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diff --git a/33816-h/33816-h.htm b/33816-h/33816-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..abfd7bc --- /dev/null +++ b/33816-h/33816-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5469 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Hollow Tree and Deep Woods Book, by Albert Bigelow Paine.</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold;'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Hollow Tree and Deep Woods Book, by Albert Bigelow Paine</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Hollow Tree and Deep Woods Book</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Albert Bigelow Paine</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: J. M. Condé</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 27, 2010 [eBook #33816]<br /> +[Most recently updated: March 24, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Annie McGuire</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOLLOW TREE AND DEEP WOODS BOOK ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 418px;"> +<img src="images/ill_001.jpg" width="418" height="600" alt="Book Cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE HOLLOW TREE</h2> + +<h2>AND</h2> + +<h2>DEEP WOODS BOOK</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<img src="images/ill_002.jpg" width="406" height="500" alt="AN INVITATION FROM JACK RABBIT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">AN INVITATION FROM JACK RABBIT.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE HOLLOW TREE</h2> + +<h2>AND</h2> + +<h2>DEEP WOODS BOOK</h2> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>BEING A NEW EDITION IN ONE VOLUME OF "THE HOLLOW TREE"</h4> + +<h4>AND "IN THE DEEP WOODS" WITH SEVERAL NEW</h4> + +<h4>STORIES AND PICTURES ADDED</h4> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE</h2> + +<h3>ILLUSTRATED BY</h3> + +<h2>J. M. CONDÉ</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/ill_003.jpg" width="100" height="92" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>NEW YORK AND LONDON</h4> + +<h4>HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Books by</span></h2> + +<h2>ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mark Twain: A Biography</span>. Illustrated.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Octavo, Uniform Red Cloth, Trade Edition, 3 Vols. (in a box)</td><td align='right'><i>net</i></td><td align='right'>$6.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Octavo, Cloth, Full Gilt Backs, Gilt Tops, Library Edition, 3 Vols. (in a box)</td><td align='right'><i>net</i></td><td align='right'>7.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Octavo, Three-quarter Calf, Gilt Tops, 3 Vols. (in a box)</td><td align='right'><i>net</i></td><td align='right'>14.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Octavo, Three-quarter Levant, Gilt Tops, 3 Vols. (in a box)</td><td align='right'><i>net</i></td><td align='right'>15.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ship Dwellers</span>. Illustrated. 8vo</td><td align='right'><i>net</i></td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tent-Dwellers</span>. Illustrated. Post 8vo</td><td align='right'></td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<small>Peanut</small>." Illustrated. 16mo</td><td align='right'><i>net</i></td><td align='right'>.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Full Leather, 16mo</td><td align='right'><i>net</i></td><td align='right'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Hollow Tree and Deep Woods Book</span>. Illustrated. Post 8vo</td><td align='right'></td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Hollow Tree Snowed-In Book</span>. Ill'd. Crown 8vo</td><td align='right'></td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">From Van-Dweller to Commuter</span>. Illustrated. Post 8vo</td><td align='right'></td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Life of Thomas Nast</span>. Illustrated. 8vo</td><td align='right'><i>net</i></td><td align='right'>5.00</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, N. Y.</h4> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1898, by <span class="smcap">James Gordon Bennett</span></p> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1899, by <span class="smcap">Frank Munsey</span></p> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1899, by <span class="smcap">The Century Co.</span></p> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1898, 1899, 1901, by <span class="smcap">Robert Howard Russell</span></p> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1900, by <span class="smcap">Harper & Brothers</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Acknowledgments are due to the New York <i>Herald</i>, <i>The Puritan</i>, +<i>Harper's Bazar</i>, and <i>The Century Magazine</i>, in which periodicals these +stories were originally printed.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>TO FRIENDS, OLD AND NEW</h2> + +<p>I suppose the very best pay that ever comes to anyone who writes a book +is to know that the ones he wrote it for really like it. When they like +it well enough to write and tell him so, though they have never seen +him, and perhaps never will, then he feels very proud indeed, and happy. +Perhaps he even looks at himself in the looking-glass to make sure he is +really the one who did it, though of course he wouldn't have anyone see +him doing it, or think him vain, for anything.</p> + +<p>The publisher is only going to let me print one of the ever-so-many nice +letters that have come for the man who wrote the Hollow Tree stories and +the other man who drew the pictures for them. So I've picked out one +that is for both of us, and that is signed by three, which makes it +equal to six letters, three for each of us, and as nice letters as +anyone who writes books for other folks to read could ever wish to have.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;"><span class="smcap">New York City, 107 Sixty-ninth Street, East</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 34em;"><i>Oct. 18th, 1900</i>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Mr. Paine</span>:</p> + +<p>Won't you please write another book about the 'Coon and the +'Possum and the old black Crow? We know these two by heart, +now. We like that story about the "Rain In The Night" +because that is the way we do when there is a thunderstorm. +<i>Please</i> write some more and make them friends with poor Mr. +Dog, and we want Mr. Condé to draw the pictures, too.</p></div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 31em;">Your sincere friends,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 34em;"><span class="smcap">Amy C. Hutton</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 34em;"><span class="smcap">Jack Hutton, Jr</span>.,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 34em;"><span class="smcap">M. Katherine Hutton</span>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Don't you think that is a very nice letter to get? I am sure no one +could be blamed for taking just one little look in the glass after that, +or for trying to "write another book" to please readers who have learned +the others "by heart."</p> + +<p>But, dear me, it couldn't be done, because you see there were only just +so many of the Hollow Tree stories that ever happened, and when they +were all written there weren't enough to make another book. So we have +taken what were in the first two books, "The Hollow Tree" and "In the +Deep Woods," and we have put them together in one big book, and added +the three new ones, which were every one to be had, and now here they +are with a nice new cloth cover and very cheap when you consider how +many there are of them, and that there are no more to be had anywhere, +and that there never will be any more, as the Little Lady has said, +"even in a thousand days." You will know why, too, when you get to the +very last story in the book, and until then, and for a long time after, +I wish you, and Mr. Condé wishes you the happy quiet of the Deep Woods, +and the pleasant peace of the Hollow Tree.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 34em;">THE AUTHOR.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_LITTLE_LADY_AND_THE_STORY_TELLER"><b>THE LITTLE LADY AND THE STORY TELLER</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_HOLLOW_TREE_PEOPLE"><b>THE HOLLOW TREE PEOPLE</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#A_JOKE_ALL_AROUND"><b>A JOKE ALL AROUND</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#SOME_NEW_ACQUAINTANCES"><b>SOME NEW ACQUAINTANCES</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MR_RABBITS_BIG_DINNER"><b>MR. RABBIT'S BIG DINNER</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_CROWS_COMPANY"><b>THE CROW'S COMPANY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_FIRST_MOON_STORY"><b>THE FIRST MOON STORY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_SECOND_MOON_STORY"><b>THE SECOND MOON STORY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ON_THE_EDGE_OF_THE_WORLD"><b>ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_FIRST_PIG_STORY"><b>THE FIRST PIG STORY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_SECOND_PIG_STORY"><b>THE SECOND PIG STORY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MR_DOG_TAKES_LESSONS_IN_DANCING"><b>MR. DOG TAKES LESSONS IN DANCING</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MR_RABBITS_UNWELCOME_COMPANY"><b>MR. RABBIT'S UNWELCOME COMPANY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#HOW_MR_DOG_GOT_EVEN"><b>HOW MR. DOG GOT EVEN</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#HOW_MR_DOG_GOT_EVEN_2"><b>HOW MR. DOG GOT EVEN</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_LITTLE_LADYS_VACATION_AND_HER_RETURN"><b>THE LITTLE LADY'S VACATION AND HER RETURN</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE"><b>THE STORY OF THE C. X. PIE</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE_2"><b>THE STORY OF THE C. X. PIE</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE_3"><b>THE STORY OF THE C. X. PIE</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MR_RABBIT_EXPLAINS"><b>MR. RABBIT EXPLAINS</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MR_TURTLES_THUNDER_STORY"><b>MR. TURTLE'S THUNDER STORY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MR_TURTLES_THUNDER_STORY_2"><b>MR. TURTLE'S THUNDER STORY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#A_RAIN_IN_THE_NIGHT"><b>A RAIN IN THE NIGHT</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#A_DEEP_WOODS_FISHING_PARTY"><b>A DEEP WOODS FISHING PARTY</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN"><b>THE HOLLOW TREE INN</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN_2"><b>THE HOLLOW TREE INN</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MR_POSSUM_EXPLAINS"><b>MR. 'POSSUM EXPLAINS</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_HOLLOW_TREE_POETRY_CLUB"><b>THE HOLLOW TREE POETRY CLUB</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#AROUND_THE_WORLD_AND_BACK_AGAIN"><b>AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK AGAIN</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHRISTMAS_AT_THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN"><b>CHRISTMAS AT THE HOLLOW TREE INN</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#GOOD-BYE_TO_THE_LITTLE_LADY"><b>GOOD-BYE TO THE LITTLE LADY</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_004.jpg" width="500" height="161" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_LITTLE_LADY_AND_THE_STORY_TELLER" id="THE_LITTLE_LADY_AND_THE_STORY_TELLER"></a>THE LITTLE LADY AND THE STORY TELLER</h2> + +<h3>THE READER IS INTRODUCED TO THEM</h3> + +<p>In the House of Many Windows which stands in a large city and is +sometimes called a "flat" by people who, because they are grown up, do +not know any better, live the Little Lady and the Story Teller.</p> + +<p>The Little Lady is four years old, going on five, and is fond of +stories. This makes her and the Story Teller good friends. They mostly +sit in the firelight after supper, and while the Little Lady is being +undressed they tell each other all that has happened since morning. Then +the Little Lady looks into the fire and says:—</p> + +<p>"Now, tell me a story."</p> + +<p>Sometimes she wants a new story. Sometimes one of the old ones, which +must be told always the same, because the Little Lady, like a good many +grown up people, does not care for new and revised editions, but wants +the old stories in the old words, that sound real and true. Sometimes +the Story Teller forgets or improves on his plots, but the Little Lady +never forgets and never fails to set the Story Teller right.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_HOLLOW_TREE_PEOPLE" id="THE_HOLLOW_TREE_PEOPLE"></a>THE HOLLOW TREE PEOPLE</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE LADY IS INTRODUCED TO THE 'COON, THE 'POSSUM AND THE OLD +BLACK CROW</h3> + +<p>When the Story Teller came home last night the Little Lady had a great +deal to tell him. During the afternoon she had built in one corner of +the sitting room a house for her three dolls, with a separate room for +each. Of course, the house was not a house at all, but only a plan on +the floor made with blocks and books. At one side she had laid out a +large parlor room, where her family of three—Hettie, Annabelle and the +Rubber Boy—could meet together and talk.</p> + +<p>"Why," said the Story Teller, "that reminds me of the Crow, the 'Coon +and the 'Possum."</p> + +<p>"What did they do? Tell me that story," commanded the Little Lady, +promptly forgetting her day's work and pulling the Story Teller toward +his chair.</p> + +<p>The Story Teller stirred the fire and looked into the blaze a moment, +thinking. The Little Lady climbed up into his lap and waited. She was +used to the Story Teller.</p> + +<p>"Tell it," she said, presently.</p> + +<p>So then he told her the story of the three friends.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>Once upon a time in the far depths of the Big Deep Woods there was a big +hollow tree, with three big hollow branches. In one of these there lived +a 'Coon, in another a 'Possum and in the third a Big Black Crow.</p> + +<p>"But crows don't live in hollow trees," said the Little Woman, who +happened to be passing.</p> + +<p>"This one did," replied the Story Teller. "I suppose styles have changed +some since then."</p> + +<p>The hollow tree below was rather dark, so they all used it for a parlor, +and only met in there now and then, to dust off their things, or when +company came.</p> + +<p>Now, the Crow and the 'Coon and the 'Possum were all very fond of good +living and mostly of the same things. They were good friends, too, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +they often made plans to catch young chickens and other game and carried +them out together. Between trips they would sit in their doors and pass +the time of day across to each other, just like folks.</p> + +<p>Well, one winter, about two weeks after New Year's, it came on to snow +in the woods where the hollow tree was, and it snowed, and it snowed, +and it snowed.</p> + +<p>This was long before sleds or skates, and when big snows always came up +over people's windows and snowed them in. And this is what happened to +the Crow and the 'Coon and the 'Possum. They were snowed in!</p> + +<p>Well, they rather liked it at first, for they had a good deal left over +from New Year's dinner, and they used to get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> together down stairs in +the parlor and spread lunch and pitch the bones under the table and talk +and tell stories and wonder how long the snow would last.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 365px;"> +<img src="images/ill_005.jpg" width="365" height="500" alt="ROCKED ON PURPOSE TO THINK ABOUT IT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ROCKED ON PURPOSE TO THINK ABOUT IT.</span> +</div> + +<p>But they never counted on its lasting half so long as it did. Every day +they would look out of an upstairs window that they had, to see if the +storm wasn't over. And every day it was just the same, and there was no +sign of clearing up. Then they began to get scared, for their cupboards +were nearly empty, and there was no chance to catch any more game. At +last every scrap was gone, and there wasn't a thing to eat in the house.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 383px;"> +<img src="images/ill_006.jpg" width="383" height="500" alt="LOOKED IN QUITE A WHILE, THINKING." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LOOKED IN QUITE A WHILE, THINKING.</span> +</div> + +<p>The 'Possum went to bed and pulled up the covers and tried to sleep so +he would forget it. The 'Coon sat up in a rocking chair and rocked on +purpose to think about it, for he was a great hand to plan, and he +thought mebbe he could work it out some way. The Crow didn't do either, +but walked about his house, picking up first one thing and then another, +as people do sometimes when they don't do anything else. But the Crow +was luckier than most people who do that, for by and by he picked up +quite a big paper sack with something in it. Then he untied it and +looked into it quite a while, thinking. It was more than half full of +corn meal, and pretty soon he remembered that he had carried it off once +when he was passing Mr. Man's pantry window, not because he wanted it, +but because he was a crow, and crows carry off anything that isn't too +big, whether they want it or not. Then he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> hunted around some more and +found another sack with some flour in it that he had picked up once in +the same way. Then he found some little bags of pepper and salt and a +lump of butter.</p> + +<p>"My!" said the Little Lady, "but he'd carried off a lot of things!"</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 354px;"> +<img src="images/ill_007.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="THE 'POSSUM JUMPED STRAIGHT UP IN BED." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE 'POSSUM JUMPED STRAIGHT UP IN BED.</span> +</div> + +<p>Yes, crows always do, and hide them that way. Well, he didn't say +anything, but he slipped down stairs and gathered up some of the chicken +bones under the table and some pieces of bark and sticks, and brought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +them up to his own part of the house and shut the door. Then he kindled +a little fire in the stove with the sticks and opened his outside door a +crack and got a skillet full of snow and put it on, and when the snow +melted he dropped in the chicken bones and let them stew, and then a +little of the flour and some pepper and salt and stirred it, and he had +some nice gravy.</p> + +<p>By and by the 'Possum and 'Coon smelt it cooking and thought it came +from a farm house, and the 'Possum turned over twice and thought of +everything he had ever heard of to make people go to sleep, and the +'Coon rocked harder and harder.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Crow poured the gravy into a bowl and set it back on the stove +to keep warm while he stirred up some of the cornmeal in some more +melted snow, with a little pinch of salt and a little piece of the +butter. When it was all stirred good he put it into the skillet and +patted it down, and when it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> was baked nice and brown on both sides it +was as good a Johnnie cake as you ever tasted.</p> + +<p>He laughed to himself a minute and then he slipped down stairs again and +set the table. He put on the bowl of gravy in the centre and cut the +Johnnie cake in three pieces. Then he called out as loud as he could:—</p> + +<p>"Come to dinner!"</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 368px;"> +<img src="images/ill_008.jpg" width="368" height="500" alt=""DROP IN AGAIN TO-MORROW," SAID THE CROW." title="" /> +<span class="caption">"DROP IN AGAIN TO-MORROW," SAID THE CROW.</span> +</div> + +<p>The 'Possum jumped straight up in bed and then lay down again quick, for +he thought the Crow was playing a joke on him, which he was, though not +the kind he thought. The 'Coon jumped, too, and then went to rocking +again, for he thought the same thing. So Mr. Crow opened the 'Possum's +door quick and the 'Coon's door quick and let the smell of the nice +chicken gravy go right up into their rooms. Then he laughed out loud and +called again:—</p> + +<p>"Come to dinner while it's hot!"</p> + +<p>And down they came, for they couldn't stand that smell. But when they +saw the Johnnie cake they thought it was a joke again, for they had +never seen any before and didn't know what it was like.</p> + +<p>"Dip in and try," said the Crow, and he broke off a piece of his cake +and dipped it in the bowl of gravy and began to eat it. So then the +'Possum broke off a piece of his Johnnie cake and dipped it in the gravy +and began to eat it, and the 'Coon broke off a piece of his Johnnie cake +and dipped it in the gravy and began to eat, too. And then the Crow +dipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> again, and the 'Possum dipped again, and the 'Coon dipped again.</p> + +<p>"It's good," said the 'Possum.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's good," said the 'Coon. "Where did you get it?"</p> + +<p>But the Crow did not tell them, and so they dipped and ate, and dipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +and ate, until they dipped and ate it all up.</p> + +<p>"Drop in again to-morrow," said the Crow when they were done.</p> + +<p>So the next day they came again, and the next day they came again, and +every day after that they came, until the storm was over and the snow +was 'most gone, and Mr. Crow never did tell them the secret of it until +once when he wanted to ask a great favor of Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum, +but that is too long to tell about to-night.</p> + +<p>The Story Teller looked down at the Little Lady.</p> + +<p>She was sound asleep.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_JOKE_ALL_AROUND" id="A_JOKE_ALL_AROUND"></a>A JOKE ALL AROUND</h2> + +<h3>ABOUT HOLLOW TREE PEOPLE AND THEIR WAYS</h3> + +<p>"You may tell me some more about the 'Coon and the 'Possum and the Old +Black Crow," said the Little Lady, settling herself comfortably and +indicating by the motion of her body that she wanted the Story Teller to +rock. "They lived in three big hollow limbs of a big hollow tree, you +know, and used to meet together sometimes in their parlor and talk."</p> + +<p>Why, yes, of course. The Story Teller did know this colony, and +hurriedly tried to recall some one of their many adventures. Out of the +mists of that long ago time when all animals and men spoke one language +and mingled more or less sociably together came presently a dim memory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +that cleared and brightened as it came, and took form at last in +something which the Story Teller told to the Little Lady as</p> + +<h4>MR. 'COON'S BAD COLD.</h4> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 323px;"> +<img src="images/ill_009.jpg" width="323" height="400" alt="THE 'COON CAUGHT A BAD COLD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE 'COON CAUGHT A BAD COLD.</span> +</div> + +<p>One day, early in March and during a long wet spell, the 'Coon caught a +bad cold. The next morning he stayed in bed, and pulled up the covers +and was cross and too sick to go out. This made extra work for the Crow +and the 'Possum, who, of course, had to bring him in his meals and +take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> care of him, and Mr. 'Coon, who found how nice it was to be +waited on, thought he would take his own time about getting well. He was +sick so long that by and by it set Mr. Crow to thinking, and one day, +all of a sudden, he was taken ill, too, and coughed and took on, and +called across to the others that he was sick and couldn't come out, +either.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 409px;"> +<img src="images/ill_010.jpg" width="409" height="500" alt="COUGHED AND TOOK ON." title="" /> +<span class="caption">COUGHED AND TOOK ON.</span> +</div> + +<p>This made still more work for the 'Possum, who now had to catch game for +three, besides waiting on sick folks and taking care of their houses. So +by and by Mr. 'Possum got to thinking some, as well as the others, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +one morning, while the Crow and the 'Coon were lying all snug in bed and +laughing to themselves at the trick they were playing, and thinking of +the nice breakfast they were to have, they heard all at once the 'Possum +calling out that hard work and exposure had been too much for him, and +that he was sicker now than both of them put together.</p> + +<p>Of course they had to call back to him that they were sorry, and of +course they were sorry in one way, and then each of them lay down to see +which would be the first to starve out.</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Possum had a little the best of it at first, because he had brought +in enough the night before to last him for a few meals, but, being very +greedy, he soon ate it all up, and before long was just as hungry as +either the 'Coon or the Crow, and maybe hungrier.</p> + +<p>Every day they all grew emptier and emptier. Sometimes Mr. Crow would +get up and slip to the door to see if the 'Possum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> or the 'Coon was not +starting out for food. Sometimes Mr. 'Possum would peep out to see if +the 'Coon and the Crow were not going. Sometimes Mr. 'Coon would look +out to see if the Crow and the 'Possum hadn't started. Once they all saw +each other, and jumped back like a flash.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 359px;"> +<img src="images/ill_011.jpg" width="359" height="500" alt="GOT UP SOFTLY AND DRESSED." title="" /> +<span class="caption">GOT UP SOFTLY AND DRESSED.</span> +</div> + +<p>That night Mr. 'Possum decided that he couldn't stand it any longer. He +was so thin that his skin hung on him like a bag, and he hardly had +strength enough to curl his tail. So he made a plan to slip through the +parlor down stairs, and out the door at the bottom of the tree to find a +good supper just for himself. A little after dark, when he thought the +others were asleep, he got up softly and dressed himself and took his +shoes in his hand.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 387px;"> +<img src="images/ill_012.jpg" width="387" height="500" alt="LOOKING FOOLISH AND HALF STARVED." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LOOKING FOOLISH AND HALF STARVED.</span> +</div> + +<p>He was afraid to put them on, for fear he would wake up the Crow and the +'Coon going down stairs.</p> + +<p>Well, he slipped down softly, and was just about half way to the door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +when—biff! he ran right against something in the dark——</p> + +<p>"But I thought you said once 'possums could see in the dark?" +interrupted the Little Lady, sitting up straight.</p> + +<p>They can in just common dark, but this, you see, was hollow tree dark, +which is the very darkest dark there is. So he couldn't see a wink, and +down he came and down came the other thing, too, till pretty soon—biff! +they struck something else, and down all three things came over and +over, rattlety-clatter, to the bottom of the stairs, right on out of the +door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> into the moonlight, and what do you suppose was there besides Mr. +'Possum?</p> + +<p>"I know," said the Little Lady, eagerly. "The 'Coon and the Old Black +Crow?"</p> + +<p>Exactly. Both of them dressed and looking foolish and half starved, and +each with his shoes in his hand. They had all slipped down softly to get +something to eat, because they were so hungry, and, of course, when they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +looked at each other standing there they all knew very well that none of +them had been sick, except Mr. 'Coon a little right at first.</p> + +<p>After they had looked at each other for about a minute they all began to +laugh, and they laughed and laughed till they cried, and rolled on the +ground and kept on laughing to think how they all had fooled each other +and been fooled themselves. Then they all hurried off on a big hunt for +game, and didn't get back till sunrise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SOME_NEW_ACQUAINTANCES" id="SOME_NEW_ACQUAINTANCES"></a>SOME NEW ACQUAINTANCES</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE LADY IS INTRODUCED TO MR. JACK RABBIT DURING A VERY EXCITING +EXPERIENCE WITH MR. DOG. THE FIRST ADVENTURE OF JACK RABBIT</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 333px;"> +<img src="images/ill_013.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="HE STOPPED AND TALKED TO MR. ROBIN." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE STOPPED AND TALKED TO MR. ROBIN.</span> +</div> + +<p>Once upon a time Mr. Jack Rabbit got up very early and set out for a +morning walk. It was bright and sunny, and Mr. Rabbit was feeling so +well that he walked and walked. Every little ways he stopped and talked +to the Robins and Bluebirds that were up early, too, until by and by he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +didn't know how far away from home he really was.</p> + +<p>"Did he know the way?" asked the Little Lady.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 358px;"> +<img src="images/ill_014.jpg" width="358" height="500" alt="A LOUD BARK RIGHT BEHIND HIM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A LOUD BARK RIGHT BEHIND HIM.</span> +</div> + +<p>Oh, yes, he knew the way, because you can't lose Mr. Jack Rabbit, no +matter what you do, but talking along and not thinking, he had forgotten +about its being so far. He was just going to turn back, though, when all +of a sudden there was a great loud bark right behind him that made him +jump right straight up in the air and commence running before his feet +touched the ground.</p> + +<p>He didn't stop to ask any questions. He knew that Mr. Dog was out early, +too, and that he'd found his tracks and was a-coming lickety split.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What does that mean—lickety split?"</p> + +<p>I don't know, exactly, but Mr. Dog always runs that way when he chases +Jack Rabbit, and Mr. Rabbit knew he had no time to waste.</p> + +<p>He ran faster than Mr. Dog at first, and got far enough ahead so that +when directly he saw Mr. Robin on a limb he slacked up a little minute +and said:—</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dog's coming to call, and I'm going home to get my house ready."</p> + +<p>Then pretty soon he saw Mr. Bluebird, but he didn't have time to pause<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +again.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going so fast, Mr. Rabbit?" said the Bluebird.</p> + +<p>"To get ready for Mr. Dog; he's coming to call," said the Rabbit as he +went by like a streak. Then a little further on he met Mr. Turtle.</p> + +<p>"Hi, there!" called the Turtle. "Where are you going so fast, Mr. +Rabbit?"</p> + +<p>"Dog coming—clean house!" shouted Jack Rabbit, 'most out of breath.</p> + +<p>That made the Turtle laugh, 'cause Mr. Turtle is old and smart and he +knew why the Rabbit was running so fast.</p> + +<p>"Was the Rabbit so afraid of Mr. Dog?" asked the Little Lady.</p> + +<p>He was that, but he didn't want anybody to know it if he could help it, +and 'specially Mr. Dog.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>Well, pretty soon Mr. Dog came by where Mr. Robin was, and he called +up:—</p> + +<p>"Hello, Mr. Robin! Has Mr. Jack Rabbit passed this way?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Mr. Dog, and he stopped a little minute to say that you were +coming to see him, and that he had to hurry home to have his house +ready."</p> + +<p>That kind of surprised Mr. Dog, 'cause he thought the Rabbit was afraid +of him, but he kept right on till he came to the Bluebird.</p> + +<p>"Did Mr. Rabbit come this way?" he called up without stopping.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, and hurried right on to have his house ready for you," said +the Bluebird.</p> + +<p>That surprised Mr. Dog more and more, and he began to think that after +all maybe the Rabbit didn't know what he wanted of him and—</p> + +<p>"What did he want of him?"</p> + +<p>Well, I s'pect it was about the same as the wolf wanted of Red Riding +Hood, and Jack Rabbit was so far away from home and getting so tired +that there's no telling what might have happened if it hadn't been for +Mr. Turtle. Mr. Turtle was a good friend to Jack Rabbit, 'cause once he +beat him in a foot race by playing a trick, and he'd always felt a +little sorry for it. So when Mr. Dog came along he got right in the way +and said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>—</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> + +</p><div class="figleft" style="width: 355px;"> +<img src="images/ill_015.jpg" width="355" height="500" alt=""HI, THERE! HOLD ON, MR. DOG!"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"HI, THERE! HOLD ON, MR. DOG!"</span> +</div> + +<p>"Hi, there! Hold on, Mr. Dog, or you'll get there before Mr. Rabbit is +ready for you. He just passed, and said he had to clean up before you +came. I s'pose he wants to get up a fine dinner, too."</p> + +<p>Well, that settled it. Mr. Dog stopped and said he wasn't in any hurry +at all, but was just running a little because it was a nice morning and +he felt well. Of course, he said, he didn't want to get there before Mr. +Rabbit was ready for him, and then he trotted along comfortably, +thinking how he would eat the Rabbit's fine dinner first, and then there +would be time enough for Mr. Rabbit himself afterward.</p> + +<p>So, when he got to Jack Rabbit's house he straightened his vest and his +necktie a little, and then he knocked and turned around and whistled +while he was waiting for Mr. Rabbit to come to the door. But Jack Rabbit +didn't come to the door. He opened an upstairs window and said:—</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Mr. Dog! Sit right down on the porch, Mr. Dog, till I get my +house ready and the dinner cooked."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/ill_016.jpg" width="340" height="500" alt="MR. RABBIT LAUGHED AND LAUGHED." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. RABBIT LAUGHED AND LAUGHED.