diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4980-0.txt | 2941 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4980-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 50116 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4980-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 392875 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4980-h/4980-h.htm | 3748 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4980-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 340860 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/4980.txt | 2799 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/4980.zip | bin | 0 -> 49488 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/ogfox10.txt | 2829 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/ogfox10.zip | bin | 0 -> 49157 bytes |
12 files changed, 12333 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4980-0.txt b/4980-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c0ef0be --- /dev/null +++ b/4980-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2941 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Old Granny Fox, by Thornton W. Burgess + +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 +www.gutenberg.org. 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. + +Title: Old Granny Fox + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Release Date: April 7, 2002 [eBook #4980] +[Most recently updated: May 21, 2023] + +Language: English + +Produced by: Kent Fielden and David Widger + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD GRANNY FOX *** + + + + +OLD GRANNY FOX + +By Thornton W. Burgess + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER I. Reddy Fox Brings Granny News + CHAPTER II. Granny And Reddy Fox Go Hunting + CHAPTER III. Reddy Is Sure Granny Has Lost Her Senses + CHAPTER IV. Quacker The Duck Grows Curious + CHAPTER V. Reddy Fox Is Afraid To Go Home + CHAPTER VI. Old Granny Fox Is Caught Napping + CHAPTER VII. Granny Fox Has A Bad Dream + CHAPTER VIII. What Farmer Brown's Boy Did + CHAPTER IX. Reddy Fox Hears About Granny Fox + CHAPTER X. Reddy Fox Is Impudent + CHAPTER XI. After The Storm + CHAPTER XII. Granny And Reddy Fox Hunt In Vain + CHAPTER XIII. Granny Fox Admits Growing Old + CHAPTER XIV. Three Vain And Foolish Wishes + CHAPTER XVI. Reddy Is Made Truly Happy + CHAPTER XVI. Reddy Is Made Truly Happy + CHAPTER XVII. Granny Fox Promises Reddy Bowser's Dinner + CHAPTER XVIII. Why Bowser The Hound Didn't Eat His Dinner + CHAPTER XIX. Old Man Coyote Does A Little Thinking + CHAPTER XX. A Twice Stolen Dinner + CHAPTER XXI. Granny And Reddy Talk Things Over + CHAPTER XXII. Granny Fox Plans To Get A Fat Hen + CHAPTER XXIII. Farmer Brown's Boy Forgets To Close The Gate + CHAPTER XXIV. A Midnight Visit + CHAPTER XXV. A Dinner For Two + CHAPTER XXVI. Farmer Brown's Boy Sets A Trap + CHAPTER XXVII. Prickly Porky Takes A Sun Bath + CHAPTER XXVIII. Prickly Porky Enjoys Himself + CHAPTER XXIX. The New Home In The Old Pasture + + + + +CHAPTER I +Reddy Fox Brings Granny News + + +Pray who is there who would refuse +To bearer be of happy news? + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Snow covered the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, and ice bound the +Smiling Pool and the Laughing Brook. Reddy and Granny Fox were hungry +most of the time. It was not easy to find enough to eat these days, and +so they spent nearly every minute they were awake in hunting. Sometimes +they hunted together, but usually one went one way, and the other went +another way so as to have a greater chance of finding something. If +either found enough for two, the one finding it took the food back to +their home if it could be carried. If not, the other was told where to +find it. + +For several days they had had very little indeed to eat, and they were +so hungry that they were willing to take almost any chance to get a +good meal. For two nights they had visited Farmer Brown’s henhouse, +hoping that they would be able to find a way inside. But the biddies +had been securely locked up, and try as they would, they couldn’t find +a way in. + +“It’s of no use,” said Granny, as they started back home after the +second try, “to hope to get one of those hens at night. If we are going +to get any at all, we will have to do it in broad daylight. It can be +done, for I have done it before, but I don’t like the idea. We are +likely to be seen, and that means that Bowser the