joe Otter turn a + somersault down the slippery slide. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV THE TAIL OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DID NOT MIND + </h2> + <p> + In the Laughing Brook, which rippled and sings all day long, lived Mr. + Trout and Mrs. Trout, and a whole lot of little Trouts. There were so many + little Trouts that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout were kept very busy indeed + getting breakfast and dinner and supper for them, and watching out for + them and teaching them how to swim and how to catch foolish little flies + that sometimes fell on the water and how to keep out of the way of big + hungry fish and sharp eyed Mr. Kingfisher and big men and little boys who + came fishing with hooks and lines. + </p> + <p> + Now all the little Trouts were very, very good and minded just what Mrs. + Trout told them—all but Tommy Trout, for Tommy Trout—oh, dear, + dear! Tommy Trout never could mind right away. He always had to wait a + little instead of minding when he was spoken to. + </p> + <p> + Tommy Trout didn't mean to be bad. Oh dear, no! He just wanted to have his + own way, and because Tommy Trout had his own way and didn't mind Mrs. + Trout there isn't any Tommy Trout now. No sir, there isn't as much as one + little blue spot of his beautiful little coat left because—why, just + because Tommy Trout didn't mind. + </p> + <p> + One day when round, red Mr. Sun was shining and the Laughing Brook was + singing on its way to join the Big River, Mrs. Trout started to get some + nice plump flies for dinner. All the little Trouts were playing in their + dear little pool, safe behind the Big Rock. Before she started Mrs. Trout + called all the little Trouts around her and told them not to leave their + little pool while she was gone, “For,” said she, “something dreadful might + happen to you.” + </p> + <p> + All the little Trouts, except Tommy Trout, promised that they would + surely, surely stay inside their dear little pool. Then they all began to + jump and chase each other and play as happy as could be, all but Tommy + Trout. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Mrs. Trout had started, Tommy Trout swam off by himself to the + edge of the pool. “I wonder what is on the other side of the Big Rock,” + said Tommy Trout. “The sun is shining and the brook is laughing and + nothing could happen if I go just a little speck of a ways.” + </p> + <p> + So, when no one was looking, Tommy Trout slipped out of the safe little + pool where all the other little Trouts were playing. He swam just a little + speck of a ways farther still. Now he could see almost around the Big + Rock. Then he swam just a little speck of a ways farther and—oh + dear, dear! he looked right into the mouth of a great big, big fish called + Mr. Pickerel, who is very fond of little Trouts and would like to eat one + for breakfast every day. + </p> + <p> + “Ah ha!” said Mr. Pickerel, opening his big, big mouth very, very wide. + </p> + <p> + Tommy Trout turned to run back to the dear, dear safe little pool where + all the other little Trouts were playing so happily, but he was too late. + Into that great big, big mouth he went instead, and Mr. Pickerel swallowed + him whole. + </p> + <p> + “Ah ha,” said Mr. Pickerel, “I like little Trouts.” + </p> + <p> + And nothing more was ever heard of Tommy Trout, who didn't mind. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI SPOTTY THE TURTLE WINS A RACE + </h2> + <p> + All the little people who live on the Green Meadows and in the Smiling + Pool and along the Laughing Brook were to have a holiday. The Merry Little + Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had been very busy, oh very busy indeed, + in sending word to all the little meadow folks. You see, Peter Rabbit had + been boasting of how fast he could run. Reddy Fox was quite sure that he + could run faster than Peter Rabbit. Billy Mink, who can move so quickly + you hardly can see him, was quite sure that neither Peter Rabbit nor Reddy + Fox could run as fast as he. They all met one day beside the Smiling Pool + and agreed that old Grandfather Frog should decide who was the swiftest. + </p> + <p> + Now Grandfather Frog was accounted very wise. You see he had lived a long + time, oh, very much longer than any of the others, and therefore, because + of the wisdom of age, Grandfather Frog was always called on to decide all + disputes. He sat on his green lily-pad while Billy Mink sat on the Big + Rock, and Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox sat on the bank. Each in turn told + why he thought he was the fastest. Old Grandfather Frog listened and + listened and said never a word until they were all through. When they had + finished, he stopped to catch a foolish green fly and then he said: “The + best way to decide who is the swiftest is to have a race.” + </p> + <p> + So it was agreed that Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink should + start together from the old butternut tree on one edge of the Green + Meadows, race away across the Green Meadows to the little hill on the + other side and each bring back a nut from the big hickory which grew + there. The one who first reached the old butternut tree with a hickory nut + would be declared the winner. The Merry Little Breezes flew about over the + Green Meadows telling everyone about the race and everyone planned to be + there. + </p> + <p> + It was a beautiful summer day. Mr. Sun smiled and smiled, and the more he + smiled the warmer it grew. Everyone was there to see the race—Striped + Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow, Hooty the Owl + and Bobby Coon all sat up in the old butternut tree where it was cool and + shady. Johnny Chuck, Jerry Muskrat, Jimmy Skunk, Little Joe Otter, + Grandfather Frog and even old Mr. Toad, were there. Last of all came + Spotty the Turtle. Now Spotty the Turtle is a very slow walker, and he + cannot run at all. When Peter Rabbit saw him coming up towards the old + butternut tree he shouted: “Come, Spotty, don't you want to race with us?” + </p> + <p> + Everybody laughed because you know Spotty is so very, very slow but Spotty + didn't laugh and he didn't get cross because everyone else laughed. + </p> + <p> + “There is a wise old saying, Peter Rabbit,” said Spotty the Turtle, “which + shows that those who run fastest do not always reach a place first. I + think I WILL enter this race.” + </p> + <p> + Every one thought that that was the best joke they had heard for a long + time, and all laughed harder than ever. They all agreed that Spotty the + Turtle should start in the race too. + </p> + <p> + So they all stood in a row, Peter Rabbit first, the Billy Mink, then Reddy + Fox, and right side of Reddy Fox Spotty the Turtle. + </p> + <p> + “Are you ready?” asked Grandfather Frog. “Go!” + </p> + <p> + Away went Peter Rabbit with great big jumps. After him went Billy Mink so + fast that was just a little brown streak going through the tall grass, and + side by side with him ran Reddy Fox. Now just as they started Spotty the + Turtle reached up and grabbed the long hair on the end of Reddy's big + tail. Of course Reddy couldn't have stopped to shake him off, because + Peter Rabbit and Billy Mink were running so fast that he had to run his + very best to keep up with them. But he didn't even know that Spotty the + Turtle was there. You see Spotty is not very heavy and Reddy Fox was so + excited that he did not notice that his big tail was heavier than usual. + </p> + <p> + The Merry Little Breezes flew along, too, to see that the race was fair. + Peter Rabbit went with great big jumps. Whenever he came to a little bush + he jumped right over it, for Peter Rabbit's legs are long and meant for + jumping. Billy Mink is so slim that he slipped between the bushes and + through the long grass like a little brown streak. Reddy Fox, who is + bigger than either Peter Rabbit or Billy Mink, had no trouble in keeping + up with them. Not one of them noticed that Spotty the Turtle was hanging + fast to the end of Reddy's tail. + </p> + <p> + Now just at the foot of the little hill on which the big hickory tree grew + was a little pond. It wasn't very wide but it was quite long. Billy Mink + remembered this pond and he chuckled to himself as he raced along, for he + knew that Peter Rabbit couldn't swim and he knew that Reddy Fox does not + like the water, so therefore both would have to run around it. He himself + can swim even faster than he can run. The more he thought of this, the + more foolish it seemed that he should hurry so on such a warm day. “For,” + said Billy Mink to himself, “even if they reach the pond first, they will + have to run around it, while I can swim across it and cool off while I am + swimming. I will surely get there first.” So Billy Mink ran slower and + slower, and pretty soon he had dropped behind. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Sun, round and red, looking down, smiled and smiled to see the race. + The more he smiled the warmer it grew. Now, Peter Rabbit had a thick gray + coat and Reddy Fox had a thick red coat, and they both began to get very, + very warm. Peter Rabbit did not make such long jumps as when he first + started. Reddy Fox began to feel very thirsty, and his tongue hung out. + Now that Billy Mink was behind them they thought they did not need to + hurry so. + </p> + <p> + Peter Rabbit reached the little pond first. He had not thought of that + pond when he agreed to enter the race. He stopped right on the edge of it + and sat up on his hind legs. Right across he could see the big hickory + tree, so near and yet so far, for he knew that he must run around the pond + then back again, and it was a long, long way. In just a moment Reddy Fox + ran out of the bushes and Reddy felt much as Peter Rabbit did. Way, way + behind them was Billy Mink, trotting along comfortably and chuckling to + himself. Peter Rabbit looked at Reddy Fox in dismay, and Reddy Fox looked + at Peter Rabbit in dismay. Then they both looked at Billy Mink and + remembered that Billy Mink could swim right across. + </p> + <p> + Then off Peter Rabbit started as fast as he could go around the pond one + way, and Reddy Fox started around the pond the other way. They were so + excited that neither noticed a little splash in the pond. That was Spotty + the Turtle who had let go of Reddy's tail and now was swimming across the + pond, for you know that Spotty is a splendid swimmer. Only once or twice + he stuck his little black nose up to get some air. The rest of the time he + swam under water and no one but the Merry Little Breezes saw him. Right + across he swam, and climbed up the bank right under the big hickory tree. + </p> + <p> + Now there were just three nuts left under the hickory trees. Two of these + Spotty took down to the edge of the pond and buried in the mud. The other + he took in his mouth and started back across the pond. Just as he reached + the other shore up trotted Billy Mink, but Billy Mink didn't see Spotty. + He was too intent watching Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit, who were now half + way around the pond. In he jumped with a splash. My! How good that cool + water did feel! He didn't have to hurry now, because he felt sure that the + race was his. So he swam round and round and chased some fish and had a + beautiful time in the water. By and by he looked up and saw that Peter + Rabbit was almost around the pond one way and Reddy Fox was almost around + the pond the other way. They both looked tired and hot and discouraged. + </p> + <p> + Then Billy Mink swam slowly across and climbed out on the bank under the + big hickory tree. But where were the nuts? Look as he would, he could not + see a nut anywhere, yet the Merry Little Breezes had said there were three + nuts lying under the hickory tree. Billy Mink ran this way and ran that + way. He was still running around, poking over the leaves and looking under + the twigs and pieces of bark when Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox came up. + </p> + <p> + Then they, too, began to look under the leaves and under the bark. They + pawed around in the grass, they hunted in every nook and cranny, but not a + nut could they find. They were tired and cross and hot and they accused + Billy Mink of having hidden the nuts. Billy Mink stoutly insisted that he + had not hidden the nuts, that he had not found the nuts, and when they saw + how hard he was hunting they believed him. + </p> + <p> + All the afternoon they hunted and hunted and hunted, and all the afternoon + Spotty the Turtle, with the nut in his mouth, was slowly, oh, so slowly, + crawling straight back across the Green Meadows towards the old butternut + tree. Round, red Mr. Sun was getting very close to the Purple Hills, where + he goes to bed every night, and all the little meadow folks were getting + ready to go to their homes. They were wondering and wondering what could + have happened to the racers, when Sammy Jay spied the Merry Little Breezes + dancing across the Green Meadows. + </p> + <p> + “Here come the Merry Little Breezes; they'll tell us who wins the race,” + cried Sammy Jay. + </p> + <p> + When the Merry Little Breezes reached the old butternut tree, all the + little meadow folks crowded around them, but the Merry Little Breezes just + laughed and laughed and wouldn't say a word. Then all of a sudden, out of + the tall meadow grass crept Spotty the Turtle and laid the hickory nut at + the feet of old Grandfather Frog. Old Grandfather Frog was so surprised + that he actually let a great green fly buzz right past his nose. + </p> + <p> + “Where did you get that hickory nut?” asked Grandfather Frog. + </p> + <p> + “Under the big hickory tree on the hill on the other side of the Green + Meadows,” said Spotty. + </p> + <p> + Then all the Merry Little Breezes clapped their hands and shouted: “He + did! He did! Spotty wins the race!” + </p> + <p> + Then they told how Spotty reached the pond by clinging to the tip of Reddy + Fox's tail, and had hidden the other two nuts, and then how he had + patiently crawled home while Billy Mink and Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit + were hunting and hunting and hunting for the nuts they could not find. + </p> + <p> + And so Spotty the Turtle was awarded the race, and to this day Peter + Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink can't bear the sight of a hickory nut. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Old Mother West Wind, by Thornton W. 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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: Old Mother West Wind + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Posting Date: December 23, 2008 [EBook #2557] +Release Date: March, 2001 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD MOTHER WEST WIND *** + + + + +Produced by Eve Sobol + + + + + +OLD MOTHER WEST WIND + +By Thornton W. Burgess + + + + + TO MY MOTHER TO WHOM I OWE SO MUCH AND TO MY LITTLE SON WHOSE + LOVE OF STORIES INSPIRED THESE TALES THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS + AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. + + +CONTENTS: + +CHAPTER + + I. MRS. REDWING'S SPECKLED EGG + + II. WHY GRANDFATHER FROG HAS NO TAIL + + III. HOW REDDY FOX WAS SURPRISED + + IV. WHY JIMMY SKUNK WEARS STRIPES + + V. THE WILFUL LITTLE BREEZE + + VI. REDDY FOX GOES FISHING + + VII. JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES + + VIII. BILLY MINK'S SWIMMING PARTY + + IX. PETER RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE + + X. HOW SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT + + XI. JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY + + XII. BOBBY COON AND REDDY FOX PLAY TRICKS + + XIII. JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD + + XIV. LITTLE JOE OTTER'S SLIPPERY SLIDE + + XV. THE TALE OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DIDN'T MIND + + XVI. SPOTTY THE TURTLE WINS A RACE + + + + +CHAPTER I. MRS. REDWING'S SPECKLED EGG + +Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the golden light +of the early morning. Over her shoulders was slung a bag--a great big +bag--and in the bag were all of Old Mother West Wind's children, the +Merry Little Breezes. + +Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills to the Green +Meadows and as she walked she crooned a song: + + "Ships upon the ocean wait; + I must hurry, hurry on! + Mills are idle if I'm late; + I must hurry, hurry on." + +When she reached the Green Meadows Old Mother West Wind opened her bag, +turned it upside down and shook it. Out tumbled all the Merry Little +Breezes and began to spin round and round for very joy, for you see they +were to lay in the Green Meadows all day long until Old Mother West Wind +should come back at night and take them all to their home behind the +Purple Hills. + +First they raced over to see Johnny Chuck. They found Johnny Chuck +sitting just outside his door eating his breakfast. One, for very +mischief, snatched right out of Johnny Chuck's mouth the green leaf of +corn he was eating, and ran away with it. Another playfully pulled his +whiskers, while a third rumpled up his hair. + +Johnny Chuck pretended to be very cross indeed, but really he didn't +mind a bit, for Johnny Chuck loved the Merry Little Breezes and played +with them everyday. + +And if they teased Johnny Chuck they were good to him, too. When they +saw Farmer Brown coming across the Green Meadows with a gun one of them +would dance over to Johnny Chuck and whisper to him that Farmer Brown +was coming, and then Johnny Chuck would hide away, deep down in his snug +little house under ground, and Farmer Brown would wonder and wonder why +it was that he never, never could get near enough to shoot Johnny Chuck. +But he never, never could. + +When the Merry Little Breezes left Johnny Chuck they raced across the +Green Meadows to the Smiling Pool to say good morning to Grandfather +Frog who sat on a big lily pad watching for green flies for breakfast. + +"Chug-arum," said Grandfather Frog, which was his way of saying good +morning. + +Just then along came a fat green fly and up jumped Grandfather Frog. +When he sat down again on the lily pad the fat green fly was nowhere to +be seen, but Grandfather Frog looked very well satisfied indeed as he +contentedly rubbed his white waistcoat with one hand. + +"What is the news, Grandfather Frog?" cried the Merry Little Breezes. + +"Mrs. Redwing has a new speckled egg in her nest in the bulrushes," said +Grandfather Frog. + +"We must see it," cried the Merry Little Breezes, and away they all ran +to the swamp where the bulrushes grow. + +Now someone else had heard of Mrs. Redwing's dear little nest in the +bulrushes, and he had started out bright and early that morning to +try and find it, for he wanted to steal the little speckled eggs just +because they were pretty. It was Tommy Brown, the farmer's boy. + +When the Merry Little Breezes reached the swamp where the bulrushes +grow they found poor Mrs. Redwing in great distress. She was afraid that +Tommy Brown would find her dear little nest, for he was very, very near +it, and his eyes were very, very sharp. + +"Oh," cried the Merry Little Breezes, "we must help Mrs. Redwing save +her pretty speckled eggs from bad Tommy Brown!" + +So one of the Merry Little Breezes whisked Tommy Brown's old straw hat +off his head over into the Green Meadows. Of course Tommy ran after it. +Just as he stooped to pick it up another little Breeze ran away with +it. Then they took turns, first one little Breeze, then another little +Breeze running away with the old straw hat just as Tommy Brown would +almost get his hands on it. Down past the Smiling Pool and across the +Laughing Brook they raced and chased the old straw hat, Tommy Brown +running after it, very cross, very red in the face, and breathing very +hard. Way across the Green Meadows they ran to the edge of the wood, +where they hung the old straw hat in the middle of a thorn tree. By the +time Tommy Brown had it once more on his head he had forgotten all about +Mrs. Redwing and her dear little nest. Besides, he heard the breakfast +horn blowing just then, so off he started for home up the Lone Little +Path through the wood. + +And all the Merry Little Breezes danced away across the Green Meadows +to the swamp where the bulrushes grow to see the new speckled egg in the +dear little nest where Mrs. Redwing was singing for joy. And while she +sang the Merry Little Breezes danced among the bulrushes, for they knew, +and Mrs. Redwing knew, that some day out of that pretty new speckled egg +would come a wee baby Redwing. + + + +CHAPTER II WHY GRANDFATHER FROG HAS NO TAIL + +Old Mother West Wind had gone to her day's work, leaving all the Merry +Little Breezes to play in the Green Meadows. They had played tag and run +races with the Bees and played hide and seek with the Sun Beams, and now +they had gathered around the Smiling Pool where on a green lily pad sat +Grandfather Frog. + +Grandfather Frog was old, very old, indeed, and very, very wise. He wore +a green coat and his voice was very deep. When Grandfather Frog +spoke everybody listened very respectfully. Even Billy Mink treated +Grandfather Frog with respect, for Billy Mink's father and his father's +father could not remember when Grandfather Frog had not sat on the lily +pad watching for green flies. + +Down in the Smiling Pool were some of Grandfather Frog's +great-great-great-great-great grandchildren. You wouldn't have known +that they were his grandchildren unless some one told you. They didn't +look the least bit like Grandfather Frog. They were round and fat and +had long tails and perhaps this is why they were called Pollywogs. + +"Oh Grandfather Frog, tell us why you don't have a tail as you did when +you were young," begged one of the Merry Little Breezes. + +Grandfather Frog snapped up a foolish green fly and settled himself on +his big lily pad, while all the Merry Little Breezes gathered round to +listen. + +"Once on a time," began Grandfather Frog, "the Frogs ruled the world, +which was mostly water. There was very little dry land--oh, very little +indeed! There were no boys to throw stones and no hungry Mink to gobble +up foolish Frog-babies who were taking a sun bath!" + +Billy Mink, who had joined the Merry Little Breezes and was listening, +squirmed uneasily and looked away guiltily. + +"In those days all the Frogs had tails, long handsome tails of which +they were very, very proud indeed," continued Grandfather Frog. "The +King of all the Frogs was twice as big as any other Frog, and his tail +was three times as long. He was very proud, oh, very proud indeed of +his long tail. He used to sit and admire it until he thought that there +never had been and never could be another such tail. He used to wave it +back and forth in the water, and every time he waved it all the other +Frogs would cry 'Ah!' and 'Oh!' Every day the King grew more vain. He +did nothing at all but eat and sleep and admire his tail. + +"Now all the other Frogs did just as the King did, so pretty soon none +of the Frogs were doing anything but sitting about eating, sleeping and +admiring their own tails and the King's. + +"Now you all know that people who do nothing worth while in this world +are of no use and there is little room for them. So when Mother Nature +saw how useless had become the Frog tribe she called the King Frog +before her and she said: + +"'Because you can think of nothing but your beautiful tail it shall be +taken away from you. Because you do nothing but eat and sleep your mouth +shall become wide like a door, and your eyes shall start forth from your +head. You shall become bow-legged and ugly to look at, and all the world +shall laugh at you.' + +"The King Frog looked at his beautiful tail and already it seemed to +have grown shorter. He looked again and it was shorter still. Every +time he looked his tail had grown shorter and smaller. By and by when he +looked there was nothing left but a little stub which he couldn't even +wriggle. Then even that disappeared, his eyes popped out of his head and +his mouth grew bigger and bigger." + +Old Grandfather Frog stopped and looked sadly at a foolish green fly +coming his way. "Chug-arum," said Grandfather Frog, opening his mouth +very wide and hopping up in the air. When he sat down again on his big +lily pad the green fly was nowhere to be seen. Grandfather Frog smacked +his lips and continued: + +"And from that day to this every Frog has started life with a big tail, +and as he has grown bigger and bigger his tail has grown smaller and +smaller, until finally it disappears, and then he remembers how foolish +and useless it is to be vain of what nature has given us. And that is +how I came to lose my tail," finished Grandfather Frog. + +"Thank you," shouted all the Merry Little Breezes. "We won't forget." + +Then they ran a race to see who could reach Johnny Chuck's home first +and tell him that Farmer Brown was coming down on the Green Meadows with +a gun. + + + +CHAPTER III HOW REDDY FOX WAS SURPRISED + +Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox lived very near together on the edge of the +Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck was fat and roly-poly. Reddy Fox was slim +and wore a bright red coat. Reddy Fox used to like to frighten Johnny +Chuck by suddenly popping out from behind a tree and making believe that +he was going to eat Johnny Chuck all up. + +One bright summer day Johnny Chuck was out looking for a good breakfast +of nice tender clover. He had wandered quite