</span> +</div> + +<p>So Mr. Dog sat down and lit his pipe and smoked and looked at the +scenery, while Mr. Rabbit inside he laughed and laughed, and lay down on +the bed and finally went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dog sat there and smoked and smoked, and wished the Rabbit would +hurry and let him in, 'cause he wanted to get home to his folks, and it +was a long way to travel. By and by he called up and asked him if dinner +wasn't ready yet. That waked Jack Rabbit up, and he looked out the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +window and said that he'd had bad luck with his biscuit and dinner would +be late. Then Mr. Dog said he'd come in while he was waiting, but the +Rabbit said the house was full of smoke, and he wouldn't think of +letting his company sit inside such a pleasant day.</p> + +<p>Well, Mr. Dog he sat and sat, and Mr. Jack Rabbit laughed and went to +sleep again, and by and by it got so late that Mr. Dog knew if he didn't +go home pretty soon he'd "catch it" when he got there. So he called up +again to Mr. Rabbit, and said that he'd take anything he happened to +have in the house, and that he didn't care much for biscuit anyway. But +Jack Rabbit said he would never show his face again if he let his +company do that, and that it was a perfect shame that Mr. Dog had waited +so long, when he had so far to go. He said that his stove didn't draw +worth a cent, and that his fire had gone out once, and he hadn't got it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +started again yet.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Dog didn't wait to hear another word, but just set out for +home, lickety split, with Mr. Jack Rabbit rolling on the bed and +laughing to see him go.</p> + +<p>"Come again, Mr. Dog!" he called after him. "Come again when you can't +stay so long."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Dog didn't say a word or look 'round, for he knew by Jack +Rabbit's laughing so loud and saying to come when he couldn't stay so +long that he'd been fooling him all the time.</p> + +<p>"And did he ever go to Jack Rabbit's house again?" asked the Little +Lady.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>Well, not right away. He didn't go out much of anywhere after that for a +while, because people made fun of him and kept calling out when he went +by:—</p> + +<p>"Come again, Mr. Dog! Come again when you can't stay so long!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MR_RABBITS_BIG_DINNER" id="MR_RABBITS_BIG_DINNER"></a>MR. RABBIT'S BIG DINNER</h2> + +<h3>MR. JACK RABBIT ENTERTAINS THE HOLLOW TREE PEOPLE. AN UNWELCOME GUEST +ARRIVES CAUSING SOME EXCITEMENT</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/ill_017.jpg" width="364" height="500" alt="THE RABBIT GETTING READY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE RABBIT GETTING READY.</span> +</div> + +<p>Once upon a time there came to the big Hollow Tree, where the 'Coon and +the 'Possum and the Old Black Crow lived, an invitation from Mr. Jack +Rabbit for the three to dine with him next day. Nobody was going to be +there, he said, but the Turtle, and for them to come early so's to have +a nice long afternoon.</p> + +<p>He didn't need to say that, for the 'Possum would have started right off +if it had been polite, and the Crow and the 'Coon were both so excited +that the 'Coon commenced with pie first at supper and the Crow took his +hat to get water in. Then they talked all the evening about their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +clothes and what they were going to wear, and the 'Possum said he was +afraid to look at his best suit for fear it was moth eaten, and the +'Coon and the Crow rummaged through their bureaus and got out all their +clean shirts so's to have one ready for the next day.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 335px;"> +<img src="images/ill_018.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt="LOOKED AT THE ALBUM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LOOKED AT THE ALBUM.</span> +</div> + +<p>In the morning they all got up long before daylight, and the 'Possum +looked out first and then called over to the others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> that there had +been a light snow in the night, but that it was clear now and just cold +enough to give a fellow a good appetite. He was going to eat a slim +breakfast, he said, so's to be ready for a big dinner.</p> + +<p>They were all dressed and ready long before time, but they managed to +stand it until about ten o'clock, and then the 'Possum said he was just +naturally getting gray headed waiting for that dinner, and off they +started.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 353px;"> +<img src="images/ill_019.jpg" width="353" height="500" alt="TROUBLE IN GETTING HIS BISCUITS TO RISE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">TROUBLE IN GETTING HIS BISCUITS TO RISE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Jack Rabbit had got up early, too, that morning, and had the table +'most set when they came. He had his sleeves rolled up and an apron on, +and the way he was flying around and getting ready was a caution. The +'Coon and the Crow sat down in the parlor, and looked at the album and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +some travel books they found on the table, but Mr. 'Possum was so hungry +after his light breakfast that he could not keep out of the kitchen, +where it smelled good, and stood around and talked to Jack Rabbit, and +asked him where he got his chickens, and if he thought Mr. Fox would +spare him some, too, and if Mr. Rabbit had any trouble getting his +biscuits to rise in cold weather.</p> + +<p>Then the Rabbit gave the 'Possum some new receipts, and Mr. 'Possum +tasted of everything, a great big taste, making believe he wanted to see +just how it was made, but really because he was almost starved, and +couldn't wait.</p> + +<p>Well, pretty soon Mr. Turtle straddled in, and everything was on the +table and they all sat down. The 'Possum had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> tasted so much in the +kitchen that he wasn't so starved as the 'Coon and the Crow, and behaved +very politely, and stepped on the 'Coon's toe under the table because he +ate so greedily, and whispered to the Crow not to shovel the food about +on his plate, as if he were cleaning snow off a roof.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 403px;"> +<img src="images/ill_020.jpg" width="403" height="500" alt="MR. JACK RABBIT FELL OVER BACKWARD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. JACK RABBIT FELL OVER BACKWARD.</span> +</div> + +<p>They were all too busy to say much at first, but pretty soon they got to +talking and telling stories, and Jack Rabbit told about the time that +Mr. Dog chased him home, and how he kept Mr. Dog sitting out on the +porch all the afternoon waiting for dinner to be ready. Then Mr. Turtle +up and told about his stopping Mr. Dog that day, telling him that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +Rabbit had gone home to get dinner for him, and they all laughed, and +the 'Coon and the 'Possum said that Mr. Dog thought they were afraid of +him, too, but the first time they got a chance they were going to show +him a few things that would open his eyes. That made the Crow laugh till +he coughed and strangled, and when the Rabbit said he wasn't afraid, +either, the Turtle laughed, too. Then the 'Coon and the 'Possum and Mr. +Jack Rabbit all pounded on the table, and said, "Just show us Mr. Dog, +and you'll see whether we're afraid or not," and right then, as they +said these words, there came a loud knock, and a great big bow! wow! +wow! right at the door, and Mr. Jack Rabbit fell over backward, and Mr. +'Coon upset his coffee, and Mr. 'Possum, being stuffed so he could +hardly move, rolled under the table and fainted dead away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wasn't the Crow and Mr. Turtle scared some, too?" interrupted the +Little Lady.</p> + +<p>Not a bit. Mr. Dog is good friends with the Crow and the Turtle. Of +course they were afraid some for the Rabbit and the 'Coon and the +'Possum, but they didn't think Mr. Dog could get in, because the door +was locked, so they laughed and pounded on the table as the others had +done and said:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, just show us Mr. Dog! Just show us Mr. Dog!"</p> + +<p>That made the Rabbit feel ashamed, 'cause he was in his own house, so he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +hopped up quick and marched over to the door and said:—</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Dog, is that you out there?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Dog said it was, and that he had seen all the tracks in the snow, +and just thought he'd like to take a hand in that big dinner himself. +That made the hair on Mr. 'Coon's head stand right straight up, and Mr. +'Possum, who had rolled under the table, gave a groan and crawled over +behind a long curtain, where he could faint and be covered up at the +same time. Mr. Rabbit thought a little minute and then said, very +politely:—</p> + +<p>"It's just too bad, Mr. Dog, I'll declare it is. But every time you come +it seems like something happens to keep me from having your company. +We've just got up from the table and there isn't a thing left, and +besides, Mr. 'Possum had a sick turn a minute ago, and we're all upside +down and every which way."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Mr. Dog said he wasn't afraid but that there'd be plenty for him to +eat, and that he was a pretty good hand with sick folks himself. Then he +gave another great loud bark and said:—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">"You fooled me once, but you'll fool me no more,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">So lift up the latch and open the door!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Mr. Dog talks poetry that way sometimes when he gets excited. But Jack +Rabbit said he really couldn't think of inviting him in, the way things +were, and that it would likely be after sundown before he'd be ready for +him. Of course, he said, Mr. Dog couldn't wait that long, he knew, and +that he s'posed, after all, they'd have to do without his comp'ny this +time. Then Mr. Dog said that his folks were away from home now, and that +he could stay there all night if he wanted to, but that he didn't want +to and didn't propose to, and then he gave another great big bow wow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +wow! and said:—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">"You fooled me once, but you can't ag'in;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Open the door or I'll break it in!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 349px;"> +<img src="images/ill_021.jpg" width="349" height="500" alt="THE 'POSSUM ALMOST DIED." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE 'POSSUM ALMOST DIED.</span> +</div> + +<p>Jack Rabbit and Mr. 'Coon both jumped when they heard that, and Mr. +'Possum almost died. It worried the Crow and the Turtle some, too, for +they knew if he did break in the door there'd be a big row and no +telling how it would end. And just then Mr. Dog gave a big run and a +jump against the door, and it squeaked and opened a little, so that the +Rabbit could see a streak of light through it and Mr. Dog's yellow legs +and tail. When he saw that Jack Rabbit just gave one spring and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> landed +on the top shelf of his china closet. Mr. 'Possum jumped up and ran +around the room and fainted in two or three different places, trying to +find one that was safer than the other, and Mr. 'Coon scampered up the +Rabbit's new lace curtains and hung on to the pole for dear life. The +Crow and the Turtle just kept still and got ready to argue some with Mr. +Dog when he got in.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 405px;"> +<img src="images/ill_022.jpg" width="405" height="500" alt="SAW MR. DOG'S YELLOW LEGS AND TAIL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SAW MR. DOG'S YELLOW LEGS AND TAIL.</span> +</div> + +<p>Pretty soon he came, bang! against the door again, and this time a good +deal harder than before, and it squeaked louder and the crack was wider, +for Mr. Dog had jumped against it as hard as ever he could, backward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +And right there Mr. Dog made a mistake, for in just that little second +while the crack was open the end of his tail got in it, and the door +smacked right down on it, and there he was.</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said the Little Lady. "Was he caught tight?"</p> + +<p>He was that. The harder he pulled the tighter it pinched, and he howled +like a good fellow. You wouldn't have thought that such a little bit of +his tail would make him howl so loud, but it did, and he couldn't get +far enough away from the door to jump against it again. Well, Mr. Rabbit +didn't let on that anything had happened, but just came down out of the +china closet as cool as you please, with the dessert dishes on his arm, +and the 'Possum said his sick turn had passed off, and the 'Coon came +down from the curtain and mentioned that he always liked to take a +little exercise during a heavy meal that way. Then they had dessert, and +all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> time Mr. Dog was making a big fuss outside, and by and by he +began to beg and promise anything if they'd just let him loose.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/ill_023.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="HE HOWLED LIKE A GOOD FELLOW." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE HOWLED LIKE A GOOD FELLOW.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Rabbit called out to him that, being as his folks were away now, he +needn't be in any hurry, and that he might just as well stay there all +night if he wanted to. Then Mr. Dog called out to the Turtle and the +Crow to "prize" open the door and let him get his tail out, but they +both said that they couldn't think of being impolite with Jack Rabbit in +his own house by sending off any of his friends that way.</p> + +<p>Well, pretty soon the 'Coon and the 'Possum said they must be going, +they guessed, so Mr. Rabbit let them out the back door, and they went +around and said goodby to Mr. Dog and hoped he was having a nice time. +And Mr. Dog told them, with tears in his eyes, that he was sorry to see +them go and that he hoped to meet them again. Then the 'Coon and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +'Possum both laughed and took a good look at Mr. Dog, for they had never +been so close to him before in their lives. They kept on laughing and +looking around as far as they could see, and said it was the best joke +they had ever heard of.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 380px;"> +<img src="images/ill_024.jpg" width="380" height="500" alt="THEY WALKED ALONG WITH HIM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THEY WALKED ALONG WITH HIM.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Crow and the Turtle didn't go right away. They stayed and had a talk +with Jack Rabbit first so as to give the 'Coon and the 'Possum time to +get home. By and by they bade goodby to Mr. Rabbit and said they'd had a +nice time, and went out the back door, too, and when it was shut and +locked tight Jack Rabbit told Mr. Dog if he'd promise to go right home +and behave himself, and not go gallivanting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> around the country, he'd +let him loose. Mr. Dog promised, and said his tail was numb clear up to +his ears, and for Mr. Rabbit to please hurry. Then Jack Rabbit got a +stick of stovewood and pried the door open a little wider, and Mr. Dog's +tail came out just as the Turtle and the Crow stepped around the corner.</p> + +<p>"Was Mr. Dog mad at them?" asked the Little Lady, anxiously.</p> + +<p>Not very. He was too much ashamed, and, besides, they walked along with +him and said they were sorry and thought it was too bad the way he had +been treated, and Mr. Crow said he'd have Mr. Dog over to his house for +supper before long, which would be a good joke on the 'Coon and 'Possum, +too, because they'd have to stay locked in their rooms. That made Mr. +Dog perk up a little, but he didn't have much to say, and he didn't even +look around when Mr. Jack Rabbit sat up in his window and called after +them:—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">"I fooled you once and I fooled you twice,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">If you come again I'll fool you thrice!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>For Jack Rabbit could make up poetry, too, sometimes when he felt well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CROWS_COMPANY" id="THE_CROWS_COMPANY"></a>THE CROW'S COMPANY</h2> + +<h3>MR. CROW GIVES A SUPPER TO MR. DOG, ACCORDING TO PROMISE</h3> + +<p>Well, you remember (said the Story Teller) that the Crow promised Mr. +Dog he would have him over sometime for supper, and play a joke on Mr. +'Coon and Mr. 'Possum. So one morning he sent word to Mr. Dog, and the +same day gave it out to the 'Coon and the 'Possum that we would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +company for supper the next evening, and that he was going to set the +big table in the parlor and have both of them come down and take supper +with him, too. He didn't tell them he was going to have Mr. Dog and went +around laughing to himself, because he thought it would be very funny +for them to get all ready for a fine supper and then be afraid to come +down when they found out who was there. Of course he meant to tell them +before they came, because he didn't really want any fuss there in the +parlor, especially when he had his good things on the table.</p> + +<p>Well, the 'Coon and the 'Possum said they'd come, and they guessed and +guessed who it was that the Crow was going to have, but he wouldn't tell +them, and by and by they began to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> suspect that maybe it was somebody +that they didn't care much about. So they had a little private talk +together and fixed up a way to be ready for him.</p> + +<p>After that they went around smiling a good deal, and the Crow thought it +was on account of the big supper they were expecting, so he smiled, too, +and was busy getting ready for the fun next day.</p> + +<p>Well, next day about five o'clock, Mr. Dog came and knocked at the door +down stairs, and Mr. Crow slipped down and let him in, and took him +right up to the parlor where supper was all on the table except the +fried chicken, which he had left on the stove to keep hot. Mr. Dog took +a seat and glanced round and said that everything looked good and +smelled even better than it looked. The Crow liked to hear that, for he +was always proud of his cooking and he laughed all over, and kept on +laughing when he thought what a joke he was going to have right away on +Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum.</p> + +<p>Then, pretty soon he had everything ready, and said to Mr. Dog:—</p> + +<p>"Now I'm going to call my friends down, but they won't come." And then +they both laughed soft like, for of course Mr. Dog knew all about the +joke, too.</p> + +<p>So then the Crow went up to the 'Possum's door and knocked and said:—</p> + +<p>"Supper's ready! Comp'ny's here! Come down!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 333px;"> +<img src="images/ill_025.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt=""WHO IS YOUR COMPANY, MR. CROW?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"WHO IS YOUR COMPANY, MR. CROW?"</span> +</div> + +<p>"Who is your company, Mr. Crow?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, just home folks. Nobody but Mr. Dog. We've got fried chicken and +it's all ready."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Mr. Crow, but I've just had comp'ny come, too, and I +couldn't come unless I brought my comp'ny."</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" said the Crow.</p> + +<p>"Nobody but home folks. Mr. Cat just dropped in to spend the evening."</p> + +<p>The Old Black Crow gave a jump when he heard that, for he was afraid as +death of Mr. Cat, and he said, quick as a wink:—</p> + +<p>"Table's all full and no room for more! Table's all full and no room for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +more!"</p> + +<p>Then he hurried over to the 'Coon's door and called:—</p> + +<p>"Supper's all ready! Comp'ny's here! Come down!"</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 403px;"> +<img src="images/ill_026.jpg" width="403" height="500" alt="MR. 'COON PUT AN EXTRA CHAIR AGAINST THE DOOR." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. 'COON PUT AN EXTRA CHAIR AGAINST THE DOOR.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. 'Coon put an extra chair against the door and said:—</p> + +<p>"Who is your comp'ny, Mr. Crow?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, just home folks. Nobody but Mr. Dog. We've got fried chicken and +it's all on the table."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Mr. Crow, but comp'ny just came here, too, and I'd have to +bring him along."</p> + +<p>"Who is it, Mr. 'Coon?"</p> + +<p>"Only home folks. Just Mr. Hawk run in for the evening."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 336px;"> +<img src="images/ill_027.jpg" width="336" height="500" alt="MR. CROW NEARLY FELL OVER BACKWARD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. CROW NEARLY FELL OVER BACKWARD.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Crow nearly fell over backward when he heard that. He had stolen +some of Mr. Hawk's chickens the day before, and the 'Coon knew about it. +The Hawk would surely know the flavor of his own chickens if he came +down, and, anyhow,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> Mr. 'Coon would tell him. So he called out just as +quick as lightning:—</p> + +<p>"Table's all full and no room for more! Table's all full and no room for +more!"</p> + +<p>Then he hurried right back to Mr. Dog and told him not to wait, because +Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum could not come, and Mr. Dog laughed and +pitched into the fried chicken and said it was the best joke and the +best chicken he had ever heard of. But the Crow some way did not think +it was as good a joke as he had expected and could not eat his supper +for looking up at the doors where the 'Possum and the 'Coon were.</p> + +<p>By and by, when Mr. Dog had finished his supper and had a smoke, he said +he guessed his folks would be looking for him and that he would have to +go. Then the Crow nearly had a fit and begged and begged him to spend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +the evening. He said Mr. Dog came so seldom that he ought to stay, now +he was there, so at last Mr. Dog sat down again and said he might as +well sit a little longer, he s'posed.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 343px;"> +<img src="images/ill_028.jpg" width="343" height="500" alt="MR. CROW TALKED AND TOLD STORIES." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. CROW TALKED AND TOLD STORIES.</span> +</div> + +<p>Well, the Crow talked and talked and told stories and got Mr. Dog to +telling stories, too, and once he slipped around behind Mr. Dog while he +was talking away and put the clock back, but it didn't do any good. Mr. +Dog said by and by that he was obliged to go and that he was afraid now +he would be locked out when he got home. So the Crow thought as quick as +he could and called out loud:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Time comp'ny was going home! Time comp'ny was going home!"</p> + +<p>But the 'Possum called back that his comp'ny wasn't in any hurry. And +the Coon called back that his comp'ny wasn't in any hurry either.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Crow was in a bad fix. He hopped around first on one foot and +then on the other while Mr. Dog was putting on his things, and as soon +as he was gone he skipped right up into his own room and locked the door +tight.</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum were looking out of their windows and saw Mr. +Dog outside as he lit his pipe and marched off laughing. And the 'Coon +and 'Possum laughed, too, for they hadn't had any company at all, but +had been making believe all the time. Then they unbarred their doors and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +went down into the parlor, where there was a lot of the supper left, and +sat down and passed the fried chicken across to each other and laughed +some more and said Mr. Crow was certainly a mighty good cook.</p> + +<p>"Didn't they give the Crow any?" asked the Little Lady, who had been so +still that the Story Teller believed her asleep.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon they did. They said it was too bad to punish him any longer, +so they went up to his door, and the 'Possum knocked and said:—</p> + +<p>"Better come down to supper, Mr. Crow. Comp'ny's all gone!"</p> + +<p>And then the 'Coon he knocked and said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Better come down to fried chicken, Mr. Crow. Comp'ny's all gone!"</p> + +<p>So then the Crow opened the door a little crack and peeked out, and when +he saw nobody was there but the 'Coon and the 'Possum he stepped out as +brave as you please and said that he had been to one big supper and was +sleepy and just going to bed, but that he believed he would sit down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +with them just to be sociable. He was sorry, he said, that he couldn't +have asked them to bring down their comp'ny, but he hadn't fixed for so +many, and, after all, it would be nicer now, all alone together.</p> + +<p>So then the 'Coon and the 'Possum and the Old Black Crow all sat down to +the table together and ate and ate and ate, and the Old Black Crow ate +most of all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIRST_MOON_STORY" id="THE_FIRST_MOON_STORY"></a>THE FIRST MOON STORY</h2> + +<h3>A STORY IN WHICH MR. 'COON TELLS MR. 'POSSUM AND MR. RABBIT SOMETHING +ABOUT THE MOON</h3> + +<p>Last night when the full moon looked into the House of Many Windows the +Little Lady stood looking at it for a long time.</p> + +<p>She had been told that the moon was another world, and that the stars +were worlds, too, and she was trying to think how that could be when +they looked so small and close together; also if it were all true, and +they were so big, why they did not get against each other when the sky +itself wasn't any bigger than the world and came down to it everywhere +at the edges. She asked the Story Teller about it when he came in.</p> + +<p>The Story Teller tried to explain that the stars and moon were not so +close together as they looked, and that some were a good deal further +away than others, and a lot more things, all of which the Little Lady +doubted, because she said she could see for herself that the sky was +just a round blue ceiling, and that the moon and stars were right +against it, and if any of them were further away than the others they +would be over beyond the ceiling and wouldn't show. This was a good +deal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> easier for the Story Teller to understand than the things he had +been trying to tell, so he said, "Why, of course. I hadn't thought of +that," and then he said he knew some stories about the moon that were a +good deal truer, he guessed, than most anything else. And then he told +her, first of all,</p> + +<h4>MR. 'COON'S STORY OF THE MOON.</h4> + +<p>Once upon a time, when Mr. Dog had invited the Crow and the Turtle to +his house for supper, Jack Rabbit came over to the Hollow Tree to spend +the evening with the 'Coon and the 'Possum, and they took a long walk. +They walked and walked, till by and by they got to the edge of the world +and sat down and hung their feet over and talked and looked at the full +moon that was just rising.</p> + +<p>They talked first about one thing and then another, and then they got to +talking about the moon, and come to find out one thought it was this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +and one thought it was that, and the third man, which was the 'Coon, +said he knew it wasn't either one, for the moon had once belonged to his +family and he knew all about it.</p> + +<p>So then they agreed between them to let each one tell what he knew about +the moon and how he came to know it and all about it. And Mr. 'Coon told +first.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "a long time ago, about sixteen +great-great-grandfathers back, our family lived in a big woods in a big +tree that was on top of a high mountain and touched the sky with its top +limbs when the wind blew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 349px;"> +<img src="images/ill_029.jpg" width="349" height="500" alt="A SHINING TIN PLATE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A SHINING TIN PLATE.</span> +</div> + +<p>"It was a good big family, too; I don't know just how many there were, +but I know there was an old grandmother besides the father and mother +and a lot of children. They were a very noisy lot of youngsters, so the +story goes, nearly all of the same age, and used to tear around the +house and never want to do anything but play and run up and down stairs +until my sixteenth great-great-grandmother used to stop her ears and say +that those children would be the death of her, and she wished there was +a school in the neighborhood so they could be sent to it.</p> + +<p>"But those children never wanted to learn anything, and never thought +about even knowing their letters, until one day Father 'Coon came home +from town with a brand new shiny tin plate with the alphabet around on +the edge of it. When they saw that they all made a grab for it and +claimed it, but Father 'Coon held it up high and said that it was for +the one that first learned his letters. He said that they were to take +turns using it, a different one each time, and whoever was using it +could study his letters while he was eating. He said that when it had +been all around once he would see who knew the most letters and would +give it to him the next time, and so on, and the first one who knew all +of them should have it for his own, to keep.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 373px;"> +<img src="images/ill_030.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="BUSHY GRABBED THE PLATE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">BUSHY GRABBED THE PLATE.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Well, the first night he gave it to a fellow named Bushy and sat down +by him and told him the letters over and over, and all the rest leaned +across the table and looked on instead<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> of eating, all except one +fellow, named Smart, who was good at learning things by heart, and he +just listened and ate, too. He did that right along every meal till it +came his turn, and then he pretended to look very close, but all the +time he was only saying the letters over and over in his head and +laughing to himself to think how he was going to surprise everybody when +the time came to see who knew the most.</p> + +<p>"And that's just what he did do. For when the plate had gone clear +around and Father 'Coon called them all up one night after supper to see +who could tell the most letters on it, some only knew three and some +four, and some of them knew six, but when it came Smart's turn he +commenced when Father 'Coon pointed to A, and said every one clear +through to & just as fast as he could say them. Then the others all +began to cry, and Smart took the plate and walked off with it into the +next room and sat down and was saying the alphabet over and over, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +all at once Bushy happened to notice that when Smart pointed out the +letters for himself and said them he was just as apt to begin any place +else as at A, and that he only knew them by heart and didn't know a +single one when he saw it.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/ill_031.jpg" width="347" height="500" alt="SHE FLUNG IT OUT THE WINDOW." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SHE FLUNG IT OUT THE WINDOW.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Of course that made Bushy mad, and he ran out and told the rest that +Smart didn't know his alphabet at all, and that he couldn't even tell A +when it was by itself, and all the others set up a great fuss, too. They +said he had to go out with the plate to Father 'Coon again, and Smart +said he wouldn't do it;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> that it was his plate, and that he had said +his letters once and didn't intend to say them again for anybody. Then +Bushy grabbed the plate and said it was his, because he knew six +letters, and then a little fellow named Stripe grabbed it away from +Bushy because he knew six letters, too, and pretty soon they all got +into a regular fight over it, and made such an awful noise that +Grandmother 'Coon thought the tree was falling down, and came running +in, and when she saw what they were fighting over she grabbed it away +from all of them and opened the window and flung it out just as hard as +ever she could fling it.</p> + +<p>"And the tin plate went sailing and shining right straight up in the +air, and kept on sailing and shining till it got to the sky; and then,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +of course, it couldn't get any further, but it went right on sailing and +shining in the sky, and has been there, sailing and shining, ever since.</p> + +<p>"And that," said Mr. 'Coon, "that's the moon!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw!" said the 'Possum.</p> + +<p>"What made those dark spots on it?" said the Rabbit.</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Coon didn't know what to say to that just at first, and then he +happened to think.</p> + +<p>"Why," he said, "that's where they rubbed the tin off fighting over it."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" said the Rabbit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_MOON_STORY" id="THE_SECOND_MOON_STORY"></a>THE SECOND MOON STORY</h2> + +<h3>MR. 'POSSUM HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE MOON WHICH SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON +THE SUBJECT</h3> + +<p>This is the story told by Mr. 'Possum when he and Mr. 'Coon and Jack +Rabbit sat on the edge of the world and hung their feet over and looked +at the moon:—</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. 'Possum, "a good many years ago, when there were a +great many more chickens than there are now, and Mr. Man took good care +of them for us and let them roost in trees instead of locking them up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +every night in an unhealthy little pen, my folks used to go around +sometimes after Mr. Man had gone to bed, and look them over and pick out +what they wanted for the next day.