Hound will be set to +hunting us.” + +“Pooh!” exclaimed Reddy. “What of it? It’s easy enough to fool him.” + +“You think so, do you?” snapped Granny. “I never yet saw a young Fox +who didn’t think he knew all there is to know, and you’re just like the +rest. When you’ve lived as long as I have you will have learned not to +be quite so sure of your own opinions. I grant you that when there is +no snow on the ground, any Fox with a reasonable amount of Fox sense in +his head can fool Bowser, but with snow everywhere it is a very +different matter. If Bowser once takes it into his head to follow your +trail these days, you will have to be smarter than I think you are to +fool him. The only way you will be able to get away from him will be by +going into a hole in the ground, and when you do that you will have +given away a secret that will mean we will never have any peace at all. +We will never know when Farmer Brown’s boy will take it into his head +to smoke us out. I’ve seen it done. No, Sir, we are not going to try +for one of those hens in the daytime unless we are starving.” + +“I’m starving now,” whined Reddy. + +“No such thing!” Granny snapped. “I’ve been without food longer than +this many a time. Have you been over to the Big River lately?” + +“No,” replied Reddy. “What’s the use? It’s frozen over. There isn’t +anything there.” + +“Perhaps not,” replied Granny, “but I learned a long time ago that it +is a poor plan to overlook any chance. There is a place in the Big +River which never freezes because the water runs too swiftly to freeze, +and I’ve found more than one meal washed ashore there. You go over +there now while I see what I can find in the Green Forest. If neither +of us finds anything, it will be time enough to think about Farmer +Brown’s hens to-morrow.” + +Much against his will Reddy obeyed. “It isn’t the least bit of use,” he +grumbled, as he trotted towards the Big River. “There won’t be anything +there. It is just a waste of time.” + +Late that afternoon he came hurrying back, and Granny knew by the way +that he cocked his ears and carried his tail that he had news of some +kind. “Well, what is it?” she demanded. + +“I found a dead fish that had been washed ashore,” replied Reddy. “It +wasn’t big enough for two, so I ate it.” + +“Anything else?” asked Granny. + +“No-o,” replied Reddy slowly; “that is, nothing that will do us any +good. Quacker the Wild Duck was swimming about out in the open water, +but though I watched and watched he never once came ashore.” + +“Ha!” exclaimed Granny. “That _is_ good news. I think we’ll go Duck +hunting.” + + + + +CHAPTER II +Granny And Reddy Fox Go Hunting + + +When you’re in doubt what course is right, +The thing to do is just sit tight. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun had just got well started on his daily +climb up in the blue, blue sky that morning when he spied two figures +trotting across the snow-covered Green Meadows, one behind the other. +They were trotting along quite as if they had made up their minds just +where they were going. They had. You see they were Granny and Reddy +Fox, and they were bound for the Big River at the place where the water +ran too swiftly to freeze. The day before Reddy had discovered Quacker +the Wild Duck swimming about there, and now they were on their way to +try to catch him. + +Granny led the way and Reddy meekly followed her. To tell the truth, +Reddy hadn’t the least idea that they would have a chance to catch +Quacker, because Quacker kept out in the water where he was as safe +from them as if they were a thousand miles away. The only reason that +Reddy had willingly started with Granny was the hope that he might find +a dead fish washed up on the shore as he had the day before. + +“Granny certainly is growing foolish in her old age,” thought Reddy, as +he trotted along behind her. “I told her that Quacker never once came +ashore all the time I watched yesterday. I don’t believe he _ever_ +comes ashore, and if she knows anything at all she ought to know that +she can’t catch him out there in the water. Granny used to be smart +enough when she was young, I guess, but she certainly is losing her +mind now. It’s a pity, a great pity. I can just imagine how Quacker +will laugh at her. I have to laugh myself.” + +He did laugh, but you may be sure he took great pains that Granny +should not see him laughing. Whenever she looked around he was as sober +as could be. In fact, he