a long way from his snug +little house in the long meadow grass, although his mother had told him +never to go out of sight of the door. But Johnny was like some little +boys I know, and forgot all he had been told. + +He walked and walked and walked. Every few minutes Johnny Chuck saw +something farther on that looked like a patch of nice fresh clover. +And every time when he reached it Johnny Chuck found that he had made a +mistake. So Johnny Chuck walked and walked and walked. + +Old Mother West Wind, coming across the Green Meadows, saw Johnny Chuck +and asked him where he was going. Johnny Chuck pretended not to hear and +just walked faster. + +One of the Merry Little Breezes danced along in front of him. + +"Look out, Johnny Chuck, you will get lost," cried the Merry Little +Breeze then pulled Johnny's whiskers and ran away. + +Higher and higher up in the sky climbed round, red Mr. Sun. Every time +Johnny Chuck looked up at him Mr. Sun winked. + +"So long as I can see great round, red Mr. Sun and he winks at me I +can't be lost," thought Johnny Chuck, and trotted on looking for clover. + +By and by Johnny Chuck really did find some clover--just the sweetest +clover that grew in the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck ate and ate and ate +and then what do you think he did? Why, he curled right up in the nice +sweet clover and went fast asleep. + +Great round, red Mr. Sun kept climbing higher and higher up in the sky, +then by and by he began to go down on the other side, and long shadows +began to creep out across the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck didn't know +anything about them: he was fast asleep. + +By and by one of the Merry Little Breezes found Johnny Chuck all curled +up in a funny round ball. + +"Wake up Johnny Chuck! Wake up!" shouted the Merry Little Breeze. + +Johnny Chuck opened his eyes. Then he sat up and rubbed them. For just a +few, few minutes he couldn't remember where he was at all. + +By and by he sat up very straight to look over the grass and see where +he was. But he was so far from home that he didn't see a single thing +that looked at all like the things he was used to. The trees were all +different. The bushes were all different. Everything was different. +Johnny Chuck was lost. + +Now, when Johnny sat up, Reddy Fox happened to be looking over the Green +Meadows and he saw Johnny's head where it popped above the grass. + +"Aha!" said Reddy Fox, "I'll scare Johnny Chuck so he'll wish he'd never +put his nose out of his house." + +Then Reddy dropped down behind the long grass and crept softly, oh, +ever so softly, through the paths of his own, until he was right behind +Johnny Chuck. Johnny Chuck had been so intent looking for home that he +didn't see anything else. + +Reddy Fox stole right up behind Johnny and pulled Johnny's little short +tail hard. How it did frighten Johnny Chuck! He jumped right straight +up in the air and when he came down he was the maddest little woodchuck +that ever lived in the Green Meadows. + +Reddy Fox had thought that Johnny would run, and then Reddy meant to run +after him and pull his tail and tease him all the way home. Now, Reddy +Fox got as big a surprise as Johnny had had when Reddy pulled his tail. +Johnny didn't stop to think that Reddy Fox was twice as big as he, +but with his eyes snapping, and chattering as only a little Chuck can +chatter, with every little hair on his little body standing right up +on end, so that he seemed twice as big as he really was, he started for +Reddy Fox. + +It surprised Reddy Fox so that he didn't know what to do, and he simply +ran. Johnny Chuck ran after him, nipping Reddy's heels every minute or +two. Peter Rabbit just happened to be down that way. He was sitting up +very straight looking to see what mischief he could get into when he +caught sight of Reddy Fox running as hard as ever he could. "It must +be that Bowser, the hound, is after Reddy Fox," said Peter Rabbit to +himself. "I must watch out that he doesn't find me." + +Just then he caught sight of Johnny Chuck with every little hair +standing up on end and running after Reddy Fox as fast as his short legs +could go. + +"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Peter Rabbit. "Reddy Fox afraid of Johnny Chuck! +Ho! ho! Ho!" + +Then Peter Rabbit scampered away to find Jimmy Skunk and Bobby Coon and +Happy Jack Squirrel to tell them all about how Reddy Fox had run away +from Johnny Chuck, for you see they were all a little afraid of Reddy +Fox. + +Straight home ran Reddy Fox as fast as he could go, and going home he +passed the house of Johnny Chuck. Now Johnny couldn't run so fast as +Reddy Fox and he was puffing and blowing as only a fat little woodchuck +can puff and blow when he has to run hard. Moreover, he had lost his ill +temper now and he thought it was the best joke ever to think that he had +actually frightened Reddy Fox. When he came to his own house he stopped +and sat on his hind legs once more. Then he shrilled out after Reddy +Fox: "Reddy Fox is a 'fraid cat, 'fraid-cat! Reddy Fox is a 'fraid-cat!" + +And all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind, who were +playing on the Green Meadows shouted: "Reddy Fox is a 'fraid-cat, +'fraid-cat!" + +And this is the way that Reddy Fox was surprised and that Johnny Chuck +found his way home. + + + +CHAPTER IV WHY JIMMY SKUNK WEARS STRIPES + +Jimmy Skunk, as everybody knows, wears a striped suit, a suit of black +and white. There was a time, long, long ago, when all the Skunk family +wore black. Very handsome their coats were, too, a beautiful, glossy +black. They were very, very proud of them and took the greatest care of +them, brushing them carefully ever so many times a day. + +There was a Jimmy Skunk then, just as there is now, and he was head of +all the Skunk family. Now this Jimmy Skunk was very proud and thought +himself very much of a gentleman. He was very independent and cared for +no one. Like a great many other independent people, he did not always +consider the rights of others. Indeed, it was hinted in the wood and on +the Green Meadows that not all of Jimmy Skunk's doings would bear the +light of day. It was openly said that he was altogether too fond of +prowling about at night, but no one could prove that he was responsible +for mischief done in the night, for no one saw him. You see his coat was +so black that in the darkness of the night it was not visible at all. + +Now about this time of which I am telling you Mrs. Ruffed Grouse made a +nest at the foot of the Great Pine and in it she laid fifteen beautiful +buff eggs. Mrs. Grouse was very happy, very happy indeed, and all the +little meadow folks who knew of her happiness were happy too, for they +all loved shy, demure, little Mrs. Grouse. Every morning when Peter +Rabbit trotted down the Lone Little Path through the wood past the Great +Pine he would stop for a few minutes to chat with Mrs. Grouse. Happy +Jack Squirrel would bring her the news every afternoon. The Merry Little +Breezes of Old Mother West Wind would run up a dozen times a day to see +how she was getting along. + +One morning Peter Rabbit, coming down the Lone Little Path for his usual +morning call, found a terrible state of affairs. Poor little Mrs. Grouse +was heart-broken. All about the foot of the Great Pine lay the empty +shells of her beautiful eggs. They had been broken and scattered this +way and that. + +"How did it happen?" asked Peter Rabbit. + +"I don't know," sobbed poor little Mrs. Grouse. "In the night when I was +fast asleep something pounced upon me. I managed to get away and fly up +in the top of the Great Pine. In the morning I found all my eggs broken, +just as you see them here." + +Peter Rabbit looked the ground over very carefully. He hunted around +behind the Great Pine, he looked under the bushes, he studied the ground +with a very wise air. Then he hopped off down the Lone Little Path to +the Green Meadows. He stopped at the house of Johnny Chuck. + +"What makes your eyes so big and round?" asked Johnny Chuck. + +Peter Rabbit came very close so as to whisper in Johnny Chuck's ear, +and told him all that he had seen. Together they went to Jimmy Skunk's +house. Jimmy Skunk was in bed. He was very sleepy and very cross when he +came to the door. Peter Rabbit told him what he had seen. + +"Too bad! Too bad!" said Jimmy Skunk, and yawned sleepily. + +"Won't you join us in trying to find out who did it?" asked Johnny +Chuck. + +Jimmy Skunk said he would be delighted to come but that he had +some other business that morning and that he would join them in the +afternoon. Peter Rabbit and Johnny Chuck went on. Pretty soon they met +the Merry Little Breezes and told them the dreadful story. + +"What shall we do?" asked Johnny Chuck. + +"We'll hurry over and tell Old Dame Nature," cried the Merry Little +Breezes, "and ask her what to do." + +So away flew the Merry Little Breezes to Old Dame Nature and told her +all the dreadful story. Old Dame Nature listened very attentively. Then +she sent the Merry Little Breezes to all the little meadow folks to tell +every one to be at the Great Pine that afternoon. Now whatever Old Dame +Nature commanded all the meadow folks were obliged to do. They did not +dare to disobey her. Promptly at four o'clock that afternoon all +the meadow folks were gathered around the foot of the Great Pine. +Broken-hearted little Mrs. Ruffed Grouse sat beside her empty nest, with +all the broken shells about her. + +Reddy Fox, Peter Rabbit, Johnny Chuck, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, +Jerry Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, Bobby Coon, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow, +Grandfather Frog, Mr. Toad, Spotty the Turtle, the Merry Little Breezes, +all were there. Last of all came Jimmy Skunk. Very handsome he looked in +his shining black coat and very sorry he appeared that such a dreadful +thing should have happened. He told Mrs. Grouse how badly he felt, and +he loudly demanded that the culprit should be found out and severely +punished. + +Old Dame Nature has the most smiling face in the world, but this time it +was very, very grave indeed. First she asked little Mrs. Grouse to tell +her story all over again that all might hear. Then each in turn was +asked to tell where he had been the night before. Johnny Chuck, Happy +Jack Squirrel, Striped Chipmunk, Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow had gone +to bed when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills. Jerry Muskrat, +Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and Spotty the Turtle had +not left the Smiling Pool. Bobby Coon had been down in Farmer Brown's +cornfield. Hooty the Owl had been hunting in the lower end of the Green +Meadows. Peter Rabbit had been down in the berry patch. Mr. Toad had +been under the piece of bark which he called a house. Old Dame Nature +called on Jimmy Skunk last of all. Jimmy protested that he had been +very, very tired and had gone to bed very early indeed and had slept the +whole night through. + +Then Old Dame Nature asked Peter Rabbit what he had found among the egg +shells that morning. + +Peter Rabbit hopped out and laid three long black hairs before Old +Dame Nature. "These," said Peter Rabbit "are what I found among the egg +shells." + +Then Old Dame Nature called Johnny Chuck. "Tell us, Johnny Chuck," said +she, "what you saw when you called at Jimmy Skunk's house this morning." + +"I saw Jimmy Skunk," said Johnny Chuck, "and Jimmy seemed very, very +sleepy. It seemed to me that his whiskers were yellow." + +"That will do," said Old Dame Nature, and then she called Old Mother +West Wind. + +"What time did you come down on the Green Meadows this morning?" + +"Just at the break of day," said Old Mother West Wind, "as Mr. Sun was +coming up from behind the Purple Hills." + +"And whom did you see so early in the morning?" asked Old Dame Nature. + +"I saw Bobby Coon going home from old Farmer Brown's cornfield," said +Old Mother West Wind. "I saw Hooty the Owl coming back from the lower +end of the Green Meadows. I saw Peter Rabbit down in the berry patch. +Last of all I saw something like a black shadow coming down the Lone +Little Path toward the house of Jimmy Skunk." + +Every one was looking very hard at Jimmy Skunk. Jimmy began to look very +unhappy and very uneasy. + +"Who wears a black coat?" asked Dame Nature. + +"Jimmy Skunk!" shouted all the little meadow folks. + +"What MIGHT make whiskers yellow?" asked Old Dame Nature. + +No one seemed to know at first. Then Peter Rabbit spoke up. "It MIGHT be +the yolk of an egg," said Peter Rabbit. + +"Who are likely to be sleepy on a bright sunny morning?" asked Old Dame +Nature. + +"People who have been out all night," said Johnny Chuck, who himself +always goes to bed with the sun. + +"Jimmy Skunk," said Old Dame Nature, and her voice was very stern, very +stern indeed, and her face was very grave. "Jimmy Skunk, I accuse you +of having broken and eaten the eggs of Mrs. Grouse. What have you to say +for yourself?" + +Jimmy Skunk hung his head. He hadn't a word to say. He just wanted to +sneak away by himself. + +"Jimmy Skunk," said Old Dame Nature, "because your handsome black coat +of which you are so proud has made it possible for you to move about +in the night without being seen, and because we can no longer trust +you upon your honor, henceforth you and your descendants shall wear a +striped coat, which is the sign that you cannot be trusted. Your coat +hereafter shall be black and white, that when you move about in the +night you will always be visible." + +And this is why that to this day Jimmy Skunk wears a striped suit of +black and white. + + + +CHAPTER V THE WILFUL LITTLE BREEZE + +Old Mother West Wind was tired--tired and just a wee bit cross--cross +because she was tired. She had had a very busy day. Ever since early +morning she had been puffing out the white sales of the ships on the big +ocean so that they could go faster; she had kept all the big and little +wind mills whirling and whirling to pump water for thirsty folks and +grind corn for hungry folks; she had blown away all the smoke from tall +chimneys and engines and steamboats. Yes, indeed, Old Mother West Wind +had been very, very busy. + +Now she was coming across the Green Meadows on her way to her home +behind the Purple Hills, and as she came she opened the big bag she +carried and called to her children, the Merry Little Breezes, who had +been playing hard on the Green Meadows all the long day. One by one they +crept into the big bag, for they were tired, too, and ready to go to +their home behind the Purple Hills. + +Pretty soon all were in the bag but one, a willful little Breeze, who +was not quite ready to go home; he wanted to play just a little longer. +He danced ahead of Old Mother West Wind. He kissed the sleepy daisies. +He shook the nodding buttercups. He set all the little poplar leaves a +dancing, too, and he wouldn't come into the big bag. So Old Mother West +Wind closed the big bag and slung it over her shoulder. Then she started +on towards her home behind the Purple Hills. + +When she had gone, the willful little Breeze left behind suddenly felt +very lonely--very lonely indeed! The sleepy daisies didn't want to play. +The nodding buttercups were cross. Great round bright Mr. Sun, who had +been shining and shining all day long, went to bed and put on his night +cap of golden clouds. Black shadows came creeping, creeping out into the +Green Meadows. + +The willful little Breeze began to wish that he was safe in Old Mother +West Wind's big bag with all the other Merry Little Breezes. + +So he started across the Green Meadows to find the Purple Hills. But +all the hills were black now and he could not tell which he should look +behind to find his home with Old Mother West Wind and the Merry Little +Breezes. How he did wish that he had minded Old Mother West Wind. + +By and by he curled up under a bayberry bush and tried to go to sleep, +but he was lonely, oh, so lonely! And he couldn't go to sleep. Old +Mother Moon came up and flooded all the Green Meadows with light, but it +wasn't like the bright light of jolly round Mr. Sun, for it was cold and +white and it made many black shadows. + +Pretty soon the willful little Breeze heard Hooty the Owl out hunting +for a meadow mouse for his dinner. Then down the Lone Little Path which +ran close to the bayberry bush trotted Reddy Fox. He was trotting very +softly and every minute or so he turned his head and looked behind him +to see if he was followed. It was plain to see that Reddy Fox was bent +on mischief. + +When he reached the bayberry bush Reddy Fox sat down and barked twice. +Hooty the Owl answered him at once and flew over to join him. They +didn't see the willful little Breeze curled up under the bayberry bush, +so intent were these two rogues in plotting mischief. They were planning +to steal down across the Green Meadows to the edge of the Brown Pasture +where Mr. Bob White and pretty Mrs. Bob White and a dozen little Bob +Whites had their home. + +"When they run along the ground I'll catch 'em, and when they fly up in +the air you'll catch 'em, and we'll gobble 'em all up," said Reddy Fox +to Hooty the Owl. Then he licked his chops and Hooty the Owl snapped his +bill, just as if they were tasting tender little Bob Whites that very +minute. It made the willful little Breeze shiver to see them. Pretty +soon they started on towards the Brown Pasture. + +When they were out of sight the willful little Breeze jumped up and +shook himself. Then away he sped across the Green Meadows to the Brown +Pasture. And because he could go faster and because he went a shorter +way he got there first. He had to hunt and hunt to find Mrs. and Mr. Bob +White and all the little Bob Whites, but finally he did find them, all +with their heads tucked under their wings fast asleep. + +The willful little Breeze shook Mr. Bob White very gently. In an instant +he was wide awake. + +"Sh-h-h," said the willful little Breeze. "Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl +are coming to the Brown Pasture to gobble up you and Mrs. Bob White and +all the little Bob Whites." + +"Thank you, little Breeze," said Mr. Bob White, "I think I'll move my +family." + +Then he woke Mrs. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites. With Mr. +Bob White in the lead away they all flew to the far side of the Brown +Pasture where they were soon safely hidden under a juniper tree. + +The willful little Breeze saw them safely there, and when they were +nicely hidden hurried back to the place where the Bob Whites had been +sleeping. Reddy Fox was stealing up through the grass very, very softly. +Hooty the Owl was flying as silently as a shadow. When Reddy Fox thought +he was near enough he drew himself together, made a quick spring and +landed right in Mr. Bob White's empty bed. Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl +looked so surprised and foolish when they found the Bob Whites were not +there that the willful little Breeze nearly laughed out loud. + +Then Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl hunted here and hunted there, all over +the Brown Pasture, but they couldn't find the Bob Whites. + +And the willful little Breeze went back to the juniper tree and curled +himself beside Mr. Bob White to sleep, for he was lonely no longer. + + +CHAPTER VI REDDY FOX GOES FISHING + +One morning when Mr. Sun was very, very bright and it was very, very +warm, down on the Green Meadows Reddy Fox came hopping and skipping down +the Lone Little Path that leads to the Laughing Brook. Hoppity, skip, +skippity hop! Reddy felt very much pleased with himself that sunny +morning. Pretty soon he saw Johnny Chuck sitting up very straight close +by the little house where he lives. + +"Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny +Woodchuck!" called Reddy fox. + +Johnny Chuck pretended not to hear. His mother had told him not to play +with Reddy Fox, for Reddy Fox was a bad boy. + +"Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!" called Reddy again. + +This time Johnny turned and looked. He could see Reddy Fox turning +somersaults and chasing his tail and rolling over and over in the little +path. + +"Come on!" said Reddy Fox. "Let's go fishing!" + +"Can't," said Johnny Chuck, because you know, his mother had told him +not to play with Reddy Fox. + +"I'll show you how to catch a fish," said Reddy Fox, and tried to jump +over his own shadow. + +"Can't," said good little Johnny Chuck again, and turned away so that he +couldn't see Reddy Fox chasing Butterflies and playing catch with Field +Mice children. + +So Reddy Fox went down to the Laughing Brook all alone. The Brook was +laughing and singing on its way to join the Big River. The sky was blue +and the sun was bright. Reddy Fox jumped on the Big Rock in the middle +of the Laughing Brook and peeped over the other side. What do you think +he saw? Why, right down below in a Dear Little Pool were Mr. And Mrs. +Trout and all the little Trouts. + +Reddy Fox wanted some of those little Trouts to take home for his +dinner, but he didn't know how to catch them. He lay flat down on the +Big Rock and reached way down into the Dear Little Pool, but all the +little Trouts laughed at Reddy Fox and not one came within reach. Then +Mr. Trout swam up so quickly that Reddy Fox didn't see him coming and +bit Reddy's little black paw hard. + +"Ouch!" cried Reddy Fox, pulling his little black paw out of the water. +And all the little Trouts laughed at Reddy Fox. + +Just then along came Billy Mink. + +"Hello, Reddy Fox!" said Billy Mink. "What are you doing here?" + +"I'm trying to catch a fish," said Reddy Fox. + +"Pooh! That's easy!" said Billy Mink. "I'll show you how." + +So Billy Mink lay down on the Big Rock side of Reddy Fox and peeped over +into the Dear Little Pool where all the little Trouts were laughing at +Reddy Fox and having such a good time. But Billy Mink took care, such +very great care, that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout should not see him +peeping over into the Dear Little Pool. + +When Billy Mink saw all those little Trouts playing in the Dear Little +Pool he laughed. "You count three, Reddy Fox," said he, "and I'll show +you how to catch a fish." + +"One!" said Reddy Fox, "Two! Three!" + +Splash! Billy Mink had dived head first into the Dear Little Pool. He +spattered water way up onto Reddy Fox, and he frightened old Mr. Frog +so that he fell over backwards off the lily pad where he was taking a +morning nap right into the water. In a minute Billy Mink climbed out on +the other side of the Dear Little Pool and sure enough, he had caught +one of the little Trouts. + +"Give it to me," cried Reddy Fox. + +"Catch one yourself," said Billy Mink. "Old Grandpa Mink wants a fish +for his dinner, so I am going to take this home. You're afraid, Reddy +Fox! 'Fraid-cat! Fraid-cat!" + +Billy Mink shook the water off of his little brown coat, picked up the +little Trout and ran off home. + +Reddy Fox lay down again on the Big Rock and peeped into the Dear Little +Pool. Not a single Trout could he see. They were all hiding safely with +Mr. and Mrs. Trout. Reddy Fox watched and watched. The sun was warm, the +Laughing Brook was singing a lullaby and--what do you think? Why, Reddy +Fox went fast asleep on the edge of the great Big Rock. + +By and by Reddy Fox began to dream. He dreamed that he had a nice little +brown coat that was waterproof, just like the little brown coat that +Billy Mink wore. Yes, and he dreamed that he had learned to swim and to +catch fish just as Billy Mink did. He dreamed that the Dear Little +Pool was full of little Trouts and that he was just going to catch one +when--splash! Reddy Fox had rolled right off of the Big Rock into the +Dear Little Pool. + +The water went into the eyes of Reddy Fox, and it went up his nose +and he swallowed so much that he felt as if he never, never would want +another drink of water. And his beautiful red coat, which old Mother +Fox had told him to be very, very careful of because he couldn't have +another for a whole year, was oh so wet! And his pants were wet and his +beautiful bushy tail, of which he was so proud, was so full of water +that he couldn't hold it up, but had to drag it up the bank after him as +he crawled out of the Dear Little Pool. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Mr. Kingfisher, sitting on a tree. + +"Ho! Ho! Ho!" laughed old Mr. Frog, who had climbed back on his lily +pad. + +"He! He! He!" laughed all the little Trouts and Mr. Trout and Mrs. +Trout, swimming round and round in the Dear Little Pool. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Ho! He! He! He!" laughed Billy Mink, who had come +back to the Big Rock just in time to see Reddy Fox tumble in. + +Reddy Fox didn't say a word, he was so ashamed. He just crept up the +Lone Little Path to his home, dragging his tail, all wet and muddy, +behind him, and dripping water all the way. + +Johnny Chuck was still sitting by his door as his mother had told him +to. Reddy Fox tried to go past without being seen, but Johnny Chuck's +bright little eyes saw him. + +"Where are your fish, Reddy Fox?" called Johnny Chuck. + +"Why don't you turn somersaults, and jump over your shadow and chase +Butterflies and play with the little Field Mice, Reddy Fox?" called +Johnny Chuck. + +But Reddy Fox just walked faster. When he got almost home he saw old +Mother Fox sitting in the doorway with a great big switch across her +lap, for Mother Fox had told Reddy Fox not to go near the Laughing +Brook. + +And this is all I am going to tell you about how Reddy Fox went fishing. + + + +CHAPTER VII JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES + +Jimmy Skunk opened his eyes very early one morning and peeped out of +his snug little house on the hill. Big, round Mr. Sun, with a very red, +smiling face, had just begun to climb up into the sky. Old Mother West +Wind was just starting down to the Green Meadows with her big bag over +her shoulder. In that bag Jimmy Skunk knew she carried all her children, +the Merry Little Breezes, whom she was taking down to the Green Meadows +to play and frolic all day. + +"Good morning, Mother West Wind," said Jimmy Skunk, politely. "Did you +see any beetles as you came down the hill?" + +Old Mother West Wind said, no, she hadn't seen any beetles as she came +down the hill. + +"Thank you," said Jimmy Skunk politely. "I guess I'll have to go look +myself, for I'm very, very hungry." + +So Jimmy Skunk brushed his handsome black and white coat, and washed +his face and hands, and started out to try to find some beetles for his +breakfast. First he went down to the Green Meadows and stopped at Johnny +Chuck's house. But Johnny Chuck was still in bed and fast asleep. Then +Jimmy Skunk went over to see if Reddy Fox would go with him to help find +some beetles for his breakfast. But Reddy Fox had been out very, very +late the night before and was still in bed fast asleep, too. + +So Jimmy Skunk set out all alone along the Crooked Little Path up the +hill to find some beetles for his breakfast. He walked very slowly, for +Jimmy Skunk never hurries. He stopped and peeped under every old log to +see if there were any beetles. By and by he came to a big piece of bark +beside the Crooked Little Path. Jimmy Skunk took hold of the piece of +bark with his two little black paws and pulled and pulled. All of a +sudden, the big piece of bark turned over so quickly that Jimmy Skunk +fell flat on his back. + +When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again, there sat old Mr. +Toad right in the path, and old Mr. Toad was very, very cross indeed. He +swelled and he puffed and he puffed and he swelled, till he was twice as +big as Jimmy Skunk had ever seen him before. + +"Good morning, Mr. Toad," said Jimmy Skunk. "Have you seen any beetles?" + +But Mr. Toad blinked his great round goggly eyes and he said: "What do +you mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the roof off my house?" + +"Is that the roof of your house?" asked Jimmy Skunk politely. "I won't +do it again." + +Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over old Mr. Toad, and went on up the +Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles. + +By and by he came to an old stump of a tree which was hollow and had the +nicest little round hole in one side. Jimmy Skunk took hold of one edge +with his two little black paws and pulled and pulled. All of a sudden +the whole side of the old stump tore open and Jimmy Skunk fell flat on +his back. + +When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again there was Striped +Chipmunk hopping up and down right in the middle of the path, he was so +angry. + +"Good morning, Striped Chipmunk," said Jimmy Skunk. "Have you seen any +beetles?" + +But Striped Chipmunk hopped faster than ever and he said: "What do you +mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the side off my house?" + +"Is that the side of your house?" asked Jimmy Skunk, politely. "I won't +do it again." + +Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over Striped Chipmunk, and went on up the +Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles. + +Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit hopping along down the Crooked Little +Path. "Good morning, Jimmy Skunk, where are you going so early in the +morning?" said Peter Rabbit. + +"Good morning, Peter Rabbit. Have you seen any beetles?" asked Jimmy +Skunk, politely. + +"No, I haven't seen any beetles, but I'll help you find some," said +Peter Rabbit. So he turned about and hopped ahead of Jimmy Skunk up the +Crooked Little Path. + +Now because Peter Rabbit's legs are long and he is always in a hurry, +he got to the top of the hill first. When Jimmy Skunk reached the end +of the Crooked Little Path on the top of the hill he found Peter Rabbit +sitting up very straight and looking and looking very hard at a great +flat stone. + +"What are you looking at, Peter Rabbit?" asked Jimmy Skunk. + +"Sh-h-h!" said Peter Rabbit, "I think there are some beetles under that +great flat stone where that little black string is sticking out. Now +when I count three you grab that string and pull hard perhaps you'll +find a beetle at the other end." + +So Jimmy Skunk got ready and Peter Rabbit began to count. + +"One!" said Peter. "Two!" said Peter. "Three!" + +Jimmy Skunk grabbed the black string and pulled as hard as ever he could +and out came--Mr. Black Snake! The string Jimmy Skunk had pulled was Mr. +Black Snake's tail, and Mr. Black Snake was very, very angry indeed. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Peter Rabbit. + +"What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk," said Mr. Black Snake, "by pulling my +tail?" + +"Was that your tail?" said Jimmy Skunk, politely. "I won't do it again. +Have you seen any beetles?" + +But Mr. Black Snake hadn't seen any beetles, and he was so cross that +Jimmy Skunk went on over the hill to look for some beetles. + +Peter Rabbit was still laughing and laughing and laughing. And the more +he laughed the angrier grew Mr. Black Snake, till finally he started +after Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson. + +Then Peter Rabbit stopped laughing, for Mr. Black Snake can run very +fast. Away went Peter Rabbit down the Crooked Little Path as fast as he +could go, and away went Mr. Black Snake after him. + +But Jimmy Skunk didn't even look once to see if Mr. Black Snake had +caught Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson, for Jimmy Skunk had found +some beetles and was eating his breakfast. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII BILLY MINK'S SWIMMING PARTY + +Billy Mink was coming down the bank of the Laughing Brook. Billy Mink +was feeling very good indeed. He had had a good breakfast, the sun was +warm, little white cloud ships were sailing across the blue sky and +their shadows were sailing across the Green Meadows, the birds were +singing and the bees were humming. Billy Mink felt like singing too, but +Billy Mink's voice was not meant for singing. + +By and by Billy Mink came to the Smiling Pool. Here the Laughing Brook +stopped and rested on its way to join the Big River. It stopped its +noisy laughing and singing and just lay smiling and smiling in the warm +sunshine. The little flowers on the bank leaned over and nodded to it. +The beech tree, which was very old, sometimes dropped a leaf into it. +The cat-tails kept their feet cool in the edge of it. + +Billy Mink jumped out on the Big Rock and looked down into the Smiling +Pool. Over on a green lily pad he saw old Grandfather Frog. + +"Hello, Grandfather Frog," said Billy Mink. + +"Hello, Billy Mink," said Grandfather Frog. "What mischief are you up to +this fine sunny morning?" + +Just then Billy Mink saw a little brown head swimming along one edge of +the Smiling Pool. + +"Hello, Jerry Muskrat!" shouted Billy Mink. + +"Hello your own self, Billy Mink," shouted Jerry Muskrat, "Come in and +have a swim; the water's fine!" + +"Good," said Billy Mink. "We'll have a swimming party." + +So Billy Mink called all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West +Wind, who were playing with the flowers on the bank, and sent them to +find Little Joe Otter and invite him to come to the swimming party. +Pretty soon back came the Little Breezes and with them came Little Joe +Otter. + +"Hello, Billy Mink," said Little Joe Otter. "Here I am!" + +"Hello, Little Joe Otter," said Billy Mink. "Come up here on the Big +Rock and see who can dive the deepest into the Smiling Pool." + +So Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat climbed up on the Big Rock side of +Billy Mink and they all stood side by side in their little brown bathing +suits looking down into the Smiling Pool. + +"Now when I count three we'll all dive into the Smiling Pool together +and see who can dive the deepest. One!" said Billy Mink. "Two!" said +Billy Mink. "Three!" said Billy Mink. + +And when he said "Three!" in they all went head first. My such a splash +as they did make! They upset old Grandfather Frog so that he fell off +his lily pad. They frightened Mr. and Mrs. Trout so that they jumped +right out of the water. Tiny Tadpole had such a scare that he hid way, +way down in the mud with only the tip of his funny little nose sticking +out. + +"Chug-a-rum," said old Grandfather Frog, climbing out of his lily pad. +"If I wasn't so old I would show you how to dive." + +"Come on, Grandfather Frog!" cried Billy Mink. "Show us how to dive." + +And what do you think? Why, old Grandfather Frog actually got so excited +that he climbed up on the Big Rock to show them how to dive. Splash! +Went Grandfather Frog into the Smiling Pool. Splash! Went Billy Mink +right behind him. Splash! Splash! Went Little Joe Otter and Jerry +Muskrat, right at Billy Mink's heels. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Mr. Kingfisher, sitting on a branch of the old beech +tree. And then just to show them that he could dive, too, splash! He +went into the Smiling Pool. + +Such a noise as they did make! All the Little Breezes of Old Mother West +Wind danced for joy on the bank. Blacky the Crow and Sammy Jay flew over +to see what was going on. + +"Now let's see who can swim the farthest under water," cried Billy Mink. + +So they all stood side by side on one edge of the Smiling Pool. + +"Go!" shouted Mr. Kingfisher, and in they all plunged. Little ripples +ran across the Smiling Pool and then the water became as smooth and +smiling as if nothing had gone into it with a plunge. + +Now old Grandfather Frog began to realize that he wasn't as young as he +used to be, and he couldn't swim as fast as the others anyway. He began +to get short of breath, so he swam up to the top and stuck just the tip +of his nose out to get some more air. Sammy Jay's sharp eyes saw him. + +"There's Grandfather Frog!" he shouted. + +So then Grandfather Frog popped his head out and swam over to his green +lily pad to rest. + +Way over beyond the Big Rock little bubbles in three long rows kept +coming up to the top of the Smiling Pool. They showed just where Billy +Mink, Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat were swimming way down out +of sight. It was the air from their lungs making the bubbles. Straight +across the Smiling Pool went the lines of little bubbles and then way +out on the farther side two little heads bobbed out of water close +together. They were Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter. A moment later +Jerry Muskrat bobbed up beside them. + +You see, they had swum clear across the Smiling Pool and of course they +could swim no farther. + +So Billy Mink's swimming party was a great success. + + + +CHAPTER IX PETER RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE + +One morning when big round Mr. Sun was climbing up in the sky and Old +Mother West Wind had sent all her Merry Little Breezes to play in the +Green Meadows, Johnny Chuck started out for a walk. First he sat up +very straight and looked and looked all around to see if Reddy Fox was +anywhere about, for you know Reddy Fox liked to tease Johnny Chuck. + +But Reddy Fox was nowhere to be seen, so Johnny Chuck trotted down the +Lone Little Path to the wood. Mr. Sun was shining as brightly as ever he +could and Johnny Chuck, who was very, very fat, grew very, very warm. By +and by he sat down on the end of a log under a big tree to rest. + +Thump! Something hit Johnny Chuck right on the top of his round little +head. It made Johnny Chuck jump. + +"Hello, Johnny Chuck!" said a voice that seemed to come right out of the +sky. Johnny Chuck tipped his head way, way back and looked up. He was +just in time to see Happy Jack Squirrel drop a nut. Down it came and hit +Johnny Chuck right on the tip of his funny, black, little nose. + +"Oh!" said Johnny Chuck, and tumbled right over back off the log. But +Johnny Chuck was so round and so fat and so roly-poly that it didn't +hurt him a bit. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Happy Jack up in the tree. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Johnny Chuck, picking himself up. Then they both +laughed together. It was such a good joke. + +"What are you laughing at?" asked a voice so close to Johnny Chuck that +he rolled over three times he was so surprised. It was Peter Rabbit. + +"What are you doing in my wood?" asked Peter Rabbit. + +"I'm taking a walk," said Johnny Chuck. + +"Good," said Peter Rabbit, "I'll come along too." + +So Johnny Chuck and Peter Rabbit set out along the Lone Little Path +through the wood. Peter Rabbit hopped along with great big jumps, for +Peter's legs are long and meant for jumping, but Johnny Chuck couldn't +keep up though he tried very hard, for Johnny's legs are short. Pretty +soon Peter Rabbit came back, walking very softly. He whispered in Johnny +Chuck's ear. + +"I've found something," said Peter Rabbit. + +"What is it?" asked Johnny Chuck. + +"I'll show you," said Peter Rabbit, "but you must be very, very still, +and not make the least little bit of noise." + +Johnny Chuck promised to be very, very still for he wanted very much +to see what Peter Rabbit had found. Peter Rabbit tip-toed down the Lone +Little Path through the wood, his funny long ears pointing right up to +the sky. And behind him tip-toed Johnny Chuck, wondering and wondering +what it could be that Peter Rabbit had found. + +Pretty soon they came to a nice mossy green log right across the Lone +Little Path. Peter Rabbit stopped and sat up very straight. He looked +this way and looked that way. Johnny Chuck stopped too and he sat up +very straight and looked this way and looked that way, but all he could +see was the mossy green log across the Lone Little Path. + +"What is it, Peter Rabbit?" whispered Johnny Chuck. + +"You can't see it yet," whispered Peter Rabbit, "for first we have to +jump over that mossy green log. Now I'll jump first, and then you jump +just the way I do, and then you'll see what it is I've found," said +Peter Rabbit. + +So Peter Rabbit jumped first, and because his legs are long and meant +for jumping, he jumped way, way over the mossy green log. Then he turned +around and sat up to see Johnny Chuck jump over the mossy green log, +too. + +Johnny Chuck tried to jump very high and very far, just as he had seen +Peter Rabbit jump, but Johnny Chuck's legs are very short and not meant +for jumping. Besides, Johnny Chuck was very, very fat. So though he +tried very hard indeed to jump just like Peter Rabbit, he stubbed his +toes on the top of the mossy green log and over he tumbled, head first, +and landed with a great big thump right on Reddy Fox, who was lying fast +asleep on the other side of the mossy green log. + +Peter Rabbit laughed and laughed until he had to hold his sides. + +My, how frightened Johnny Chuck was when he saw what he had done! Before +he could get on his feet he had rolled right over behind a little bush, +and there he lay very, very still. + +Reddy Fox awoke with a grunt when Johnny Chuck fell on him so hard, and +the first thing he saw was Peter Rabbit laughing so that he had to hold +his sides. Reddy Fox didn't stop to look around. He thought that Peter +Rabbit had jumped on him. Up jumped Reddy Fox and away ran Peter Rabbit. +Away went Reddy Fox after Peter Rabbit. Peter dodged behind the trees, +and jumped over the bushes, and ran this way and ran that way, just as +hard as ever he could, for Peter Rabbit was very much afraid of Reddy +Fox. And Reddy Fox followed Peter Rabbit behind the trees and over the +bushes this way and that way, but he couldn't catch Peter Rabbit. Pretty +soon Peter Rabbit came to the house of Jimmy Skunk. He knew that Jimmy +Skunk was over in the pasture, so he popped right in and then he was +safe, for the door of Jimmy Skunk's house was too small for Reddy Fox to +squeeze in. Reddy Fox sat down and waited, but Peter Rabbit didn't +come out. By and by Reddy Fox gave it up and trotted off home where old +Mother Fox was waiting for him. + +All this time Johnny Chuck had sat very still, watching Reddy Fox try to +catch Peter Rabbit. And when he saw Peter Rabbit pop into the house +of Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox trot away home, Johnny Chuck stood up and +brushed his little coat very clean and then he trotted back up the Lone +Little Path through the wood to his own dear little path through the +Green Meadows where the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind +were still playing, till he was safe in his own snug little house once +more. + + + +CHAPTER X HOW SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT + +Sammy Jay was very busy, very busy indeed. When anyone happened that way +Sammy Jay pretended to be doing nothing at all, for Sammy Jay thought +himself a very fine gentleman. He was very proud of his handsome blue +coat with white trimmings and his high cap, and he would sit on a fence +post and make fun of Johnny Chuck working at a new door for his snug +little home in the Green Meadows, and of Striped Chipmunk storing up +heaps of corn and nuts for the winter, for most of the time Sammy Jay +was an idle fellow. And when Sammy Jay WAS busy, he was pretty sure +to be doing something that he ought not to do, for idle people almost +always get into mischief. + +Sammy Jay was in mischief now, and that is why he pretended to be doing +nothing when he thought any one was looking. + +Old Mother West Wind had come down from her home behind the Purple Hills +very early that morning. Indeed, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had hardly +gotten out of bed when she crossed the Green Meadows on her way to help +the big ships across the ocean. Old Mother West Wind's eyes were sharp, +and she saw Sammy Jay before Sammy Jay saw her. + +"Now what can Sammy Jay be so busy about, and why is he so very, very +quiet?" thought Old Mother West Wind. "He must be up to some mischief." + +So when she opened her big bag and turned out all her Merry Little +Breezes to play on the Green Meadows she sent one of them to see what +Sammy Jay was doing in the old chestnut tree. The Merry Little Breeze +danced along over the tree tops just as if he hadn't a thought in the +world but to wake up all the little leaves and set them to dancing too, +and Sammy Jay, watching Old Mother West Wind and the other Merry Little +Breezes, didn't see this Merry Little Breeze at all. + +Pretty soon it danced back to Old Mother West Wind and whispered in her +ear: "Sammy Jay is stealing the nuts Happy Jack Squirrel had hidden in +the hollow of the old chestnut tree, and is hiding them for himself in +the tumble down nest that Blacky the Crow built in the Great Pine last +year." "Aha!" said Old Mother West Wind. Then she went on across the +Green Meadows. + +"Good morning, Old Mother West Wind," said Sammy Jay as she passed the +fence post where he was sitting. + +"Good morning, Sammy Jay," said Old Mother West Wind. "What brings you +out so early in the morning?" + +"I'm out for my health, Old Mother West Wind," said Sammy Jay politely. +"The doctor has ordered me to take a bath in the dew at sunrise every +morning." + +Old Mother West Wind said nothing, but went on her way across the Green +Meadows to blow the ships across the ocean. When she had passed, Sammy +Jay hurried to take the last of Happy Jack's nuts to the old nest in the +Great Pine. + +Poor Happy Jack! Soon he came dancing along with another nut to put in +the hollow of the old chestnut tree. When he peeped in and saw that all +his big store of nuts had disappeared, he couldn't believe his own eyes. +He put in one paw and felt all around but not a nut could he feel. Then +he climbed in and sure enough, the hollow was empty. + +Poor Happy Jack! There were tears in his eyes when he crept out again. +He looked all around but no one was to be seen but handsome Sammy Jay, +very busy brushing his beautiful blue coat. + +"Good morning, Sammy Jay, have you seen any one pass this way?" asked +Happy Jack. "Some one has stolen a store of nuts from the hollow in the +old chestnut tree." + +Sammy Jay pretended to feel very badly indeed, and in his sweetest +voice, for his voice was very sweet in those days, he offered to help +Happy Jack try to catch the thief who had stolen the store of nuts from +the hollow in the old chestnut tree. + +Together they went down cross the Green Meadows asking every one whom +they met if they had seen the thief who had stolen Happy Jack's store +of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. All the Merry Little +Breezes joined in the search, and soon every one who lived in the Green +Meadows or in the wood knew that some one had stolen all of Happy Jack +Squirrel's store of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. And +because every one liked Happy Jack, every one felt very sorry indeed for +him. + +The next morning all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind +were turned out of the big bag into the Green Meadows very early indeed, +for they had a lot of errands to do. All over the Green Meadows they +hurried, all through the wood, up and down the Laughing Brook and all +around the Smiling Pool, inviting everybody to meet at the Great Pine +on the hill at nine o'clock to form a committee of the whole--to try to +find the thief who stole Happy Jack's nuts from the hollow in the old +chestnut tree. + +And because every one liked Happy Jack every one went to the Great Pine +on the hill--Reddy Fox, Bobby Coon, Jimmy Skunk Striped Chipmunk, who +is Happy Jack's cousin you know, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Jerry +Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, who was almost too sleepy to keep his eyes open, +Blacky the Crow, Johnny Chuck, Peter Rabbit, even old Grandfather Frog. +Of course Sammy Jay was there, looking his handsomest. + +When they had all gathered around the Great Pine, Old Mother West Wind +pointed to the old nest way up in the top of it. "Is that your nest?" +she asked Blacky the Crow. + +"It was, but I gave it to my cousin, Sammy Jay," said Blacky the Crow. + +"Is that your nest, and may I have a stick out of it?" asked Old Mother +West Wind of Sammy Jay. + +"It is," said Sammy Jay, with his politest bow, "And you are welcome to +a stick out of it." To himself he thought, "She will only take one from +the top and that won't matter." + +Old Mother West Wind suddenly puffed out her cheeks and blew so hard +that she blew a big stick right out of the bottom of the old nest. +Down it fell bumpity-bump on the branches of the Great Pine. After it +fell--what do you think? Why, hickory nuts and chestnuts and acorns and +hazel nuts, such a lot of them! + +"Why! Why--e--e!" cried Happy Jack. "There are all my stolen nuts!" + +Everybody turned to look at Sammy Jay, but he was flying off through the +wood as fast as he could go. "Stop thief!" cried Old Mother West Wind. +"Stop thief!" cried all the Merry Little Breezes and Johnny Chuck and +Billy Mink and all the rest. But Sammy Jay didn't stop. + +Then all began to pick up the nuts that had fallen from the old nest +where Sammy Jay had hidden them. By and by, with Happy Jack leading the +way, they all marched back to the old chestnut tree and there Happy Jack +stored all the nuts away in his snug little hollow once more. + +And ever since that day, Sammy Jay, whenever he tries to call, just +screams: "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" + + + +CHAPTER XI JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY + +All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were hurrying over +the Green Meadows. Some flew this way and some ran that way and some +danced the other way. You see, Jerry Muskrat had asked them to carry his +invitations to a party at the Big Rock in the Smiling Pool. + +Of course every one said that they would be delighted to go to Jerry +Muskrat's party. Round Mr. Sun shone his very brightest. The sky was its +bluest and the little birds had promised to be there to sing for Jerry +Muskrat, so of course all the little folks in the Green Meadows and in +the wood wanted to go. + +There were Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox and Jimmy Skunk and Bobby Coon and +Happy Jack Squirrel and Striped Chipmunk and Billy Mink and Little Joe +Otter and Grandfather Frog and old Mr. Toad and Mr. Blacksnake--all +going to Jerry Muskrat's party. + +When they reached the Smiling Pool they found Jerry Muskrat all ready. +His brothers and his sister, his aunts and his uncles and his cousins +were all there. Such a merry, merry time as there was in the Smiling +Pool! How the water did splash! Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and +Grandfather Frog jumped right in as soon as they got there. They played +tag in the water and hid behind the Big Rock. They turned somersaults +down the slippery slide and they had such a good time! + +But Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Johnny Chuck and Jimmy +Skunk and Happy Jack and Striped Chipmunk couldn't swim, so of course +they couldn't play tag in the water or hide and seek or go down the +slippery slide; all they could do was sit around to look on and wish +that they knew how to swim, too. So of course they didn't have a good +time. Soon they began to wish that they hadn't come to Jerry Muskrat's +party. When he found that they were not having a good time, poor Jerry +Muskrat felt very badly indeed. You see he lives in the water so much +that he had quite forgotten that there was anyone who couldn't swim, or +he never, never would have invited all the little meadow folks who live +on dry land. + +"Let's go home," said Peter Rabbit to Johnny Chuck. + +"We can have more fun up on the hill," said Jimmy Skunk. + +Just then Little Joe Otter came pushing a great big log across the +Smiling Pool. + +"Here's a ship, Bobby Coon. You get on one end and I'll give you a sail +across the Smiling Pool," shouted Little Joe Otter. + +So Bobby Coon crawled out on the big log and held on very tight, while +little Joe Otter swam behind and pushed the big log. Across the Smiling +Pool they went and back again. Bobby Coon had such a good ride that he +wanted to go again, but Jimmy Skunk wanted a ride. So Bobby Coon hopped +off of the big log and Jimmy Skunk hopped on and away he went across the +Smiling Pool with little Joe Otter pushing behind. + +Then Jerry Muskrat found another log and gave Peter Rabbit a ride. Jerry +Muskrat's brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins found +logs and took Reddy Fox and Johnny Chuck and even Mr. Toad back and +forth across the Smiling Pool. + +Happy Jack Squirrel sat up very straight on the end of his log and +spread his great bushy tail for a sail. All the little Breezes blew and +blew and Happy Jack Squirrel sailed round and round the Smiling Pool. + +Sometimes someone would fall off into the water and get wet, but Jerry +Muskrat or Billy Mink always pulled them out again, and no one cared the +tiniest bit for a wetting. + +In the bushes around the Smiling Pool the little birds sang and +sang. Reddy Fox barked his loudest. Happy Jack Squirrel chattered +and chir--r--r--ed. All the muskrats squealed and squeaked, for Jerry +Muskrat's party was such fun! + +By and by when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills to his home and +Old Mother West Wind with all her Merry Little Breezes went after him, +and the little stars came out to twinkle and twinkle, the Smiling Pool +lay all quiet and still, but smiling and smiling to think what a good +time every one had had at Jerry Muskrat's party. + + + +CHAPTER XII BOBBY COON AND REDDY FOX PLAY TRICKS + +It was night. All the little stars were looking down and twinkling and +twinkling. Mother Moon was doing her best to make the Green Meadows as +light as Mr. Sun did in the daytime. All the little birds except Hooty +the Owl and Boomer the Night Hawk, and noisy Mr. Whip-poor-will were +fast asleep in their little nests. Old Mother West Wind's Merry Little +Breezes had all gone to sleep, too. It was oh so still! Indeed it was so +very still that Bobby Coon, coming down the Lone Little Path through the +wood, began to talk to himself. + +"I don't see what people want to play all day and sleep all night for," +said Bobby Coon. "Night's the best time to be about. Now Reddy Fox--" + +"Be careful what you say about Reddy Fox," said a voice right behind +Bobby Coon. + +Bobby Coon turned around very quickly indeed, for he had thought he was +all alone. There was Reddy Fox himself, trotting down the Lone Little +Path through the wood. + +"I thought you were home and fast asleep, Reddy Fox," said Bobby Coon. + +"You were mistaken," said Reddy Fox. "For you see I'm out to take a walk +in the moonlight." + +So Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox walked together down the Lone Little Path +through the wood to the Green Meadows. They met Jimmy Skunk, who had +dreamed that there were a lot of beetles up on the hill, and was just +going to climb the Crooked Little Path to see. + +"Hello, Jimmy Skunk!" said Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox. "Come down to the +Green Meadows with us." + +Jimmy Skunk said he would, so they all went down on the Green Meadows +together, Bobby Coon first, Reddy Fox next and Jimmy Skunk last of all, +for Jimmy Skunk never hurries. Pretty soon they came to the house of +Johnny Chuck. + +"Listen," said Bobby Coon. "Johnny Chuck is fast asleep." + +They all listened and they could hear Johnny Chuck snoring away down in +his snug little bed. + +"Let's give Johnny Chuck a surprise," said Reddy Fox. + +"What shall it be?" asked Bobby Coon. + +"I know," said Reddy Fox. "Let's roll that big stone right over Johnny +Chuck's doorway; then he'll have to dig his way out in the morning." + +So Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox pulled and tugged and tugged and pulled at +the big stone till they had rolled it over Johnny Chuck's doorway. Jimmy +Skunk pretended not to see what they were doing. + +"Now let's go down to the Laughing Brook and wake up old Grandfather +Frog and hear him say 'Chug-a-rum,'" said Bobby Coon. + +"Come on!" cried Reddy Fox, "I'll get there first!" + +Away raced Reddy Fox down the Lone Little Path and after him ran Bobby +Coon, going to wake old Grandfather Frog from a nice comfortable sleep +on his green lily pad. + +But Jimmy Skunk didn't go. He watched Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon until +they were nearly to the Laughing Brook. Then he began to dig at one side +of the big stone which filled the doorway of Johnny Chuck's house. My, +how he made the dirt fly! Pretty soon he had made a hole big enough to +call through to Johnny Chuck, who was snoring away, fast asleep in his +snug little bed below. + +"Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!" called Jimmy Skunk. + +But Johnny Chuck just snored. + +"Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!" called Jimmy Skunk once +more. + +But Johnny Chuck just snored. Then Jimmy Skunk called again, this time +louder than before. + +"Who is it?" asked a very sleepy voice. + +"It's Jimmy Skunk. Put your coat on and come up here!" called Jimmy +Skunk. + +"Go away, Jimmy Skunk. I want to sleep!" said Johnny Chuck. + +"I've got a surprise for you, Johnny Chuck. You'd better come!" called +Jimmy Skunk through the little hole he had made. When Johnny Chuck heard +that Jimmy Skunk had a surprise for him he wanted to know right away +what it could be, so though he was very, very sleepy, he put on his +coat and started up for his door to see what the surprise was that Jimmy +Skunk had. And there he found the big stone Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon had +put there, and of course he was very much surprised indeed. He thought +Jimmy Skunk had played him a mean trick and for a few minutes he was +very mad. But Jimmy Skunk soon told him who had filled up his doorway +with the big stone. + +"Now you push from that side, Johnny Chuck, and I'll pull from this +side, and we'll soon have this big stone out of your doorway," said +Jimmy Skunk. + +So Johnny Chuck pushed and Jimmy Skunk pulled, and sure enough they soon +had the big stone out of Johnny Chuck's doorway. + +"Now," said Jimmy Skunk, "we'll roll this big stone down the Lone Little +Path to Reddy Fox's house and we'll give Reddy Fox a surprise." + +So Johnny Chuck and Jimmy Skunk tugged and pulled and rolled the big +stone down to the house of Reddy Fox, and sure enough, it filled his +doorway. + +"Good night, Jimmy Skunk," said Johnny Chuck, and trotted down the Lone +Little Path toward home, chuckling to himself all the way. + +Jimmy Skunk walked slowly up the Lone Little Path to the wood, for Jimmy +Skunk never hurries. Pretty soon he came to the big hollow tree where +Bobby Coon lives, and there he met Hooty the Owl. + +"Hello, Jimmy Skunk, where have you been?" asked Hooty the Owl. + +"Just for a walk," said Jimmy Skunk. "Who lives in this big hollow +tree?" + +Now of course Jimmy Skunk knew all the time, but he pretended he didn't. + +"Oh, this is Bobby Coon's house," said Hooty the Owl. + +"Let's give Bobby Coon a surprise," said Jimmy Skunk. + +"How?" asked Hooty the Owl. + +"We'll fill his house full of sticks and leaves," said Jimmy Skunk. + +Hooty the Owl thought that would be a good joke so while Jimmy Skunk +gathered all the old sticks and leaves he could find, Hooty the Owl +stuffed them into the old hollow tree which was Bobby Coon's house, +until he couldn't get in another one. + +"Good night," said Jimmy Skunk as he began to climb the Crooked Little +Path up the hill to his own snug little home. + +"Good night," said Hooty the Owl, as he flew like a big soft shadow over +to the Great Pine. + +By and by when old Mother Moon was just going to bed and all the little +stars were too sleepy to twinkle any longer, Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon, +very tired and very wet from playing in the Laughing Brook, came up the +Lone Little Path, ready to tumble into their snug little beds. They were +chuckling over the trick they had played on Johnny Chuck, and the way +they had waked up old Grandfather Frog, and all the other mischief they +had done. What do you suppose they said when they reached their homes +and found that someone else had been playing jokes, too? + +I'm sure I don't know, but round, red Mr. Sun was laughing very hard as +he peeped over the hill at Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon, and he won't tell +why. + + + +CHAPTER XIII JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD + +Old Mother West Wind had stopped to talk with the Slender Fir Tree. + +"I've just come across the Green Meadows," said Old Mother West Wind, +"and there I saw the Best Thing in the World." + +Striped Chipmunk was sitting under the Slender Fir Tree and he couldn't +help hearing what Old Mother West Wind said. "The Best Thing in the +World--now what can that be?" thought Striped Chipmunk. "Why, it must be +heaps and heaps of nuts and acorns! I'll go and find it." + +So Striped Chipmunk started down the Lone Little Path through the wood +as fast as he could run. Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit. + +"Where are you going in such a hurry, Striped Chipmunk?" asked Peter +Rabbit. + +"Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World," replied +Striped Chipmunk, and ran faster. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Peter Rabbit. "Why, that must be +great piles of carrots and cabbage! I think I'll go and find it." + +So Peter Rabbit started down the Lone Little Path through the wood as +fast as he could go after Striped Chipmunk. + +As they passed the great hollow tree Bobby Coon put his head out. "Where +are you going in such a hurry?" asked Bobby Coon. + +"Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!" shouted +Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, and both began to run faster. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Bobby Coon to himself. "Why, that +must be a whole field of sweet milky corn. I think I'll go and find it." + +So Bobby Coon climbed down out of the great hollow tree and started +down the Lone Little Path through the wood as fast as he could go after +Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, for there is nothing that Bobby Coon +likes to eat so well as sweet milky corn. + +At the edge of the wood they met Jimmy Skunk. + +"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked Jimmy Skunk. + +"Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!" shouted +Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon. Then they all tried to +run faster. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Jimmy Skunk. "Why, that must be +packs and packs of beetles!" And for once in his life Jimmy Skunk began +to hurry down the Lone Little Path after Striped Chipmunk and Peter +Rabbit and Bobby Coon. + +They were all running so fast that they didn't see Reddy Fox until he +jumped out of the long grass and asked: "Where are you going in such a +hurry?" + +"To find the Best Thing in the World!" shouted Striped Chipmunk and +Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk, and each did his best to +run faster. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Reddy Fox to himself. "Why, that +must be a whole pen full of tender young chickens, and I must have +them." + +So away went Reddy Fox as fast as he could run down the Lone Little Path +after Striped Chipmunk, Peter Rabbit, Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk. + +By and by they all came to the house of Johnny Chuck. + +"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked Johnny Chuck. + +"To find the Best Thing in the World," shouted Striped Chipmunk and +Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Johnny Chuck. "Why, I don't know of +anything better than my own little home and the warm sunshine and the +beautiful blue sky." + +So Johnny Chuck stayed at home and played all day among the flowers with +the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind and was as happy as +could be. + +But all day long Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and +Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox ran this way and ran that way over the Green +Meadows trying to find the Best Thing in the World. The sun was very, +very warm and they ran so far and they ran so fast that they were very, +very hot and tired, and still they hadn't found the Best Thing in the +World. + +When the long day was over they started up the Lone Little Path past +Johnny Chuck's house to their own homes. They didn't hurry now for they +were so very, very tired! And they were cross--oh so cross! Striped +Chipmunk hadn't found a single nut. Peter Rabbit hadn't found so much as +the leaf of a cabbage. Bobby Coon hadn't found the tiniest bit of sweet +milky corn. Jimmy Skunk hadn't seen a single beetle. Reddy Fox hadn't +heard so much as the peep of a chicken. And all were as hungry as hungry +could be. + +Half way up the Lone Little Path they met Old Mother West Wind going to +her home behind the hill. "Did you find the Best Thing in the World?" +asked Old Mother West Wind. + +"NO!" shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy +Skunk and Reddy Fox all together. + +"Johnny Chuck has it," said Old Mother West Wind. "It is being happy +with the things you have and not wanting things which some one else has. +And it is called Con-tent-ment." + + + +CHAPTER XIV LITTLE JOE OTTER'S SLIPPERY SLIDE + +Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink had been playing together around the +Smiling Pool all one sunshiny morning. They had been fishing and had +taken home a fine dinner of Trout for old Grandfather Mink and blind old +Granny Otter. They had played tag with the Merry Little Breezes. They +had been in all kinds of mischief and now they just didn't know what to +do. + +They were sitting side by side on the Big Rock trying to push each other +off into the Smiling Pool. Round, smiling red Mr. Sun made the Green +Meadows very warm indeed, and Reddy Fox, over in the tall grass, heard +them splashing and shouting and having such a good time that he wished +he liked the nice cool water and could swim, too. + +"I've thought of something!" cried Little Joe Otter. + +"What is it?" asked Billy Mink. + +Little Joe Otter just looked wise and said nothing. + +"Something to eat?" asked Billy Mink. + +"No," said Little Joe Otter. + +"I don't believe you've a thought of anything at all," said Billy Mink. + +"I have too!" said Little Joe Otter. "It's something to do." + +"What?" demanded Billy Mink. + +Just then Little Joe Otter spied Jerry Muskrat. "Hi, Jerry Muskrat! Come +over here!" he called. + +Jerry Muskrat swam across to the Big Rock and climbed up beside Billy +Mink and Little Joe Otter. + +"What are you fellows doing?" asked Jerry Muskrat. + +"Having some fun," said Billy Mink. "Little Joe Otter has thought of +something to do, but I don't know what it is." + +"Let's make a slide," cried Little Joe Otter. + +"You show us how," said Billy Mink. + +So Little Joe Otter found a nice smooth place on the bank, and Billy +Mink and Jerry Muskrat brought mud and helped him pat it down smooth +until they had the loveliest slippery slide in the world. Then Little +Joe Otter climbed up the bank to the top of the slippery slide and lay +down flat on his stomach. Billy Mink gave a push and away he went +down, down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. Then Jerry +Muskrat tried it and after him Billy Mink. Then all did it over again. +Sometimes they went down the slippery slide on their backs, sometimes +flat on their stomachs, sometimes head first, sometimes feet first. Oh +such fun as they did have! Even Grandfather Frog came over and tried the +slippery slide. + +Johnny Chuck, over in the Green Meadows, heard the noise and stole down +the Lone Little Path to see. Jimmy Skunk, looking for beetles up on the +hill, heard the noise and forgot that he hadn't had his breakfast. Reddy +Fox, taking a nap, woke up and hurried over to watch the fun. Last of +all came Peter Rabbit. + +Little Joe Otter saw him coming. "Hello, Peter Rabbit!" he shouted. +"Come and try the slippery slide." + +Now Peter Rabbit couldn't swim, but he pretended that he didn't want to. + +"I've left my bathing suit at home," said Peter Rabbit. + +"Never mind," said Billy Mink. "Mr. Sun will dry you off." + +"And we'll help," said all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West +Wind. + +But Peter Rabbit shook his head and said, "No." + +Faster and faster went Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat +and old Grandfather Frog down the slippery slide into the Smiling Pool. + +Peter Rabbit kept coming nearer and nearer until finally he stood right +at the top of the slippery slide. Billy Mink crept up behind him very +softly and gave him a push. Peter Rabbit's long legs flew out from under +him and down he sat with a thump on the slippery slide. "Oh," cried +Peter Rabbit, and tried to stop himself. But he couldn't do it and so +away he went down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Billy Mink. + +"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Little Joe Otter. + +"He! he! he!" laughed Jerry Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog and +Sammy Jay and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox and Blacky the Crow and Mr. +Kingfisher, for you know Peter Rabbit was forever playing jokes on them. + +Poor Peter Rabbit! The water got in his eyes and up his nose and into +his mouth and made him choke and splutter, and then he couldn't get back +on the bank, for you know Peter Rabbit couldn't swim. + +When Little Joe Otter saw what a dreadful time Peter Rabbit was having +he dove into the Smiling Pool and took hold of one of Peter Rabbit's +long ears. Billy Mink swam out and took hold of the other long ear. +Jerry Muskrat swam right under Peter Rabbit and took him on his back. +Then with old Grandfather Frog swimming ahead they took Peter Rabbit +right across the Smiling Pool and pulled him out on the grassy bank, +where it was nice and warm. All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother +West Wind came over and helped Mr. Sun dry Peter Rabbit off. + +Then they all sat down together and watched Little Joe Otter turn a +somersault down the slippery slide. + + + +CHAPTER XV THE TAIL OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DID NOT MIND + +In the Laughing Brook, which rippled and sings all day long, lived Mr. +Trout and Mrs. Trout, and a whole lot of little Trouts. There were so +many little Trouts that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout were kept very busy +indeed getting breakfast and dinner and supper for them, and watching +out for them and teaching them how to swim and how to catch foolish +little flies that sometimes fell on the water and how to keep out of +the way of big hungry fish and sharp eyed Mr. Kingfisher and big men and +little boys who came fishing with hooks and lines. + +Now all the little Trouts were very, very good and minded just what Mrs. +Trout told them--all but Tommy Trout, for Tommy Trout--oh, dear, dear! +Tommy Trout never could mind right away. He always had to wait a little +instead of minding when he was spoken to. + +Tommy Trout didn't mean to be bad. Oh dear, no! He just wanted to have +his own way, and because Tommy Trout had his own way and didn't mind +Mrs. Trout there isn't any Tommy Trout now. No sir, there isn't as much +as one little blue spot of his beautiful little coat left because--why, +just because Tommy Trout didn't mind. + +One day when round, red Mr. Sun was shining and the Laughing Brook was +singing on its way to join the Big River, Mrs. Trout started to get some +nice plump flies for dinner. All the little Trouts were playing in their +dear little pool, safe behind the Big Rock. Before she started Mrs. +Trout called all the little Trouts around her and told them not to +leave their little pool while she was gone, "For," said she, "something +dreadful might happen to you." + +All the little Trouts, except Tommy Trout, promised that they would +surely, surely stay inside their dear little pool. Then they all began +to jump and chase each other and play as happy as could be, all but +Tommy Trout. + +As soon as Mrs. Trout had started, Tommy Trout swam off by himself to +the edge of the pool. "I wonder what is on the other side of the Big +Rock," said Tommy Trout. "The sun is shining and the brook is laughing +and nothing could happen if I go just a little speck of a ways." + +So, when no one was looking, Tommy Trout slipped out of the safe little +pool where all the other little Trouts were playing. He swam just a +little speck of a ways farther still. Now he could see almost around +the Big Rock. Then he swam just a little speck of a ways farther and--oh +dear, dear! he looked right into the mouth of a great big, big fish +called Mr. Pickerel, who is very fond of little Trouts and would like to +eat one for breakfast every day. + +"Ah ha!" said Mr. Pickerel, opening his big, big mouth very, very wide. + +Tommy Trout turned to run back to the dear, dear safe little pool where +all the other little Trouts were playing so happily, but he was too +late. Into that great big, big mouth he went instead, and Mr. Pickerel +swallowed him whole. + +"Ah ha," said Mr. Pickerel, "I like little Trouts." + +And nothing more was ever heard of Tommy Trout, who didn't mind. + + + +CHAPTER XVI SPOTTY THE TURTLE WINS A RACE + +All the little people who live on the Green Meadows and in the Smiling +Pool and along the Laughing Brook were to have a holiday. The Merry +Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had been very busy, oh very busy +indeed, in sending word to all the little meadow folks. You see, Peter +Rabbit had been boasting of how fast he could run. Reddy Fox was quite +sure that he could run faster than Peter Rabbit. Billy Mink, who can +move so quickly you hardly can see him, was quite sure that neither +Peter Rabbit nor Reddy Fox could run as fast as he. They all met one +day beside the Smiling Pool and agreed that old Grandfather Frog should +decide who was the swiftest. + +Now Grandfather Frog was accounted very wise. You see he had lived a +long time, oh, very much longer than any of the others, and therefore, +because of the wisdom of age, Grandfather Frog was always called on to +decide all disputes. He sat on his green lily-pad while Billy Mink sat +on the Big Rock, and Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox sat on the bank. Each +in turn told why he thought he was the fastest. Old Grandfather Frog +listened and listened and said never a word until they were all through. +When they had finished, he stopped to catch a foolish green fly and then +he said: "The best way to decide who is the swiftest is to have a race." + +So it was agreed that Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink should +start together from the old butternut tree on one edge of the Green +Meadows, race away across the Green Meadows to the little hill on the +other side and each bring back a nut from the big hickory which grew +there. The one who first reached the old butternut tree with a hickory +nut would be declared the winner. The Merry Little Breezes flew about +over the Green Meadows telling everyone about the race and everyone +planned to be there. + +It was a beautiful summer day. Mr. Sun smiled and smiled, and the +more he smiled the warmer it grew. Everyone was there to see the +race--Striped Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow, +Hooty the Owl and Bobby Coon all sat up in the old butternut tree where +it was cool and shady. Johnny Chuck, Jerry Muskrat, Jimmy Skunk, Little +Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and even old Mr. Toad, were there. Last of +all came Spotty the Turtle. Now Spotty the Turtle is a very slow walker, +and he cannot run at all. When Peter Rabbit saw him coming up towards +the old butternut tree he shouted: "Come, Spotty, don't you want to race +with us?" + +Everybody laughed because you know Spotty is so very, very slow but +Spotty didn't laugh and he didn't get cross because everyone else +laughed. + +"There is a wise old saying, Peter Rabbit," said Spotty the Turtle, +"which shows that those who run fastest do not always reach a place +first. I think I WILL enter this race." + +Every one thought that that was the best joke they had heard for a long +time, and all laughed harder than ever. They all agreed that Spotty the +Turtle should start in the race too. + +So they all stood in a row, Peter Rabbit first, the Billy Mink, then +Reddy Fox, and right side of Reddy Fox Spotty the Turtle. + +"Are you ready?" asked Grandfather Frog. "Go!" + +Away went Peter Rabbit with great big jumps. After