</p> + +<p>"I don't know why we ever began the custom of picking out our victuals +at night that way, when it was dark and dangerous, but somehow we always +did it, and have kept it up ever since."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said the 'Coon.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 349px;"> +<img src="images/ill_032.jpg" width="349" height="500" alt="USED TO FALL ASLEEP AND DREAM ABOUT IT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">USED TO FALL ASLEEP AND DREAM ABOUT IT.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Yes," continued Mr. 'Possum, "that was before there was any moon, and +the nights were always dark. It wasn't a good time to choose food, and +very often my folks made a mistake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> and got a seven-year-old bantam hen +instead of a spring pullet, which is about the same size.</p> + +<p>"This happened so much that by and by a very wise 'Possum, named +Smoothe, said that if they would keep him in chickens of a youthful and +tender sort he would fix up a light, so they could see and know what +they were doing. They all agreed to do it, and that night Smoothe built +a big fire in the top of a tall tree and sat up there and 'tended to it +until nearly morning, and my folks brought home the finest lot of +chickens that Mr. Man had raised for them in a good many years.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/ill_033.jpg" width="340" height="500" alt="A TOP-KNOT CROW NAMED DUSK." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A TOP-KNOT CROW NAMED DUSK.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Well, there was never any trouble after that to pick out young meat, +and Smoothe kept the fire going nights and ate a good deal and got +pretty fat, so that he didn't like to work, and kept planning some way +to make his job easier. He wanted to find a light that he wouldn't have +to 'tend to and keep piling wood on all night. He thought about this for +a long time, and used to fall asleep and dream about it, and once he let +the fire go out, and fell out of the tree and nearly gave up his job +altogether.</p> + +<p>"Well, while he was getting well he had a good deal of company, and one +day a top-knot crow named Dusk came to see him. Now, you know that our +friend Mr. Crow is a wise bird to-day, but in the old times a top-knot +crow was wiser than anything that now flies or walks, and Dusk was a +very old bird. He knew a great deal about Mr. Man and his ways, and he +told Smoothe that he had seen in Mr. Man's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> pantry, where he went +sometimes, a light that would not go out during a whole night, and that +had a big bright something behind it that would throw the light in any +direction. Dusk, who used to carry off almost everything he saw, whether +he wanted it or not, said that he thought he might carry this light off +if Smoothe would be willing to let him have a few chickens for a party +he was going to give.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 336px;"> +<img src="images/ill_034.jpg" width="336" height="500" alt="THE BRIGHT ROUND THING THREW THE LIGHT JUST WHERE HE +WANTED IT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE BRIGHT ROUND THING THREW THE LIGHT JUST WHERE HE +WANTED IT.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Smoothe told him he might take his pick out of his share of the +chickens for the next six months if he would only bring that light, and +Dusk didn't waste any time, but brought it the very next evening.</p> + +<p>"It was a beautiful light, and Smoothe fastened it to the tip top of the +tall tree, so that it would swing in any direction, and the bright round +thing behind it threw the light just where he wanted it. It burned oil, +and he used to fill it up with chicken oil in the evening and it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +burn all night and make a better light than the fire ever did. So all he +had to do was to keep it filled and turned in the direction that my +folks were harvesting their chicken crop, and then he could go to bed +and sleep all night if he wanted to.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 354px;"> +<img src="images/ill_035.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt=""'NONSENSE!" SAID THE RABBIT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">"'NONSENSE!" SAID THE RABBIT.</span> +</div> + +<p>"And that's just what he did do. And one night while he was asleep there +came up a terrible storm. Of course, if Smoothe had been awake he would +have taken the light down; but he wasn't awake, and the first he knew he +heard broken limbs falling and crashing all around, and he jumped up and +ran out just in time to see the tip top of the lamp tree<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> break off, +lamp and all, and go whirling round and round, right straight up in the +air till it got to the sky, and there it stuck fast. It never went out, +either, but kept on turning round and round and giving light in +different directions at different times in the month.</p> + +<p>"And that," said Mr. 'Possum, "is the moon. And you don't always see it +because sometimes the bright reflecting thing is turned in the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +direction. And when it's turned part way round you see part of it, and +it's always been so ever since that night Smoothe went to sleep and the +storm came up and carried it off."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said the 'Coon.</p> + +<p>"What makes those spots on it, then?" said the Rabbit.</p> + +<p>"Why," said Mr. 'Possum, thinking as quick as he could, "those—those +are—are some leaves that blew against the reflecting thing and stayed +there."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" said the Rabbit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ON_THE_EDGE_OF_THE_WORLD" id="ON_THE_EDGE_OF_THE_WORLD"></a>ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD</h2> + +<h3>MR. RABBIT HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE MOON, DURING WHICH HE EXPLAINS +THE SPOTS ON IT</h3> + +<p>This is the story that Mr. Jack Rabbit told to Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum +when they sat together on the edge of the world and hung their feet over +and looked at the moon. After Mr. 'Possum had finished his story, the +Rabbit leaned back and swung his feet over the Big Nowhere awhile,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +thinking. Then he began.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "my folks used to live in the moon."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said the 'Coon.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" said the 'Possum.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack Rabbit, "they did. The moon is a world, away over on +the other side of the Big Nowhere, and it doesn't stand still and stay +top side up like this world, but keeps moving about and turning over, so +that you have to look sharp and hang on tight to keep from falling off +when it tips bottom side up, or is standing on its edge as it is +to-night. My folks used to live there and Mr. Dog's folks used to live +there, too. That was a long time ago, before Mr. Dog ever went to live +with Mr. Man, and he was big and savage and had no more manners than he +has now.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My folks never could and never did get along with Mr. Dog's folks worth +a cent, but they could mostly beat Mr. Dog's folks running, so they +didn't have to associate with him unless they wanted to."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 379px;"> +<img src="images/ill_036.jpg" width="379" height="500" alt=""USED TO HIDE AND WATCH FOR US."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"USED TO HIDE AND WATCH FOR US."</span> +</div> + +<p>"Of course Mr. Dog's family didn't like that, for they thought they were +just as good as we were, and they used to hide and watch for us, and +when we came by jump out and try to keep up with us for as much as two +or three miles sometimes, just as Mr. Dog tried to keep up with me the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +other day, which you may remember."</p> + +<p>The 'Possum and 'Coon grinned to themselves and nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well," continued Mr. Rabbit, "there are some laws of etiquette—which +means politeness—up there in the Moon, and they are very strict. The +Old Man in the Moon makes these laws, and when one of them is broken he +makes the one that breaks it just go right on doing whatever it is for +nine hundred and ninety-nine years, and sometimes a good deal longer +when it's a worse break than usual.</p> + +<p>"Now the very strictest of all these laws used to be the one about Mr. +Dog trying to keep up with our folks. It was called the 'Brush Pile +law.' It didn't say that he couldn't keep up with us if he was able, but +it did say that when we ran behind a brush pile, as we did sometimes, he +must follow around the brush pile and never jump over it, no matter what +happened. This was a hard law for Mr. Dog to keep, for he was mostly fat +and excitable, and my folks would run around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> and around a brush pile, +as much as a hundred times very often, and tire Mr. Dog so that he +couldn't move. Then my folks would laugh and go home leisurely, while +Mr. Dog would sneak off with his tongue hanging out till it dragged on +the ground."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 353px;"> +<img src="images/ill_037.jpg" width="353" height="500" alt=""MY TWENTY-FIRST GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER COULD NOT RUN +VERY FAST."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"MY TWENTY-FIRST GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER COULD NOT RUN +VERY FAST."</span> +</div> + +<p>"Well, one day in the spring, when my family was out for an airing and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +little sunshine, they got a good ways from home, and all of a sudden +here comes Mr. Dog and his whole family, too. My folks didn't want +anything to do with them, and set out for home in several directions, +with Mr. Dog's folks following most all of them. My twenty-first +great-great-grandfather was getting pretty old and couldn't run very +fast, and there was a young, anxious looking dog named Leap quite close +behind him. So the first brush pile he came to my relative paused and +when Leap came around one way he went the other, and they kept that up +until Leap got so mad and excited and worn out that he didn't care for +the 'Brush Pile law' or anything else except my twenty-first +great-great-grandfather, and all of a sudden he gave a great big bark +and a high jump right straight over the top of the brush pile, and just +that second the moon tipped up on its edge and all my folks and all Mr. +Dog's folks came tumbling right down through the Big Nowhere to the +earth, because they were all running and not holding on—all except +Leap, who stayed right up in the air, according to law, and he has been +there ever since.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/ill_038.jpg" width="348" height="500" alt=""IT'S JUST AS PLAIN AS CAN BE."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"IT'S JUST AS PLAIN AS CAN BE."</span> +</div> + +<p>"And when my folks and Mr. Dog's folks got down to the earth they were +all so scared that my folks ran in one direction and Mr. Dog's folks ran +in another. The dog family kept on running till they got to Mr. Man's +house, and there they hid and stayed."</p> + +<p>"And since that day," concluded Mr. Jack Rabbit, "there has never been +any of our family in the moon, and Leap is the only dog there. He's +still jumping over the brush pile because he broke the law, and you can +see him there any clear night when the moon sits up on its edge as it +does now. And that's what those spots are—a dog jumping over a brush +pile. It's just as plain as can be."</p> + +<p>The 'Possum and the 'Coon looked up at the full moon and said that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +spots certainly did look a good deal like Mr. Dog jumping over a brush +pile, but that the Rabbit couldn't prove his story any more than they +could prove theirs, and that it wasn't any better story, if it was as +good.</p> + +<p>"Of course I can prove it," said the Rabbit. "There is an old adage +about it, and you can prove anything by an old adage. It goes this +way:—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">"The longest way is often best—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Never jump over a cuckoo's nest.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"I don't know just why it says 'cuckoo's nest,' but I suppose cuckoos +always used to build in brush piles in the moon, and maybe they do yet. +Anyhow it proves it."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said the 'Coon. "Sure enough!"</p> + +<p>"That's so! It does!" said the 'Possum.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIRST_PIG_STORY" id="THE_FIRST_PIG_STORY"></a>THE FIRST PIG STORY</h2> + +<h3>MR. CROW SPENDS A SOCIAL EVENING WITH MR. DOG</h3> + +<p>Once upon a time, said the Story Teller, when the Old Black Crow was +visiting Mr. Dog——</p> + +<p>"Was that the night that Mr. Rabbit and the rest told their moon +stories?" interrupted the Little Lady.</p> + +<p>The very same night, and the Crow and Mr. Dog got to telling stories, +too.</p> + +<p>They told pig stories because they both knew a good deal about pigs, and +Mr. Dog, being in his own house, let the Crow tell first. Mr. Crow said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +he was going to tell a true story, so he lit his pipe and began this +way:—</p> + +<h4>MR. CROW'S STORY OF THE LITTLE PIG.</h4> + +<p>Well, said Mr. Crow, there was once a lot of little pigs that lived in a +large pen with the big mother pig and were very fat and happy—all but +one.</p> + +<p>This poor little fellow was what is called a runt pig, because he was +not nearly so big as the others, nor so strong. They crowded him away at +dinner time, so that he barely got enough to live on, and stayed small +and thin, while the others grew every day fatter and fatter.</p> + +<p>At last the little runt pig made up his mind that he would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> run away +and be a wild pig such as he had heard his brothers and sisters talk +about sometimes after supper.</p> + +<p>He thought about it a good deal, and one morning bright and early he +started. Being so little, he squeezed through a small hole in the back +of the pen, and then ran away very fast, without stopping to look +behind. He ran and ran, straight across the barnyard, where there were +some chickens scratching, and out into a big field. When he got so tired +that he could go no further he stopped for a little, and then ran on +again.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/ill_039.jpg" width="400" height="304" alt=""OH, HERE'S THE WOODS!"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"OH, HERE'S THE WOODS!"</span> +</div> + +<p>He had to go a long way, but by and by he saw a lot of trees, and said, +"Oh, here's the woods! Now I'll be a wild pig!" So he squeezed between +two boards that made a crack in the fence, and under the trees he saw a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +lot of ripe peaches and apples, for he was in a big orchard.</p> + +<p>It was just peach time, and the little pig was very hungry.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 398px;"> +<img src="images/ill_040.jpg" width="398" height="500" alt="HE BEGAN SQUEALING FOR HIS MOTHER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE BEGAN SQUEALING FOR HIS MOTHER.</span> +</div> + +<p>So he ate and ate, first a lot of peaches, and then a lot of apples; +then a lot more peaches, and then a good many more apples. Then he +picked out only the ripest and finest apples and peaches as he came to +them, and ate and kept on eating until he had pains in his stomach and +began squealing for his mother.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, oh!" he squealed. "I am going right home!" But when he came to +the fence he had eaten so much fruit that he could not get through the +crack again and stuck fast half way. Then he squealed louder than ever, +and pretty soon somebody said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Why, here's a little pig fast in the fence!" And Mr. Man came through +the orchard and took hold of the little pig's hind legs and pressed the +boards apart so's not to hurt him.</p> + +<p>"Whose pig are you, I want to know?" he said as he pulled him out.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Man took the little pig under his arm and went back through the +orchard with him to his house.</p> + +<p>"Here's a little runt pig I found stuck fast in our fence," he said to +Mrs. Man when he got there. "He's eaten too many apples and peaches, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +should think, by the way he looks and squeals."</p> + +<p>Then he fixed up a nice box for him, with clean straw in it, and gave +him some warm milk in a pan. By and by the little pig went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Every day Mr. Man and his wife brought him nice things to eat, and soon +the little pig grew so fat that they had to put him in a larger pen. +Then they fed him still more, and, being all alone, he ate just as much +as he wanted. So he grew and grew, fatter and fatter, and every few +weeks they had to put him in a larger pen, until people came from all +over the country to see what a beautiful large pig he was. Then by and +by there was a fair where all the fine pigs were taken for show, and Mr. +Man and Mrs. Man and the little runt pig all went to the fair, but the +little pig wasn't a little runt pig any more, for he took the first +prize for being the largest and finest pig at the fair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 363px;"> +<img src="images/ill_041.jpg" width="363" height="500" alt="HE TOOK THE FIRST PRIZE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE TOOK THE FIRST PRIZE.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_PIG_STORY" id="THE_SECOND_PIG_STORY"></a>THE SECOND PIG STORY</h2> + +<h3>MR. DOG TELLS OF ANOTHER RUNAWAY WHO HAS A STRANGE ADVENTURE</h3> + +<p>When Mr. Crow had finished the story about the little runt pig Mr. Dog +nodded and said that was a good story and that he knew the mate to it. +So then he filled up his pipe, too, and lit it and leaned back and told +the story about</p> + +<h4>CURLY, THE RUNAWAY.</h4> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/ill_042.jpg" width="364" height="500" alt="AS BIG AS YOU PLEASE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">AS BIG AS YOU PLEASE.</span> +</div> + +<p>"This," said Mr. Dog, "is the story of a saucy pig—a saucy, fat pig, +with a curly tail. He wasn't good to his brothers and sisters, and was +greedy, and not very clean, either, because he wouldn't wear his bib at +the table, and often grabbed things and tipped them over, instead of +being polite and taking what his mother put on his plate.</p> + +<p>"Besides this, the saucy pig, who was called Curly, used to boast of how +strong he was, and how fast he could run and how far he could jump, and +when he heard some story about a little runt pig who ran away and made +his fortune—the same one you told, perhaps—he went around boasting +that he could do that any day, and that he could run twice as far as any +little runt pig, and get twice as fat and take twice as big a prize at +the fair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>"</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 366px;"> +<img src="images/ill_043.jpg" width="366" height="500" alt="HE COULDN'T GET THROUGH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE COULDN'T GET THROUGH.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Well, he talked and bragged about it so much that by and by he really +believed he could do everything he said, and made up his mind to run +away sure enough. He didn't creep out through a hole and slip away, as +your little pig did, but took a pretty valise that he had got for +Christmas and put all his things in it, and some of his brothers' and +sisters' things, too, and then put on his best suit and walked out the +front door, as big as you please, with the others all looking at him and +wishing they were as big and strong as Curly, so they could go, too, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +take their playthings away from him, they didn't care which. Then one of +them ran back and said, 'Oh, ma, Curly's running away! Curly's running +away, ma, and he's taken our things!'</p> + +<p>"But Curly's mother didn't worry much. 'Oh, well, just let him go,' she +said. 'He'll be back quick enough.' Then she took her afternoon nap, and +Curly walked out across the meadow, sniffing the sunshine and talking to +himself about what he was going to do.</p> + +<p>"Then he remembered that the little runt pig had run, and Curly thought +he ought to run some, too, but he was so fat he couldn't run far, and +had to sit down to rest, and then he walked on again and kept walking +until he thought he must be almost to the edge of the world, which his +mother had told him was just beyond the woods. He was getting very +tired, when all at once he came to a gate and looked up, and there was +an orchard full of ripe apples and peaches, just as the little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> runt +pig had found. The cracks in the fence were too small for him to try to +get through, but he thought he could wiggle under the gate. So he got +down in the dust with his new clothes and wiggled and wriggled, but he +couldn't get through, and when he tried he couldn't get back, either.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 377px;"> +<img src="images/ill_044.jpg" width="377" height="500" alt="RAN TO HIS MOTHER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">RAN TO HIS MOTHER.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Then he began to squeal. He could squeal louder than any two other pigs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +almost, and by and by Mr. Man, who was working in the next field, heard +him and came running. When Curly heard Mr. Man coming he thought, 'Now +he'll take me home and make me a great pig, just as he did the little +runt pig.' But Mr. Man didn't. 'Here, you rascal!' he said, what are you +doing under my gate? I'll fix you.' Then he picked up a long, scratchy +stick and commenced to beat Mr. Curly, first on one side and then on the +other, till he squealed and howled so loud that you could hear him +almost a mile. Then Mr. Man caught him by the leg and opened the gate +and pulled him out. 'Now, you go home!' he said, and Curly started, but +he was so frightened that he didn't know where home or any place else +was, and he scampered off without his hat or playthings, and ran and ran +and ran till he almost dropped. And just then one of my family, who had +been digging out a mole, happened to see the pig running and took after +him and caught him and dragged him round and round by the ear till Mr. +Man came running and parted them and held my relative by the collar +while he pushed Curly with his foot in the other direction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Now I guess you'll go home!' he said, and Curly thought so, too, and +limped off, trying to run. It was such a long way back home that it +seemed as if he never would get there. Every minute he thought he heard +my cousin coming after him, but he couldn't run any more to save his +life, and his ear was bleeding and hurt him, and he cried and squealed, +and when at last he did get home he slipped in the back way and tried to +wash his face and brush his clothes before they saw him, but they all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +saw him come in, with his sore ear and his nice, new clothes all torn +and dirty. Then they began to laugh and point at him, and said:—"</p> + +<p>"'Oh, here comes Curly, the runaway. He's been to the fair and brought +home the red ribbon on his ear!' And that was the very meanest thing +they could say, for, of course, they meant the red blood on his ear, and +poor Curly ran to his mother and cried and sobbed as if his heart would +break and said he would never, never run away again as long as he lived.</p> + +<p>"And I've heard," concluded Mr. Dog, "that he never did."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MR_DOG_TAKES_LESSONS_IN_DANCING" id="MR_DOG_TAKES_LESSONS_IN_DANCING"></a>MR. DOG TAKES LESSONS IN DANCING</h2> + +<h3>JACK RABBIT PLAYS ONE MORE JOKE ON MR. DOG</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 365px;"> +<img src="images/ill_045.jpg" width="365" height="500" alt="MR. RABBIT WAS MAKING SOAP IN THE BACK YARD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. RABBIT WAS MAKING SOAP IN THE BACK YARD.</span> +</div> + +<p>After Mr. Dog had finished his pig story he and Mr. Crow got to talking +over old times and telling what happened to them when they were boys and +how everything had changed and how young fellows now had things pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +much their own way and no trouble to get an education.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow said that he believed if he'd had half a chance when he was +young he'd have made an artist. He said he used to draw off likenesses +on his slate so that anybody could almost tell who they were and that +the 'Coon and the 'Possum each had in their rooms in the Big Hollow Tree +pictures of themselves that he had drawn which were just as good to-day +as the day they were made.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dog thought it was mighty fine to be talented like that. He said +that his early education had been neglected, too, and that he knew he +might have been a poet, for he could make rhymes just as easy as falling +off a log, and that he knew three rhymes for every word he could think +of except "silver"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> and "orange." Of course, it was too late now, and +he had mostly given up poetry and thought some of going into society. +All he needed was good clothes and a few instructions in manners and +some dancing lessons. He said he was just as young and just as good +looking as he ever was, and that in a few days he'd have some new +clothes. Then he asked Mr. Crow if he knew of anybody that would give +him some lessons in politeness and dancing.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow thought a while, and then said that he didn't know of a soul in +the neighborhood that could be so polite and dance as well as Mr. Jack +Rabbit, and that he didn't suppose Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Dog were on good +terms. That made Mr. Dog feel pretty bad, 'cause he knew it was just +that way, and by and by he got Mr. Crow to promise that he would go and +call on Jack Rabbit next morning and see if he couldn't fix it up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +somehow for him to take a few lessons. So next morning Mr. Crow called +over to see Mr. Rabbit, and found him making soap out in the back yard. +He had a good fire built between some stones and a big kettle full of +brown stuff, which he was stirring with a long stick. He seemed to be +feeling pretty well, for he kept singing,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">"Fire and stir, and grease and lye—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Soap to scrub with by and by."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said the Little Lady. "Do they make soap like that?"</p> + +<p>They used to in old times. They made what they called a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> lye by running +water through new wood ashes, and then they put grease in it and boiled +it in a big kettle. It was very strong soap, and people didn't wash +their hands with it, because it got into sore places and burnt and stung +like fury. But they used it a good deal to scrub with, and Jack Rabbit +made it himself because he was smart and knew how.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 381px;"> +<img src="images/ill_046.jpg" width="381" height="500" alt="BOWED POLITELY, AS IF HE WERE MEETING LADIES." title="" /> +<span class="caption">BOWED POLITELY, AS IF HE WERE MEETING LADIES.</span> +</div> + +<p>Well, the Crow told him all about what Mr. Dog had said, and Mr. Rabbit +kept stirring and singing kind of soft like to himself, and smiling a +little, and by and by, when the Crow was done, he said that of course +Mr. Dog wasn't very polite, and that some lessons would certainly do him +good. As for dancing, he said that if Mr. Dog would promise to do just +as he told him he would be able to dance as many as three different +steps in less than five minutes after he got there.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow said that Mr. Dog had promised anything, and that he would send +him over that very afternoon. And, sure enough right after dinner, here +comes Mr. Dog, lickety split, to take lessons. Jack Rabbit had his door +locked and his window open, and was sitting by it and looking out when +Mr. Dog got there. He told Mr. Dog to sit right down and catch his +breath a little, and then the lessons would begin. His kettle of soap +was all done, and he had taken it off of the fire, but the fire wasn't +out yet, though it looked as if it was, because it had burned down to +coals and white ashes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rabbit had his new soap in the house, and he spread some of it on a +cloth and tossed it down to Mr. Dog.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 381px;"> +<img src="images/ill_047.jpg" width="381" height="500" alt="GAVE A HOWL AND JUMPED STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR." title="" /> +<span class="caption">GAVE A HOWL AND JUMPED STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR.</span> +</div> + +<p>"That's a dance plaster," he said, "but you don't put it on quite yet. +The first thing will be some lessons in politeness. You must look +straight at me and do just as I tell you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Dog said that he would do that, and took a seat facing Mr. Rabbit +and paid close attention. Then Jack Rabbit got up and bowed politely, as +if he were meeting ladies, and, of course, took a step or two backward +as he bowed, and then Mr. Dog bowed and took some steps backward, too. +And then he sat down, and Mr. Rabbit told him just where his mistakes +were, and made him do it over and over until Mr. Dog had bowed and +scraped and backed himself almost into the fire, though he didn't know +it.</p> + +<p>Next, Jack Rabbit said, they'd have a lesson in paying compliments, and +then the dancing. Now, whenever anybody pays a compliment to Mr. Dog he +always wags his tail; so the Rabbit thought of the very finest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +compliment he could think of and paid it to Mr. Dog, and Mr. Dog forgot +that it was only a lesson and was so happy to receive such a compliment +from Mr. Jack Rabbit that he wagged his tail a great big wag sideways +and then up and down, until all at once he gave a howl and jumped +straight up in the air, for he had pounded his tail right into the ashes +and hot coals of Mr. Rabbit's fire.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 378px;"> +<img src="images/ill_048.jpg" width="378" height="500" alt="TOOK OVER THE HILL TOWARDS HOME." title="" /> +<span class="caption">TOOK OVER THE HILL TOWARDS HOME.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Did it burn him much?" asked the Little Lady.</p> + +<p>It did that, and he howled and jumped up and down and whirled first one +way and then the other, and Jack Rabbit leaned out of the window and +held his sides and said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"That's it! That's the step! Dance, Mr. Dog; dance!"</p> + +<p>When Mr. Dog heard that, he thought the Rabbit was really in earnest, +and didn't know, perhaps, he had wagged his tail into the fire; so he +quit howling and really tried to do a few fancy steps, and Jack Rabbit +almost died trying to keep from laughing, but he managed to do it, and +he called out to Mr. Dog that he was doing fine, and that all he needed +now was the dance plaster on his tail. When Mr. Dog heard that, he +thought perhaps a dance plaster would take the smart away, too, and he +sat right down and tied it on, tight. And then pretty soon that soft<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +soap began to act, and, right then, of all the howling and dancing and +performance that you ever heard of, Mr. Dog did it. Mr. Rabbit couldn't +hold in any longer, and lay back in his chair, and laughed, and rolled +on his bed and shouted, and when Mr. Dog heard him he knew he had been +fooled again, and he took off over the hill toward home a good deal +faster than he came. Every little ways he'd stop to dance and perform, +and try to get that plaster off his tail, and every time he stopped Jack +Rabbit would sing out:—</p> + +<p>"That's a new step, Mr. Dog! You're doing fine! Dance, Mr. Dog; dance!"</p> + +<p>And for a long time after that Mr. Dog didn't like to go out much, +because everywhere he went somebody would be sure to say to him:—</p> + +<p>"That's a new step, Mr. Dog! Dance, Mr. Dog; dance!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MR_RABBITS_UNWELCOME_COMPANY" id="MR_RABBITS_UNWELCOME_COMPANY"></a>MR. RABBIT'S UNWELCOME COMPANY</h2> + +<h3>MR. POLECAT MAKES A MORNING CALL AND MR. DOG DROPS IN</h3> + +<p>"I think I shall have to tell you about Mr. Polecat," said the Story +Teller, "and about his visit to Mr. Rabbit."</p> + +<p>"Who's Mr. Polecat?" said the Little Lady. "You never told me about him +before."</p> + +<p>"Well, no, because you see Mr. Polecat is so queer in some of his ways +that people even don't talk about him a great deal. He is really quite a +nice gentleman, though, when he doesn't get excited. But when he does he +loses friends.</p> + +<p>"The trouble is with the sort of perfumery he uses when he gets excited, +just as some people use a smelling bottle, and nobody seems to like the +sort Mr. Polecat uses except himself. I suppose he must like it or he +wouldn't be so free with it. But other people go away when he uses +it—mostly in the direction the wind's blowing from—and in a hurry, as +if they were afraid they'd miss a train. Even Mr. Dog doesn't stop to +argue with Mr. Polecat. Nobody does, and all the other deep woods people +do their best to make him happy and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> to keep him in a good humor +whenever he comes about, and give him their nicest things to eat and a +lot to carry home with him, so he'll start just as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>"But more than anything they try to keep him from saying anything about +Mr. Dog or hinting or even thinking about Mr. Dog, for when he does any +of these things he's apt to get excited, and then sometimes he opens up +that perfume of his and his friends fall over each other to get out of +reach. They're never very happy to see him coming, and they're always +glad to see him go, even when he's had a quiet visit and goes pretty +soon, which is just what didn't happen one time when he came to call on +Jack Rabbit, and it's that time I'm going to tell about.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Rabbit looked out his door one morning and there was Mr. Polecat, +all dressed up, coming to see him. He wasn't very far off, either, and +Mr. Rabbit hardly had time to jerk down a crayon picture of Mr. Dog that +he'd made the day before, just for practice. He pushed it under the bed +quick, and when Mr. Polecat came up he bowed and smiled, and said what a +nice day it was, and that he'd bring a chair outside if Mr. Polecat +would like to sit there instead of coming in where it wasn't so +pleasant.</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Polecat said he guessed he'd come in, as it was a little chilly +and he didn't feel very well anyway. So he came inside, and Jack Rabbit +gave him his best chair and brought out a little table and put a lot of +nice things on it that Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> Polecat likes, and began right away to pack +a basket for him to take home.</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Polecat didn't seem to be in any hurry to go. He ate some of +the nice things, and then leaned back to talk and smoke, and told Mr. +Rabbit all the news he'd heard as he came along, and Mr. Rabbit got more +and more worried, for he knew that just as likely as not Mr. Polecat had +heard something about Mr. Dog and would begin to tell it pretty soon, +and then no knowing what would happen. So Jack Rabbit just said 'Yes' +and 'No' and began to talk about Mr. Robin, because Mr. Robin was a good +friend of everybody and nobody could get excited just talking about Mr. +Robin. But Mr. Polecat says:—'Oh, yes, I saw Mr. Robin as I came along, +and he called to me that Mr. Dog——' And then Jack Rabbit changed the +subject as quick as he could and spoke about Mr. Squirrel, and Mr. +Polecat says:—'Oh, did you hear how Mr. Squirrel went over to Mr. Man's +house and saw Mr. Dog there——' And then poor Mr. Rabbit had to think +quick and change the subject again to the Hollow Tree people, and Mr. +Polecat said:—'Oh, yes. I stopped by that way as I came along, and they +called out to me from up stairs how you were practising drawing, and +that you gave Mr. Dog some dancing lessons the other day, and then made +a fine picture of him just as he looked when he danced into the hot +coals, so I hurried right over here for just to see that picture.'</p> + +<p>"Poor Mr. Rabbit! He didn't know what to do. He knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> right away that +the Hollow Tree people had told about the picture to get rid of Mr. +Polecat, and he made up his mind that he'd get even with them some day +for getting him in such a fix. But some day was a long ways off and Mr. +Polecat was right there under his nose, so Mr. Rabbit said, just as +quick as he could say it, that the Hollow Tree people were always making +jokes, and that the picture was just as poor as it could be, and that +he'd be ashamed to show it to anybody, much more to a talented gentleman +like Mr. Polecat. But that made Mr. Polecat all the more anxious to see +it, for he was sure Mr. Rabbit was only modest, and pretty soon he +happened to spy the edge of the picture frame under Mr. Rabbit's bed, +and just reached under and pulled it out, before Mr. Rabbit could help +himself.</p> + +<p>"Well, he picked up that picture and looked at it a minute, and Jack +Rabbit began to back off toward the door and say a few soothing words, +when all at once Mr. Polecat leaned back and commenced to laugh and +laugh at the funny picture Mr. Dog made where Mr. Rabbit called to him, +'Dance! Mr. Dog, dance!' And then, of course, Mr. Rabbit felt better, +for if his company thought it was funny and laughed there wasn't so much +danger.</p> + +<p>"'Why,' said Mr. Polecat, 'it's the best thing I ever saw! You could +almost imagine that Mr. Dog himself was right here, howling and barking +and dancing.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no, hardly that,' said Mr. Rabbit. 'Of course I suppose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> it is a +little like him, but it's not at all as if he were here, you know—not +at all—and he's ever so far off, I'm sure, and won't come again for a +long time. You know, he's——'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes, it is!' declared Mr. Polecat. 'It's just as if he were right +here. And I can just hear him howl and bark, and——'</p> + +<p>"And right there Mr. Polecat stopped and Mr. Rabbit stopped, and both of +them held their breath and listened, for sure enough they did hear Mr. +Dog howling and barking and coming toward the house as straight as he +could come.</p> + +<p>"Jack Rabbit gave a jump right up in the air, and hollered, 'Run! Mr. +Polecat, run! and go the back way!' But Mr. Polecat never runs from +anybody—he doesn't have to—he just opens up that perfume of his and +the other people do the running. So Mr. Rabbit gave one more jump, and +this time he jumped straight up the chimney, and didn't stop till he got +to the roof, where he found a loose board and put it over the chimney +quick and sat down on it. Then he called to Mr. Dog, who was coming +lickety-split through the woods:—</p> + +<p>"'Why, how are you, Mr. Dog? Glad to see you! Walk right in. There's +company down stairs; just make yourself at home till I come down.' You +see there was no use to stop him now, because Mr. Rabbit could tell by +what was coming up the chimney that it was too late, and he wanted Mr. +Dog to get a good dose of it as well as himself.</p> + +<p>"And Mr. Dog did come just as hard as he could tear, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> the wind was +blowing toward the house and he couldn't detect anything wrong until he +gave a great big jump into Mr. Rabbit's sitting room and right into the +midst of the most awful smell that was ever turned loose in the Big Deep +Woods.</p> + +<p>"Well, it took Mr. Dog so suddenly that he almost fainted away. Then he +gave a howl, as if a wagon had run over his tail, and tumbled out of +that sitting room and set out for home without once stopping to look +behind him. Then Mr. Rabbit laughed and laughed, and called:—</p> + +<p>"'Come back! Mr. Dog. Came back and stay with us. Mr. Polecat's going to +spend a week with me. Come back and have a good time.'</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Dog didn't stop, and he didn't seem to hear, and by and by Mr. +Polecat called up that he was going home and that Mr. Rabbit could come +down now, for Mr. Dog was gone and wouldn't come back, he guessed. But +Mr. Rabbit said no, he didn't feel very well yet and guessed he'd stay +where he was for the present, and that if Mr. Polecat was going he might +leave both doors open and let the wind draw through the house, because +he always liked to air his house after Mr. Dog had been to see him. Then +Mr. Polecat took his basket and went, and Jack Rabbit didn't come down +for a long time, and when he did he couldn't stay in his house for the +awful smell. So he went over to stay a week with the Hollow Tree people, +and his clothes didn't smell nice, either,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> but they had to stand it, +and Mr. Rabbit said it served them right for getting him into such a +fix. It was over a week before he could go back to his house again, and +even then it wasn't just as he wanted it to be, and he aired it every +day for a long time.</p> + +<p>"But there was one thing that made him laugh, and that was when he heard +from Mr. Robin how Mr. Dog got home and Mr. Man wouldn't have him about +the house or even in the yard, but made him stay out in the woods for as +much as ten days, until he had got rid of every bit of Mr. Polecat's +nice perfumery."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HOW_MR_DOG_GOT_EVEN" id="HOW_MR_DOG_GOT_EVEN"></a>HOW MR. DOG GOT EVEN</h2> + +<h3>THE FOREST FRIENDS PREPARE FOR A MAY PARTY AND ARRANGE FOR A QUIET TIME</h3> + +<p>Well, yes, said the Story Teller, Mr. Dog did have a good deal of +trouble, and it makes me sorry for him sometimes when I think about it. +He still kept good friends with the Crow and the Turtle, though, and was +on pretty fair terms with Mr. Robin and most all the rest of the Bird +family, besides living in the same yard with Mr. Man, who always kept an +eye on him and got him out of trouble when he could. Of course Jack +Rabbit and the Hollow Tree people mostly got the best of Mr. Dog, but +there was one time when they didn't. This is how it happened.</p> + +<p>Once upon a time Mr. Jack Rabbit was spending the evening over at the +big Hollow Tree with the Crow and the 'Coon and the 'Possum. They had +all had their supper, and were leaning back and talking about the +weather and what a late spring it had been, and how bad the cold rains +were for young chickens. Mr. Rabbit didn't care for chickens himself, +but he usually kept some for his friends, and always had a nice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> patch +of young clover and some garden vegetables for his own use. He said the +late frost had killed his early lettuce and young cabbage plants, and +that his clover patch looked as if a fire had been through it.</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Coon smoked a little and looked into the fire and said that he +guessed to-morrow would be a warm day, and the Crow said he knew it +would be because he could feel it in his leg, where a stray shot from +Mr. Man's gun happened to hit him once when he was taking a walk in Mr. +Man's cornfield just about this time of year.</p> + +<p>The 'Possum put his thumbs in the armholes of his vest and leaned back +against the mantel, and said he had a plan he wanted to tell them about. +When he said that they all kept still to listen, because they knew when +the 'Possum had a plan it always meant something good to eat, and they +were always ready to hear about good things to eat, even when they'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +just got up from the supper table.</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Possum puffed a few puffs of smoke, and then he went on to say that +after so much bad weather in April he thought it would be proper for +them to give an outdoor feast and a woods party on the first day of May. +All the others spoke up right off and said that was just the thing. Then +they all began talking at once about what each would bring and whom they +should invite.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 396px;"> +<img src="images/ill_049.jpg" width="396" height="500" alt="HE FELT FOR THE INVITATION." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE FELT FOR THE INVITATION.</span> +</div> + +<p>Jack Rabbit said he would invite Mr. Chipmunk and Mr Quail, and that he +would speak a piece composed for the occasion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> The 'Coon said he would +invite Mr. Fox, because he had the best chickens, and would bring a +basket of them along. The 'Possum said that would be a good plan, and +that they ought to try as much as they could to invite people that would +bring things. That made the Crow laugh, and he said if they wanted to do +that they might invite Mr. Man himself.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 379px;"> +<img src="images/ill_050.jpg" width="379" height="500" alt="FORGOT HE'D EVER HAD ANY TROUBLE IN HIS LIFE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">FORGOT HE'D EVER HAD ANY TROUBLE IN HIS LIFE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Of course all the others laughed at first when they heard that, and +then, all at once, they quit laughing, for speaking of Mr. Man made them +think of Mr. Dog, and they knew how he was always trapesing around the +country where he wasn't wanted, and just as likely as not would walk +right in on them at dinner time and make it unpleasant for everybody.</p> + +<p>They all felt pretty lonesome when they thought of that, and then the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +Crow laughed again and said he would send over a note by Mr. Robin to +Mr. Dog inviting him to go and see some friends of his that had just +moved across the Wide Grass Lands. He said Mr. Dog would be glad to go, +and that his friends would be glad to see him, and that it would take +all day to make the trip and do no harm to anybody. Then all of them +felt well again.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow wrote the note right away, and when he invited the Robin to the +May party next morning he asked him if he would take Mr. Dog's +invitation over to him and slip it under his door before he was up. He +said it was to be a surprise for Mr. Dog, and he didn't want him to know +just who sent the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> invitation. He didn't tell the Robin that it was an +invitation for Mr. Dog to get out of the country, because the Robin is a +good bird and wouldn't help to deceive anybody for the world.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/ill_051.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="AT MR. FOX'S HOUSE THE FEATHERS WERE FLYING." title="" /> +<span class="caption">AT MR. FOX'S HOUSE THE FEATHERS WERE FLYING.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Robin was tickled 'most to death at his own invitation, and slipped +Mr. Dog's in his pocket, and hurried off with it just as fast as ever he +could. He was so excited that he forgot he had a hole in the pocket of +his coat, and never thought of it till he got to Mr. Man's yard, where +Mr. Dog's house was. Then he remembered all at once, and when he felt +for the invitation and turned his pocket inside out there was the hole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +all right, but the invitation was gone.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 368px;"> +<img src="images/ill_052.jpg" width="368" height="500" alt="TOOK ONE MORE LOOK AT HIMSELF IN THE GLASS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">TOOK ONE MORE LOOK AT HIMSELF IN THE GLASS.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Robin at first didn't know what to do. Then he happened to think +that all Mr. Crow had said was that he didn't want Mr. Dog to know just +who sent it to him, so he went right up to Mr. Dog's house and rapped. +Mr. Dog came out yawning, but when he heard that he was invited to a May +party he forgot that he'd ever had any trouble in his life, and danced +and rolled over and wagged his tail, till the Robin thought he was +having a fit. Then when Mr. Dog heard that the party was gotten up +mostly on his own account, and was to be a kind of a surprise, he had +another fit, and said he never was so happy in the world. Mr. Robin said +he couldn't tell him just who sent the invitation, but he told him a few +of those invited, and Mr. Dog grew six inches taller and said he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> must +certainly have some more new clothes for a party like that.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Robin set off home to get ready, for there were only two days +more in April and everybody had to scramble around to be ready in time, +especially Mr. Jack Rabbit, who had to write a poem. Over at Mr. Fox's +house the feathers were flying, and at the Hollow Tree Mr. Crow had his +sleeves rolled up, baking all day long. The 'Coon sat in his room and +rocked and planned games, and the 'Possum followed Mr. Crow about and +told him new things to cook. Everywhere in the woods, and even out in +the Wide Grass Lands, folks were staying up nights to get ready, but +none of them felt as happy or took as much trouble to look well as Mr. +Dog. He knew there couldn't be any joke this time, because Mr. Robin had +invited him, and Mr. Robin wouldn't play a joke on anybody. Every little +while he would go out and roll on the grass in the sun and then go in +and put on his new clothes and stand before the glass. Then he would +march up and down and try to see if his coat wrinkled under the arms and +if his trousers fitted neatly around the waist. As he thought the party +was to be given for him, of course he wasn't expected to bring anything +except all the style he could put on, and when the morning came Mr. Dog +did put on all he could carry, and took one more look at himself in the +glass and started. He had never felt so happy in his life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HOW_MR_DOG_GOT_EVEN_2" id="HOW_MR_DOG_GOT_EVEN_2"></a>HOW MR. DOG GOT EVEN</h2> + +<h4>CONTINUED</h4> + +<h3>THE SURPRISE OF MR. RABBIT AND OTHERS</h3> + +<p>Poor Mr. Dog! He did not dream that the Robin had made a big mistake +when he invited him. He was all ready for a grand time and thought he +was to be the guest of honor. But the 'Coon and the 'Possum and all the +rest thought he was in another part of the country that day, and when +they got to the place where the party was to be they shook hands and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +laughed about how Mr. Crow had played it on Mr. Dog and then rolled on +the grass and cut up in a great way.</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox was there with all his folks, and Mr. Squirrel and his folks, +and Mr. Weasel and Mr. Woodchuck and Mrs. Quail, and ever so many +others. Mr. Rabbit had picked out the spot, which was a pretty, green, +open place in the woods, and right in the centre of it a little weeping +willow tree, with long, trailing branches like ribbons. This was to be +their May pole, and they were so happy that they commenced dancing +almost as soon as they got there. Mr. Dog, of course, hadn't arrived +yet. It had taken him so long to dress, and then he had a long way to +come, so he was late.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pretty soon Mr. 'Possum puffed and blowed because he was so fat, and +said he thought they ought to sit right down and begin to eat, and let +Mr. Jack Rabbit read his poem to them through the first course. The +Rabbit was willing to do that, for he would rather read his own poetry +than eat any time, and, besides, the first course was something he +didn't like very well. So then they all sat down around the table cloth +which they had spread on the grass, and Mr. Rabbit got up and put his +right hand in the breast of his coat. He commenced by saying that his +friends seemed to think he was a good deal of a poet, but that he had +always been too busy to really write his best, and that all his poems, +like the one he was just about to read, had been little inspirations +tossed off on the spur of the moment. Of course, everybody there knew +that Jack Rabbit had sat up two whole days and nights to write his poem, +but they all cheered and clapped their hands, and Mr. Rabbit bowed and +coughed a little and began to read:—</p> + +<h4>WHEN MR. DOG'S AWAY.</h4> + +<p class="center">By J. Rabbit.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Oh, 'tis happy in the woodland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">When Mr. Dog's away;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">'Tis happy in the woodland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">Upon the first of May.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">He's gone across the grassland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">We hope he's gone to stay;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Then don't forget the feast is set</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">And Mr. Dog's away.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Robin was just about to speak up at this moment and say that Mr. Dog +was surely coming, but the others cheered so that nobody heard him, and +Mr. Rabbit went on with his poem.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Then 'tis hey! for Mr. Woodchuck!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">And tis hi! for Mrs. Quail!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And 'tis ho! for Mr. 'Possum</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">With a bowknot on his tail!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Then 'tis hip! for Mr. Robin</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">And for all the rest, hurray!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">The friends are met, the feast is set,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">And Mr. Dog's away.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Hurray! hurray!" shouted all the others. "The friends are met, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +feast is set, and Mr. Dog's away!"</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Then hand around the glasses</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">And fill them to the brim,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And drink a health to Mr. Dog,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">For we are fond of him.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And, though he be not present</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">Upon this happy day,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">We'll fill the cup and drink it up</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">To Mr. Dog away!</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 386px;"> +<img src="images/ill_053.jpg" width="386" height="500" alt="SAW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SAW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.</span> +</div> + +<p>At the last line everybody was just about to lift their glasses and give +a great big cheer for the poem, when all at once they saw by Jack +Rabbit's face that something was wrong. Then they all looked where he +was looking, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> there, right before them, bowing and smiling, stood +Mr. Dog himself! He had just come in time to hear the last stanza of the +poem and was ready to dance with joy, he was so happy to think they were +drinking his health when he wasn't there.</p> + +<p>He felt so good that he didn't notice how surprised they looked, and +slipped into a seat at the table, saying he was sorry to be late, and +that he had just heard the last lines of Mr. Rabbit's poem, but that +they had made him very proud and happy, and he hoped Mr. Jack Rabbit +would read it again for his benefit.</p> + +<p>Of course, nearly everybody there was scared almost into fits, but they +didn't dare to let on, for they saw that there had been an awful mistake +somewhere, and if Mr. Dog found it out and knew he hadn't been invited +no telling what might happen. Jack Rabbit smiled, kind of sickly like, +and said that he had been overcome by the excitement, and didn't feel +quite able to read the poem again. He said he hoped Mr. Dog would judge +the first verses, though, by the last, and feel just as glad to be there +as they were to have him. And all the rest said, "Oh, yes, so glad to +have Mr. Dog with us," and kept piling things oh his plate, so he +wouldn't want anything to eat besides his dinner. Mr. Dog felt so well +and was in such a good humor that he commenced pretty soon to tell +stories and jokes on himself, and by and by told about the time he went +over to take dancing lessons of Jack Rabbit.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 393px;"> +<img src="images/ill_054.jpg" width="393" height="500" alt="HE SET OUT FOR HOME." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE SET OUT FOR HOME.</span> +</div> + +<p>Everybody thought at first that they'd better laugh at Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> Dog's jokes, +and they did laugh like everything, but when he started that story about +what Mr. Rabbit had done to him they didn't know whether to laugh or +not. Some laughed a little and some didn't, and Mr. Rabbit said he +thought it was getting a little too warm for him there in the sun, and +he believed he'd go and sit in the shade a minute and cool off, so he +went over behind some waxberry bushes, where it was shady, and the +minute he got where Mr. Dog couldn't see him he set out for home just +about as fast as he could travel, without stopping to say goodby or to +look behind him.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 376px;"> +<img src="images/ill_055.jpg" width="376" height="500" alt="MR. DOG MADE A SPEECH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. DOG MADE A SPEECH.</span> +</div> + +<p>Pretty soon Mr. 'Coon said he thought mebbe Mr. Rabbit was sicker than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +he let on, and he guessed he'd better go and see about it. So he went +over behind the waxberry bushes, too, and was half way home before you +could say "Jack Robinson." Then Mr. 'Possum told Mr. Crow that he hoped +he and the others would entertain Mr. Dog a while, for he knew Mr. 'Coon +would need help, and away he went, and before long Mr. Fox and Mr. +Woodchuck, and Mr. Squirrel and all their folks had gone over behind the +waxberry bushes to look after Mr. Rabbit too, and none of them wasted a +minute's time making tracks for home as soon as they got out of sight.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 375px;"> +<img src="images/ill_056.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="THE THREE FRIENDS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE THREE FRIENDS.</span> +</div> + +<p>But the Crow and the Turtle and the Robin didn't go because they were +all on good terms with Mr. Dog. Mrs. Quail didn't go either, though +before long most everybody else had gone. Then Mr. Crow said he guessed +poor Mr. Rabbit's friends had taken him home, and Mr. Dog said he was +sorry,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> and that it was too bad anything should happen that way when +folks were having such a good time. He said he'd call at Jack Rabbit's +house next day to see how he was and hear the rest of that poem. Then +Mr. Crow and Mr. Turtle laughed and laughed, and Mr. Dog didn't know +what they were laughing at, but he felt so well that he laughed too, and +Mr. Robin, who had found out by this time what a bad mistake he had +made, couldn't help laughing some himself.</p> + +<p>Then they had dessert, and Mr. Dog made a speech and thanked them for +the fine party and surprise in his honor, and declared he had never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +spent such a happy day in all his life. He said there had been a little +misunderstanding now and then between himself and some of the forest +folks, but he knew now that all was forgiven, and that he would never +forget this happy May party.</p> + +<p>And Mr. Dog never did forget it, concluded the Story Teller—at least +not for a long time—and he doesn't know to this day that the party +wasn't given specially for him, or that Mr. Jack Rabbit's poem wasn't +written in his honor.</p> + +<p>"You can sing the Hollow Tree Song, now," said the Little Lady, +drowsily.</p> + +<p>So then the Story Teller sang the song that the forest people sing when, +on dark nights in the far depths of the Deep Woods, they are feasting at +the table of the 'Coon, the 'Possum and the Old Black Crow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p>Long before he had finished, the Little Lady was in the land of dreams.</p> + +<p>And the Story Teller had been dreaming, too, while he sang.</p> + +<h4>THE HOLLOW TREE SONG.</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Oh, there was an old 'Possum in the Big Deep Woods—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">As fat as a 'Possum could be—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">And he lived in a hollow, hollow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 35em;">hollow, hollow, hollow,</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 23em;">He lived in a hollow tree.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Oh, there was an old Coon in the Big Deep Woods—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">As sly as a 'Coon could be—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">And he lived in a hollow, hollow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 35em;">hollow, hollow, hollow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">He lived in a hollow tree.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Oh, there was an old Crow in the Big Deep Woods—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">As black as a Crow could be—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">And he lived in a hollow, hollow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 35em;">hollow, hollow, hollow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">He lived in a hollow tree.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">For they all lived together in the Big Deep Woods,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">As you can plainly see,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">And the 'Possum made one, and the 'Coon made two,</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 23em;">And the Old Black Crow made three.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Then here's to the 'Possum, and the Old Black Crow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">And the 'Coon, with a one, two, three!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">And here's to the hollow, hollow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 35em;">hollow, hollow, hollow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">And here's to the hollow tree.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_057.jpg" width="500" height="186" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_058.jpg" width="500" height="134" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="THE_LITTLE_LADYS_VACATION_AND_HER_RETURN" id="THE_LITTLE_LADYS_VACATION_AND_HER_RETURN"></a>THE LITTLE LADY'S VACATION AND HER RETURN</h2> + +<p>The Little Lady who lives in the House of Many Windows (sometimes called +a flat or an apartment by people who, because they are grown up, do not +know any better) had been spending the summer on a nice farm in the Land +of Pleasant Fields. There had been many things to see—little pigs among +other things, and some very small chickens. Also a cow with two +calves—one a dark red one, and one spotted, even to its tail, that +looked like a barber pole.</p> + +<p>Amid all this, and a great deal more, not forgetting the Hillside of +Sweet Fruits, the Little Lady had almost forgotten a number of people +who lived in the Big Deep Woods, and whose acquaintance she had made +through the Story Teller during the winter before, while sailing at +evening in the Rockaby Chair for the Shore of White Pillows.</p> + +<p>But when the cold winds began to blow and they were all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> back to the +City of Rumbling Streets in the House of Many Windows again and she +heard the wind men moaning in the speaking tube, she forgot even the +striped tailed calf, and remembered all at once the dark forest and the +queer people who dwelt there. And when the Story Teller that night had +drawn his chair up before the fire and sat rocking she climbed upon his +knee and rocked, too, while he thought, and smoked, and looked into the +blaze.</p> + +<p>The Little Lady waited a good while. Then she took hold of the lapel of +his coat and tugged it gently and looked up into the Story Teller's +face.</p> + +<p>"Tell me a story," she commanded softly. "One about Mr. Crow and Mr. +'Possum, and Mr. Jack Rabbit and all the others. What did they do this +summer? You know; tell it."</p> + +<p>The Story Teller grumbled something about not having met any of these +fellows lately, and rocked a little harder and thought very fast.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose you've heard about Mr. Crow's April fool," he said, as he +knocked the ashes from his pipe into the grate.</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't—not that story—I never heard that story," she said +eagerly.</p> + +<p>So, then, the Story Teller rocked some more, and half shut his eyes and +began.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE" id="THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE"></a>THE STORY OF THE C. X. PIE</h2> + +<h3>MR. CROW PLANS AN APRIL FIRST PARTY AND PREPARES A SURPRISE FOR THE +OCCASION</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 370px;"> +<img src="images/ill_059.jpg" width="370" height="500" alt="TOLD THE 'COON AND 'POSSUM ABOUT IT RIGHT AWAY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">TOLD THE 'COON AND 'POSSUM ABOUT IT RIGHT AWAY.</span> +</div> + +<p>Once upon a time when the Crow and the 'Coon and the 'Possum lived +together in three big hollow branches of a great Hollow Tree in the Big +Deep Woods, and used to meet and have good times together in the parlor +down stairs, the Crow made up his mind to have a party next day. He told +the 'Coon and the 'Possum about it right away, and they asked him if he +was going to have Mr. Dog this time, and Mr. Crow said "No" and looked +foolish, because once he did have Mr. Dog just for a joke and got the +worst of it himself.</p> + +<p>"I remember about that," said the Little Lady.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 357px;"> +<img src="images/ill_060.jpg" width="357" height="500" alt="HE WALKED BACK AND FORTH A WHILE IN HIS OWN ROOM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE WALKED BACK AND FORTH A WHILE IN HIS OWN ROOM.</span> +</div> + +<p>That's what the Crow did, too—remembered, and he had never felt just +right about the way he had been fooled when he meant to fool the others. +So when they reminded him about Mr. Dog he said to himself that he would +fool them yet, and he'd do it at this very party.</p> + +<p>But he made b'lieve he was very meek and said he was going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> to have Mr. +Jack Rabbit over, and Mr. Turtle, to make a full table, and that they +would have chicken pie and hot biscuits with maple syrup for dinner. +This suited the 'Coon and the 'Possum exactly, for Mr. Crow was the best +cook anywhere in the country, and they were both fond of good things. +The 'Coon said he'd go right away with the invitation for Jack Rabbit, +and the 'Possum said that he felt like taking a walk anyway, and that +he'd pass around by the Wide Blue Water where Mr. Turtle lived, and tell +him. So off they went and left Mr. Crow all alone to think about it and +get ready.