him went Billy Mink +so fast that was just a little brown streak going through the tall +grass, and side by side with him ran Reddy Fox. Now just as they started +Spotty the Turtle reached up and grabbed the long hair on the end of +Reddy's big tail. Of course Reddy couldn't have stopped to shake him +off, because Peter Rabbit and Billy Mink were running so fast that he +had to run his very best to keep up with them. But he didn't even know +that Spotty the Turtle was there. You see Spotty is not very heavy and +Reddy Fox was so excited that he did not notice that his big tail was +heavier than usual. + +The Merry Little Breezes flew along, too, to see that the race was fair. +Peter Rabbit went with great big jumps. Whenever he came to a little +bush he jumped right over it, for Peter Rabbit's legs are long and meant +for jumping. Billy Mink is so slim that he slipped between the bushes +and through the long grass like a little brown streak. Reddy Fox, who is +bigger than either Peter Rabbit or Billy Mink, had no trouble in keeping +up with them. Not one of them noticed that Spotty the Turtle was hanging +fast to the end of Reddy's tail. + +Now just at the foot of the little hill on which the big hickory tree +grew was a little pond. It wasn't very wide but it was quite long. Billy +Mink remembered this pond and he chuckled to himself as he raced along, +for he knew that Peter Rabbit couldn't swim and he knew that Reddy Fox +does not like the water, so therefore both would have to run around it. +He himself can swim even faster than he can run. The more he thought of +this, the more foolish it seemed that he should hurry so on such a warm +day. "For," said Billy Mink to himself, "even if they reach the pond +first, they will have to run around it, while I can swim across it and +cool off while I am swimming. I will surely get there first." So Billy +Mink ran slower and slower, and pretty soon he had dropped behind. + +Mr. Sun, round and red, looking down, smiled and smiled to see the race. +The more he smiled the warmer it grew. Now, Peter Rabbit had a thick +gray coat and Reddy Fox had a thick red coat, and they both began to get +very, very warm. Peter Rabbit did not make such long jumps as when he +first started. Reddy Fox began to feel very thirsty, and his tongue hung +out. Now that Billy Mink was behind them they thought they did not need +to hurry so. + +Peter Rabbit reached the little pond first. He had not thought of that +pond when he agreed to enter the race. He stopped right on the edge +of it and sat up on his hind legs. Right across he could see the big +hickory tree, so near and yet so far, for he knew that he must run +around the pond then back again, and it was a long, long way. In just +a moment Reddy Fox ran out of the bushes and Reddy felt much as +Peter Rabbit did. Way, way behind them was Billy Mink, trotting along +comfortably and chuckling to himself. Peter Rabbit looked at Reddy Fox +in dismay, and Reddy Fox looked at Peter Rabbit in dismay. Then they +both looked at Billy Mink and remembered that Billy Mink could swim +right across. + +Then off Peter Rabbit started as fast as he could go around the pond one +way, and Reddy Fox started around the pond the other way. They were +so excited that neither noticed a little splash in the pond. That was +Spotty the Turtle who had let go of Reddy's tail and now was swimming +across the pond, for you know that Spotty is a splendid swimmer. Only +once or twice he stuck his little black nose up to get some air. The +rest of the time he swam under water and no one but the Merry Little +Breezes saw him. Right across he swam, and climbed up the bank right +under the big hickory tree. + +Now there were just three nuts left under the hickory trees. Two of +these Spotty took down to the edge of the pond and buried in the mud. +The other he took in his mouth and started back across the pond. Just as +he reached the other shore up trotted Billy Mink, but Billy Mink didn't +see Spotty. He was too intent watching Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit, who +were now half way around the pond. In he jumped with a splash. My! How +good that cool water did feel! He didn't have to hurry now, because he +felt sure that the race was his. So he swam round and round and chased +some fish and had a beautiful time in the water. By and by he looked up +and saw that Peter Rabbit was almost around the pond one way and Reddy +Fox was almost around the pond the other way. They both looked tired and +hot and discouraged. + +Then Billy Mink swam slowly across and climbed out on the bank under the +big hickory tree. But where were the nuts? Look as he would, he could +not see a nut anywhere, yet the Merry Little Breezes had said there were +three nuts lying under the hickory tree. Billy Mink ran this way and +ran that way. He was still running around, poking over the leaves and +looking under the twigs and pieces of bark when Peter Rabbit and Reddy +Fox came up. + +Then they, too, began to look under the leaves and under the bark. They +pawed around in the grass, they hunted in every nook and cranny, but +not a nut could they find. They were tired and cross and hot and +they accused Billy Mink of having hidden the nuts. Billy Mink stoutly +insisted that he had not hidden the nuts, that he had not found the +nuts, and when they saw how hard he was hunting they believed him. + +All the afternoon they hunted and hunted and hunted, and all the +afternoon Spotty the Turtle, with the nut in his mouth, was slowly, oh, +so slowly, crawling straight back across the Green Meadows towards the +old butternut tree. Round, red Mr. Sun was getting very close to the +Purple Hills, where he goes to bed every night, and all the little +meadow folks were getting ready to go to their homes. They were +wondering and wondering what could have happened to the racers, when +Sammy Jay spied the Merry Little Breezes dancing across the Green +Meadows. + +"Here come the Merry Little Breezes; they'll tell us who wins the race," +cried Sammy Jay. + +When the Merry Little Breezes reached the old butternut tree, all the +little meadow folks crowded around them, but the Merry Little Breezes +just laughed and laughed and wouldn't say a word. Then all of a sudden, +out of the tall meadow grass crept Spotty the Turtle and laid the +hickory nut at the feet of old Grandfather Frog. Old Grandfather Frog +was so surprised that he actually let a great green fly buzz right past +his nose. + +"Where did you get that hickory nut?" asked Grandfather Frog. + +"Under the big hickory tree on the hill on the other side of the Green +Meadows," said Spotty. + +Then all the Merry Little Breezes clapped their hands and shouted: "He +did! He did! Spotty wins the race!" + +Then they told how Spotty reached the pond by clinging to the tip of +Reddy Fox's tail, and had hidden the other two nuts, and then how he had +patiently crawled home while Billy Mink and Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit +were hunting and hunting and hunting for the nuts they could not find. + +And so Spotty the Turtle was awarded the race, and to this day Peter +Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink can't bear the sight of a hickory +nut. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Old Mother West Wind, by Thornton W. 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Burgess + + + + +TO MY MOTHER TO WHOM I OWE SO MUCH AND TO MY LITTLE SON WHOSE +LOVE OF STORIES INSPIRED THESE TALES THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS +AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. + +CONTENTS: + +CHAPTER + + I. MRS. REDWING'S SPECKLED EGG + + II. WHY GRANDFATHER FROG HAS NO TAIL + + III. HOW REDDY FOX WAS SURPRISED + + IV. WHY JIMMY SKUNK WEARS STRIPES + + V. THE WILFUL LITTLE BREEZE + + VI. REDDY FOX GOES FISHING + + VII. JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES + + VIII. BILLY MINK'S SWIMMING PARTY + + IX. PETER RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE + + X. HOW SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT + + XI. JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY + + XII. BOBBY COON AND REDDY FOX PLAY TRICKS + + XIII. JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD + + XIV. LITTLE JOE OTTER'S SLIPPERY SLIDE + + XV. THE TALE OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DIDN'T MIND + + XVI. SPOTTY THE TURTLE WINS A RACE + + + +CHAPTER I. MRS. REDWING'S SPECKLED EGG + +Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the +golden light of the early morning. Over her shoulders was slung a +bag--a great big bag--and in the bag were all of Old Mother West +Wind's children, the Merry Little Breezes. + +Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills to the Green +Meadows and as she walked she crooned a song: + + "Ships upon the ocean wait; + I must hurry, hurry on! + Mills are idle if I'm late; + I must hurry, hurry on." + +When she reached the Green Meadows Old Mother West Wind opened +her bag, turned it upside down and shook it. Out tumbled all the +Merry Little Breezes and began to spin round and round for very +joy, for you see they were to lay in the Green Meadows all day +long until Old Mother West Wind should come back at night and +take them all to their home behind the Purple Hills. + +First they raced over to see Johnny Chuck. They found Johnny +Chuck sitting just outside his door eating his breakfast. One, +for very mischief, snatched right out of Johnny Chuck's mouth the +green leaf of corn he was eating, and ran away with it. Another +playfully pulled his whiskers, while a third rumpled up his hair. + +Johnny Chuck pretended to be very cross indeed, but really he +didn't mind a bit, for Johnny Chuck loved the Merry Little +Breezes and played with them everyday. + +And if they teased Johnny Chuck they were good to him, too. When +they saw Farmer Brown coming across the Green Meadows with a gun +one of them would dance over to Johnny Chuck and whisper to him +that Farmer Brown was coming, and then Johnny Chuck would hide +away, deep down in his snug little house under ground, and Farmer +Brown would wonder and wonder why it was that he never, never +could get near enough to shoot Johnny Chuck. But he never, never +could. + +When the Merry Little Breezes left Johnny Chuck they raced across +the Green Meadows to the Smiling Pool to say good morning to +Grandfather Frog who sat on a big lily pad watching for green +flies for breakfast. + +"Chug-arum," said Grandfather Frog, which was his way of saying +good morning. + +Just then along came a fat green fly and up jumped Grandfather +Frog. When he sat down again on the lily pad the fat green fly +was nowhere to be seen, but Grandfather Frog looked very well +satisfied indeed as he contentedly rubbed his white waistcoat +with one hand. + +"What is the news, Grandfather Frog?" cried the Merry Little +Breezes. + +"Mrs. Redwing has a new speckled egg in her nest in the +bulrushes," said Grandfather Frog. + +"We must see it," cried the Merry Little Breezes, and away they +all ran to the swamp where the bulrushes grow. + +Now someone else had heard of Mrs. Redwing's dear little nest in +the bulrushes, and he had started out bright and early that +morning to try and find it, for he wanted to steal the little +speckled eggs just because they were pretty. It was Tommy Brown, +the farmer's boy. + +When the Merry Little Breezes reached the swamp where the +bulrushes grow they found poor Mrs. Redwing in great distress. +She was afraid that Tommy Brown would find her dear little nest, +for he was very, very near it, and his eyes were very, very +sharp. + +"Oh," cried the Merry Little Breezes, "we must help Mrs. Redwing +save her pretty speckled eggs from bad Tommy Brown!" + +So one of the Merry Little Breezes whisked Tommy Brown's old +straw hat off his head over into the Green Meadows. Of course +Tommy ran after it. Just as he stooped to pick it up another +little Breeze ran away with it. Then they took turns, first one +little Breeze, then another little Breeze running away with the +old straw hat just as Tommy Brown would almost get his hands on +it. Down past the Smiling Pool and across the Laughing Brook they +raced and chased the old straw hat, Tommy Brown running after it, +very cross, very red in the face, and breathing very hard. Way +across the Green Meadows they ran to the edge of the wood, where +they hung the old straw hat in the middle of a thorn tree. By +the time Tommy Brown had it once more on his head he had +forgotten all about Mrs. Redwing and her dear little nest. +Besides, he heard the breakfast horn blowing just then, so off he +started for home up the Lone Little Path through the wood. + +And all the Merry Little Breezes danced away across the Green +Meadows to the swamp where the bulrushes grow to see the new +speckled egg in the dear little nest where Mrs. Redwing was +singing for joy. And while she sang the Merry Little Breezes +danced among the bulrushes, for they knew, and Mrs. Redwing knew, +that some day out of that pretty new speckled egg would come a +wee baby Redwing. + + + +CHAPTER II WHY GRANDFATHER FROG HAS NO TAIL + +Old Mother West Wind had gone to her day's work, leaving all the +Merry Little Breezes to play in the Green Meadows. They had +played tag and run races with the Bees and played hide and seek +with the Sun Beams, and now they had gathered around the Smiling +Pool where on a green lily pad sat Grandfather Frog. + +Grandfather Frog was old, very old, indeed, and very, very wise. +He wore a green coat and his voice was very deep. When +Grandfather Frog spoke everybody listened very respectfully. Even +Billy Mink treated Grandfather Frog with respect, for Billy +Mink's father and his father's father could not remember when +Grandfather Frog had not sat on the lily pad watching for green +flies. + +Down in the Smiling Pool were some of Grandfather Frog's +great-great-great-great-great grandchildren. You wouldn't have +known that they were his grandchildren unless some one told you. +They didn't look the least bit like Grandfather Frog. They were +round and fat and had long tails and perhaps this is why they +were called Pollywogs. + +"Oh Grandfather Frog, tell us why you don't have a tail as you +did when you were young," begged one of the Merry Little Breezes. + +Grandfather Frog snapped up a foolish green fly and settled +himself on his big lily pad, while all the Merry Little Breezes +gathered round to listen. + +"Once on a time," began Grandfather Frog, "the Frogs ruled the +world, which was mostly water. There was very little dry land-- +oh, very little indeed! There were no boys to throw stones and no +hungry Mink to gobble up foolish Frog-babies who were taking a +sun bath!" + +Billy Mink, who had joined the Merry Little Breezes and was +listening, squirmed uneasily and looked away guiltily. + +"In those days all the Frogs had tails, long handsome tails of +which they were very, very proud indeed," continued Grandfather +Frog. "The King of all the Frogs was twice as big as any other +Frog, and his tail was three times as long. He was very proud, +oh, very proud indeed of his long tail. He used to sit and admire +it until he thought that there never had been and never could be +another such tail. He used to wave it back and forth in the +water, and every time he waved it all the other Frogs would cry +'Ah!' and 'Oh!' Every day the King grew more vain. He did nothing +at all but eat and sleep and admire his tail. + +"Now all the other Frogs did just as the King did, so pretty soon +none of the Frogs were doing anything but sitting about eating, +sleeping and admiring their own tails and the King's. + +"Now you all know that people who do nothing worth while in this +world are of no use and there is little room for them. So when +Mother Nature saw how useless had become the Frog tribe she +called the King Frog before her and she said: + +"'Because you can think of nothing but your beautiful tail it +shall be taken away from you. Because you do nothing but eat and +sleep your mouth shall become wide like a door, and your eyes +shall start forth from your head. You shall become bow-legged and +ugly to look at, and all the world shall laugh at you.' + +"The King Frog looked at his beautiful tail and already it seemed +to have grown shorter. He looked again and it was shorter still. +Every time he looked his tail had grown shorter and smaller. By +and by when he looked there was nothing left but a little stub +which he couldn't even wriggle. Then even that disappeared, his +eyes popped out of his head and his mouth grew bigger and +bigger." + +Old Grandfather Frog stopped and looked sadly at a foolish green +fly coming his way. "Chug-arum," said Grandfather Frog, opening +his mouth very wide and hopping up in the air. When he sat down +again on his big lily pad the green fly was nowhere to be seen. +Grandfather Frog smacked his lips and continued: + +"And from that day to this every Frog has started life with a big +tail, and as he has grown bigger and bigger his tail has grown +smaller and smaller, until finally it disappears, and then he +remembers how foolish and useless it is to be vain of what nature +has given us. And that is how I came to lose my tail," finished +Grandfather Frog. + +"Thank you," shouted all the Merry Little Breezes. "We won't +forget." + +Then they ran a race to see who could reach Johnny Chuck's home +first and tell him that Farmer Brown was coming down on the Green +Meadows with a gun. + + + +CHAPTER III HOW REDDY FOX WAS SURPRISED + +Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox lived very near together on the edge +of the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck was fat and roly-poly. Reddy +Fox was slim and wore a bright red coat. Reddy Fox used to like +to frighten Johnny Chuck by suddenly popping out from behind a +tree and making believe that he was going to eat Johnny Chuck all +up. + +One bright summer day Johnny Chuck was out looking for a good +breakfast of nice tender clover. He had wandered quite a long way +from his snug little house in the long meadow grass, although his +mother had told him never to go out of sight of the door. But +Johnny was like some little boys I know, and forgot all he had +been told. + +He walked and walked and walked. Every few minutes Johnny Chuck +saw something farther on that looked like a patch of nice fresh +clover. And every time when he reached it Johnny Chuck found that +he had made a mistake. So Johnny Chuck walked and walked and +walked. + +Old Mother West Wind, coming across the Green Meadows, saw Johnny +Chuck and asked him where he was going. Johnny Chuck pretended +not to hear and just walked faster. + +One of the Merry Little Breezes danced along in front of him. + +"Look out, Johnny Chuck, you will get lost," cried the Merry +Little Breeze then pulled Johnny's whiskers and ran away. + +Higher and higher up in the sky climbed round, red Mr. Sun. Every +time Johnny Chuck looked up at him Mr. Sun winked. + +"So long as I can see great round, red Mr. Sun and he winks at me +I can't be lost," thought Johnny Chuck, and trotted on looking +for clover. + +By and by Johnny Chuck really did find some clover--just the +sweetest clover that grew in the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck ate +and ate and ate and then what do you think he did? Why, he curled +right up in the nice sweet clover and went fast asleep. + +Great round, red Mr. Sun kept climbing higher and higher up in +the sky, then by and by he began to go down on the other side, +and long shadows began to creep out across the Green Meadows. +Johnny Chuck didn't know anything about them: he was fast asleep. + +By and by one of the Merry Little Breezes found Johnny Chuck all +curled up in a funny round ball. + +"Wake up Johnny Chuck! Wake up!" shouted the Merry Little Breeze. + +Johnny Chuck opened his eyes. Then he sat up and rubbed them. For +just a few, few minutes he couldn't remember where he was at all. + +By and by he sat up very straight to look over the grass and see +where he was. But he was so far from home that he didn't see a +single thing that looked at all like the things he was used to. +The trees were all different. The bushes were all different. +Everything was different. Johnny Chuck was lost. + +Now, when Johnny sat up, Reddy Fox happened to be looking over +the Green Meadows and he saw Johnny's head where it popped above +the grass. + +"Aha!" said Reddy Fox, "I'll scare Johnny Chuck so he'll wish +he'd never put his nose out of his house." + +Then Reddy dropped down behind the long grass and crept softly, +oh, ever so softly, through the paths of his own, until he was +right behind Johnny Chuck. Johnny Chuck had been so intent +looking for home that he didn't see anything else. + +Reddy Fox stole right up behind Johnny and pulled Johnny's little +short tail hard. How it did frighten Johnny Chuck! He jumped +right straight up in the air and when he came down he was the +maddest little woodchuck that ever lived in the Green Meadows. + +Reddy Fox had thought that Johnny would run, and then Reddy meant +to run after him and pull his tail and tease him all the way +home. Now, Reddy Fox got as big a surprise as Johnny had had when +Reddy pulled his tail. Johnny didn't stop to think that Reddy Fox +was twice as big as he, but with his eyes snapping, and +chattering as only a little Chuck can chatter, with every little +hair on his little body standing right up on end, so that he +seemed twice as big as he really was, he started for Reddy Fox. + +It surprised Reddy Fox so that he didn't know what to do, and he +simply ran. Johnny Chuck ran after him, nipping Reddy's heels +every minute or two. Peter Rabbit just happened to be down that +way. He was sitting up very straight looking to see what mischief +he could get into when he caught sight of Reddy Fox running as +hard as ever he could. "It must be that Bowser, the hound, is +after Reddy Fox," said Peter Rabbit to himself. "I must watch out +that he doesn't find me." + +Just then he caught sight of Johnny Chuck with every little hair +standing up on end and running after Reddy Fox as fast as his +short legs could go. + +"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Peter Rabbit. "Reddy Fox afraid of Johnny +Chuck! Ho! ho! Ho!" + +Then Peter Rabbit scampered away to find Jimmy Skunk and Bobby +Coon and Happy Jack Squirrel to tell them all about how Reddy Fox +had run away from Johnny Chuck, for you see they were all a +little afraid of Reddy Fox. + +Straight home ran Reddy Fox as fast as he could go, and going +home he passed the house of Johnny Chuck. Now Johnny couldn't run +so fast as Reddy Fox and he was puffing and blowing as only a fat +little woodchuck can puff and blow when he has to run hard. +Moreover, he had lost his ill temper now and he thought it was +the best joke ever to think that he had actually frightened Reddy +Fox. When he came to his own house he stopped and sat on his hind +legs once more. Then he shrilled out after Reddy Fox: "Reddy Fox +is a 'fraid cat, 'fraid-cat! Reddy Fox is a 'fraid-cat!" + +And all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind, who +were playing on the Green Meadows shouted: "Reddy Fox is a +'fraid-cat, 'fraid-cat!" + +And this is the way that Reddy Fox was surprised and that Johnny +Chuck found his way home. + + + +CHAPTER IV WHY JIMMY SKUNK WEARS STRIPES + +Jimmy Skunk, as everybody knows, wears a striped suit, a suit of +black and white. There was a time, long, long ago, when all the +Skunk family wore black. Very handsome their coats were, too, a +beautiful, glossy black. They were very, very proud of them and +took the greatest care of them, brushing them carefully ever so +many times a day. + +There was a Jimmy Skunk then, just as there is now, and he was +head of all the Skunk family. Now this Jimmy Skunk was very proud +and thought himself very much of a gentleman. He was very +independent and cared for no one. Like a great many other +independent people, he did not always consider the rights of +others. Indeed, it was hinted in the wood and on the Green +Meadows that not all of Jimmy Skunk's doings would bear the light +of day. It was openly said that he was altogether too fond of +prowling about at night, but no one could prove that he was +responsible for mischief done in the night, for no one saw him. +You see his coat was so black that in the darkness of the night +it was not visible at all. + +Now about this time of which I am telling you Mrs. Ruffed Grouse +made a nest at the foot of the Great Pine and in it she laid +fifteen beautiful buff eggs. Mrs. Grouse was very happy, very +happy indeed, and all the little meadow folks who knew of her +happiness were happy too, for they all loved shy, demure, little +Mrs. Grouse. Every morning when Peter Rabbit trotted down the +Lone Little Path through the wood past the Great Pine he would +stop for a few minutes to chat with Mrs. Grouse. Happy Jack +Squirrel would bring her the news every afternoon. The Merry +Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind would run up a dozen times +a day to see how she was getting along. + +One morning Peter Rabbit, coming down the Lone Little Path for +his usual morning call, found a terrible state of affairs. Poor +little Mrs. Grouse was heart-broken. All about the foot of the +Great Pine lay the empty shells of her beautiful eggs. They had +been broken and scattered this way and that. + +"How did it happen?" asked Peter Rabbit. + +"I don't know," sobbed poor little Mrs. Grouse. "In the night +when I was fast asleep something pounced upon me. I managed