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/ill_061.jpg" width="400" height="362" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>He walked back and forth a while in his own room and scratched his head, +and then he went down stairs out in the sun and thought some more. All<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +at once he jumped right straight up and laughed, for he happened to +remember that it was the last day of March, and that it was the very +thing to have a party on April fool day, and fool the 'Possum and the +'Coon in some way, so that the others would laugh and say it was the +best joke of the season. Then he thought of a way to fool them, and +pretty soon he had that fixed, too.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/ill_062.jpg" width="350" height="500" alt="WENT RIGHT TO COOKING AND BAKING." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WENT RIGHT TO COOKING AND BAKING.</span> +</div> + +<p>He didn't wait a minute, but went right to cooking and baking just as +hard as ever he could, and pretty soon he had three chicken pies done, +as fine looking as any you ever saw. And two of them were fine, sure +enough—just as fine as Mr. Crow could make them—but the other wasn't +chicken at all. It was made out of leaves and sticks, and the only thing +good about it was the crust. This pie he intended for the 'Coon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> and +the 'Possum, and one of the good ones was for Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Turtle. +The last one was for himself, with an extra piece over for anybody that +might happen to want a second helping.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 338px;"> +<img src="images/ill_063.jpg" width="338" height="500" alt="STOOD AND LOOKED AT THEM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">STOOD AND LOOKED AT THEM.</span> +</div> + +<p>Well, he set them all in a row on the kitchen table, and walked up and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +down looking at them and laughing and thinking what fun it would be for +the others when Mr. 'Possum and Mr. 'Coon cut their pie and tried to eat +what was inside of it. He had the pies set on the table so he knew just +which was which, and besides had made some letters on the upper crust so +the right ones would be sure to get them. On the leaf<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> pie he had "P. +C.," for 'Possum and 'Coon. On one of the others he had "R. T.," for +Rabbit and Turtle. On the last one he had "C. X.," which stood for Crow, +and an extra piece for manners. He had put these letters where the fancy +thing is in the centre of pies, and had joined them together so you'd +hardly notice them at first.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_064.jpg" width="500" height="481" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>All at once, while he was looking at them and laughing, he heard Mr. +'Coon and Mr. 'Possum coming back. Then he called out to them and asked +them if they had invited the guests and told them to come up and see the +pies he had made while they were gone. So they came up and looked at +them, and said they certainly were fine, and that Mr. Rabbit and Mr. +Turtle were busy getting out their best clothes, and would be there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +early.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/ill_065.jpg" width="364" height="500" alt=""OH," SAID MR. 'COON, "I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CUT +THEM."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"OH," SAID MR. 'COON, "I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CUT +THEM."</span> +</div> + +<p>Then the Crow said he guessed he'd slip over to Mr. Man's pantry and +borrow some maple syrup while Mr. Man was at dinner and be back for +early supper. So off he went and left the 'Coon and the 'Possum there +together.</p> + +<p>When he'd been gone awhile Mr. 'Possum said he believed he'd take one +more look at those nice pies, and Mr. 'Coon said he guessed he would, +too. So they went up to Mr. Crow's kitchen again and stood and looked at +them till they were so hungry that Mr. 'Possum licked out his tongue and +walked up and smelled of them. First he smelled a good long smell of the +C. X. pie—so—and said, "O-o-oh! How nice!" Then he smelled a very long +smell of the R. T. pie—so——and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> said, "O-o-o-o-oh! How delicious!" +Then he smelled a very, very long smell of the P. C. pie—so———and +said, "O-o-o-o-o-oh! How strange!"</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 480px;"> +<img src="images/ill_066.jpg" width="480" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>That made the 'Coon want to smell, too, and when he had smelled of all +three he said that there certainly did seem to be a difference in those +pies, and that the last one had a sort of a woodsy spring-like flavor, +like the first of April. That made the 'Possum jump, and he said he had +not remembered till that very minute that to-morrow was the first, sure +enough. Then he said he didn't suppose Mr. Crow would care how the pies +were set on the table, so he moved them about and put the P. C. pie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +where the C. X. pie had stood, and the C. X. pie at the end instead of +the P. C. pie. But while he was doing it he happened to notice the +joined letters in the middle of the pies, which he hadn't seen before. +He looked at first one and then the other, and studied a minute what to +do. Then he picked up an old thin knife that Mr. Crow used for cutting +around cake and slipping pies out sometimes when they stuck to the pan.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Mr. 'Coon. "I hope you're not going to cut them!"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. 'Possum, "Not so's you'll notice it."</p> + +<p>Then he slipped the thin knife around the top crust of the P. C. pie and +lifted it off carefully and looked in and made a very queer face. Mr. +'Coon came and looked in, too, and made another very queer face. Then +Mr. 'Possum lifted off the top of the C. X. pie and looked in and +smiled, and Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> 'Coon looked in and smiled, too. There were two nice, +fat chicken legs right on top, and Mr. 'Coon took one and Mr. 'Possum +the other, because they said that as this was to be their pie any way, +they might just as well have a little taste of it beforehand. Then they +changed the covers and put the P. C. cover on the good pie and C. X. +cover on the fool pie, and just then they heard Mr. Crow coming home, +and slipped down into the parlor and up into their own rooms and +pretended to be asleep when he came in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE_2" id="THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE_2"></a>THE STORY OF THE C. X. PIE</h2> + +<h4>CONTINUED</h4> + +<h3>MR. CROW'S PARTY AND THE OPENING OF THE PIES</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 322px;"> +<img src="images/ill_067.jpg" width="322" height="500" alt="MR. RABBIT CAME IN CARRYING A LARGE BUNCH OF EARLY +FLOWERS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. RABBIT CAME IN CARRYING A LARGE BUNCH OF EARLY +FLOWERS.</span> +</div> + +<p>Well, next morning Mr. Crow was down stairs bright and early, putting +the big parlor room in order and setting the table. Pretty soon the +'Coon and 'Possum came down, too, and helped him, and now and then, when +they happened to look at each other across the table, they would wink +and smile, but they didn't say a word. By and by the three pies were +brought in and set in a row at one end of the table, and nobody could +tell from looking at them but what they were exactly as the Crow had +baked them.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 359px;"> +<img src="images/ill_068.jpg" width="359" height="500" alt="MR. TURTLE HIMSELF WADDLED IN." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. TURTLE HIMSELF WADDLED IN.</span> +</div> + +<p>Just then there was a knock down stairs, and Mr. Rabbit came in carrying +a large bunch of early flowers that he had gathered as he came along, +and dressed in his new spring suit. They saw a little white roll in one +of his coat pockets, too, and they knew it was a poem for the occasion, +for Jack Rabbit writes poems whenever he gets a chance, specially in the +early springtime.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow hurried out and got the pair of pink glass vases<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> that Mr. +'Coon had given him for Christmas and put the flowers in them for the +table, while he asked Jack Rabbit if it was muddy walking and if he had +seen anything of Mr. Turtle.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 359px;"> +<img src="images/ill_069.jpg" width="359" height="500" alt="LEFT THE OTHERS TO SIT AROUND THE TABLE AND TALK." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LEFT THE OTHERS TO SIT AROUND THE TABLE AND TALK.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Rabbit said that the ground was rather damp, but that he could pick +his way pretty well, and that he had never seen such a wet spring since +the year that the Wide Blue Water came up over his back garden and +drowned his early pease. He hadn't seen Mr. Turtle, but just then Mr. +Turtle himself waddled in with a basket of nice water salad, which he +had gathered before starting. Then Mr. Crow hurried off to put his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +biscuits in the oven and left the others to sit around the table and +talk.</p> + +<p>After they had talked about the weather and told the latest things that +had happened to Mr. Dog, who lived with Mr. Man, and whom none of them +liked very well, the 'Possum said all at once that being this was April +First he shouldn't wonder if it was to be a sort of surprise party in +some way.</p> + +<p>That made Mr. Turtle and Jack Rabbit curious right away, and they wanted +to know what kind of a surprise he thought it was going to be and if he +thought it would be a pleasant one. Mr. 'Possum said he was sure it +would be pleasant, and then he looked at the three fine pies on the +table and said it was just as apt to be in one of those pies as +anywhere. Then Mr. Turtle said he'd heard of "four and twenty blackbirds +baked in a pie," and how they began to sing when the pie was opened, but +he hoped it wouldn't be that kind of a surprise,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> for he didn't care +much for blackbirds himself, specially in pies. The 'Possum said there +might be one black bird sing when these pies were opened, but he didn't +b'lieve there'd be any more, which made the 'Coon laugh so he nearly +fell off his chair. Just then they heard the Crow coming, and the +'Possum whispered quick to the Turtle and the Rabbit that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> must be +sure and eat their pie all up and ask for more, as Mr. Crow was proud of +his cooking and always felt offended when people didn't eat heartily.</p> + +<p>Well, Mr. Crow came in carrying a great pan of fine biscuits and set +them down in the middle of the table, while everybody said, "What lovely +biscuits!" and asked whether they were made with buttermilk or baking +powder, and wanted his recipe. Mr. Crow said he didn't have any recipe, +but just took a pinch of this and a pinch of that, and that there was a +good deal in the knack and in having things come natural, just as it was +natural for Mr. Rabbit to write poetry. Then he said he hoped Mr. Rabbit +hadn't forgotten to think up a few thoughts for this occasion, and Mr. +Rabbit said that he had been too busy with spring work to write much +lately, but that he did have a few lines in his pocket that they might +be willing to listen to. So then he took out the roll he had brought and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +put on his glasses and stood up, while all the others sat still and +listened.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_070.jpg" width="500" height="306" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Oh, sweet the month of April,</span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">When birds begin to twitter!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">When dewdrops on the clover</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">And tender grasses glitter!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">When every shoot of lettuce</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">That from the ground arises</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Gives promise of a salad—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Oh, month of sweet surprises!</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>You see Mr. Rabbit is a great gardener, and specially fond of young +clover and tender salad.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Oh, sweet the month of April,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">When youthful chicks are hatching,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">And gayly in the meadows</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Around their ma are scratching!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">The finest way to eat them</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">In dumpling or in pies is—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Oh, here's to you, sweet April,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">With all your glad surprises!</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Mr. Rabbit knew that the Crow would have chicken either in dumpling or +pies, and anyhow he needed "pies is" to rhyme with "surprises," and when +he came to those lines and sat down the others shouted and laughed and +Mr. Crow pounded on the table and declared he couldn't have done better +if he'd been a poet and written it himself! And the 'Coon and the +'Possum both pounded too and said "That's so! That's so!"</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Crow shoved the R. T. pie over between Jack Rabbit and Mr. +Turtle and the pie that was marked P. C. between the 'Coon and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +'Possum. The C. X. pie he pulled up in front of himself, for of course +he never even suspected that the top crust on them had been changed by +the 'Possum.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">The finest way to eat them</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">In dumpling or in pies is—</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>he said, quoting Mr. Rabbit's poem,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Oh, here's to you, sweet April,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">With all your glad surprises!</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 360px;"> +<img src="images/ill_071.jpg" width="360" height="500" alt="MR. TURTLE WAS WATCHING HIM PRETTY ANXIOUSLY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. TURTLE WAS WATCHING HIM PRETTY ANXIOUSLY.</span> +</div> + +<p>Then he told them not to be bashful, but to help themselves and remember +there was plenty more where that came from. Just as he said this he +picked up his knife and stuck it down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> deep into the C. X. pie. Mr. +'Possum picked up his knife and stuck it down deep into the P. C. pie, +and Mr. Rabbit picked up his knife and stuck it into the R. T. pie and +cut it in half. Mr. Turtle was watching him pretty anxiously, for he +remembered what the 'Possum had said about a surprise, but when Jack +Rabbit laid a smoking half with the gravy running out of it on his plate +he forgot all about everything else.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 355px;"> +<img src="images/ill_072.jpg" width="355" height="500" alt="THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE DIDN'T WANT TO LAUGH ANY MORE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE DIDN'T WANT TO LAUGH ANY MORE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. 'Possum didn't divide the P. C. pie just yet, but kept cutting as if +it cut very hard, and talking a good deal while he cut. He said that, +speaking of surprises, it used to be quite a fashion to fool people on +the first of April, and that he'd known lots of the biggest kind of +jokes played on people that day. The biggest jokes, though, he said, +were those that came back on the people who played them, and that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +knew one of that kind once that made him laugh now every time he thought +about it. Then he did laugh some, and sawed away and said he guessed +he'd struck a bone; and the 'Coon laughed, too, and Mr. Crow was nearly +dying with trying to keep from laughing, for he thought Mr. 'Possum was +sawing away on an old stick. He didn't want to let on, though, so he +quit looking and commenced cutting his own pie. He laughed to himself +and cut a minute, and then, all of a sudden, he didn't want to laugh any +more, for he had cut a hole in the top of the C. X. pie and he saw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +something and smelled something that made him right sick. He looked over +quick to Mr. 'Possum's plate, and what he saw there made him sicker yet. +For there lay a half of the P. C. pie, and Mr. Crow saw with one look +that it was just as fine a chicken pie as ever came out of an oven.</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Coon had a piece on his plate, too, and they were saying what a +fine pie it was, and Mr. Turtle and Mr. Rabbit said so, too, and that +Mr. Crow was certainly the finest cook in those parts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE_3" id="THE_STORY_OF_THE_C_X_PIE_3"></a>THE STORY OF THE C. X. PIE</h2> + +<h4>CONTINUED</h4> + +<h3>WHAT HAPPENS TO MR. CROW AND HIS PIE</h3> + +<p>Poor Mr. Crow! You never saw anybody look as sickly and foolish as he +did. He thought that he had made a dreadful mistake in marking the pies, +and that now he had got to eat or pretend to eat the mess of old leaves +and sticks that filled up the C. X. pie clear to the top. He never +thought of Mr. 'Possum's changing the crust, and even if he had, he +wouldn't have felt any better.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 356px;"> +<img src="images/ill_073.jpg" width="356" height="500" alt="I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU'LL EVER KNOW JUST HOW BAD MR. CROW +DID FEEL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU'LL EVER KNOW JUST HOW BAD MR. CROW +DID FEEL.</span> +</div> + +<p>I don't suppose you'll ever know just how bad Mr. Crow did feel, unless +you get into a fix like that some time yourself. First he got hot and +then he got cold, and the sweat began to break out on his bill like dew +drops. He began to eat a little of the crust first, and then he was +afraid if he ate the crust away the others would see what was inside of +it, so he put his fork in and got a rolled up leaf with gravy on it and +whisked it into his mouth and chewed and tried to swallow till his eyes +stuck out and the tears ran down in a stream. He was glad that nobody +seemed to be looking at him, for everybody else was too busy eating the +nice pie, and Mr. 'Possum was just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> saying that he liked Mr. Crow's +surprises, for he always surprised them by having something better than +they expected.</p> + +<p>Then he told how once, when they were snowed in, Mr. Crow had kept them +all from starving by making a kind of bread called Johnnie cake, and +some chicken gravy, and how they could never get him to tell where he +got the things to make it of.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> He said he thought maybe Mr. Crow would +tell pretty soon, though, now. Then they all looked at Mr. Crow and +begged him to tell his great secret, and when they looked they saw he +wasn't eating his pie, but was just sitting there picking at it with his +fork a little. They all told him not to be afraid to eat some of his own +nice pie, for they were sure there'd be plenty, and Mr. Crow said in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +weakly voice that when he cooked he never could eat very much. He said +he guessed he'd take a biscuit and some syrup because he didn't feel +quite well, anyway. So he pushed the C. X. pie away and ate a biscuit +with butter and syrup on it, and felt a good deal better.</p> + +<p>But pretty soon Mr. Turtle finished his piece and remembered what Mr. +'Possum had whispered about asking for a second helping. So he said he +guessed he'd take another piece of that fine pie—just a small one to +hold the other down. Mr. Rabbit said he guessed he'd have to ask for +another small piece, too, it was so good, and the Coon and the 'Possum +both said that, although they were home folks and used to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> Mr. Crow's +good cooking, they certainly would have to take another little piece of +that fine pie.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 355px;"> +<img src="images/ill_074.jpg" width="355" height="500" alt="FAINTED DEAD AWAY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">FAINTED DEAD AWAY.</span> +</div> + +<p>Then Mr. Crow knew there were only two things that he could do. He could +either faint, or "holler" "Fire!" And, after studying for about half a +second, he keeled right over and fainted dead away.</p> + +<p>Of course that stopped the dinner for a while. Jack Rabbit and Mr. +Turtle jumped up frightened, and the 'Coon and the 'Possum pretended to +be frightened, too. They all ran to Mr. Crow and carried him up stairs +to his room and put him on his bed. Then Mr. 'Coon brought some water +and Mr. Rabbit fanned him and Mr. Turtle unbuttoned his vest to give him +air. Mr. 'Possum he stood still and gave orders, and said pretty soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +that he was sure a good strong hot mustard poultice would help matters. +When he said that Mr. Crow opened his eyes a little pinch and asked +where he was, and then he said he guessed he must have fainted, for he'd +been taken with a dreadful bad turn at the table and didn't remember any +more.</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Possum winked at Mr. 'Coon and said yes, that Mr. Crow had even +forgot to give them a second helping of pie, but that he supposed Mr. +Rabbit and Mr. Turtle could go back and help themselves. Then the sweat +broke out on Mr. Crow again, and he said he hoped they wouldn't, for it +would be cold now and they would find the biscuits and syrup much +better. Jack Rabbit said he thought so, too, and the 'Possum,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> who was +really beginning to feel sorry for the poor Crow, said the same, and so +did the others. So then Mr. Crow got better as quick as anything, and +they all went back down stairs and ate the biscuits and syrup, which +were certainly very fine. Once Mr. Rabbit wondered what that nice, leafy +smell was that he got a whiff of now and then, and Mr. Turtle said he'd +been thinking about that, too. Then Mr. 'Coon helped out and said that +he s'posed it was Mr. Man and Mr. Dog burning brush over on the edge of +the Wide Grass Lands, and he went on to make a little speech that was +kind of a reply to Mr. Rabbit's poem. He said how nice it was to give +one's friends pleasant surprises of good things as Mr. Crow had done, +instead of unpleasant ones such as Mr. 'Possum had mentioned, and all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +the others said, "Yes, Yes!" and cheered him, all except Mr. Crow, who +looked down into his plate and didn't say a word, but just seemed to be +thinking and thinking.</p> + +<p>And by and by, when Jack Rabbit and Mr. Turtle said goodby and went +away, he hurried back to the table, and was just going to take the C. X. +pie up to his own part of the house, when Mr. 'Possum and Mr. 'Coon +grabbed him and said they must have a piece of that pie, after all. And +when Mr. Crow wasn't going to give it to them they both commenced to +laugh and said it was their pie anyway, and that they meant to have it. +And right then Mr. Crow knew just what had happened, and that it was no +use to be an April fool any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> longer. He stood still a minute, looking +first at Mr. 'Coon and then at Mr. 'Possum. Then he walked to the window +and flung the C. X. pie out as far as he could send it among the leaves +and brush, where it belonged. The 'Coon stood on one side and the +'Possum on the other, and they watched it strike and roll out of sight +before they said anything. Then Mr. 'Coon said that perhaps it would be +a good time now to tell the great secret of the Johnnie cake and gravy, +and Mr. Crow said he would do that and anything else they wanted him to +if they'd promise they wouldn't tell this joke on him to anybody—Mr. +Rabbit and Mr. Turtle especially. Then he went right on and told them +the great secret of the Johnnie cake, and the 'Coon and the 'Possum did +promise, though they didn't intend to tell anyway, for they thought a +great deal of Mr. Crow and they were all good friends.</p> + +<p>"But, dear me!" exclaimed the story teller, "I've been telling for three +evenings on this story, and here it is nine o'clock again."</p> + +<p>"You'll tell some more to-morrow night won't you?" said the Little Lady, +drowsily.</p> + +<p>"We'll have a story about Mr. Jack Rabbit next time," said the story +teller.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MR_RABBIT_EXPLAINS" id="MR_RABBIT_EXPLAINS"></a>MR. RABBIT EXPLAINS</h2> + +<h3>AN EASTER STORY</h3> + +<p>"Now tell me the rabbit story," commanded the Little Lady on the next +evening. "You know you promised to."</p> + +<p>"So I did," said the Story Teller, "and it goes this way:—"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_075.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"One afternoon in the early spring Mr. Jack Rabbit and his friends were +out for an airing. The Hollow Tree people were along, and Mr. Turtle, as +usual. By and by they came to a log under a big tree and sat down for a +smoke and talk. They talked about the weather at first and other things, +till somebody mentioned Easter. Then they all had something to say about +that.</p> + +<p>"'What I object to,' says Mr. Rabbit, when it came his time to talk, 'is +this thing of people always saying that the Easter eggs belong to me.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, but that's just a joke,' says Mr. 'Coon, laughing.</p> + +<p>"'I know it's just a joke, of course, but it's a pretty old joke, and +I'm tired of it,' says Jack Rabbit.</p> + +<p>"'How did it get started anyway?' asked Mr. 'Possum.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then Mr. Rabbit took his pipe out of his mouth and leaned forward a +little, so he could talk better.</p> + +<p>"'I tell you how it got started,' he says, 'and after that I don't want +to hear any more of it. This is how it happened:—</p> + +<p>"'Once upon a time, as much as twenty grandmothers back, I should think, +there was a very nice family of Rabbits that lived in a grassy place on +a hillside back of a big farmyard. There was quite a hole in the ground +there, and they had a cosy home in it, and a soft bed for their little +folk."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 385px;"> +<img src="images/ill_076.jpg" width="385" height="500" alt="A FEW LESSONS IN RUNNING AND HIDING." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A FEW LESSONS IN RUNNING AND HIDING.</span> +</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 359px;"> +<img src="images/ill_077.jpg" width="359" height="500" alt="IT WAS A NICE BLUE EGG WHEN SHE GOT THROUGH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">IT WAS A NICE BLUE EGG WHEN SHE GOT THROUGH.</span> +</div> + +<p>"'Now, every bright morning, Father and Mother Rabbit used to take the +children out for a walk, and for a few lessons<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> in running and hiding +from Mr. Dog, who bothered about a good deal, and one day as they were +coming home they heard a great cackling, and when they got to their +house there was a nice fresh egg lying right in the children's bed. Some +old hen from the farmyard had slipped in and laid it while they were +gone. A good many hens, especially old hens, like to hide their nests +that way, and this was one of that kind.</p> + +<p>"'Well, of course all the young Rabbits claimed it, and Mother Rabbit at +last gave it to the smallest and weakest one of the children, a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +girl, who was always painting things with the juice of flower petals. +And the very first thing that little girl did was to stain that egg all +over with violet juice, not thinking what trouble it was going to cause +our family forever after.</p> + +<p>"'It was a nice blue egg when she got through with it, and the next day, +when they all came back from their walk again there was another white +egg right by it. The old hen had been there again and laid another while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +they were gone. The second little girl claimed that egg, of course, and +she painted it a bright yellow with buttercup juice. Then the next day +there was another egg, and the next day there was another egg, and the +next day there was another egg, until there was one apiece for every one +of the children, and some over."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_078.jpg" width="500" height="288" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"'And they all painted them. Some painted theirs pink or red with +roseleaves or japonica, some painted them yellow with buttercups, and +some blue or purple with violets, as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> first little girl had done. +They had so many at last that it crowded them out of their bed, and they +had to sleep on the floor.</p> + +<p>"'And then, one Sunday, and it must have been Easter Sunday, they all +went out walking again, and when they came back every one of those +beautiful colored eggs was gone. The children cried and made a great +fuss, but it was no use. Some of Mr. Man's boys out hunting hen's nests +had found them and taken them all home with them.</p> + +<p>"'And of course all those colored eggs set Mr. Man to wondering, and he +came with his boys to the place where they had found them; and when they +looked in out jumped the whole Rabbit family, helter skelter in every +direction."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/ill_079.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="LEANING OVER TO LIGHT HIS PIPE FROM MR. 'POSSUM'S." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LEANING OVER TO LIGHT HIS PIPE FROM MR. 'POSSUM'S.</span> +</div> + +<p>"'And right then,' said Mr. Rabbit, leaning over to light<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> his pipe from +Mr. 'Possum's, 'right then Mr. Man declared those colored eggs were +rabbit eggs, and he's kept on saying so ever since, though he knows +better, and he knows I don't like it. He takes eggs and colors them +himself now, and makes believe they're mine, and he puts my picture all +over things about Easter time. I suppose he thinks I don't care, but I +do, and I wish that little Miss Rabbit twenty grandmothers back had left +that old hen's egg white as she found it.'</p> + +<p>"'It's too bad,' says Mr. Crow. 'It's like that story they tell about +the fox making me drop the cheese.'</p> + +<p>"'Or like Mr. Man making believe that the combs he uses are really made +out of my shell,' says Mr. Turtle.</p> + +<p>"Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum shook their heads. They had their troubles, +too."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MR_TURTLES_THUNDER_STORY" id="MR_TURTLES_THUNDER_STORY"></a>MR. TURTLE'S THUNDER STORY</h2> + +<h3>THE WAY OF THE FIRST THUNDER AND LIGHTNING</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 357px;"> +<img src="images/ill_080.jpg" width="357" height="500" alt="HAD JACK RABBIT AND MR. TURTLE IN FOR SUPPER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HAD JACK RABBIT AND MR. TURTLE IN FOR SUPPER.</span> +</div> + +<p>Once upon a time, said the Story Teller, when the Crow and the 'Coon and +the 'Possum lived together in three big, hollow branches of a big big, +hollow tree in the big, big, Big Deep Woods, and used to meet and have +good times together in the parlor down stairs, they had Jack Rabbit and +Mr. Turtle in for supper. It was a nice supper, too, for it was just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +about strawberry time, and strawberries grow thicker in the Big Deep +Woods than fur on a kitten's back. Mr. Crow, who is a great cook, had +made a nice shortcake, and been over to Mr. Man's pantry, where he gets +some of his best things, and borrowed a pail of sweet cream when Mr. Man +wasn't at home.</p> + +<p>"Of course they had fried chicken, too, first, and by the time they were +through their shortcake and had lit their pipes Mr. 'Possum, who likes +good things better than anybody, almost, could hardly open his eyes. He +said he wished he was a poet, like Mr. Jack Rabbit, for he had never +been so full of summer happiness since he was born, and if he could +only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> make rhymes, he knew that poetry would slip right off his tongue. +Then, of course, Mr. Rabbit wanted to show off, and without stopping a +second he commenced to talk poetry—this way:—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">"In the summer time I make a rhyme</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">For every breeze that passes,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">For I can always make it chime</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">With lassies, grasses, sasses."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Mr. 'Possum said he couldn't do that if it was to save him from being +hung the next minute, and Mr. Rabbit went right on without catching his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +breath:—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">"Where e'er I go my verses flow—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">I keep it up for hours.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">I'm never short of rhymes, you know,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">With bowers, flowers, showers."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Well, that set them all to wondering how Jack Rabbit could do it so +easily, and Mr. Rabbit didn't think to tell them how he'd sat up all the +night before to compose this poetry, so's to have it on hand and ready +for a chance to use it. He said that it was somebody else's turn now, +and that maybe Mr. Turtle would give them a performance of some kind. +Mr. Turtle wanted to change the subject, and got up and walked over to +the window. He said that, speaking of showers, it was so warm and close, +he shouldn't wonder if they had one before morning. He said he believed +there was lightning now, off in the west, and seemed like he could hear +it thunder, too. Then they all talked about thunder and lightning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> and +what they were. But nobody seemed to know except Mr. Turtle himself.</p> + +<p>"'Why,' he said, 'I thought everybody knew that!' Then he went on to say +that he'd known the story ever since he wasn't 'any bigger than a pants +button,' and all the others said he must tell it to them, because it was +his turn, anyway. And Mr. Turtle was glad to do that, for he really +wanted to show off a little, like Jack Rabbit, only he hadn't known +before how to do it. So he filled up his pipe nice and fresh, and lit +it, and began.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Well,' he said, 'of course you know my family all live to be pretty +old. I'm only three hundred and sixteen next spring myself, but Uncle +Tom Turtle, who lives up by the forks, is a good deal over nine hundred, +and he isn't nearly as old as Father Storm Turtle and his wife, who live +up in the Big West Hills, and make the thunder and lightning.'</p> + +<p>"Mr. Turtle stopped a minute to light his pipe again, and all the others +just looked at him and couldn't say a word. They knew he was pretty old, +but they had never thought much about it before, and what he said about +Father and Mother Storm Turtle they had never even heard of. But Mr. +Turtle just lit his pipe, and puffed, and said:—</p> + +<p>"'To tell the truth, I never did hear of any of our family dying of old +age, and I shouldn't wonder if Old Man Turtle Himself would still be +alive, too, if he hadn't tried to swallow a mussel fish with the shell +on and got it stuck in his throat a million and twenty-five years ago +last spring. Anyhow, that's according to the date cut on his shell +overcoat that Uncle Tom Turtle saw once at Father Storm's house up in +the Big West Hills.</p> + +<p>"'I don't know how many great grandfathers back Father Storm is from me, +nor how many from Father Storm Old Man Turtle Himself was, but I know +Father Storm got his shell overcoat after the mussel fish wouldn't go +down, and that it was a great deal too big to take in the house, and it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +used to set out in the yard on four bricks, for the children to play +under.</p> + +<p>"'Father Storm Turtle had a big family then, and they were pretty +troublesome. They had a habit of wandering off in the woods and +forgetting to come back. Every night Mother Storm had to stand in the +door and call and call and not be able to sleep if they didn't come, +especially when it was cloudy and looked like rain. She knew that, if +they got wet they'd all come home with bad colds and sore throats and +make trouble and expense. Three of them—named Slop, Splash and +Paddle—were worse than any of the others, for even when it didn't rain +they were always playing in dirty puddles, and would come home all mud +and with wet feet.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MR_TURTLES_THUNDER_STORY_2" id="MR_TURTLES_THUNDER_STORY_2"></a>MR. TURTLE'S THUNDER STORY</h2> + +<h4>CONTINUED</h4> + +<h3>FATHER STORM'S PLAN AND HOW IT WORKED</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_081.jpg" width="500" height="406" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"At last, one day, when Mother Storm Turtle had shouted herself hoarse +and couldn't make any of them hear, she said she wouldn't put up with it +any longer, and that Father Storm had got to fix up some way to call +those children home when she wanted them, especially when it was going +to rain, as it was now. So Father Storm went out into the front yard and +sat down and looked at the clouds and thought and thought."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 355px;"> +<img src="images/ill_082.jpg" width="355" height="500" alt="WENT RIGHT TO WORK AND DUG TWO HOLES." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WENT RIGHT TO WORK AND DUG TWO HOLES.</span> +</div> + +<p>"All at once, just as he was about to give it up, he happened to be +looking right at the shell of Old Man Turtle Himself. He jumped up quick +and hit it with his cane, and when it made quite a loud sound he +laughed, for he knew, now, how he could make those children hear when he +wanted them. He didn't say a word to Mother Storm Turtle, but went right +to work and dug two holes and put up two tall posts in the yard and +fastened a stout beam across the top of them. Then he worked until he +had bored a hole in one end of the shell of Old Man Turtle Himself, and +put a chain in it and dragged it over and strung it up between the +posts, so that it swung<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> there and didn't quite touch the ground. That, +of course, made a thing a good deal like Mr. Man's dinner gong, only a +hundred times as big, and about a thousand times as loud. Then Father +Storm went out into the woodhouse to make a club to beat it with, +laughing to himself now and then when he thought how Mother Storm Turtle +would most have a fit when she heard it for the first time.</p> + +<p>"But while Father Storm Turtle was doing so much, Mother Storm had been +thinking and doing some herself. She was getting supper, and when she +looked into the fire to put in a stick of wood, she just happened to +think that if she could make a torch big enough and bright enough, when +she stood in the door and waved it, those children would see the light,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +especially nights when it was dark just before a heavy rain. So she went +right to work and made one, just as big as she could make it, and put +lots of oil and fat on it, to make it bright. She laughed to think how +Father Storm Turtle would jump when she waved that out the door, and how +the children would come running when they saw the big flash. Then she +noticed that it was getting darker and darker and would rain in a +minute. So she hurried up and lit it and stepped to the door and gave it +a great big swing. And just that second Father Storm hit the shell of +Old Man Turtle Himself with a big hickory club, and there was never such +a light nor such a roar in the world as that was.</p> + +<p>"Mother Storm Turtle tumbled over backward and set<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> the house afire +with her torch, and Father Storm was so frightened by the big light that +at first he couldn't help her put the fire out. And just then it began +raining like forty, and all the children came running and screaming out +of the woods, half scared to death by the big light and noise. It made a +terrible commotion there for a few minutes, until they got the fire put +out, and people heard it all over the country, even to Mr. Man's house. +And when they found out what it was, and who started it, everybody +called it a 'storm.' And rain and wind and thunder and lightning, or +most any other kind of a big fuss, is called a 'storm' to this day, +after Father and Mother Storm Turtle."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 362px;"> +<img src="images/ill_083.jpg" width="362" height="500" alt="SLOP AND SPLASH AND PADDLE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SLOP AND SPLASH AND PADDLE.</span> +</div> + +<p>"And that," said Mr. Turtle, lighting his pipe once more, "was the first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +thunder and lightning, and whenever people saw it after that they said, +'We're going to have another storm!' For Father and Mother Storm Turtle +went right on using the big torch and the shell of Old Man Turtle +Himself to call in the children just before a rain, and the children +would come running every time, all except Slop, Splash and Paddle, who +got so at last that they liked the mud and dirty water better than +anything else. They liked the mud so well that Father Storm told them +one day they might go and live in the mud and be named Mud for all he +cared; and so they did, and their names were Mud, and they and all their +families live in dirty water and are called Mud Turtles to this day. +They never went home again, but whenever they hear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> Father Storm +pounding on the shell, they stop whatever they are doing and listen. And +that's how the saying began that 'a Mud Turtle never lets go till it +thunders.'"</p> + +<p>"What makes the noise always get louder and the light brighter just +before it rains?" asked Jack Rabbit.</p> + +<p>"Why, you see," said Mr. Turtle, "Father and Mother Storm's +grandchildren and great-grandchildren are a good deal scattered now, and +as the old people run the thunder and lightning mostly on their account, +they try to make it just about bright enough and loud enough to keep up +with the rain wherever it goes."</p> + +<p>"It's plenty loud enough," said Mr. 'Coon solemnly.</p> + +<p>"And plenty bright enough," said Mr. Crow, blinking.</p> + +<p>"What makes it set things on fire sometimes?" asked Mr. 'Possum +sleepily.</p> + +<p>"That's when Mother Storm Turtle swings her torch too hard and coals fly +out of it," said Mr. Turtle, as he got up and walked over to the window.</p> + +<p>Then the Crow and the 'Coon and the 'Possum and Jack Rabbit got up, too, +and walked over, and they all looked out together. It was dark among the +trees below them, and Mr. Turtle pointed off toward the Big West Hills.</p> + +<p>"You see," he said, speaking low, "Mother Storm is beginning to swing +her torch, and you'll hear Father Storm pounding before long on the +shell of Old Man Turtle Himself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_084.jpg" width="500" height="294" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>So the five friends stood very still and listened and pretty soon they +did hear a low far off rumble, sure enough.</p> + +<p>"That means it's time to start for home," said Mr. Jack Rabbit, reaching +for his hat and cane.</p> + +<p>Mr. Turtle reached for his hat and cane, too, and they felt their way +down the dim stairs, with Mr. 'Coon holding a candle, and Mr. Crow and +Mr. 'Possum looking after them.</p> + +<p>"Good night, everybody," said Mr. Turtle.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 341px;"> +<img src="images/ill_085.jpg" width="341" height="500" alt="CALLED TO JACK RABBIT TO PUSH IN THE LATCH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CALLED TO JACK RABBIT TO PUSH IN THE LATCH.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Push the latch string in from the outside," called Mr. Crow. "Then, I +won't have to come down."</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">"All right!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">Good night!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>called back Jack Rabbit.</p> + +<p>"Good night! Come again!" called the Crow and the 'Coon and the +'Possum.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_RAIN_IN_THE_NIGHT" id="A_RAIN_IN_THE_NIGHT"></a>A RAIN IN THE NIGHT</h2> + +<h3>A WINDOW THAT WASN'T CLOSED, AND WHO CLOSED IT</h3> + +<p>The night was warm in the Hollow Tree. Jack Rabbit and Mr. Turtle, who +had been spending the evening with the 'Coon and 'Possum and the Old +Black Crow, had hurried off to their homes, so as to get there before +the rain set in.</p> + +<p>They had all stood by an open parlor window and seen it coming over the +Big West Hills, and the visitors knew they'd catch it if they didn't +hurry. Mr. Crow and the others had watched them down stairs, and called +to Jack Rabbit to push in the latch string, which would fasten the door +from the outside. Then Mr. 'Possum had taken his candle, and Mr. 'Coon +had taken his candle, and Mr. Crow had taken his candle, and each had +gone up to his own room and scrambled into bed quick, so's to be able to +cover up his head when it thundered.</p> + +<p>Well, they hadn't any more than all gone to bed before Mr. Crow suddenly +happened to remember that, being in such a hurry, none of them had +thought to close the parlor window, and it would rain in as sure as the +world. There was a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> table close to the window, with some of his +best things on it, too, and if it rained in they would all get wet and +be spoiled. He thought about this twice, and maybe more than twice, and +the more he thought about it the less he wanted to get up and close that +window. Then, all at once, there came a flash of lightning and low +growling thunder. Down he bobbed under the covers, and this made him +want to get up less than ever. He knew, though, that it would be raining +hard pretty soon, and spoiling his things. He had to do something right +off.</p> + +<p>So, after thinking a minute, he sat up in bed and called out:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. 'Coon! You forgot to close the parlor window. It will rain in +on your things."</p> + +<p>But Mr. 'Coon called back:</p> + +<p>"It won't hurt MY things, Mr. Crow. They're over on the other side of +the room."</p> + +<p>And Mr. 'Possum, who was sitting up in bed, too, listened and laughed in +the dark.</p> + +<p>But just then there was another flash of lightning, and Mr. Crow bobbed +down, and Mr. 'Coon bobbed down, and Mr. 'Possum bobbed down, so's not +to hear the thunder. Then, pretty soon, Mr. Crow sat up in bed again and +called out:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. 'Possum! You forgot to close the parlor window. It will rain in +on your things."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Mr. 'Possum called back:</p> + +<p>"It won't hurt MY things, Mr. Crow. They're all over by the stairs."</p> + +<p>And Mr. 'Coon, who was sitting up in bed, listened and laughed in the +dark, too.</p> + +<p>Then for a minute Mr. Crow didn't know but that he'd have to go down and +shut that window himself, after all. And while he was thinking how much +he didn't want to, there came another flash of lightning, brighter than +ever, and Mr. Crow and Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum all bobbed down again +and covered up their heads, so's not to hear the thunder. But Mr. Crow +heard it a little, anyway, and it set him to thinking. So when he sat up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +again he called out:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. 'Coon, did Jack Rabbit push in the latch string down stairs?"</p> + +<p>And Mr. 'Coon called back:</p> + +<p>"I s'pose so, Mr. Crow. You told him to. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing, only he left in a great hurry, and I thought maybe he +didn't get it quite in."</p> + +<p>And Mr. 'Possum listened again, but this time he didn't laugh.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Crow called out to him, too:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. 'Possum, did Mr. Rabbit push in the latch string when he left?"</p> + +<p>And Mr. 'Possum called back:</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Mr. Crow. But you told him to. Why?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing; only I heard something just now that sounded like Mr. Dog +barking and coming this way."</p> + +<p>And Mr. 'Coon listened again, too, but he didn't laugh any this time, +either.</p> + +<p>And just then there was another flash of lightning, a good deal brighter +than any of the other flashes, and down went Mr. Crow again, and down +went Mr. 'Coon again, and down went Mr. 'Possum again, so's not to hear +it thunder. But they did hear it, even under the bedclothes, and being +covered up that way, and thinking about Mr. Dog anyhow, made it sound to +them exactly like Mr. Dog's voice barking and growling, and coming +closer and closer and closer.</p> + +<p>And when Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum heard that they didn't wait another +minute. They just threw back the covers, both of them, and piled out of +bed and made a rush for that down stairs door, as if Mr. Dog was right +behind them, sure enough. And of course neither one knew the other had +started, and when they got to the head of the stairs they bumped +together in the dark, and down they went, over and over, to the bottom. +There was a little flash of lightning just as they got there, and they +saw that Mr. Rabbit had pushed in the latch string after all.</p> + +<p>Then they felt foolish, and each began to blame the other for making him +fall down stairs, and both of them said they knew all the time the door +was fastened, and that they weren't afraid of Mr. Dog, anyway. They'd +only got up,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> they said, to shut the parlor window, and they did shut +it, both together, as they came back. Then they ran up to their beds +quick, while Mr. Crow, who had been listening all the time, laid down +and rolled over and laughed and laughed in the dark.</p> + +<p>And just then there came another big, bright flash, and down under the +covers went all three of them, so's not to hear it thunder. They stayed +under a good while that time, and when they put their heads out again +the shower had commenced, and the thunder was passing over.</p> + +<p>So then, pretty soon, the 'Possum and the 'Coon and the Old Black Crow +all dropped off to sleep to the sound of the rain falling among the +leaves and branches of the Hollow Tree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_DEEP_WOODS_FISHING_PARTY" id="A_DEEP_WOODS_FISHING_PARTY"></a>A DEEP WOODS FISHING PARTY</h2> + +<h3>AN ADVENTURE WITH MR. DOG AND A VERY LARGE FISH</h3> + +<p>One warm June morning, when the sun was trying to shine and couldn't, +and the air was close and still and sticky, Mr. Jack Rabbit looked out +of the window while he was dressing and thought to himself that it would +be just the very morning for fish to bite.</p> + +<p>Jack Rabbit liked to fish better than anything, almost, so right after +breakfast he took an empty tomato can and went out in the back yard and +turned over boards till he had the can about half full of bait, with a +little dirt thrown on top. Then he reached up under the eaves of the +smoke-house and pulled out a long cane pole with a line and hook and +floater on it, all rigged up ready, and flung it over his shoulder and +started.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rabbit walked pretty fast—even lazy folks do that when they go +fishing, and Mr. Jack Rabbit wasn't lazy, by a good deal. So pretty soon +he came to the Hollow Tree, and there, looking out of an upstairs +window, he saw the 'Coon, the 'Possum and the Old Black Crow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hello, up there!" he said. "Don't you fellows want to go fishing?"</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Possum said he thought fish would bite well on such a morning, and +that he'd like to go first rate. Mr. 'Coon said he knew a place where +you could pull them out as fast as you could throw in your hook, and he +went on and told how he caught a fish there last year that would weigh +more than four pounds, and lost him just as he got him to the top of the +water. Mr. Crow said he'd always noticed that Mr. 'Coon's four pound +fish never got any nearer to him than the top of the water, and that for +his part he didn't care much about fishing. He said, though, that if the +'Coon and the 'Possum wanted to go he'd stay at home and get dinner +while they were gone, so's to have it ready when they all came home +hungry. He told them that he had some nice canned salmon in the cupboard +that he could catch most any time, and that if they really wanted fish +for dinner he s'posed he might as well open it. Then they all laughed, +and in about a minute down came Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum with their +fishing things. Jack Rabbit said he had plenty of bait, so away they +went. Mr. Crow sat up in the window and watched them off, and Mr. Robin, +who happened along just then, laughed and called after them that he'd +take a few pounds of nice bass when they got home. The Robin just said +that to plague them, of course, and Mr. 'Coon called back that they'd +fool him this time, and then he went on to remark to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> the 'Possum and +the Rabbit that he'd never in his life seen a finer day for fishing.</p> + +<p>Jack Rabbit said yes, that it was fine, and that it was a fine day for +Mr. Dog to be out gallivanting over the country, too, and that they'd +better hurry up and get to the lake and out in his boat before anything +happened. That made Mr. 'Possum take a good deal livelier step, though +he commenced to whistle and said he wasn't afraid of Mr. Dog, anyway. +Mr. 'Coon said he'd always noticed that a fellow mostly whistled when he +wasn't afraid, but for his part he couldn't get to that boat any too +soon. And pretty soon they did get to it, and Mr. 'Possum was the first +one to pile in, though Mr. Dog wasn't anywhere in sight.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_086.jpg" width="500" height="350" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Well, they pushed off and Jack Rabbit took one oar and Mr. 'Coon the +other, while the 'Possum sat on the back seat and baited his hook so's +to catch the first fish. Then, when they got out to where Mr. 'Coon said +the good place was, they all went to fishing, and Mr. 'Possum did get +the first bite, but he didn't get anything else when he pulled. Mr. +'Coon told him he pulled too quick, and Jack Rabbit told him he didn't +pull quick enough, and asked him if he expected the fish to climb out on +his pole. Then Mr. Rabbit had a bite himself, and pulled and didn't get +anything, either. Of course, that made Mr. 'Possum laugh, and then, all +at once, the 'Coon had a great big bite that took his float away down +out of sight the first grab.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. 'Coon let him go for a minute and then gave a hard pull and +commenced to call out that he had him this time and that he'd show Mr. +Crow now about only getting fish to the top of the water and having +canned salmon for dinner. Then he stood up in the boat and pulled as +hard as ever he could till all of a sudden his line broke, and down he +went backwards, right on top of Mr. 'Possum, while the Rabbit swung his +hook over where the 'Coon's hook had been and the big fish grabbed it +before you could say Jack Robinson.</p> + +<p>That was too bad for the 'Coon and the 'Possum, of course, and it wasn't +as much fun for Jack Rabbit as you might suppose, for he couldn't get +the big fish out to save his life, and he had to hold on to the boat to +keep from being pulled into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> the lake. Then he called to the others to +help him, and they both got up and took hold of the pole and hauled in +hand over hand till they got to the line, and that was as far as they +could get. So Mr. Rabbit gave the line a twist or two around the iron +ring in the front of his boat, and the big fish started straight for +shore, dragging the boat and everybody in it behind him, just as hard as +ever he could go. Then Mr. 'Coon and Jack Rabbit commenced to quarrel +about whose fish it was, and Mr. 'Possum said he didn't care whose it +was, he was getting a free ride, and he laid back and laughed and looked +at the shore, when all of a sudden he happened to spy there, sitting on +the end of a log, fishing and waiting for them, nobody but Mr. Dog +himself.</p> + +<p>That wasn't very much, of course, but it was plenty for Mr. 'Possum. He +quit laughing and tumbled down in the bottom of the boat and laid there +calling for Jack Rabbit to cut that fishline or they'd all be chops and +steaks and carried home in a basket in less than five minutes. Jack +Rabbit did try to cut the line, too, but he was so excited he dropped +his knife overboard, and Mr. 'Coon couldn't find his, and Mr. 'Possum +didn't have any. So there they were, and there was Mr. Dog! Then Mr. +Rabbit tried to bite the line off with his teeth, but he couldn't do +that, either, for it was a big, strong line that he'd made himself, +'specially for big fish.</p> + +<p>And all the time they were getting closer and closer to the shore, and +Mr. Dog had lifted his line out of the water so it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> wouldn't be in his +way, and was sitting there waiting, and smiling to see them come.</p> + +<p>Then Jack Rabbit knew that something had to be done, and there was no +time to lose. He was just about as scared as he could be, but he knew it +wouldn't do any good to let on, so he sat up straight and smiled some, +too, and looked at Mr. Dog and called out, big and friendly like:</p> + +<p>"Hello, Mr. Dog! Here we come! Here we come with a nice dinner, Mr. +Dog!"</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Dog laughed and called back:</p> + +<p>"That's right, Mr. Rabbit. There's a sure enough nice dinner coming, +this time! Fish for the first course, Mr. Rabbit!"</p> + +<p>When Mr. 'Possum heard that he began to groan, and Jack Rabbit and Mr. +'Coon began to shiver, for each thought he knew pretty well what the +next courses of Mr. Dog's dinner would be. But Mr. Rabbit didn't stop +smiling or let on that he knew, and he called out again to Mr. Dog, +quick:</p> + +<p>"You'll have to help us if we have fish, Mr. Dog! He's a big one and +you'll have to help us catch him!"</p> + +<p>And Mr. Dog called back again:</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, Mr. Rabbit! I won't leave! I'll be on hand when you get +here, Mr. Rabbit!"</p> + +<p>Then he rolled up his trousers a little and waded out into the shallow +water, thinking he would nab Mr. Fish first and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> drag him out on shore, +and then pull the boat right in after him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 361px;"> +<img src="images/ill_087.jpg" width="361" height="500" alt="THE FIGHT BETWEEN MR. DOG AND THE BIG FISH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE FIGHT BETWEEN MR. DOG AND THE BIG FISH.</span> +</div> + +<p>Of course, that was a pretty good plan for Mr. Dog, only like some other +good plans, it didn't work just as he expected it to. You see, he didn't +quite know how big the fish was, nor how hard a big fish is to handle in +shallow water. He made a quick grab at it when it got to him and then, +right away, he had his hands full of business. That fish gave a flop +with his tail that laid Mr. Dog over on his back and then another flop +that set him on his feet again, and a side flop that smacked him against +the water first one way and then the other, and made him breathe hard +and choke and try to let go.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Dog couldn't let go, for he'd got the fish line some way tangled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +in his teeth. So he began to snap and paw and swallow water, and fall +down and get up again, and sprawl about in the swamp grass, trying to +get back to shore.</p> + +<p>And while all this was going on Jack Rabbit and his friends had jumped +out into the shallow water and took a little roundin's to shore, keeping +out of Mr. Dog's way, and made tracks for the top of a hill, where they +would be out of danger and see the fun at the same time. Then they all +stood up there and watched the fight between Mr. Dog and the big fish, +and Jack Rabbit sang out, as loud as ever he could:</p> + +<p>"Don't leave, Mr. Dog! Stay with him, Mr. Dog! Hold him to it, Mr. Dog; +you've got him! First course, Mr. Dog!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Mr. Dog heard Jack Rabbit and got madder and madder every minute, +till all of a sudden he got a lick on the side of the head from Mr. +Fish's tail that made him see stars and broke the line. And away went +the big fish out into deep water, while Mr. Dog crawled back to shore, +wet and bruised from head to foot, and most dead.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum and Jack Rabbit, standing on top of the +hill, gave a great big laugh, all together, and Mr. Rabbit called out:</p> + +<p>"How did you like the first course, Mr. Dog?"</p> + +<p>That made them all laugh again, and then Mr. 'Coon called out:</p> + +<p>"Are you ready for the second course, Mr. Dog?"</p> + +<p>And pretty soon Mr. 'Possum he called out:</p> + +<p>"Are you ready for a nice roast now, Mr. Dog?"</p> + +<p>And that, of course, made them all laugh very loud, for Mr. 'Possum used +slang now and then and meant by a "roast" that people would all make fun +of Mr. Dog wherever he went; which they did, for a long time.</p> + +<p>Even Mr. Robin, who was good friends with Mr. Dog, couldn't help calling +out to him, now and then, as he went by:</p> + +<p>"Are you ready for the next course, Mr. Dog?"</p> + +<p>And Mr. Dog would pretend not to hear and go hurrying by very fast, as +if he were out on special and important business for Mr. Man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN" id="THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN"></a>THE HOLLOW TREE INN</h2> + +<h3>THE THREE FRIENDS GO INTO BUSINESS</h3> + +<p>One rainy day when the 'Coon and 'Possum and the Old Black Crow were +rummaging about their house in the Big Hollow Tree where they all lived +together, they found that above each of their rooms there was a good +deal of other room that nobody ever used. That set them to thinking, and +pretty soon Mr. 'Possum said it was too bad to let all that good room go +to waste, and Mr. 'Coon said yes, it was, and that their house was big +enough for a hotel.</p> + +<p>Of course he didn't think what he was saying at the time, but it set Mr. +Crow to thinking and walking up and down, whistling, and pretty soon he +stopped still and looked at the 'Coon and 'Possum.</p> + +<p>"I'll do the cookin'," he said, "if you'll get the things to cook."</p> + +<p>And right then and there they made up their minds to do it, and early +the next morning, while the Old Black Crow was hurrying about inside, +getting things ready for business, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> 'Coon and the 'Possum nailed up +a sign outside, and this is what was on it:</p> + +<h4>THE HOLLOW TREE INN.</h4> + +<h4>BOARD BY THE DAY OR WEEK.</h4> + +<p>Then they went inside to help Mr. Crow get ready, and by and by they all +sat down and waited for people to come. Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum felt +pretty well, too, for they thought they would have the easiest time. You +see, they had always depended on Mr. Crow a good deal, for, besides +being a good cook, he was a great hand to provide, and knew more about +where to get the best things, and the best time of day or night to get +them, than both of the others put together. So he didn't say anything, +but dressed up nice and spruce in a clean apron and cooking cap and +leaned out of the window, as cooks always do, with his arms folded. By<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +and by along came Mr. Jack Rabbit.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 349px;"> +<img src="images/ill_088.jpg" width="349" height="500" alt=""HELLO!" HE SAID, "WHAT'S THIS?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"HELLO!" HE SAID, "WHAT'S THIS?"</span> +</div> + +<p>"Hello!" he said. "What's this?"</p> + +<p>Then he read the sign over and looked at Mr. Crow and asked him if it +was a joke. And Mr. Crow said:</p> + +<p>"Not much! Come up and see."</p> + +<p>So then Mr. Rabbit went up stairs and Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum showed +him through, and Jack Rabbit said that he didn't feel very well this +summer, any way, and he believed he'd just shut up his house and come +and board a while for a change. He said he guessed he'd take the room +above Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> 'Coon's, because it had a nice south window and a tall +looking glass, and that he'd pack up a few things that he needed and +come over right away. Then he went home and the 'Coon and 'Possum and +the Old Black Crow all shook hands and danced around in a circle to +think how well they were going to do, for if Mr. Jack Rabbit came they +were sure of having as many others as their house would hold.</p> + +<p>And while they were dancing along came Mr. Robin. He read the sign, too, +and laughed, and then knocked at the door till Mr. 'Coon came down and +let him in. He thought it was a joke at first, like the Rabbit, but when +he heard that Jack Rabbit was coming to board he spoke up just as quick +as anything and said he'd come, too, and that he'd have his things there +before supper time. He took the room over Mr. Crow, because he said he +didn't mind the smell of the cooking, and then maybe he'd learn some new +receipts. You see, Mr. Crow and Mr. Robin are sort of kinsfolk, and when +they have time they often get together and trace back to find out just +what relation they are to each other, and that makes them good friends.</p> + +<p>Well, Mr. Robin hadn't more'n got out of the house when who should walk +in but Mr. Squirrel.</p> + +<p>"What's all this about boarders?" said Mr. Squirrel. "I'm looking for a +place to spend a month or two myself."</p> + +<p>So then they showed him the room above Mr. 'Possum's, and he was so +pleased with the view and everything that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> paid a week's board in +advance to be sure of keeping anybody else from getting it. When he was +gone the 'Coon and 'Possum and the Old Black Crow did another dance, and +kept saying over and over how rich they'd be and what they would do with +all the money. Then they heard somebody laughing outside, and when they +looked out there was Mr. Turtle laughing and reading the sign.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he said. "This isn't the first of April."</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. Crow, "it's a boarding house, and a good one. All the +best people in the country stop here. Mr. Rabbit, Mr. Robin and Mr. +Squirrel. Sorry, Mr. Turtle, but our rooms are all full."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Turtle did look cheap, for he thought he couldn't be in the +crowd, and it was the very crowd he liked to associate with. But just +then Mr. 'Coon happened to think that they might fit up the big room +below the other big room where they all gathered to eat and talk, and +Mr. Turtle said that would suit him, exactly, because he was large and +heavy and didn't care much about climbing any way. So he hurried off +after his things, too, and he wasn't out of sight before here comes Mr. +Dog!