to +get away and fly up in the top of the Great Pine. In the morning +I found all my eggs broken, just as you see them here." + +Peter Rabbit looked the ground over very carefully. He hunted +around behind the Great Pine, he looked under the bushes, he +studied the ground with a very wise air. Then he hopped off down +the Lone Little Path to the Green Meadows. He stopped at the +house of Johnny Chuck. + +"What makes your eyes so big and round?" asked Johnny Chuck. + +Peter Rabbit came very close so as to whisper in Johnny Chuck's +ear, and told him all that he had seen. Together they went to +Jimmy Skunk's house. Jimmy Skunk was in bed. He was very sleepy +and very cross when he came to the door. Peter Rabbit told him +what he had seen. + +"Too bad! Too bad!" said Jimmy Skunk, and yawned sleepily. + +"Won't you join us in trying to find out who did it?" asked +Johnny Chuck. + +Jimmy Skunk said he would be delighted to come but that he had +some other business that morning and that he would join them in +the afternoon. Peter Rabbit and Johnny Chuck went on. Pretty soon +they met the Merry Little Breezes and told them the dreadful +story. + +"What shall we do?" asked Johnny Chuck. + +"We'll hurry over and tell Old Dame Nature," cried the Merry +Little Breezes, "and ask her what to do." + +So away flew the Merry Little Breezes to Old Dame Nature and told +her all the dreadful story. Old Dame Nature listened very +attentively. Then she sent the Merry Little Breezes to all the +little meadow folks to tell every one to be at the Great Pine +that afternoon. Now whatever Old Dame Nature commanded all the +meadow folks were obliged to do. They did not dare to disobey +her. Promptly at four o'clock that afternoon all the meadow folks +were gathered around the foot of the Great Pine. Broken-hearted +little Mrs. Ruffed Grouse sat beside her empty nest, with all the +broken shells about her. + +Reddy Fox, Peter Rabbit, Johnny Chuck, Billy Mink, Little Joe +Otter, Jerry Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, Bobby Coon, Sammy Jay, +Blacky the Crow, Grandfather Frog, Mr. Toad, Spotty the Turtle, +the Merry Little Breezes, all were there. Last of all came Jimmy +Skunk. Very handsome he looked in his shining black coat and very +sorry he appeared that such a dreadful thing should have +happened. He told Mrs. Grouse how badly he felt, and he loudly +demanded that the culprit should be found out and severely +punished. + +Old Dame Nature has the most smiling face in the world, but this +time it was very, very grave indeed. First she asked little Mrs. +Grouse to tell her story all over again that all might hear. +Then each in turn was asked to tell where he had been the night +before. Johnny Chuck, Happy Jack Squirrel, Striped Chipmunk, +Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow had gone to bed when Mr. Sun went +down behind the Purple Hills. Jerry Muskrat, Billy Mink, Little +Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and Spotty the Turtle had not left +the Smiling Pool. Bobby Coon had been down in Farmer Brown's +cornfield. Hooty the Owl had been hunting in the lower end of the +Green Meadows. Peter Rabbit had been down in the berry patch. Mr. +Toad had been under the piece of bark which he called a house. +Old Dame Nature called on Jimmy Skunk last of all. Jimmy +protested that he had been very, very tired and had gone to bed +very early indeed and had slept the whole night through. + +Then Old Dame Nature asked Peter Rabbit what he had found among +the egg shells that morning. + +Peter Rabbit hopped out and laid three long black hairs before +Old Dame Nature. "These," said Peter Rabbit "are what I found +among the egg shells." + +Then Old Dame Nature called Johnny Chuck. "Tell us, Johnny +Chuck," said she, "what you saw when you called at Jimmy Skunk's +house this morning." + +"I saw Jimmy Skunk," said Johnny Chuck, "and Jimmy seemed very, +very sleepy. It seemed to me that his whiskers were yellow." + +"That will do," said Old Dame Nature, and then she called Old +Mother West Wind. + +"What time did you come down on the Green Meadows this morning?" + +"Just at the break of day," said Old Mother West Wind, "as Mr. +Sun was coming up from behind the Purple Hills." + +"And whom did you see so early in the morning?" asked Old Dame +Nature. + +"I saw Bobby Coon going home from old Farmer Brown's cornfield," +said Old Mother West Wind. "I saw Hooty the Owl coming back from +the lower end of the Green Meadows. I saw Peter Rabbit down in +the berry patch. Last of all I saw something like a black shadow +coming down the Lone Little Path toward the house of Jimmy +Skunk." + +Every one was looking very hard at Jimmy Skunk. Jimmy began to +look very unhappy and very uneasy. + +"Who wears a black coat?" asked Dame Nature. + +"Jimmy Skunk!" shouted all the little meadow folks. + +"What MIGHT make whiskers yellow?" asked Old Dame Nature. + +No one seemed to know at first. Then Peter Rabbit spoke up. "It +MIGHT be the yolk of an egg," said Peter Rabbit. + +"Who are likely to be sleepy on a bright sunny morning?" asked +Old Dame Nature. + +"People who have been out all night," said Johnny Chuck, who +himself always goes to bed with the sun. + +"Jimmy Skunk," said Old Dame Nature, and her voice was very +stern, very stern indeed, and her face was very grave. "Jimmy +Skunk, I accuse you of having broken and eaten the eggs of Mrs. +Grouse. What have you to say for yourself?" + +Jimmy Skunk hung his head. He hadn't a word to say. He just +wanted to sneak away by himself. + +"Jimmy Skunk," said Old Dame Nature, "because your handsome black +coat of which you are so proud has made it possible for you to +move about in the night without being seen, and because we can no +longer trust you upon your honor, henceforth you and your +descendants shall wear a striped coat, which is the sign that you +cannot be trusted. Your coat hereafter shall be black and white, +that when you move about in the night you will always be +visible." + +And this is why that to this day Jimmy Skunk wears a striped suit +of black and white. + + + +CHAPTER V THE WILFUL LITTLE BREEZE + +Old Mother West Wind was tired--tired and just a wee bit cross-- +cross because she was tired. She had had a very busy day. Ever +since early morning she had been puffing out the white sales of +the ships on the big ocean so that they could go faster; she had +kept all the big and little wind mills whirling and whirling to +pump water for thirsty folks and grind corn for hungry folks; +she had blown away all the smoke from tall chimneys and engines +and steamboats. Yes, indeed, Old Mother West Wind had been very, +very busy. + +Now she was coming across the Green Meadows on her way to her +home behind the Purple Hills, and as she came she opened the big +bag she carried and called to her children, the Merry Little +Breezes, who had been playing hard on the Green Meadows all the +long day. One by one they crept into the big bag, for they were +tired, too, and ready to go to their home behind the Purple +Hills. + +Pretty soon all were in the bag but one, a willful little Breeze, +who was not quite ready to go home; he wanted to play just a +little longer. He danced ahead of Old Mother West Wind. He kissed +the sleepy daisies. He shook the nodding buttercups. He set all +the little poplar leaves a dancing, too, and he wouldn't come +into the big bag. So Old Mother West Wind closed the big bag and +slung it over her shoulder. Then she started on towards her home +behind the Purple Hills. + +When she had gone, the willful little Breeze left behind suddenly +felt very lonely--very lonely indeed! The sleepy daisies didn't +want to play. The nodding buttercups were cross. Great round +bright Mr. Sun, who had been shining and shining all day long, +went to bed and put on his night cap of golden clouds. Black +shadows came creeping, creeping out into the Green Meadows. + +The willful little Breeze began to wish that he was safe in Old +Mother West Wind's big bag with all the other Merry Little +Breezes. + +So he started across the Green Meadows to find the Purple Hills. +But all the hills were black now and he could not tell which he +should look behind to find his home with Old Mother West Wind and +the Merry Little Breezes. How he did wish that he had minded Old +Mother West Wind. + +By and by he curled up under a bayberry bush and tried to go to +sleep, but he was lonely, oh, so lonely! And he couldn't go to +sleep. Old Mother Moon came up and flooded all the Green Meadows +with light, but it wasn't like the bright light of jolly round +Mr. Sun, for it was cold and white and it made many black +shadows. + +Pretty soon the willful little Breeze heard Hooty the Owl out +hunting for a meadow mouse for his dinner. Then down the Lone +Little Path which ran close to the bayberry bush trotted Reddy +Fox. He was trotting very softly and every minute or so he turned +his head and looked behind him to see if he was followed. It was +plain to see that Reddy Fox was bent on mischief. + +When he reached the bayberry bush Reddy Fox sat down and barked +twice. Hooty the Owl answered him at once and flew over to join +him. They didn't see the willful little Breeze curled up under the +bayberry bush, so intent were these two rogues in plotting +mischief. They were planning to steal down across the Green +Meadows to the edge of the Brown Pasture where Mr. Bob White and +pretty Mrs. Bob White and a dozen little Bob Whites had their +home. + +"When they run along the ground I'll catch 'em, and when they fly +up in the air you'll catch 'em, and we'll gobble 'em all up," said +Reddy Fox to Hooty the Owl. Then he licked his chops and Hooty +the Owl snapped his bill, just as if they were tasting tender +little Bob Whites that very minute. It made the willful little +Breeze shiver to see them. Pretty soon they started on towards +the Brown Pasture. + +When they were out of sight the willful little Breeze jumped up +and shook himself. Then away he sped across the Green Meadows to +the Brown Pasture. And because he could go faster and because he +went a shorter way he got there first. He had to hunt and hunt to +find Mrs. and Mr. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites, but +finally he did find them, all with their heads tucked under their +wings fast asleep. + +The willful little Breeze shook Mr. Bob White very gently. In an +instant he was wide awake. + +"Sh-h-h," said the willful little Breeze. "Reddy Fox and Hooty the +Owl are coming to the Brown Pasture to gobble up you and Mrs. Bob +White and all the little Bob Whites." + +"Thank you, little Breeze," said Mr. Bob White, "I think I'll +move my family." + +Then he woke Mrs. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites. With +Mr. Bob White in the lead away they all flew to the far side of +the Brown Pasture where they were soon safely hidden under a +juniper tree. + +The willful little Breeze saw them safely there, and when they +were nicely hidden hurried back to the place where the Bob Whites +had been sleeping. Reddy Fox was stealing up through the grass +very, very softly. Hooty the Owl was flying as silently as a +shadow. When Reddy Fox thought he was near enough he drew himself +together, made a quick spring and landed right in Mr. Bob White's +empty bed. Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl looked so surprised and +foolish when they found the Bob Whites were not there that the +willful little Breeze nearly laughed out loud. + +Then Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl hunted here and hunted there, +all over the Brown Pasture, but they couldn't find the Bob +Whites. + +And the willful little Breeze went back to the juniper tree and +curled himself beside Mr. Bob White to sleep, for he was lonely +no longer. + + +CHAPTER VI REDDY FOX GOES FISHING + +One morning when Mr. Sun was very, very bright and it was very, +very warm, down on the Green Meadows Reddy Fox came hopping and +skipping down the Lone Little Path that leads to the Laughing +Brook. Hoppity, skip, skippity hop! Reddy felt very much pleased +with himself that sunny morning. Pretty soon he saw Johnny Chuck +sitting up very straight close by the little house where he +lives. + +"Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny +Woodchuck!" called Reddy fox. + +Johnny Chuck pretended not to hear. His mother had told him not +to play with Reddy Fox, for Reddy Fox was a bad boy. + +"Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!" called Reddy +again. + +This time Johnny turned and looked. He could see Reddy Fox +turning somersaults and chasing his tail and rolling over and +over in the little path. + +"Come on!" said Reddy Fox. "Let's go fishing!" + +"Can't," said Johnny Chuck, because you know, his mother had told +him not to play with Reddy Fox. + +"I'll show you how to catch a fish," said Reddy Fox, and tried to +jump over his own shadow. + +"Can't," said good little Johnny Chuck again, and turned away so +that he couldn't see Reddy Fox chasing Butterflies and playing +catch with Field Mice children. + +So Reddy Fox went down to the Laughing Brook all alone. The Brook +was laughing and singing on its way to join the Big River. The +sky was blue and the sun was bright. Reddy Fox jumped on the Big +Rock in the middle of the Laughing Brook and peeped over the +other side. What do you think he saw? Why, right down below in a +Dear Little Pool were Mr. And Mrs. Trout and all the little +Trouts. + +Reddy Fox wanted some of those little Trouts to take home for his +dinner, but he didn't know how to catch them. He lay flat down +on the Big Rock and reached way down into the Dear Little Pool, +but all the little Trouts laughed at Reddy Fox and not one came +within reach. Then Mr. Trout swam up so quickly that Reddy Fox +didn't see him coming and bit Reddy's little black paw hard. + +"Ouch!" cried Reddy Fox, pulling his little black paw out of the +water. And all the little Trouts laughed at Reddy Fox. + +Just then along came Billy Mink. + +"Hello, Reddy Fox!" said Billy Mink. "What are you doing here?" + +"I'm trying to catch a fish," said Reddy Fox. + +"Pooh! That's easy!" said Billy Mink. "I'll show you how." + +So Billy Mink lay down on the Big Rock side of Reddy Fox and +peeped over into the Dear Little Pool where all the little Trouts +were laughing at Reddy Fox and having such a good time. But Billy +Mink took care, such very great care, that Mr. Trout and Mrs. +Trout should not see him peeping over into the Dear Little Pool. + +When Billy Mink saw all those little Trouts playing in the Dear +Little Pool he laughed. "You count three, Reddy Fox," said he, +"and I'll show you how to catch a fish." + +"One!" said Reddy Fox, "Two! Three!" + +Splash! Billy Mink had dived head first into the Dear Little +Pool. He spattered water way up onto Reddy Fox, and he frightened +old Mr. Frog so that he fell over backwards off the lily pad +where he was taking a morning nap right into the water. In a +minute Billy Mink climbed out on the other side of the Dear +Little Pool and sure enough, he had caught one of the little +Trouts. + +"Give it to me," cried Reddy Fox. + +"Catch one yourself," said Billy Mink. "Old Grandpa Mink wants a +fish for his dinner, so I am going to take this home. You're +afraid, Reddy Fox! 'Fraid-cat! Fraid-cat!" + +Billy Mink shook the water off of his little brown coat, picked +up the little Trout and ran off home. + +Reddy Fox lay down again on the Big Rock and peeped into the Dear +Little Pool. Not a single Trout could he see. They were all +hiding safely with Mr. and Mrs. Trout. Reddy Fox watched and +watched. The sun was warm, the Laughing Brook was singing a +lullaby and--what do you think? Why, Reddy Fox went fast asleep +on the edge of the great Big Rock. + +By and by Reddy Fox began to dream. He dreamed that he had a nice +little brown coat that was waterproof, just like the little brown +coat that Billy Mink wore. Yes, and he dreamed that he had +learned to swim and to catch fish just as Billy Mink did. He +dreamed that the Dear Little Pool was full of little Trouts and +that he was just going to catch one when--splash! Reddy Fox had +rolled right off of the Big Rock into the Dear Little Pool. + +The water went into the eyes of Reddy Fox, and it went up his +nose and he swallowed so much that he felt as if he never, never +would want another drink of water. And his beautiful red coat, +which old Mother Fox had told him to be very, very careful of +because he couldn't have another for a whole year, was oh so wet! +And his pants were wet and his beautiful bushy tail, of which he +was so proud, was so full of water that he couldn't hold it up, +but had to drag it up the bank after him as he crawled out of the +Dear Little Pool. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Mr. Kingfisher, sitting on a tree. + +"Ho! Ho! Ho!" laughed old Mr. Frog, who had climbed back on his +lily pad. + +"He! He! He!" laughed all the little Trouts and Mr. Trout and +Mrs. Trout, swimming round and round in the Dear Little Pool. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Ho! He! He! He!" laughed Billy Mink, who had +come back to the Big Rock just in time to see Reddy Fox tumble +in. + +Reddy Fox didn't say a word, he was so ashamed. He just crept up +the Lone Little Path to his home, dragging his tail, all wet and +muddy, behind him, and dripping water all the way. + +Johnny Chuck was still sitting by his door as his mother had told +him to. Reddy Fox tried to go past without being seen, but Johnny +Chuck's bright little eyes saw him. + +"Where are your fish, Reddy Fox?" called Johnny Chuck. + +"Why don't you turn somersaults, and jump over your shadow and +chase Butterflies and play with the little Field Mice, Reddy +Fox?" called Johnny Chuck. + +But Reddy Fox just walked faster. When he got almost home he saw +old Mother Fox sitting in the doorway with a great big switch +across her lap, for Mother Fox had told Reddy Fox not to go near +the Laughing Brook. + +And this is all I am going to tell you about how Reddy Fox went +fishing. + + + +CHAPTER VII JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES + +Jimmy Skunk opened his eyes very early one morning and peeped out +of his snug little house on the hill. Big, round Mr. Sun, with a +very red, smiling face, had just begun to climb up into the sky. +Old Mother West Wind was just starting down to the Green Meadows +with her big bag over her shoulder. In that bag Jimmy Skunk knew +she carried all her children, the Merry Little Breezes, whom she +was taking down to the Green Meadows to play and frolic all day. + +"Good morning, Mother West Wind," said Jimmy Skunk, politely. +"Did you see any beetles as you came down the hill?" + +Old Mother West Wind said, no, she hadn't seen any beetles as she +came down the hill. + +"Thank you," said Jimmy Skunk politely. "I guess I'll have to go +look myself, for I'm very, very hungry." + +So Jimmy Skunk brushed his handsome black and white coat, and +washed his face and hands, and started out to try to find some +beetles for his breakfast. First he went down to the Green +Meadows and stopped at Johnny Chuck's house. But Johnny Chuck was +still in bed and fast asleep. Then Jimmy Skunk went over to see +if Reddy Fox would go with him to help find some beetles for his +breakfast. But Reddy Fox had been out very, very late the night +before and was still in bed fast asleep, too. + +So Jimmy Skunk set out all alone along the Crooked Little Path up +the hill to find some beetles for his breakfast. He walked very +slowly, for Jimmy Skunk never hurries. He stopped and peeped +under every old log to see if there were any beetles. By and by +he came to a big piece of bark beside the Crooked Little Path. +Jimmy Skunk took hold of the piece of bark with his two little +black paws and pulled and pulled. All of a sudden, the big piece +of bark turned over so quickly that Jimmy Skunk fell flat on his +back. + +When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again, there sat +old Mr. Toad right in the path, and old Mr. Toad was very, very +cross indeed. He swelled and he puffed and he puffed and he +swelled, till he was twice as big as Jimmy Skunk had ever seen +him before. + +"Good morning, Mr. Toad," said Jimmy Skunk. "Have you seen any +beetles?" + +But Mr. Toad blinked his great round goggly eyes and he said: +"What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the roof off my +house?" + +"Is that the roof of your house?" asked Jimmy Skunk politely. "I +won't do it again." + +Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over old Mr. Toad, and went on up +the Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles. + +By and by he came to an old stump of a tree which was hollow and +had the nicest little round hole in one side. Jimmy Skunk took +hold of one edge with his two little black paws and pulled and +pulled. All of a sudden the whole side of the old stump tore open +and Jimmy Skunk fell flat on his back. + +When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again there was +Striped Chipmunk hopping up and down right in the middle of the +path, he was so angry. + +"Good morning, Striped Chipmunk," said Jimmy Skunk. "Have you +seen any beetles?" + +But Striped Chipmunk hopped faster than ever and he said: "What +do you mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the side off my house?" + +"Is that the side of your house?" asked Jimmy Skunk, politely. "I +won't do it again." + +Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over Striped Chipmunk, and went +on up the Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles. + +Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit hopping along down the Crooked +Little Path. "Good morning, Jimmy Skunk, where are you going so +early in the morning?" said Peter Rabbit. + +"Good morning, Peter Rabbit. Have you seen any beetles?" asked +Jimmy Skunk, politely. + +"No, I haven't seen any beetles, but I'll help you find some," +said Peter Rabbit. So he turned about and hopped ahead of Jimmy +Skunk up the Crooked Little Path. + +Now because Peter Rabbit's legs are long and he is always in a +hurry, he got to the top of the hill first. When Jimmy Skunk +reached the end of the Crooked Little Path on the top of the hill +he found Peter Rabbit sitting up very straight and looking and +looking very hard at a great flat stone. + +"What are you looking at, Peter Rabbit?" asked Jimmy Skunk. + +"Sh-h-h!" said Peter Rabbit, "I think there are some beetles +under that great flat stone where that little black string is +sticking out. Now when I count three you grab that string and +pull hard perhaps you'll find a beetle at the other end." + +So Jimmy Skunk got ready and Peter Rabbit began to count. + +"One!" said Peter. "Two!" said Peter. "Three!" + +Jimmy Skunk grabbed the black string and pulled as hard as ever +he could and out came--Mr. Black Snake! The string Jimmy Skunk had +pulled was Mr. Black Snake's tail, and Mr. Black Snake was very, +very angry indeed. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Peter Rabbit. + +"What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk," said Mr. Black Snake, "by +pulling my tail?" + +"Was that your tail?" said Jimmy Skunk, politely. "I won't do it +again. Have you seen any beetles?" + +But Mr. Black Snake hadn't seen any beetles, and he was so cross +that Jimmy Skunk went on over the hill to look for some beetles. + +Peter Rabbit was still laughing and laughing and laughing. And +the more he laughed the angrier grew Mr. Black Snake, till +finally he started after Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson. + +Then Peter Rabbit stopped laughing, for Mr. Black Snake can run +very fast. Away went Peter Rabbit down the Crooked Little Path as +fast as he could go, and away went Mr. Black Snake after him. + +But Jimmy Skunk didn't even look once to see if Mr. Black Snake +had caught Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson, for Jimmy Skunk had +found some beetles and was eating his breakfast. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII BILLY MINK'S SWIMMING PARTY + +Billy Mink was coming down the bank of the Laughing Brook. Billy +Mink was feeling very good indeed. He had had a good breakfast, +the sun was warm, little white cloud ships were sailing across +the blue sky and their shadows were sailing across the Green +Meadows, the birds were singing and the bees were humming. Billy +Mink felt like singing too, but Billy Mink's voice was not meant +for singing. + +By and by Billy Mink came to the Smiling Pool. Here the Laughing +Brook stopped and rested on its way to join the Big River. It +stopped its noisy laughing and singing and just lay smiling and +smiling in the warm sunshine. The little flowers on the bank +leaned over and nodded to it. The beech tree, which was very old, +sometimes dropped a leaf into it. The cat-tails kept their feet +cool in the edge of it. + +Billy Mink jumped out on the Big Rock and looked down into the +Smiling Pool. Over on a green lily pad he saw old Grandfather +Frog. + +"Hello, Grandfather Frog," said Billy Mink. + +"Hello, Billy Mink," said Grandfather Frog. "What mischief are +you up to this fine sunny morning?" + +Just then Billy Mink saw a little brown head swimming along one +edge of the Smiling Pool. + +"Hello, Jerry Muskrat!" shouted Billy Mink. + +"Hello your own self, Billy Mink," shouted Jerry Muskrat, "Come +in and have a swim; the water's fine!" + +"Good," said Billy Mink. "We'll have a swimming party." + +So Billy Mink called all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother +West Wind, who were playing with the flowers on the bank, and +sent them to find Little Joe Otter and invite him to come to the +swimming party. Pretty soon back came the Little Breezes and with +them came Little Joe Otter. + +"Hello, Billy Mink," said Little Joe Otter. "Here I am!" + +"Hello, Little Joe Otter," said Billy Mink. "Come up here on the +Big Rock and see who can dive the deepest into the Smiling Pool." + +So Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat climbed up on the Big Rock +side of Billy Mink and they all stood side by side in their +little brown bathing suits looking down into the Smiling Pool. + +"Now when I count three we'll all dive into the Smiling Pool +together and see who can dive the deepest. One!" said Billy Mink. +"Two!" said Billy Mink. "Three!" said Billy Mink. + +And when he said "Three!" in they all went head first. My such a +splash as they did make! They upset old Grandfather Frog so that +he fell off his lily pad. They frightened Mr. and Mrs. Trout so +that they jumped right out of the water. Tiny Tadpole had such a +scare that he hid way, way down in the mud with only the tip of +his funny little nose sticking out. + +"Chug-a-rum," said old Grandfather Frog, climbing out of his lily +pad. "If I wasn't so old I would show you how to dive." + +"Come on, Grandfather Frog!" cried Billy Mink. "Show us how to +dive." + +And what do you think? Why, old Grandfather Frog actually got so +excited that he climbed up on the Big Rock to show them how to +dive. Splash! Went Grandfather Frog into the Smiling Pool. +Splash! Went Billy Mink right behind him. Splash! Splash! Went +Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat, right at Billy Mink's heels. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Mr. Kingfisher, sitting on a branch of the old +beech tree. And then just to show them that he could dive, too, +splash! He went into the Smiling Pool. + +Such a noise as they did make! All the Little Breezes of Old +Mother West Wind danced for joy on the bank. Blacky the Crow and +Sammy Jay flew over to see what was going on. + +"Now let's see who can swim the farthest under water," cried +Billy Mink. + +So they all stood side by side on one edge of the Smiling Pool. + +"Go!" shouted Mr. Kingfisher, and in they all plunged. Little +ripples ran across the Smiling Pool and then the water became as +smooth and smiling as if nothing had gone into it with a plunge. + +Now old Grandfather Frog began to realize that he wasn't as young +as he used to be, and he couldn't swim as fast as the others +anyway. He began to get short of breath, so he swam up to the top +and stuck just the tip of his nose out to get some more air. +Sammy Jay's sharp eyes saw him. + +"There's Grandfather Frog!" he shouted. + +So then Grandfather Frog popped his head out and swam over to his +green lily pad to rest. + +Way over beyond the Big Rock little bubbles in three long rows +kept coming up to the top of the Smiling Pool. They showed just +where Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat were +swimming way down out of sight. It was the air from their lungs +making the bubbles. Straight across the Smiling Pool went the +lines of little bubbles and then way out on the farther side two +little heads bobbed out of water close together. They were Billy +Mink and Little Joe Otter. A moment later Jerry Muskrat bobbed up +beside them. + +You see, they had swum clear across the Smiling Pool and of course +they could swim no farther. + +So Billy Mink's swimming party was a great success. + + + +CHAPTER IX PETER RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE + +One morning when big round Mr. Sun was climbing up in the sky and +Old Mother West Wind had sent all her Merry Little Breezes to +play in the Green Meadows, Johnny Chuck started out for a walk. +First he sat up very straight and looked and looked all around to +see if Reddy Fox was anywhere about, for you know Reddy Fox liked +to tease Johnny Chuck. + +But Reddy Fox was nowhere to be seen, so Johnny Chuck trotted down +the Lone Little Path to the wood. Mr. Sun was shining as brightly +as ever he could and Johnny Chuck, who was very, very fat, grew +very, very warm. By and by he sat down on the end of a log under +a big tree to rest. + +Thump! Something hit Johnny Chuck right on the top of his round +little head. It made Johnny Chuck jump. + +"Hello, Johnny Chuck!" said a voice that seemed to come right out +of the sky. Johnny Chuck tipped his head way, way back and looked +up. He was just in time to see Happy Jack Squirrel drop a nut. +Down it came and hit Johnny Chuck right on the tip of his funny, +black, little nose. + +"Oh!" said Johnny Chuck, and tumbled right over back off the log. +But Johnny Chuck was so round and so fat and so roly-poly that it +didn't hurt him a bit. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Happy Jack up in the tree. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Johnny Chuck, picking himself up. Then they +both laughed together. It was such a good joke. + +"What are you laughing at?" asked a voice so close to Johnny +Chuck that he rolled over three times he was so surprised. It was +Peter Rabbit. + +"What are you doing in my wood?" asked Peter Rabbit. + +"I'm taking a walk," said Johnny Chuck. + +"Good," said Peter Rabbit, "I'll come along too." + +So Johnny Chuck and Peter Rabbit set out along the Lone Little +Path through the wood. Peter Rabbit hopped along with great big +jumps, for Peter's legs are long and meant for jumping, but +Johnny Chuck couldn't keep up though he tried very hard, for +Johnny's legs are short. Pretty soon Peter Rabbit came back, +walking very softly. He whispered in Johnny Chuck's ear. + +"I've found something," said Peter Rabbit. + +"What is it?" asked Johnny Chuck. + +"I'll show you," said Peter Rabbit, "but you must be very, very +still, and not make the least little bit of noise." + +Johnny Chuck promised to be very, very still for he wanted very +much to see what Peter Rabbit had found. Peter Rabbit tip-toed +down the Lone Little Path through the wood, his funny long ears +pointing right up to the sky. And behind him tip-toed Johnny +Chuck, wondering and wondering what it could be that Peter Rabbit +had found. + +Pretty soon they came to a nice mossy green log right across the +Lone Little Path. Peter Rabbit stopped and sat up very straight. +He looked this way and looked that way. Johnny Chuck stopped too +and he sat up very straight and looked this way and looked that +way, but all he could see was the mossy green log across the Lone +Little Path. + +"What is it, Peter Rabbit?" whispered Johnny Chuck. + +"You can't see it yet," whispered Peter Rabbit, "for first we +have to jump over that mossy green log. Now I'll jump first, and +then you jump just the way I do, and then you'll see what it is +I've found," said Peter Rabbit. + +So Peter Rabbit jumped first, and because his legs are long and +meant for jumping, he jumped way, way over the mossy green log. +Then he turned around and sat up to see Johnny Chuck jump over +the mossy green log, too. + +Johnny Chuck tried to jump very high and very far, just as he had +seen Peter Rabbit jump, but Johnny Chuck's legs are very short +and not meant for jumping. Besides, Johnny Chuck was very, very +fat. So though he tried very hard indeed to jump just like Peter +Rabbit, he stubbed his toes on the top of the mossy green log and +over he tumbled, head first, and landed with a great big thump +right on Reddy Fox, who was lying fast asleep on the other side +of the mossy green log. + +Peter Rabbit laughed and laughed until he had to hold his sides. + +My, how frightened Johnny Chuck was when he saw what he had done! +Before he could get on his feet he had rolled right over behind a +little bush, and there he lay very, very still. + +Reddy Fox awoke with a grunt when Johnny Chuck fell on him so +hard, and the first thing he saw was Peter Rabbit laughing so +that he had to hold his sides. Reddy Fox didn't stop to look +around. He thought that Peter Rabbit had jumped on him. Up jumped +Reddy Fox and away ran Peter Rabbit. Away went Reddy Fox after +Peter Rabbit. Peter dodged behind the trees, and jumped over the +bushes, and ran this way and ran that way, just as hard as ever +he could, for Peter Rabbit was very much afraid of Reddy Fox. And +Reddy Fox followed Peter Rabbit behind the trees and over the +bushes this way and that way, but he couldn't catch Peter Rabbit. +Pretty soon Peter Rabbit came to the house of Jimmy Skunk. He +knew that Jimmy Skunk was over in the pasture, so he popped right +in and then he was safe, for the door of Jimmy Skunk's house was +too small for Reddy Fox to squeeze in. Reddy Fox sat down and +waited, but Peter Rabbit didn't come out. By and by Reddy Fox +gave it up and trotted off home where old Mother Fox was waiting +for him. + +All this time Johnny Chuck had sat very still, watching Reddy Fox +try to catch Peter Rabbit. And when he saw Peter Rabbit pop into +the house of Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox trot away home, Johnny +Chuck stood up and brushed his little coat very clean and then he +trotted back up the Lone Little Path through the wood to his own +dear little path through the Green Meadows where the Merry Little +Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were still playing, till he was +safe in his own snug little house once more. + + + +CHAPTER X HOW SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT + +Sammy Jay was very busy, very busy indeed. When anyone happened +that way Sammy Jay pretended to be doing nothing at all, for +Sammy Jay thought himself a very fine gentleman. He was very +proud of his handsome blue coat with white trimmings and his high +cap, and he would sit on a fence post and make fun of Johnny +Chuck working at a new door for his snug little home in the Green +Meadows, and of Striped Chipmunk storing up heaps of corn and +nuts for the winter, for most of the time Sammy Jay was an idle +fellow. And when Sammy Jay WAS busy, he was pretty sure to be +doing something that he ought not to do, for idle people almost +always get into mischief. + +Sammy Jay was in mischief now, and that is why he pretended to be +doing nothing when he thought any one was looking. + +Old Mother West Wind had come down from her home behind the +Purple Hills very early that morning. Indeed, jolly, round, red +Mr. Sun had hardly gotten out of bed when she crossed the Green +Meadows on her way to help the big ships across the ocean. Old +Mother West Wind's eyes were sharp, and she saw Sammy Jay before +Sammy Jay saw her. + +"Now what can Sammy Jay be so busy about, and why is he so very, +very quiet?" thought Old Mother West Wind. "He must be up to some +mischief." + +So when she opened her big bag and turned out all her Merry +Little Breezes to play on the Green Meadows she sent one of them +to see what Sammy Jay was doing in the old chestnut tree. The +Merry Little Breeze danced along over the tree tops just as if he +hadn't a thought in the world but to wake up all the little +leaves and set them to dancing too, and Sammy Jay, watching Old +Mother West Wind and the other Merry Little Breezes, didn't see +this Merry Little Breeze at all. + +Pretty soon it danced back to Old Mother West Wind and whispered +in her ear: "Sammy Jay is stealing the nuts Happy Jack Squirrel +had hidden in the hollow of the old chestnut tree, and is hiding +them for himself in the tumble down nest that Blacky the Crow +built in the Great Pine last year." "Aha!" said Old Mother West +Wind. Then she went on across the Green Meadows. + +"Good morning, Old Mother West Wind," said Sammy Jay as she +passed the fence post where he was sitting. + +"Good morning, Sammy Jay," said Old Mother West Wind. "What +brings you out so early in the morning?" + +"I'm out for my health, Old Mother West Wind," said Sammy Jay +politely. "The doctor has ordered me to take a bath in the dew at +sunrise every morning." + +Old Mother West Wind said nothing, but went on her way across the +Green Meadows to blow the ships across the ocean. When she had +passed, Sammy Jay hurried to take the last of Happy Jack's nuts to +the old nest in the Great Pine. + +Poor Happy Jack! Soon he came dancing along with another nut to +put in the hollow of the old chestnut tree. When he peeped in and +saw that all his big store of nuts had disappeared, he couldn't +believe his own eyes. He put in one paw and felt all around but +not a nut could he feel. Then he climbed in and sure enough, the +hollow was empty. + +Poor Happy Jack! There were tears in his eyes when he crept out +again. He looked all around but no one was to be seen but +handsome Sammy Jay, very busy brushing his beautiful blue coat. + +"Good morning, Sammy Jay, have you seen any one pass this way?" +asked Happy Jack. "Some one has stolen a store of nuts from the +hollow in the old chestnut tree." + +Sammy Jay pretended to feel very badly indeed, and in his +sweetest voice, for his voice was very sweet in those days, he +offered to help Happy Jack try to catch the thief who had stolen +the store of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. + +Together they went down cross the Green Meadows asking every one +whom they met if they had seen the thief who had stolen Happy +Jack's store of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. +All the Merry Little Breezes joined in the search, and soon every +one who lived in the Green Meadows or in the wood knew that some +one had stolen all of Happy Jack Squirrel's store of nuts from +the hollow in the old chestnut tree. And because every one liked +Happy Jack, every one felt very sorry indeed for him. + +The next morning all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West +Wind were turned out of the big bag into the Green Meadows very +early indeed, for they had a lot of errands to do. All over the +Green Meadows they hurried, all through the wood, up and down the +Laughing Brook and all around the Smiling Pool, inviting +everybody to meet at the Great Pine on the hill at nine o'clock +to form a committee of the whole--to try to find the thief who +stole Happy Jack's nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. + +And because every one liked Happy Jack every one went to the +Great Pine on the hill--Reddy Fox, Bobby Coon, Jimmy Skunk +Striped Chipmunk, who is Happy Jack's cousin you know, Billy +Mink, Little Joe Otter, Jerry Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, who was +almost too sleepy to keep his eyes open, Blacky the Crow, Johnny +Chuck, Peter Rabbit, even old Grandfather Frog. Of course Sammy +Jay was there, looking his handsomest. + +When they had all gathered around the Great Pine, Old Mother West +Wind pointed to the old nest way up in the top of it. "Is that +your nest?" she asked Blacky the Crow. + +"It was, but I gave it to my cousin, Sammy Jay," said Blacky the +Crow. + +"Is that your nest, and may I have a stick out of it?" asked Old +Mother West Wind of Sammy Jay. + +"It is," said Sammy Jay, with his politest bow, "And you are +welcome to a stick out of it." To himself he thought, "She will +only take one from the top and that won't matter." + +Old Mother West Wind suddenly puffed out her cheeks and blew so +hard that she blew a big stick right out of the bottom of the old +nest. Down it fell bumpity-bump on the branches of the Great +Pine. After it fell--what do you think? Why, hickory nuts and +chestnuts and acorns and hazel nuts, such a lot of them! + +"Why! Why--e--e!" cried Happy Jack. "There are all my stolen nuts!" + +Everybody turned to look at Sammy Jay, but he was flying off +through the wood as fast as he could go. "Stop thief!" cried Old +Mother West Wind. "Stop thief!" cried all the Merry Little Breezes +and Johnny Chuck and Billy Mink and all the rest. But Sammy Jay +didn't stop. + +Then all began to pick up the nuts that had fallen from the old +nest where Sammy Jay had hidden them. By and by, with Happy Jack +leading the way, they all marched back to the old chestnut tree +and there Happy Jack stored all the nuts away in his snug little +hollow once more. + +And ever since that day, Sammy Jay, whenever he tries to call, +just screams" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" + + + +CHAPTER XI JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY + +All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were +hurrying over the Green Meadows. Some flew this way and some ran +that way and some danced the other way. You see, Jerry Muskrat had +asked them to carry his invitations to a party at the Big Rock in +the Smiling Pool. + +Of course every one said that they would be delighted to go to +Jerry Muskrat's party. Round Mr. Sun shone his very brightest. +The sky was its bluest and the little birds had promised to be +there to sing for Jerry Muskrat, so of course all the little +folks in the Green Meadows and in the wood wanted to go. + +There were Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox and Jimmy Skunk and Bobby +Coon and Happy Jack Squirrel and Striped Chipmunk and Billy Mink +and Little Joe Otter and Grandfather Frog and old Mr. Toad and +Mr. Blacksnake--all going to Jerry Muskrat's party. + +When they reached the Smiling Pool they found Jerry Muskrat all +ready. His brothers and his sister, his aunts and his uncles and +his cousins were all there. Such a merry, merry time as there was +in the Smiling Pool! How the water did splash! Billy Mink and +Little Joe Otter and Grandfather Frog jumped right in as soon as +they got there. They played tag in the water and hid behind the +Big Rock. They turned somersaults down the slippery slide and +they had such a good time! + +But Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Johnny Chuck +and Jimmy Skunk and Happy Jack and Striped Chipmunk couldn't +swim, so of course they couldn't play tag in the water or hide +and seek or go down the slippery slide; all they could do was sit +around to look on and wish that they knew how to swim, too. So of +course they didn't have a good time. Soon they began to wish that +they hadn't come to Jerry Muskrat's party. When he found that +they were not having a good time, poor Jerry Muskrat felt very +badly indeed. You see he lives in the water so much that he had +quite forgotten that there was anyone who couldn't swim, or he +never, never would have invited all the little meadow folks who +live on dry land. + +"Let's go home," said Peter Rabbit to Johnny Chuck. + +"We can have more fun up on the hill," said Jimmy Skunk. + +Just then Little Joe Otter came pushing a great big log across +the Smiling Pool. + +"Here's a ship, Bobby Coon. You get on one end and I'll give you +a sail across the Smiling Pool," shouted Little Joe Otter. + +So Bobby Coon crawled out on the big log and held on very tight, +while little Joe Otter swam behind and pushed the big log. Across +the Smiling Pool they went and back again. Bobby Coon had such a +good ride that he wanted to go again, but Jimmy Skunk wanted a +ride. So Bobby Coon hopped off of the big log and Jimmy Skunk +hopped on and away he went across the Smiling Pool with little +Joe Otter pushing behind. + +Then Jerry Muskrat found another log and gave Peter Rabbit a +ride. Jerry Muskrat's brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles +and cousins found logs and took Reddy Fox and Johnny Chuck and +even Mr. Toad back and forth across the Smiling Pool. + +Happy Jack Squirrel sat up very straight on the end of his log +and spread his great bushy tail for a sail. All the little +Breezes blew and blew and Happy Jack Squirrel sailed round and +round the Smiling Pool. + +Sometimes someone would fall off into the water and get wet, but +Jerry Muskrat or Billy Mink always pulled them out again, and no +one cared the tiniest bit for a wetting. + +In the bushes around the Smiling Pool the little birds sang and +sang. Reddy Fox barked his loudest. Happy Jack Squirrel chattered +and chir--r--r--ed. All the muskrats squealed and squeaked, for +Jerry Muskrat's party was such fun! + +By and by when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills to his +home and Old Mother West Wind with all her Merry Little Breezes +went after him, and the little stars came out to twinkle and +twinkle, the Smiling Pool lay all quiet and still, but smiling +and smiling to think what a good time every one had had at Jerry +Muskrat's party. + + + +CHAPTER XII BOBBY COON AND REDDY FOX PLAY TRICKS + +It was night. All the little stars were looking down and +twinkling and twinkling. Mother Moon was doing her best to make +the Green Meadows as light as Mr. Sun did in the daytime. All the +little birds except Hooty the Owl and Boomer the Night Hawk, and +noisy Mr. Whip-poor-will were fast asleep in their little nests. +Old Mother West Wind's Merry Little Breezes had all gone to +sleep, too. It was oh so still! Indeed it was so very still that +Bobby Coon, coming down the Lone Little Path through the wood, +began to talk to himself. + +"I don't see what people want to play all day and sleep all night +for," said Bobby Coon. "Night's the best time to be about. Now +Reddy Fox--" + +"Be careful what you say about Reddy Fox," said a voice right +behind Bobby Coon. + +Bobby Coon turned around very quickly indeed, for he had thought +he was all alone. There was Reddy Fox himself, trotting down the +Lone Little Path through the wood. + +"I thought you were home and fast asleep, Reddy Fox," said Bobby +Coon. + +"You were mistaken," said Reddy Fox. "For you see I'm out to take +a walk in the moonlight." + +So Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox walked together down the Lone Little +Path through the wood to the Green Meadows. They met Jimmy Skunk, +who had dreamed that there were a lot of beetles up on the hill, +and was just going to climb the Crooked Little Path to see. + +"Hello, Jimmy Skunk!" said Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox. "Come down +to the Green Meadows with us." + +Jimmy Skunk said he would, so they all went down on the Green +Meadows together, Bobby Coon first, Reddy Fox next and Jimmy +Skunk last of all, for Jimmy Skunk never hurries. Pretty soon +they came to the house of Johnny Chuck. + +"Listen," said Bobby Coon. "Johnny Chuck is fast asleep." + +They all listened and they could hear Johnny Chuck snoring away +down in his snug little bed. + +"Let's give Johnny Chuck a surprise," said Reddy Fox. + +"What shall it be?" asked Bobby Coon. + +"I know," said Reddy Fox. "Let's roll that big stone right over +Johnny Chuck's doorway; then he'll have to dig his way out in the +morning." + +So Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox pulled and tugged and tugged and +pulled at the big stone till they had rolled it over Johnny +Chuck's doorway. Jimmy Skunk pretended not to see what they were +doing. + +"Now let's go down to the Laughing Brook and wake up old +Grandfather Frog and hear him say 'Chug-a-rum,'" said Bobby Coon. + +"Come on!" cried Reddy Fox, "I'll get there first!" + +Away raced Reddy Fox down the Lone Little Path and after him ran +Bobby Coon, going to wake old Grandfather Frog from a nice +comfortable sleep on his green lily pad. + +But Jimmy Skunk didn't go. He watched Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon +until they were nearly to the Laughing Brook. Then he began to +dig at one side of the big stone which filled the doorway of +Johnny Chuck's house. My, how he made the dirt fly! Pretty soon +he had made a hole big enough to call through to Johnny Chuck, +who was snoring away, fast asleep in his snug little bed below. + +"Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!" called Jimmy +Skunk. + +But Johnny Chuck just snored. + +"Johnny Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Johnny Woodchuck!" called Jimmy +Skunk once more. + +But Johnny Chuck just snored. Then Jimmy Skunk called again, this +time louder than before. + +"Who is it?" asked a very sleepy voice. + +"It's Jimmy Skunk. Put your coat on and come up here!" called +Jimmy Skunk. + +"Go away, Jimmy Skunk. I want to sleep!" said Johnny Chuck. + +"I've got a surprise for you, Johnny Chuck. You'd better come!" +called Jimmy Skunk through the little hole he had made. When +Johnny Chuck heard that Jimmy Skunk had a surprise for him he +wanted to know right away what it could be, so though he was +very, very sleepy, he put on his coat and started up for his door +to see what the surprise was that Jimmy Skunk had. And there he +found the big stone Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon had put there, and +of course he was very much surprised indeed. He thought Jimmy +Skunk had played him a mean trick and for a few minutes he was +very mad. But Jimmy Skunk soon told him who had filled up his +doorway with the big stone. + +"Now you push from that side, Johnny Chuck, and I'll pull from +this side, and we'll soon have this big stone out of your +doorway," said Jimmy Skunk. + +So Johnny Chuck pushed and Jimmy Skunk pulled, and sure enough +they soon had the big stone out of Johnny Chuck's doorway. + +"Now," said Jimmy Skunk, "we'll roll this big stone down the Lone +Little Path to Reddy Fox's house and we'll give Reddy Fox a +surprise." + +So Johnny Chuck and Jimmy Skunk tugged and pulled and rolled the +big stone down to the house of Reddy Fox, and sure enough, it +filled his doorway. + +"Good night, Jimmy Skunk," said Johnny Chuck, and trotted down +the Lone Little Path toward home, chuckling to himself all the +way. + +Jimmy Skunk walked slowly up the Lone Little Path to the wood, +for Jimmy Skunk never hurries. Pretty soon he came to the big +hollow tree where Bobby Coon lives, and there he met Hooty the +Owl. + +"Hello, Jimmy Skunk, where have you been?" asked Hooty the Owl. + +"Just for a walk," said Jimmy Skunk. "Who lives in this big +hollow tree?" + +Now of course Jimmy Skunk knew all the time, but he pretended he +didn't. + +"Oh, this is Bobby Coon's house," said Hooty the Owl. + +"Let's give Bobby Coon a surprise," said Jimmy Skunk. + +"How?" asked Hooty the Owl. + +"We'll fill his house full of sticks and leaves," said Jimmy +Skunk. + +Hooty the Owl thought that would be a good joke so while Jimmy +Skunk gathered all the old sticks and leaves he could find, Hooty +the Owl stuffed them into the old hollow tree which was Bobby +Coon's house, until he couldn't get in another one. + +"Good night," said Jimmy Skunk as he began to climb the Crooked +Little Path up the hill to his own snug little home. + +"Good night," said Hooty the Owl, as he flew like a big soft +shadow over to the Great Pine. + +By and by when old Mother Moon was just going to bed and all the +little stars were too sleepy to twinkle any longer, Reddy Fox and +Bobby Coon, very tired and very wet from playing in the Laughing +Brook, came up the Lone Little Path, ready to tumble into their +snug little beds. They were chuckling over the trick they had +played on Johnny Chuck, and the way they had waked up old +Grandfather Frog, and all the other mischief they had done. What +do you suppose they said when they reached their homes and found +that someone else had been playing jokes, too? + +I'm sure I don't know, but round, red Mr. Sun was laughing very +hard as he peeped over the hill at Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon, and +he won't tell why. + + + +CHAPTER XIII JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD + +Old Mother West Wind had stopped to talk with the Slender Fir +Tree. + +"I've just come across the Green Meadows," said Old Mother West +Wind, "and there I saw the Best Thing in the World." + +Striped Chipmunk was sitting under the Slender Fir Tree and he +couldn't help hearing what Old Mother West Wind said. "The Best +Thing in the World--now what can that be?" thought Striped +Chipmunk. "Why, it must be heaps and heaps of nuts and acorns! +I'll go and find it." + +So Striped Chipmunk started down the Lone Little Path through +the wood as fast as he could run. Pretty soon he met Peter +Rabbit. + +"Where are you going in such a hurry, Striped Chipmunk?" asked +Peter Rabbit. + +"Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World," +replied Striped Chipmunk, and ran faster. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Peter Rabbit. "Why, that must +be great piles of carrots and cabbage! I think I'll go and find +it." + +So Peter Rabbit started down the Lone Little Path through the +wood as fast as he could go after Striped Chipmunk. + +As they passed the great hollow tree Bobby Coon put his head out. +"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked Bobby Coon. + +"Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!" +shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, and both began to run +faster. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Bobby Coon to himself. "Why, +that must be a whole field of sweet milky corn. I think I'll go +and find it." + +So Bobby Coon climbed down out of the great hollow tree and +started down the Lone Little Path through the wood as fast as he +could go after Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, for there is +nothing that Bobby Coon likes to eat so well as sweet milky corn. + +At the edge of the wood they met Jimmy Skunk. + +"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked Jimmy Skunk. + +"Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!" +shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon. Then +they all tried to run faster. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Jimmy Skunk. "Why, that must +be packs and packs of beetles!" And for once in his life Jimmy +Skunk began to hurry down the Lone Little Path after Striped +Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon. + +They were all running so fast that they didn't see Reddy Fox +until he jumped out of the long grass and asked: "Where are you +going in such a hurry?" + +"To find the Best Thing in the World!" shouted Striped Chipmunk +and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk, and each did his +best to run faster. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Reddy Fox to himself. "Why, +that must be a whole pen full of tender young chickens, and I +must have them." + +So away went Reddy Fox as fast as he could run down the Lone +Little Path after Striped Chipmunk, Peter Rabbit, Bobby Coon and +Jimmy Skunk. + +By and by they all came to the house of Johnny Chuck. + +"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked Johnny Chuck. + +"To find the Best Thing in the World," shouted Striped Chipmunk +and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox. + +"The Best Thing in the World," said Johnny Chuck. "Why, I don't +know of anything better than my own little home and the warm +sunshine and the beautiful blue sky." + +So Johnny Chuck stayed at home and played all day among the +flowers with the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind and +was as happy as could be. + +But all day long Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon +and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox ran this way and ran that way over +the Green Meadows trying to find the Best Thing in the World. The +sun was very, very warm and they ran so far and they ran so fast +that they were very, very hot and tired, and still they hadn't +found the Best Thing in the World. + +When the long day was over they started up the Lone Little Path +past Johnny Chuck's house to their own homes. They didn't hurry +now for they were so very, very tired! And they were cross--oh so +cross! Striped Chipmunk hadn't found a single nut. Peter Rabbit +hadn't found so much as the leaf of a cabbage. Bobby Coon hadn't +found the tiniest bit of sweet milky corn. Jimmy Skunk hadn't +seen a single beetle. Reddy Fox hadn't heard so much as the peep +of a chicken. And all were as hungry as hungry could be. + +Half way up the Lone Little Path they met Old Mother West Wind +going to her home behind the hill. "Did you find the Best Thing +in the World?" asked Old Mother West Wind. + +"NO!" shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon +and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox all together. + +"Johnny Chuck has it," said Old Mother West Wind. "It is being +happy with the things you have and not wanting things which some +one else has. And it is called Con-tent-ment." + + + +CHAPTER XIV LITTLE JOE OTTER'S SLIPPERY SLIDE + +Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink had been playing together around +the Smiling Pool all one sunshiny morning. They had been fishing +and had taken home a fine dinner of Trout for old Grandfather +Mink and blind old Granny Otter. They had played tag with the +Merry Little Breezes. They had been in all kinds of mischief and +now they just didn't know what to do. + +They were sitting side by side on the Big Rock trying to push +each other off into the Smiling Pool. Round, smiling red Mr. Sun +made the Green Meadows very warm indeed, and Reddy Fox, over in +the tall grass, heard them splashing and shouting and having such +a good time that he wished he liked the nice cool water and could +swim, too. + +"I've thought of something!" cried Little Joe Otter. + +"What is it?" asked Billy Mink. + +Little Joe Otter just looked wise and said nothing. + +"Something to eat?" asked Billy Mink. + +"No," said Little Joe Otter. + +"I don't believe you've a thought of anything at all," said Billy +Mink. + +"I have too!" said Little Joe Otter. "It's something to do." + +"What?" demanded Billy Mink. + +Just then Little Joe Otter spied Jerry Muskrat. "Hi, Jerry +Muskrat! Come over here!" he called. + +Jerry Muskrat swam across to the Big Rock and climbed up beside +Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter. + +"What are you fellows doing?" asked Jerry Muskrat. + +"Having some fun," said Billy Mink. "Little Joe Otter has thought +of something to do, but I don't know what it is." + +"Let's make a slide," cried Little Joe Otter. + +"You show us how," said Billy Mink. + +So Little Joe Otter found a nice smooth place on the bank, and +Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat brought mud and helped him pat it +down smooth until they had the loveliest slippery slide in the +world. Then Little Joe Otter climbed up the bank to the top of +the slippery slide and lay down flat on his stomach. Billy Mink +gave a push and away he went down, down the slippery slide, +splash into the Smiling Pool. Then Jerry Muskrat tried it and +after him Billy Mink. Then all did it over again. Sometimes they +went down the slippery slide on their backs, sometimes flat on +their stomachs, sometimes head first, sometimes feet first. Oh +such fun as they did have! Even Grandfather Frog came over and +tried the slippery slide. + +Johnny Chuck, over in the Green Meadows, heard the noise and +stole down the Lone Little Path to see. Jimmy Skunk, looking for +beetles up on the hill, heard the noise and forgot that he hadn't +had his breakfast. Reddy Fox, taking a nap, woke up and hurried +over to watch the fun. Last of all came Peter Rabbit. + +Little Joe Otter saw him coming. "Hello, Peter Rabbit!" he +shouted. "Come and try the slippery slide." + +Now Peter Rabbit couldn't swim, but he pretended that he didn't +want to. + +"I've left my bathing suit at home," said Peter Rabbit. + +"Never mind," said Billy Mink. "Mr. Sun will dry you off." + +"And we'll help," said all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother +West Wind. + +But Peter Rabbit shook his head and said, "No." + +Faster and faster went Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry +Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog down the slippery slide into the +Smiling Pool. + +Peter Rabbit kept coming nearer and nearer until finally he stood +right at the top of the slippery slide. Billy Mink crept up +behind him very softly and gave him a push. Peter Rabbit's long +legs flew out from under him and down he sat with a thump on the +slippery slide. "Oh," cried Peter Rabbit, and tried to stop +himself. But he couldn't do it and so away he went down the +slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Billy Mink. + +"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Little Joe Otter. + +"He! he! he!" laughed Jerry Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog and +Sammy Jay and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox and Blacky the Crow and +Mr. Kingfisher, for you know Peter Rabbit was forever playing +jokes on them. + +Poor Peter Rabbit! The water got in his eyes and up his nose and +into his mouth and made him choke and splutter, and then he +couldn't get back on the bank, for you know Peter Rabbit couldn't +swim. + +When Little Joe Otter saw what a dreadful time Peter Rabbit was +having he dove into the Smiling Pool and took hold of one of +Peter Rabbit's long ears. Billy Mink swam out and took hold of +the other long ear. Jerry Muskrat swam right under Peter Rabbit +and took him on his back. Then with old Grandfather Frog swimming +ahead they took Peter Rabbit right across the Smiling Pool and +pulled him out on the grassy bank, where it was nice and warm. +All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind came over +and helped Mr. Sun dry Peter Rabbit off. + +Then they all sat down together and watched Little Joe Otter turn +a somersault down the slippery slide. + + + +CHAPTER XV THE TAIL OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DID NOT MIND + +In the Laughing Brook, which rippled and sings all day long, +lived Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout, and a whole lot of little Trouts. +There were so many little Trouts that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout +were kept very busy indeed getting breakfast and dinner and +supper for them, and watching out for them and teaching them how +to swim and how to catch foolish little flies that sometimes fell +on the water and how to keep out of the way of big hungry fish +and sharp eyed Mr. Kingfisher and big men and little boys who +came fishing with hooks and lines. + +Now all the little Trouts were very, very good and minded just +what Mrs. Trout told them--all but Tommy Trout, for Tommy Trout-- +oh, dear, dear! Tommy Trout never could mind right away. He +always had to wait a little instead of minding when he was spoken +to. + +Tommy Trout didn't mean to be bad. Oh dear, no! He just wanted to +have his own way, and because Tommy Trout had his own way and +didn't mind Mrs. Trout there isn't any Tommy Trout now. No sir, +there isn't as much as one little blue spot of his beautiful +little coat left because--why, just because Tommy Trout didn't +mind. + +One day when round, red Mr. Sun was shining and the Laughing +Brook was singing on its way to join the Big River, Mrs. Trout +started to get some nice plump flies for dinner. All the little +Trouts were playing in their dear little pool, safe behind the +Big Rock. Before she started Mrs. Trout called all the little +Trouts around her and told them not to leave their little pool +while she was gone, "For," said she, "something dreadful might +happen to you." + +All the little Trouts, except Tommy Trout, promised that they +would surely, surely stay inside their dear little pool. Then +they all began to jump and chase each other and play as happy as +could be, all but Tommy Trout. + +As soon as Mrs. Trout had started, Tommy Trout swam off by +himself to the edge of the pool. "I wonder what is on the other +side of the Big Rock," said Tommy Trout. "The sun is shining and +the brook is laughing and nothing could happen if I go just a +little speck of a ways." + +So, when no one was looking, Tommy Trout slipped out of the safe +little pool where all the other little Trouts were playing. He +swam just a little speck of a ways farther still. Now he could +see almost around the Big Rock. Then he swam just a little speck +of a ways farther and--oh dear, dear! he looked right into the +mouth of a great big, big fish called Mr. Pickerel, who is very +fond of little Trouts and would like to eat one for breakfast +every day. + +"Ah ha!" said Mr. Pickerel, opening his big, big mouth very, very +wide. + +Tommy Trout turned to run back to the dear, dear safe little pool +where all the other little Trouts were playing so happily, but he +was too late. Into that great big, big mouth he went instead, and +Mr. Pickerel swallowed him whole. + +"Ah ha," said Mr. Pickerel, "I like little Trouts." + +And nothing more was ever heard of Tommy Trout, who didn't mind. + + + +CHAPTER XVI SPOTTY THE TURTLE WINS A RACE + +All the little people who live on the Green Meadows and in the +Smiling Pool and along the Laughing Brook were to have a holiday. +The Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had been very +busy, oh very busy indeed, in sending word to all the little +meadow folks. You see, Peter Rabbit had been boasting of how fast +he could run. Reddy Fox was quite sure that he could run faster +than Peter Rabbit. Billy Mink, who can move so quickly you hardly +can see him, was quite sure that neither Peter Rabbit nor Reddy +Fox could run as fast as he. They all met one day beside the +Smiling Pool and agreed that old Grandfather Frog should decide +who was the swiftest. + +Now Grandfather Frog was accounted very wise. You see he had +lived a long time, oh, very much longer than any of the others, +and therefore, because of the wisdom of age, Grandfather Frog was +always called on to decide all disputes. He sat on his green +lily-pad while Billy Mink sat on the Big Rock, and Peter Rabbit +and Reddy Fox sat on the bank. Each in turn told why he thought +he was the fastest. Old Grandfather Frog listened and listened +and said never a word until they were all through. When they had +finished, he stopped to catch a foolish green fly and then he +said: "The best way to decide who is the swiftest is to have a +race." + +So it was agreed that Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink +should start together from the old butternut tree on one edge of +the Green Meadows, race away across the Green Meadows to the +little hill on the other side and each bring back a nut from the +big hickory which grew there. The one who first reached the old +butternut tree with a hickory nut would be declared the winner. +The Merry Little Breezes flew about over the Green Meadows +telling everyone about the race and everyone planned to be +there. + +It was a beautiful summer day. Mr. Sun smiled and smiled, and the +more he smiled the warmer it grew. Everyone was there to see the +race--Striped Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Sammy Jay, Blacky the +Crow, Hooty the Owl and Bobby Coon all sat up in the old +butternut tree where it was cool and shady. Johnny Chuck, Jerry +Muskrat, Jimmy Skunk, Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and even +old Mr. Toad, were there. Last of all came Spotty the Turtle. Now +Spotty the Turtle is a very slow walker, and he cannot run at +all. When Peter Rabbit saw him coming up towards the old butternut +tree he shouted: "Come, Spotty, don't you want to race with us?" + +Everybody laughed because you know Spotty is so very, very slow +but Spotty didn't laugh and he didn't get cross because everyone +else laughed. + +"There is a wise old saying, Peter Rabbit," said Spotty the +Turtle, "which shows that those who run fastest do not always +reach a place first. I think I WILL enter this race." + +Every one thought that that was the best joke they had heard for +a long time, and all laughed harder than ever. They all agreed +that Spotty the Turtle should start in the race too. + +So they all stood in a row, Peter Rabbit first, the Billy Mink, +then Reddy Fox, and right side of Reddy Fox Spotty the Turtle. + +"Are you ready?" asked Grandfather Frog. "Go!" + +Away went Peter Rabbit with great big jumps. After him went Billy +Mink so fast that was just a little brown streak going through +the tall grass, and side by side with him ran Reddy Fox. Now just +as they started Spotty the Turtle reached up and grabbed the long +hair on the end of Reddy's big tail. Of course Reddy couldn't +have stopped to shake him off, because Peter Rabbit and Billy +Mink were running so fast that he had to run his very best to +keep up with them. But he didn't even know that Spotty the Turtle +was there. You see Spotty is not very heavy and Reddy Fox was so +excited that he did not notice that his big tail was heavier than +usual. + +The Merry Little Breezes flew along, too, to see that the race +was fair. Peter Rabbit went with great big jumps. Whenever he +came to a little bush he jumped right over it, for Peter Rabbit's +legs are long and meant for jumping. Billy Mink is so slim that +he slipped between the bushes and through the long grass like a +little brown streak. Reddy Fox, who is bigger than either Peter +Rabbit or Billy Mink, had no trouble in keeping up with them. Not +one of them noticed that Spotty the Turtle was hanging fast to +the end of Reddy's tail. + +Now just at the foot of the little hill on which the big hickory +tree grew was a little pond. It wasn't very wide but it was quite +long. Billy Mink remembered this pond and he chuckled to himself +as he raced along, for he knew that Peter Rabbit couldn't swim +and he knew that Reddy Fox does not like the water, so therefore +both would have to run around it. He himself can swim even faster +than he can run. The more he thought of this, the more foolish it +seemed that he should hurry so on such a warm day. "For," said +Billy Mink to himself, "even if they reach the pond first, they +will have to run around it, while I can swim across it and cool +off while I am swimming. I will surely get there first." So Billy +Mink ran slower and slower, and pretty soon he had dropped +behind. + +Mr. Sun, round and red, looking down, smiled and smiled to see +the race. The more he smiled the warmer it grew. Now, Peter Rabbit +had a thick gray coat and Reddy Fox had a thick red coat, and +they both began to get very, very warm. Peter Rabbit did not make +such long jumps as when he first started. Reddy Fox began to feel +very thirsty, and his tongue hung out. Now that Billy Mink was +behind them they thought they did not need to hurry so. + +Peter Rabbit reached the little pond first. He had not thought of +that pond when he agreed to enter the race. He stopped right on +the edge of it and sat up on his hind legs. Right across he could +see the big hickory tree, so near and yet so far, for he knew +that he must run around the pond then back again, and it was a +long, long way. In just a moment Reddy Fox ran out of the bushes +and Reddy felt much as Peter Rabbit did. Way, way behind them was +Billy Mink, trotting along comfortably and chuckling to himself. +Peter Rabbit looked at Reddy Fox in dismay, and Reddy Fox looked +at Peter Rabbit in dismay. Then they both looked at Billy Mink +and remembered that Billy Mink could swim right across. + +Then off Peter Rabbit started as fast as he could go around the +pond one way, and Reddy Fox started around the pond the other +way. They were so excited that neither noticed a little splash in +the pond. That was Spotty the Turtle who had let go of Reddy's +tail and now was swimming across the pond, for you know that Spotty +is a splendid swimmer. Only once or twice he stuck his little +black nose up to get some air. The rest of the time he swam under +water and no one but the Merry Little Breezes saw him. Right +across he swam, and climbed up the bank right under the big +hickory tree. + +Now there were just three nuts left under the hickory trees. Two +of these Spotty took down to the edge of the pond and buried in +the mud. The other he took in his mouth and started back across +the pond. Just as he reached the other shore up trotted Billy +Mink, but Billy Mink didn't see Spotty. He was too intent +watching Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit, who were now half way around +the pond. In he jumped with a splash. My! How good that cool +water did feel! He didn't have to hurry now, because he felt sure +that the race was his. So he swam round and round and chased some +fish and had a beautiful time in the water. By and by he looked +up and saw that Peter Rabbit was almost around the pond one way +and Reddy Fox was almost around the pond the other way. They both +looked tired and hot and discouraged. + +Then Billy Mink swam slowly across and climbed out on the bank +under the big hickory tree. But where were the nuts? Look as he +would, he could not see a nut anywhere, yet the Merry Little +Breezes had said there were three nuts lying under the hickory +tree. Billy Mink ran this way and ran that way. He was still +running around, poking over the leaves and looking under the +twigs and pieces of bark when Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox came up. + +Then they, too, began to look under the leaves and under the +bark. They pawed around in the grass, they hunted in every nook +and cranny, but not a nut could they find. They were tired and +cross and hot and they accused Billy Mink of having hidden the +nuts. Billy Mink stoutly insisted that he had not hidden the +nuts, that he had not found the nuts, and when they saw how hard +he was hunting they believed him. + +All the afternoon they hunted and hunted and hunted, and all the +afternoon Spotty the Turtle, with the nut in his mouth, was +slowly, oh, so slowly, crawling straight back across the Green +Meadows towards the old butternut tree. Round, red Mr. Sun was +getting very close to the Purple Hills, where he goes to bed every +night, and all the little meadow folks were getting ready to go +to their homes. They were wondering and wondering what could have +happened to the racers, when Sammy Jay spied the Merry Little +Breezes dancing across the Green Meadows. + +"Here come the Merry Little Breezes; they'll tell us who wins the +race," cried Sammy Jay. + +When the Merry Little Breezes reached the old butternut tree, all +the little meadow folks crowded around them, but the Merry Little +Breezes just laughed and laughed and wouldn't say a word. Then +all of a sudden, out of the tall meadow grass crept Spotty the +Turtle and laid the hickory nut at the feet of old Grandfather +Frog. Old Grandfather Frog was so surprised that he actually let +a great green fly buzz right past his nose. + +"Where did you get that hickory nut?" asked Grandfather Frog. + +"Under the big hickory tree on the hill on the other side of the +Green Meadows," said Spotty. + +Then all the Merry Little Breezes clapped their hands and +shouted: "He did! He did! Spotty wins the race!" + +Then they told how Spotty reached the pond by clinging to the tip +of Reddy Fox's tail, and had hidden the other two nuts, and then +how he had patiently crawled home while Billy Mink and Reddy Fox +and Peter Rabbit were hunting and hunting and hunting for the +nuts they could not find. + +And so Spotty the Turtle was awarded the race, and to this day +Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink can't bear the sight of +a hickory nut. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Old Mother West Wind, by Burgess + diff --git a/old/ldmww10.zip b/old/ldmww10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..06052d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ldmww10.zip |