</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum were both looking out the window when he came +up, and they jumped back like lightning. You see, they didn't like Mr. +Dog worth a cent. Then Mr. Crow came and looked out the window and +talked to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> Mr. Dog was just as polite as a basket of chips, and of +course that's the politest thing in the world.</p> + +<p>"I've just seen Mr. Robin," said Mr. Dog, "and I came to get a room, +too."</p> + +<p>"Awfully sorry, Mr. Dog, but our rooms are all full," said Mr. Crow.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you take down your sign, then?" said Mr. Dog.</p> + +<p>"Hotels never take down their signs," said Mr. Crow.</p> + +<p>"Hotels are never too full for one more, either," said Mr. Dog. "If you +don't let me come in I think I'll wait around here and make a vacancy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN_2" id="THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN_2"></a>THE HOLLOW TREE INN</h2> + +<h4>CONTINUED</h4> + +<h3>WHAT HAPPENS TO MR. DOG</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_089.jpg" width="500" height="479" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Now, when Mr. 'Possum and Mr. 'Coon heard that their hair stood up +straight, for they knew very well that there'd be two vacant rooms any +way if Mr. Dog ever got inside, and two if he stayed where he was, for +they happened to think that Mr. Rabbit would be coming along presently, +and Mr. Squirrel wouldn't be far behind. So they hurried to the back +window and looked out, and sure enough there was Mr. Rabbit coming with +his trunk on his shoulder and almost there. At first they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +frightened most to death for Mr. Rabbit, and then the 'Coon slipped over +and whispered to the Crow to keep Mr. Dog talking as hard as he could, +so he wouldn't notice anything. All the time he was doing this the +'Possum was motioning to Jack Rabbit to slip up easy-like with his +trunk.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/ill_090.jpg" width="317" height="500" alt="AND UP HE CAME." title="" /> +<span class="caption">AND UP HE CAME.</span> +</div> + +<p>So Mr. Rabbit slipped up softly on the other side of the house from Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +Dog and set his trunk down, and the 'Possum let out a long rope with a +hook on it. Jack Rabbit stood up on his trunk and grabbed the hook as +soon as he could reach it and hooked it under his arms. Then the 'Coon +and the 'Possum pulled and pulled and up he came, and as soon as he was +safe they let down the rope and caught the hook in the trunk handle. +That was a load for all three of them, and even then they couldn't get +it up, and called across to the Crow to come quick and help. So he had +to leave Mr. Dog a minute, and when he did that Mr. Dog walked around +the tree, and there was the trunk just a few feet from the ground, going +up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> very slowly. That was enough for Mr. Dog. He knew then he'd been +fooled, and he was so mad he didn't know what to do.</p> + +<p>He took one look at that trunk and made up his mind he wouldn't stand +it. So he stepped back a little and made a short run and gave a jump for +the trunk, just as high as ever he could.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 386px;"> +<img src="images/ill_091.jpg" width="386" height="500" alt="HE CAUGHT IT AS HE WENT BY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE CAUGHT IT AS HE WENT BY.</span> +</div> + +<p>But Mr. Dog wasn't very lucky, for instead of landing on the trunk he +landed his nose right against one corner of it, and that made him madder +than ever. He ran and jumped again harder than before, but this time the +trunk was a little higher and Mr. Dog didn't quite hit it. There was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +strap hanging down, though, and he caught it as he went by. He caught it +with his teeth, and two of his teeth went right through two of the holes +where the buckle catches, and there they stayed. He had the trunk all +right enough, but the trunk had him, too.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 376px;"> +<img src="images/ill_092.jpg" width="376" height="500" alt="THE ARRIVAL OF THE OTHER GUESTS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE ARRIVAL OF THE OTHER GUESTS.</span> +</div> + +<p>There he was. His feet didn't quite touch the ground, and he couldn't +get up any higher either. Then all at once the people up stairs saw how +it was, and they commenced to laugh in spite of themselves, and hitched +the rope around a peg under the sill so they could rest a minute. That +was fun for them, but it wasn't for Mr. Dog, by a good deal. He couldn't +laugh, and he couldn't rest, either. And just then Mr. Squirrel came +with his trunk, and Mr. Robin with his satchel and a hand bag, and Mr. +Turtle with his things in a big sack. Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> 'Coon ran down and let them +all in and locked the door. Then he ran back to the window where Mr. Dog +was.</p> + +<p>"If we'll let you down will you go home and not come around this hotel +interfering with our business?" says Mr. 'Possum.</p> + +<p>"Yes; will you promise not to try to get any of our guests away from +us?" says Mr. 'Coon.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dog couldn't talk much in the fix he was in, but he did the best he +could, and promised yes to everything, so pretty soon, they let the +trunk down till his feet touched the ground, and he could get his teeth +out of the strap. Then he put out for home just about as fast as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +could go, without so much as thanking them for letting him down, and up +went Mr. Rabbit's trunk pretty quick, now that there were plenty to +help.</p> + +<p>Then the guests all hurried to their rooms to unpack, and Mr. Crow +bustled around to get supper with what he had in the house, for Mr. +'Possum and Mr. 'Coon hadn't time yet to bring in anything. It was a +pretty good supper, though, and all the guests said so, and said they +knew what a good cook Mr. Crow was if he had things to work with, and +the Crow said he guessed he could do his part if the 'Coon and 'Possum +would do theirs.</p> + +<p>Well, it makes a good deal of difference whether you're company at a +house or a boarder. They all felt a good deal like company at first, but +by the next evening at supper time they felt different. Mr. 'Coon and +Mr. 'Possum had been out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> all day bringing in things, too, and Mr. Crow +had been cooking harder than ever. Mr. Robin was first to make remarks. +He said that the cherries were canned, and not very good ones at that.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said," put in Mr. 'Coon, "but Mr. 'Possum said you +wouldn't know the difference."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_093.jpg" width="500" height="305" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Oh, he did, did he?" says Mr. Robin. "Well, I've got better cherries +than these at home," and he got up from the table with a disgusted air.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Squirrel picked up some roasted nuts that the Crow had just +brought in.</p> + +<p>"Where'd you get these nuts?" he says, after he'd cracked one or two of +them.</p> + +<p>"Down on the slope of Green Bushes," says Mr. 'Coon. "Why, aren't they +good ones?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose they were once," says Mr. Squirrel—"two or three years ago. +Nuts have to be fresh to be good."</p> + +<p>"That's what I told him," says Mr. 'Possum; "but he said you wouldn't +know the difference."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he did, did he?" says Mr. Squirrel. "Well, I've got better nuts +than these at home," and Mr. Squirrel he got up and left the table.</p> + +<p>Then Jack Rabbit began.</p> + +<p>"Where'd you get this salad?" he says, turning up his nose.</p> + +<p>"Out by Mr. Man's back gate," says Mr. 'Possum. "Why, isn't it good?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Might have been once," says Mr. Rabbit. "I s'pose it's some Mr. Man +threw out because it was wilted."</p> + +<p>"That's what I told him," says Mr. 'Coon, "but he said you wouldn't know +the difference."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he did, did he? Well, I've got better salad than this at home," and +Jack Rabbit he got up and he left the table.</p> + +<p>And then, pretty soon, Mr. Turtle made a face over the fish because they +were salt mackerel and not nice fresh fish, such as he was used to at +home. So he got up and left the table, too, and there sat the 'Coon and +'Possum and the Old Black Crow all by themselves and looking cheap +enough to fall through the floor. Mr. Crow said it wasn't his fault, and +then Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum commenced to blame it on each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> other, and +nearly got into a fight. They were just about to fight when Mr. Crow +happened to think of something. Mr. Crow always did think of things.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you!" he says. "We'll just rent rooms."</p> + +<p>"Do what?" says Mr. 'Possum and Mr. 'Coon together.</p> + +<p>"Why, just rent each of our guests his room and let him take his meals +out. Then we won't have any work."</p> + +<p>"Whoo-ee!" says Mr. 'Possum and Mr. 'Coon both together, as loud as ever +they could. That made all the guests come running back, and when they +heard the new plan they all cheered, too, and said it was just the +thing.</p> + +<p>So then Mr. 'Possum went down and got the sign and brought it up and +changed it to read:</p> + +<h4>THE HOLLOW TREE INN.</h4> + +<h4>FURNISHED ROOMS ONLY.</h4> + +<p>And that was how business began at last in the Hollow Tree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MR_POSSUM_EXPLAINS" id="MR_POSSUM_EXPLAINS"></a>MR. 'POSSUM EXPLAINS</h2> + +<h3>HOW UNCLE SILAS TRIED TO PLEASE AUNT MELISSY</h3> + +<p>Well, you remember that the Hollow Tree people took four of their +friends to live with them and called it the Hollow Tree Inn. Mr. Robin +came, and Mr. Turtle, also Jack Rabbit and Mr. Squirrel, and they made a +jolly crowd after they got settled and knew about each getting his own +things to eat, because the Hollow Tree people—the 'Coon and 'Possum and +the old black Crow—found they couldn't suit their guests exactly when +it came to a steady diet. So they all kept house together, and used to +go out days (and nights, too, sometimes, when Mr. Man and Mr. Dog were +tired and asleep and didn't want to be disturbed) and get nice things. +Then they'd bring them in and fix them to suit themselves, and have them +all on the big table down stairs, nice and comfortable, where they could +sit and talk as long as they pleased.</p> + +<p>It was a good deal like a big family when they were all together that +way, and they used to say how nice it was, and once Mr. 'Possum said he +always did think a big family was nice, anyway. Then Jack Rabbit laughed +and said he should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> think Mr. 'Possum was just the kind of a man for a +big family, being fond of good things to eat and not very fond of +getting them for himself, and mostly fat and sleepy like. He said if +there was just a nice, spry Mrs. 'Possum, now, to keep house and look +after things he should think it would be ever so much better than living +in bachelor quarters, or, rather, thirds, with Mr. 'Coon and Mr. Crow, +and not having things very orderly. Of course, with himself, Jack Rabbit +said, it was different, but even at his house it got lonesome, too, now +and then.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<p>Well, Mr. 'Possum thought a minute, and then he said that there was such +a thing as folks being too spry, and that it was because he had always +been afraid of getting that kind that he had been pretty well satisfied +to live in the Hollow Tree just as he was. He said that he had once had +an uncle that something happened to in that line, and whenever he +thought about poor Uncle Lovejoy he didn't seem to care much about +trying anything he wasn't used to. Then they all wanted him to tell +about Uncle Lovejoy and what happened to him. So Mr. 'Possum did tell, +and it went this way:</p> + +<p>"Once upon a time," he said, "Uncle Lovejoy—we always called him Uncle +Silas then, and he was uncle on my mother's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> side, and lived with Aunt +Melissy in a nice place just beyond the Wide Pawpaw Hollows—once upon a +time, as I was saying, he had to go to town on some business, and that +was something that never happened to Uncle Lovejoy before."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_094.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Well, Aunt Melissy was always a spry woman, as I said, and +stirring—very stirring, and primpy, too. But she was never as stirring +and spry and primpy as she was the day that Uncle Silas started for +town. She dressed him all up neat and proper in his very best things, +and tied his tie for him, and while she was tying it she says:</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_095.jpg" width="500" height="347" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"'Now, Silas,' she says, 'when you get to town you buy a few little +articles right away and put them on. You don't want folks to see that +you come from the country, you know, and you don't want Cousin Glenwood +to be ashamed of you before folks. Cousin Glen will know just what +things you need and where to get them.' Then she told him not to get run +over by anything, or blow out the gas, or let anybody see that he wasn't +used to things, because, you see, Aunt Melissy was proud, being a +Glenwood herself. Then Uncle Lovejoy promised all those things, and that +he would use his napkin and not eat pie out of his hand or drink out of +his finger bowl, and a lot more things that Aunt Melissy remembered at +the last minute. So you see by the time he got on the train he had a +good deal to think about, and he kept thinking about it until by the +time he got to the city he'd made up his mind he'd try to do for once +everything she told him to and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> give her a pleasant surprise with the +way he had fixed up and improved his manners when he got back. Uncle +Lovejoy was good natured and always anxious to please folks, especially +Aunt Melissy."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_096.jpg" width="500" height="388" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Well, Cousin Glenwood met him at the station, and about the first thing +Uncle Silas said was to ask him where he got his clothes, and to tell +him that Aunt Melissy had said he was to fix up, so's folks wouldn't +think he came from the country, which, of course, she had. That just +suited Cousin Glenwood, for he liked to spend money and show off what he +knew about the city; so he took Uncle Lovejoy 'most everywhere,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> and +told him to buy 'most everything he saw. And of course Uncle Silas did +it, because he wanted to surprise Aunt Melissy when he got back and make +her feel happy for once in her life."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_097.jpg" width="500" height="326" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Cousin Glen took Uncle Lovejoy to the stores first, and then to a good +many different kinds of places afterward, and every place where there +was a mirror Uncle Lovejoy would stand before it and admire himself and +wonder what Aunt Melissy would say when he got home. He kept buying new +things every day, because every day he'd see somebody with something on +or carrying or leading something, and when he remembered what Aunt +Melissy said, he made up his mind he'd have to have all the things to +please her, and he got them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> as far as he could. Even Cousin Glenwood +had to commence buying things pretty soon to keep up, and before long +people used to stop on the street and look at them when they went by. +Uncle Silas didn't want to go home, either, when the time came, but of +course he had to, and he put on his best clothes for the trip, and took +a young man he'd hired to wait on him, and started.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_098.jpg" width="500" height="358" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"He didn't tell Aunt Melissy just what time he'd be there, so it was a +surprise sure enough. He walked right into the yard, and behind was the +young man he'd hired, carrying his things. Aunt Melissy was getting +dinner, and had just come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> to the door a minute to see what time it was +by the sun, when all of a sudden, as she looked up, there he was! He had +his hat in one hand and a cane in the other, and was leading a game +chicken by a string. All his boxes and bundles and the young man were +behind him. Uncle Lovejoy wore an eyeglass, too, and smoked a paper +thing he said was a cigarette. My little cousins, who were there, told +me afterward that their pa had never looked so fine in his life before +or since. They didn't know him at all, and neither did Aunt Melissy. She +thought he was somebody with something to sell at first, and when he +said:"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_099.jpg" width="500" height="312" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"'Aw, there, Melissah!' she threw up her hands and was just about to +call for help, when just that minute she saw it was Uncle Silas.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Poor Uncle Silas! He meant to surprise her, and he did it sure enough. +He meant to please her, though, and he didn't do that worth a cent. It +seemed funny, but she was mad. That's just the trouble about women +folks; you never know when you're going to please them. My little +cousins said they never saw their ma so mad before or since. She made +Uncle Lovejoy take off all his nice clothes, and the young man, too, and +she cooked the game chicken for dinner. Then, right after dinner, she +picked up a bag of shinney sticks that Uncle Lovejoy had brought home, +and she says to him and the young man:"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_100.jpg" width="500" height="287" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"'Now you get out in the garden,' she says, 'both of you, and try to +earn back some of this money you've been spending.' And Uncle Lovejoy +didn't feel very much like it, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> he went, and so did the young man. +So did Aunt Melissy, and she used up most of those shinney sticks on +Uncle Silas and the young man before fall, and Uncle Silas never saw any +of his nice clothes again, though they had the best garden they ever did +have, so my little cousins said.</p> + +<p>"And that," said Mr. 'Possum, leaning back in his chair to smoke, +"that's why I've always been afraid to try family life. It's easier to +please one than two, especially when the other one is a spry, stirring +person like Aunt Melissy Lovejoy."</p> + +<p>"What became of all the good clothes?" asked Jack Rabbit, who was always +very stylish.</p> + +<p>"Why, I've heard," said Mr. 'Possum, "that Aunt Melissy made some of +them over for my little cousins, and that she traded off the rest of +them to a pedler for patent medicine to give Uncle Silas for a weak +mind, and I think he needed it some myself for trying to please her in +the first place."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rabbit nodded.</p> + +<p>"It takes all kind of people to make a world," he said.</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Coon yawned and rubbed his eyes. The others were fast asleep.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_HOLLOW_TREE_POETRY_CLUB" id="THE_HOLLOW_TREE_POETRY_CLUB"></a>THE HOLLOW TREE POETRY CLUB</h2> + +<h3>MR. CROW PLANS AN ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE FOREST PEOPLE</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 411px;"> +<img src="images/ill_101.jpg" width="411" height="500" alt="HAD TO SCRATCH HIS HEAD AND THINK PRETTY HARD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HAD TO SCRATCH HIS HEAD AND THINK PRETTY HARD.</span> +</div> + +<p>Once upon a time, when it was getting along toward fall in the Hollow +Tree where Jack Rabbit and Mr. Robin and the others had come to live +with the 'Coon and 'Possum and the old black Crow, there began to be +long evenings, and the Hollow Tree people used to think of new ways to +pass the time. They tried games at first, and sleight of hand tricks. +Then they tried doing things, and Mr. Turtle carried them all together +twice around the big parlor room on his back. But even that wasn't so +funny after the first evening, and Mr. Crow, who did most of the +thinking, had to scratch his head and think pretty hard what to do next.</p> + +<p>All at once he happened to remember that Jack Rabbit, who was the big +man of the party, was also a first rate poet, and liked to read his own +poetry better than anything. So, when he thought of that, he said:</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you. We'll have a poetry club."</p> + +<p>And of course that made Mr. Rabbit wake up right away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's that?" he said. "What kind of a thing is a poetry club?"</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 366px;"> +<img src="images/ill_102.jpg" width="366" height="500" alt="POOR MR. DOG." title="" /> +<span class="caption">POOR MR. DOG.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Why," said Mr. Crow, "it's a place where the members each write a poem +and read it at the next meeting. You're the only real, sure enough poet, +of course, and will be president, and write the best poem, but the rest +of us can try, and you can tell us our mistakes. I've heard that Mr. Man +has them, and they're ever so much fun."</p> + +<p>Jack Rabbit thought so, too, and all the others liked the plan. So they +elected Mr. Rabbit president and then went to work on their poems. They +couldn't have the first meeting very soon, for it took longer to write +poems in those days than it does now, so before they got half ready the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +news got out some way, and even Mr. Dog had heard of it.</p> + +<p>Poor Mr. Dog! It made him really quite ill to think he wasn't on very +good terms with the Hollow Tree people, for he thought he could write +pretty nice poetry, too, and he wanted to belong to that club worse than +anything he could think of. He wanted to so bad that at last he told Mr. +Robin that if they'd just let him come he'd promise anything they asked.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 359px;"> +<img src="images/ill_103.jpg" width="359" height="500" alt="MR. RABBIT BOWED." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. RABBIT BOWED.</span> +</div> + +<p>They didn't want to let him, though, until Mr. Crow, who always felt +kind of sorry for Mr. Dog, said he didn't see why Mr. Dog shouldn't come +and look in through the window shutters, and that they could nail a seat +for him on a limb just outside. They could pull him up to it with a rope +and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> could sit there and listen and applaud the poems all through +without being able to do any damage to the poets, and he would be glad +enough to be let down by the time they got done reciting.</p> + +<p>So they sent him an invitation, and Mr. Dog was as happy as a king. He +went right to work on his poem, and he worked all night and walked up +and down the yard all day trying to think up rhymes for "joyful" and +"meeting," and a lot of other nice words. Even when he was asleep he +dreamed about it, and said over some of the lines out loud and jerked +his paws about as if he were reciting it and making motions. You see, +Mr. Dog hadn't always done just right by the Hollow Tree people, and he +was anxious to make a good impression and fix up things. He fixed +himself all up, too, when the night came for the meeting, and took his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +poem under his arm and lit a cigar that he'd borrowed of Mr. Man for the +occasion, and away he went.</p> + +<p>The Hollow Tree people were on the lookout for him and had the rope down +and ready. So Mr. Dog tied it around under his arms, and they pulled and +pulled, and up he came. Then, when he got pretty close to the window, +they closed the shutter and put the rope through and pulled him up still +a little higher, so that he could reach the seat on the limb, which was +fixed just right for him to sit there and lean on the window sill while +he listened and looked in.</p> + +<p>Of course, Mr. Dog wished he was inside, like the others,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> but he knew +why he wasn't, and he was glad enough to be there at all. He peeked +through the slats at the big room and smiled and said some nice things +about how pretty the room looked, till they all got real sociable with +him. Then Jack Rabbit called the meeting to order and made a few +remarks.</p> + +<p>He said the duties of his office had kept him from writing quite as long +and as good a poem as he would have liked to write, but that he hoped +they might be willing to hear what he had done. Then they all shouted, +"Yes, yes!" and "Hear, hear!" and Mr. Rabbit bowed first to the ones +inside and then to Mr. Dog outside, and began:</p> + +<h4>THE JOYS OF POETRY.</h4> + +<p class="center">BY J. RABBIT.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Oh, sweet the joys of poetry</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">In the merry days of spring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">When the dew is on the meadow</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">And the duck is on the wing!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">For 'tis then, from Dan to Dover,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">I'm a rover 'mid the clover,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Seeking rhymes the country over</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">With a ring, sing, swing—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">With a ding, dong, ding,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">And a ting a ling a ling—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">For I'm the rhyming rover of the spring.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Oh, sweet the joys of poetry</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">In the pleasant summer time!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">For 'tis then I have no trouble</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 28em;">To compose my gentle rhyme;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">In a nooklet by the brooklet</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">I can think up quite a booklet,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">As with fishing line and hooklet</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">I assist the fish to climb</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">To the music of my chime,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">For with rollick and with rhyme</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">I'm the poet of the pleasant summer time.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Oh, sweet the joys of poetry</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">When any days have come,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">When the autumn zephyrs whisper</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">Or the winter breezes hum!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">For 'tis then my thoughts unfurling,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">While the smoke goes upward curling,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Come a whirling, swirling, twirling,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">With a rumty, tumty, turn,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Come a twirling, swirling, whirling,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">Like the rattle of a drum.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Come a whirling, come a swirling;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">For in spring or in the summer,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">In the autumn or the winter</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">I'm the rumty, tumty, tummer</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">That rejoices in the seasons as they come.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Well, when Mr. Rabbit got through everybody sat still for a minute, till +Mr. Dog called out for somebody to come and unwind him so he could get +his breath again. Then they all commenced to laugh and shout and pound +on the table. And Mr. Rabbit coughed and looked pleased and said it was +easy enough to do when you knew how.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 358px;"> +<img src="images/ill_104.jpg" width="358" height="500" alt="LOOKED FOOLISH AND SWALLOWED TWO OR THREE TIMES." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LOOKED FOOLISH AND SWALLOWED TWO OR THREE TIMES.</span> +</div> + +<p>Then Mr. 'Possum, who was next on the program, said he hoped they'd let +him off this time because he could only think of four lines, and that he +was a better hand at the dinner table than he was at poetry, anyway. But +they wouldn't do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> it, so he got up and looked foolish and swallowed two +or three times before he could get started.</p> + +<h4>WHAT I LOVE.</h4> + +<p class="center">BY A. PUFFINGTON 'POSSUM.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">I love the fragrant chicken pie</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">That blooms in early spring;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">I love a chicken stew or fry,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Or any old thing.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Mr. 'Possum's poem was short, but it went right to the spot, and the way +they applauded almost made Jack Rabbit jealous. He said that it was +'most too true to be good poetry, but that it was good for a first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +effort, and that being short helped it. Then Mr. Robin spoke his piece:</p> + +<h4>MOTHER AND ME.</h4> + +<p class="center">BY C. ROBIN.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">When the bud breaks out on the maple bough</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Mother and me we build our nest—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">A twig from the yard and a wisp from the mow</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">And four blue eggs 'neath the mother breast.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Up in the tree, mother and me,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Happy and blithe and contented are we.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">When the daisies fall and the roses die,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">An empty nest in the boughs to swing—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Four young robins that learn to fly</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">And a sweet adieu till another spring.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Then up in the tree, mother and me,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Happy once more and contented we'll be.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The applause wasn't so loud after Mr. Robin's poem, but they all said it +was very pretty, and Mr. 'Possum even wiped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> his eyes with his +handkerchief, because it made him remember something sad. Mr. Rabbit +said that it ought to be "Mother and I," but that it didn't make much +difference, he supposed, about grammar, so long as it rhymed and sounded +nice. Then Mr. Crow got up.</p> + +<h4>JUST NOTHING.</h4> + +<p class="center">BY J. CROW.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">While others may sing of the pleasures of spring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Or winter or summer or fall,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">I'll sing not of these, because, if you please,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">I'll sing of just nothing at all.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Just nothing at all, because, oh, ho!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">I'll sing of myself, an old black crow.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">As black as a coal and as homely as sin—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">What more can I tell you, I pray?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">For when you have nothing to sing of, why, then,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Of course there is nothing to say.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Nothing to say at all, oh, ho!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Except goodby to the old black crow—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">The rollicking old black crow!</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>They made a good deal of fuss over Mr. Crow's poem. They applauded, of +course, but they said it wasn't so at all, and that Mr. Crow was a good +deal more than "just nothing." They said that it was he who had got up +this party, and that he was the best man to plan and cook anywhere. Mr. +'Possum said he even liked Mr. Crow's April fool chicken pies, and then +they all remembered and laughed, even to Mr. Crow himself. After that it +was Mr. Squirrel's turn. Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> Squirrel coughed twice and straightened +his vest before he began, so they knew his poem wasn't to be funny.</p> + +<h4>THE FOOLISH LITTLE LAD.</h4> + +<p class="center">BY MR. GRAY SQUIRREL.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Once on a time, the story goes,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">A silly squirrel lad</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">One summer day did run away—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Which made his ma feel bad.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">She hunted for him up and down</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And round and round she ran—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Alas, that foolish squirrel boy</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Was caught by Mr. Man.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">For he had tried to climb a tree</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">As Mr. Man came past.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">"I'll make you climb!" said Mr. Man,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And walked home pretty fast.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">When he got there a boy came out</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">As Mr. Man went in.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">That silly squirrel soon was put</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Into a house of tin.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">"Now you can climb!" said Mr. Man,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">But when he did he found</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">That nice tin house, so bright and new,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Turned round and round and round.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">And there he climbs and climbs all day</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And never seems to stop,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">And I have heard my mother say</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">He'll never reach the top.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>When Mr. Squirrel sat down there wasn't a dry eye in the room, and even +Mr. Dog outside was affected. He said he'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> seen that poor little +squirrel at Mr. Man's house turning and turning away in his tin wheel, +and felt so sorry for him that two or three times he'd tried to get him +out. He said, though, that Mr. Man had always caught him at it and that +then they didn't get on well for a day or two. He was so tender-hearted, +though, he said, that he couldn't help pitying the little fellow, +climbing and climbing all day long and never getting anywhere. Mr. +'Possum shivered, and said it reminded him of bad dreams he'd had +sometimes, when he'd eaten too much supper, and dreamed of climbing the +rainbow. Then they all sat still and waited for Mr. Turtle, who came +next.</p> + +<h4>MY SNUG HOUSE.</h4> + +<p class="center">BY D'LAND TURTLE.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Oh, what do I care for your houses of wood,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Your houses of brick or of stone,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">When I have a house that is cosy and good—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">A beautiful house of my own?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">And the doors will not sag and the roof will not crack</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Of the house that I carry about on my back.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">It is never too large and 'tis never too small,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">It is with me wherever I roam.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">In spring or in summer, in winter or fall,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">I always can find my way home.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">For it isn't so hard to remember the track</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">To the house that you carry about on your back.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Well, of course, everybody applauded that, and then it was Mr. 'Coon's +time. Mr. 'Coon said he was like Mr. 'Possum. He wasn't much on poetry, +and only had four lines. He said they were some like Mr. 'Possum's, +too.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> + +<h4>THE BEST THINGS.</h4> + +<p class="center">BY Z. COON.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">I like the spring, I like the fall,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">I like the cold and heat,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">And poems, too, but best of all</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">I like good things to eat.</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/ill_105.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="LEANED OVER CLOSE TO THE BLINDS AND COMMENCED TO READ." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LEANED OVER CLOSE TO THE BLINDS AND COMMENCED TO READ.</span> +</div> + +<p>That brought the house down, and the Hollow Tree people thought the +entertainment was over. They were going to have supper right away, but +Mr. Dog called out to wait a minute. He said he had a little poem +himself that he wanted to read. So out of politeness they all sat still, +though they didn't expect very much. Then Mr. Dog unrolled his poem and +leaned over close to the blinds and commenced to read.</p> + +<h4>MY FOREST FRIENDS.</h4> + +<p class="center">BY MR. DOG.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Oh, dear to me my forest friends,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Especially Mr. Rabbit—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">I love his poetry very much,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And every gentle habit.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">And dear to me is Mr. 'Coon,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And also Mr. 'Possum;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">I hope to win their friendship soon—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">'Twill be a precious blossom.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">And Mr. Crow and Robin, too,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">With fancy sweet and fertile,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">And Mr. Squirrel, kind and true,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And likewise Mr. Turtle.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Oh, dear to me my forest friends,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Especially Mr. Rabbit—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">I love his poetry very much</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">And every gentle habit.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before Mr. Dog was half through reading the Hollow Tree people had +gathered around the window to listen. By the time he got to the end of +the third stanza he had to stop for them to cheer, and when he read the +last one, Jack Rabbit pounded on the shutter with his fist and shouted, +"Hurrah for Mr. Dog! Hurrah for Mr. Dog!" just as loud as ever he could, +while all the others crowded up and shouted and tried to pound, too.</p> + +<p>Well, maybe the shutter wasn't very strong, or maybe they crowded and +pounded too hard in their excitement over Mr. Dog's nice poem, for all +at once there was a loud crack and the shutter flew open and out went +Mr. Rabbit right smack into the arms of Mr. Dog!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_106.jpg" width="500" height="381" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>I tell you that was pretty sudden and—Mr. Rabbit was scared. So were +all the others and they were going to grab the shutter and close it +again and leave Mr. Rabbit out there. But Jack Rabbit thinks quick.</p> + +<p>"Oh Mr. Dog," he said, "that was the nicest poem I ever heard. Let me +embrace you, Mr. Dog, and be your friend forever after!"</p> + +<p>Then he hugged Mr. Dog just as tight as he could, and Mr. Dog hugged +him, too, and shed tears, he was that happy. He had been wanting to make +up with the forest people for a long time, but he hadn't expected this. +Then the others all saw how it was and they shouted, "Hurrah for Mr. +Dog!" again and invited him in. And Mr. Dog went in and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> had the +biggest supper and the biggest time that ever was known in the Hollow +Tree.</p> + +<p>And that's how Mr. Dog got to be friends with all the Hollow Tree people +at last. And he stayed friends with them ever and ever so long—and +longer—just as long as he lived, for the Mr. Dog that isn't good +friends with them now isn't the same Mr. Dog. And he isn't as smart, +either, for he can't write poetry, and he's never even been able to find +the Hollow Tree, where the 'Coon and 'Possum and the old black Crow live +together and every summer keep open house for their friends.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="AROUND_THE_WORLD_AND_BACK_AGAIN" id="AROUND_THE_WORLD_AND_BACK_AGAIN"></a>AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK AGAIN</h2> + +<p>Once upon a time, when Mr. Dog was over spending the evening with the +Hollow Tree people, he told them that Mr. Man had said the world was +round, like a ball. Of course this was after Mr. Dog got to be good +friends with the 'Possum and the 'Coon and the old black Crow, and he +often used to come over to the Hollow Tree, where they lived, for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +quiet talk and smoke, and to tell the things that Mr. Man said, and did, +and what he had on his table for dinner.</p> + +<p>The Hollow Tree people liked to hear about Mr. Man, too; but when they +heard what he said about the world being round they thought there must +be some mistake in the way Mr. Dog had understood it. Mr. 'Coon said +that it couldn't be so, for the edge of the world was just beyond the +last trees of the big deep woods, and that he'd often sat there and hung +his feet over and watched the moon come up. Mr. 'Possum said so, too; +and Mr. Crow said that the other edge was over along the wide, blue +water, where Mr. Turtle lived, and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> of course the water was flat, +as everybody could see. Anyway, it would spill out if it wasn't.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Dog stuck to it that Mr. Man had said just what Mr. Dog had said +he said, and that, what was more, Mr. Man had said that the world turned +over every day, and that the sun and moon and stars all went round it. +And Mr. Man had said, too, that people sometimes went around the world, +and didn't turn over or fall off into the sky when they were underneath, +but kept on, and came up on the other side, right back to the very place +they started from.</p> + +<p>Well, that made them all wonder a good deal more than ever; and Mr. Jack +Rabbit, who came in just then for the evening, said he shouldn't be a +bit surprised if it were true, for he'd often noticed how the seasons +went round and round, and he thought, now, they must travel around the +world some way, too. He said he'd composed some poetry on Spring as he +came along, and that now he understood some lines of it better than he +had at the start; for, of course, when poetry just comes to anybody, as +it does to Mr. Rabbit, it isn't expected that even the poet himself will +understand it very well at first.</p> + +<p>Then they all wanted to hear Jack Rabbit's poem, and Mr. Rabbit said +that it really wasn't just as he wanted it yet, but that if they +wouldn't expect too much, he'd let them hear how it went, anyway.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + +<h4>WHICH WAY, SPRING?</h4> + +<p class="center">By J. Rabbit.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">O Spring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">Ho, Spring!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Whither do you go, Spring?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">If I did but know. Spring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">I would go there, too.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">Pray, Spring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">Say, Spring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Whither and away, Spring?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">I would start to-day, Spring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">If I go with you.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Spring answers:—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">"Why, sir,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">I, sir,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Just go tripping by, sir—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">If you did but try, sir,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">You could go with me.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">Follow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">Follow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Over hill and hollow—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">Where the bluebirds call, O,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">I am sure to be."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Well, everybody applauded that, of course; and Mr. 'Coon said that for +his part he was tired of cold weather, and that if to-morrow was a +bright day, and anybody'd go with him, he'd start out at sunrise and +follow Spring clear around the world. Then Mr. 'Possum said he'd go just +to see whether Mr. Man was right or not, and Mr. Crow said he'd go, too. +Mr. Rabbit wanted to go to prove some things in his poem, but he had to +make a garden if it was a good day, and Mr. Dog had an engagement to dig +moles for Mr. Man.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_107.jpg" width="500" height="436" alt="SET OUT IN HIGH SPIRITS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SET OUT IN HIGH SPIRITS.</span> +</div> + +<p>So the next morning, bright and early, the three Hollow Tree people got +up and started. They packed some lunch in a basket, so they wouldn't get +hungry, in case they were gone all day, and set out in high spirits; for +it was a beautiful morning in April, and they knew Spring had come at +last.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + +<p>They saw a bluebird up in a tree not far away, and they remembered what +Mr. Rabbit's poem had said about following him over hill and hollow; so +they went along in that direction, talking and whistling and singing, +because they felt so good in the fresh morning sunlight.</p> + +<p>And Mr. Bluebird hopped and whistled and flew along ahead, until, +by-and-by, they came to where Mr. Fox lived.</p> + +<p>"Where are you fellows going, so early?" called Mr. Fox.</p> + +<p>"We're following Spring around the world," called back Mr. Crow; and +then they told him all that Mr. Dog had said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 373px;"> +<img src="images/ill_108.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Then Mr. Fox looked very wise, for he didn't know if Mr. Dog was playing +a trick on them, or if it were really true that the world was round and +he hadn't heard of it. Anyway, he wasn't going to let on, so he said, +"Why, of course! I knew that all the time. You just keep right on until +you come to that big elm over yonder, and turn to the right. Anybody +over there can show you the way." Then Mr. Fox coughed and went back +into the house, but he made up his mind he wouldn't laugh until he had +seen Mr. Dog and was sure it was all a joke. And the Hollow Tree people +kept on to the elm tree, and, sure enough, there was Mr. Bluebird, +hopping and whistling and flying on ahead, for he'd been listening to +what Mr. Fox had told them.</p> + +<p>So they hurried right along after him till they came to Mr. Wolf's +place. Mr. Wolf was looking out of his door as they came by.</p> + +<p>"Hello, you early birds!" he called. "Whose hen-roost you been after?"</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_109.jpg" width="500" height="421" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Then they told him they weren't thinking of such things as that on a +beautiful morning like this, but that they were following Spring around +the world. And they told him all that Mr. Man had said to Mr. Dog, and +what Mr. Fox had said, and about Jack Rabbit's poem. Mr. Wolf thought +he'd better be wise, too, until he found out just how things were, so he +said:—"Sure enough! That's a good plan. I'd go along if I had time. I +know the way well. You just keep on till you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> come to that creek yonder, +then cross and turn to the right, and after that any one can show you +the way."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 418px;"> +<img src="images/ill_110.jpg" width="418" height="500" alt="AND MR. CROW, HE SAYS, "WHY, IT IS OUR TREE!"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">AND MR. CROW, HE SAYS, "WHY, IT IS OUR TREE!"</span> +</div> + +<p>So away went the Hollow Tree people, and when they got to the creek, and +crossed, and turned to the right, there was the bluebird again, hopping +and whistling and dancing on ahead, just in the direction that Mr. Wolf +had said to go. Then, pretty soon, Mr. 'Possum said he was hungry, so +they sat down on some moss and ate their lunch, and Mr. Bluebird came up +close and sang to them till Mr. 'Possum went to sleep in the sun and +took a little nap, while the 'Coon and the Crow put what was left back +into the basket and got ready to go. Then Mr. 'Possum woke up and said +he was sure they must be nearly around the world, for he'd just had a +dream about catching a chicken with four legs and two heads, and he knew +that must mean something good. So then they went on and the bluebird +went ahead, until they came to a fine, big cave, where Mr. Bear lived.</p> + +<p>Now Mr. Bear is very big and wise—at least he thinks he is—and he knew +right away that Mr. Dog was just playing a joke on them, or at least he +thought he did, so he said:—"Well, well! I supposed you fellows knew +all that long ago. You don't mean to say, do you, that this is really +your first time round? Why, I go round the world every spring and fall, +and buy most of my things on the other side. You just follow this path +till you come to a big black rock, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> turn to the right and keep +straight ahead. You can't miss the way."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Bear went back in his cave, and laid down and rolled over and +laughed to think what a big joke everybody was playing on the Hollow +Tree people. But the Hollow Tree people kept right on, for they saw Mr. +Bluebird still whistling and dancing on ahead; and by-and-by they came +to the big black rock that Mr. Bear had mentioned, and turned to the +right again as he had told them, to do. Then they walked and walked, and +Mr. Bluebird hopped and skipped and whistled, until at last, just as +they were all getting very tired and it was most night, they came to a +big hollow tree in a deep woods; and Mr. 'Possum looked up and says,</p> + +<p>"Why," he says, "this tree looks a good deal like our tree!"</p> + +<p>And Mr. 'Coon he says, "Why, it's just like our tree!"</p> + +<p>And Mr. Crow, he says, "Why, it is our tree!" for of course they'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +turned to the right three times, which brought them right back where +they started from, though they did not know it.</p> + +<p>So then all at once they commenced to laugh and shout:—"We've done it! +We've done it!</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">"We've followed Spring around the world,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 24em;">According to the plan!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 23em;">Hurrah for Mr. Rabbit!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 24em;">And hurrah for Mr. Man!"</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> + +<p>And the bluebird up in the branches whistled and danced and shouted, +too; and Jack Rabbit and Mr. Dog came over pretty soon to see if they'd +got home yet. And of course Mr. Rabbit was proud about the way his poem +had turned out; and Mr. Dog he was proud, too, on Mr. Man's account. +Then they all had a big supper, to celebrate, and by-and-by Mr. Rabbit +and Mr. Dog went away arm in arm, singing Mr. Rabbit's poem to the moon; +while the 'Coon and 'Possum and the old black Crow went to bed happy +because they had followed Spring clear around the world, and hadn't got +lost or tumbled off into the sky, but were home again safe and sound in +the Hollow Tree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHRISTMAS_AT_THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN" id="CHRISTMAS_AT_THE_HOLLOW_TREE_INN"></a>CHRISTMAS AT THE HOLLOW TREE INN</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY TELLER TOLD THE LAST HOLLOW TREE STORY ON CHRISTMAS EVE. IT +WAS SNOWING OUTSIDE, AND THE LITTLE LADY WAS WONDERING HOW IT WAS IN THE +FAR DEEP WOODS</h3> + +<p>Once upon a time, he said, when the Robin, and Turtle, and Squirrel, and +Jack Rabbit had all gone home for the winter, nobody was left in the +Hollow Tree except the 'Coon and 'Possum and the old black Crow. Of +course the others used to come back and visit them pretty often, and Mr. +Dog, too, now that he had got to be good friends with all the Deep Woods +people, and they thought a great deal of him when they got to know him +better. Mr. Dog told them a lot of things they had never heard of +before, things that he'd learned at Mr. Man's house, and maybe that's +one reason why they got to liking him so well.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 378px;"> +<img src="images/ill_111.jpg" width="378" height="500" alt="HE TOLD THEM ALL ABOUT SANTA CLAUS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE TOLD THEM ALL ABOUT SANTA CLAUS.</span> +</div> + +<p>He told them about Santa Claus, for one thing, and how the old fellow +came down the chimney on Christmas Eve to bring presents to Mr. Man and +his children, who always hung up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> their stockings for them, and Mr. Dog +said that once he had hung up his stocking, too, and got a nice bone in +it, that was so good he had buried and dug it up again as much as six +times before spring. He said that Santa Claus always came to Mr. Man's +house, and that whenever the children hung up their stockings they were +always sure to get something in them.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 329px;"> +<img src="images/ill_112.jpg" width="329" height="500" alt="MR. CROW HE MADE HIMSELF A NEW PAIR ON PURPOSE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. CROW HE MADE HIMSELF A NEW PAIR ON PURPOSE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Well, the Hollow Tree people had never heard of Santa Claus. They knew +about Christmas, of course, because everybody, even the cows and sheep,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +know about that, but they had never heard of Santa Claus. You see, Santa +Claus only comes to Mr. Man's house, but they didn't know that, either, +so they thought if they just hung up their stockings he'd come there, +too, and that's what they made up their minds to do. They talked about +it a great deal together, and Mr. 'Possum looked over all his stockings +to pick out the biggest one he had, and Mr. Crow he made himself a new +pair on purpose. Mr. 'Coon said he never knew Mr. Crow to make himself +such big stockings before, but Mr. Crow said he was getting old and +needed things bigger, and when he loaned one of his new stockings to Mr. +'Coon, Mr. 'Coon said, "That's so," and that he guessed they were about +right after all. They didn't tell anybody about it at first, but by and +by they told Mr. Dog what they were going to do, and when Mr. Dog heard +it he wanted to laugh right out. You see, he knew Santa Claus never went +anywhere except to Mr. Man's house, and he thought it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> be a great +joke on the Hollow Tree people when they hung up their stockings and +didn't get anything.</p> + +<p>But by and by Mr. Dog thought about something else. He thought it would +be too bad, too, for them to be disappointed that way. You see, Mr. Dog +liked them all now, and when he had thought about that a minute he made +up his mind to do something. And this is what it was—he made up his +mind to play Santa Claus!</p> + +<p>He knew just how Santa Claus looked, 'cause he'd seen lots of his +pictures at Mr. Man's house, and he thought it would be great fun to +dress up that way and take a bag of presents to the Hollow Tree while +they were all asleep and fill up the stockings of the 'Coon and 'Possum +and the old black Crow. But first he had to be sure of some way of +getting in, so he said to them he didn't see how they could expect Santa +Claus, their chimneys were so small, and Mr. Crow said they could leave +their latch string out down stairs, which was just what Mr. Dog wanted. +Then they said they were going to have all the folks that had spent the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +summer with them over for Christmas dinner and to see the presents they +had got in their stockings. They told Mr. Dog to drop over, too, if he +could get away, and Mr. Dog said he would, and went off laughing to +himself and ran all the way home because he felt so pleased at what he +was going to do.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/ill_113.jpg" width="350" height="500" alt="IT GOT HEAVIER AND HEAVIER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">IT GOT HEAVIER AND HEAVIER.</span> +</div> + +<p>Well, he had to work pretty hard, I tell you, to get things ready. It +wasn't so hard to get the presents as it was to rig<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> up his Santa Claus +dress. He found some long wool out in Mr. Man's barn for his white +whiskers, and he put some that wasn't so long on the edges of his +overcoat and boot tops and around an old hat he had. Then he borrowed a +big sack he found out there, too, and fixed it up to swing over his +back, just as he had seen Santa Claus do in the pictures. He had a lot +of nice things to take along. Three tender young chickens he'd borrowed +from Mr. Man, for one thing, and then he bought some new neckties for +the Hollow Tree folks all around, and a big, striped candy cane for each +one, because candy canes always looked well sticking out of a stocking. +Besides all that, he had a new pipe for each, and a package of tobacco. +You see, Mr. Dog lived with Mr. Man, and didn't ever have to buy much +for himself, so he had always saved his money. He had even more things +than that, but I can't remember just now what they were; and when he +started out, all dressed up like Santa Claus, I tell you his bag was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +pretty heavy, and he almost wished before he got there that he hadn't +started with quite so much.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 358px;"> +<img src="images/ill_114.jpg" width="358" height="500" alt="HE ALMOST HAD TO LAUGH RIGHT OUT LOUD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE ALMOST HAD TO LAUGH RIGHT OUT LOUD.</span> +</div> + +<p>It got heavier and heavier all the way, and he was glad enough to get +there and find the latch string out. He set his bag down to rest a +minute before climbing the stairs, and then opened the doors softly and +listened. He didn't hear a thing except Mr. Crow and Mr. 'Coon and Mr. +'Possum breathing pretty low, and he knew they might wake up any minute, +and he wouldn't have been caught there in the midst of things for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> a +good deal. So he slipped up just as easy as anything, and when he got up +in the big parlor room he almost had to laugh right out loud, for there +were the stockings sure enough, all hung up in a row, and a card with a +name on it over each one telling who it belonged to.</p> + +<p>Then he listened again, and all at once he jumped and held his breath, +for he heard Mr. 'Possum say something. But Mr. 'Possum was only talking +in his sleep, and saying, "I'll take another piece, please," and Mr. Dog +knew he was dreaming about the mince pie he'd had for supper.</p> + +<p>So, then he opened his bag and filled the stockings. He put in mixed +candy and nuts and little things first, and then the pipes and tobacco +and candy canes, so they'd show at the top, and hung a nice dressed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +chicken outside. I tell you, they looked fine! It almost made Mr. Dog +wish he had a stocking of his own there to fill, and he forgot all about +them waking up, and sat down in a chair to look at the stockings. It was +a nice rocking chair, and over in a dark corner where they wouldn't be +apt to see him, even if one of them did wake up and stick his head out +of his room, so Mr. Dog felt pretty safe now, anyway. He rocked softly, +and looked and looked at the nice stockings, and thought how pleased +they'd be in the morning, and how tired he was. You've heard about +people being as tired as a dog; and that's just how Mr. Dog felt. He was +so tired he didn't feel a bit like starting home, and by and by—he +never did know how it happened—but by and by Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> Dog went sound +asleep right there in his chair, with all his Santa Claus clothes on.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 356px;"> +<img src="images/ill_115.jpg" width="356" height="500" alt="TO SEE MR. DOG JUMP RIGHT STRAIGHT OUT OF HIS CHAIR." title="" /> +<span class="caption">TO SEE MR. DOG JUMP RIGHT STRAIGHT OUT OF HIS CHAIR.</span> +</div> + +<p>And there he sat, with his empty bag in his hand and the nice full +stockings in front of him, all night long. Even when it came morning and +began to get light Mr. Dog didn't know it; he just slept right on, he +was that tired. Then pretty soon the door of Mr. 'Possum's room opened +and he poked out his head. And just then the door of Mr. 'Coon's room +opened and he poked out his head. Then the door of the old black Crow +opened and out poked his head. They all looked toward the stockings, and +they didn't see Mr. Dog, or even each other, at all. They saw their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +stockings, though, and Mr. 'Coon said all at once:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's something in my stocking!"</p> + +<p>And then Mr. Crow says:—"Oh, there's something in my stocking, too!"</p> + +<p>And Mr. 'Possum says:—"Oh, there's something in all our stockings!"</p> + +<p>And with that they gave a great hurrah all together, and rushed out and +grabbed their stockings and turned around just in time to see Mr. Dog +jump right straight up out of his chair, for he did not know where he +was the least bit in the world.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's Santa Claus himself!" they all shouted together, and made a +rush for their rooms, for they were scared almost to death. But it all +dawned on Mr. Dog in a second,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> and he commenced to laugh and hurrah to +think what a joke it was on everybody. And when they heard Mr. Dog laugh +they knew him right away, and they all came up and looked at him, and he +had to tell just what he'd done and everything; so they emptied out +their stockings on the floor and ate some of the presents and looked at +the others, until they almost forgot about breakfast, just as children +do on Christmas morning.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Crow said, all at once, that he'd make a little coffee, and +that Mr. Dog must stay and have some, and by and by they made him +promise to spend the day with them and be there when the Robin and the +Squirrel and Mr. Turtle and Jack Rabbit came, which he did.</p> + +<p>And it was snowing hard outside, which made it a nicer Christmas than if +it hadn't been, and when all the others came they brought presents, too. +And when they saw Mr. Dog dressed up as Santa Claus and heard how he'd +gone to sleep and been caught, they laughed and laughed. And it snowed +so hard that they had to stay all night, and after dinner they sat +around the fire and told stories. And they had to stay the next night, +too, and all that Christmas week. And I wish I could tell you all that +happened that week, but I can't, because I haven't time. But it was the +very nicest Christmas that ever was in the Hollow Tree, or in the Big +Deep Woods anywhere.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill_116.jpg" width="500" height="244" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>And this, said the Story Teller, is the very last Hollow Tree story, and +there will be no more, for they all came out through Mr. Dog, and Mr. +Dog has gone away now into that Far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> Land of Evening where all good dogs +go to when they get very, very old. He was friends with the Hollow Tree +people to the last, and when he got too old to visit them, they used to +come to see him, sometimes at night, when Mr. Man was asleep. And when +Mr. Dog went away on his long journey beyond the sunset they were all so +sorry, for they knew that no other Mr. Dog would ever be friends with +them, and they were very sad in the Hollow Tree for a long time.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">Then here's goodby to the old black Crow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">And the rest, with a one, two, three!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21em;">And here's goodby to the Hollow, Hollow, Hollow—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Good-by to the Hollow Tree.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="GOOD-BYE_TO_THE_LITTLE_LADY" id="GOOD-BYE_TO_THE_LITTLE_LADY"></a>GOOD-BYE TO THE LITTLE LADY</h2> + +<h3>WHAT SHE WISHES AND WHAT THE STORY TELLER SAYS</h3> + +<p>The Little Lady looks into the fire thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"And isn't there any more about the Hollow Tree?" she says at last.</p> + +<p>The Story Teller looks into the fire, too.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not," he answers.</p> + +<p>"And won't you never know any more? Not ever—in a thousand days?"</p> + +<p>"I—no, I'm afraid not."</p> + +<p>"I wish we lived in a Hollow Tree," says the Little Lady.</p> + +<p>From the House of Many Windows the Story Teller looks down on the +dazzling lights and the clatter and jangle of the street. Then he +remembers cool, musky ways in the dim woods, down which the padded feet +of the forest people pass silently to hidden homes of peace. The Story +Teller sighs.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sweetheart," he says, "I have wished that sometimes, too."</p> + +<h4>THE END</h4> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1">[1]</a> The Three Friends, page 136.</p></div> + +</div> + +<div style='display:block;margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOLLOW TREE AND DEEP WOODS BOOK ***</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This file should be named 33816-h.htm or 33816-h.zip</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/8/1/33816/</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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