appeared to be quite as eager as if he felt +sure they would catch Quacker. Now old Granny Fox is very wise in the +ways of the Great World, and if Reddy could have known what was going +on in her mind as she led the way to the Big River, he might not have +felt quite so sure of his own smartness. Granny was doing some quiet +laughing herself. + +“He thinks I’m old and foolish and don’t know what I’m about, the young +scamp!” thought she. “He thinks he has learned all there is to learn. +It isn’t the least use in the world to try to tell him anything. When +young folks feel the way he does, it is a waste of time to talk to +them. He has got to be shown. There is nothing like experience to take +the conceit out of these youngsters.” + +Now conceit is the feeling that you know more than any one else. +Perhaps you do. Then again, perhaps you don’t. So sometimes it is best +not to be too sure of your own opinion. Reddy was sure. He trotted +along behind old Granny Fox and planned smart things to say to her when +she found that there wasn’t a chance to catch Quacker the Duck. I am +afraid, very much afraid, that Reddy was planning to be saucy. People +who think themselves smart are quite apt to be saucy. + +Presently they came to the bank of the Big River. Old Granny Fox told +Reddy to sit still while she crept up behind some bushes where she +could peek out over the Big River. He grinned as he watched her. He was +still grinning when she tiptoed back. He expected to see her face long +with disappointment. Instead she looked very much pleased. + +“Quacker is there,” said she, “and I think he will make us a very good +dinner. Creep up behind those bushes and see for yourself, then come +back here and tell me what you think we’d better do to get him.” + +So Reddy stole up behind the bushes, and this time it was Granny who +grinned as she watched. As he crept along, Reddy wondered if it could +be that for once Quacker had come ashore. Granny seemed so sure they +could catch him that this must be the case. But when he peeped through +the bushes, there was Quacker way out in the middle of the open water +just where he had been the day before. + + + + +CHAPTER III +Reddy Is Sure Granny Has Lost Her Senses + + +Perhaps ’tis just as well that we +Can’t see ourselves as others see. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +“Just as I thought,” muttered Reddy Fox as he peeped through the bushes +on the bank of the Big River and saw Quacker swimming about in the +water where it ran too swiftly to freeze. “We’ve got just as much +chance of catching him as I have of jumping over the moon. That’s what +I’ll tell Granny.” + +He crept back carefully so as not to be seen by Quacker, and when he +had reached the place where Granny was waiting for him, his face wore a +very impudent look. + +“Well,” said Granny Fox, “what shall we do to catch him?” + +“Learn to swim like a fish and fly like a bird,” replied Reddy in such +a saucy tone that Granny had hard work to keep from boxing his ears. + +“You mean that you think he can’t be caught?” said she quietly. + +“I don’t think anything about it; I _know_ he can’t!” snapped Reddy. +“Not by us, anyway,” he added. + +“I suppose you wouldn’t even try?” retorted Granny. + +“I’m old enough to know when I’m wasting my time,” replied Reddy with a +toss of his head. + +“In other words you think I’m a silly old Fox who has lost her senses,” +said Granny sharply. + +“No-o. I didn’t say that,” protested Reddy, looking very uncomfortable. + +“But you think it,” declared Granny. “Now look here, Mr. Smarty, you do +just as I tell you. You creep back there where you can watch Quacker +and all that happens, and mind that you keep out of his sight. Now go.” + +Reddy went. There was nothing else to do. He didn’t dare disobey. +Granny watched until Reddy had reached his hiding-place. Then what do +you think she did? Why, she walked right out on the little beach just +below Reddy and in plain sight of Quacker! Yes, Sir, that is what she +did! + +Then began such a queer performance that it is no wonder that Reddy was +sure Granny had lost her senses. She rolled over and over. She chased +her tail round and round until it made Reddy dizzy to watch her. She +jumped up in the air. She raced back and forth. She played with a bit +of stick. And all the time she didn’t pay the least attention to +Quacker the Duck. + +Reddy stared and stared. Whatever had come over Granny? She was crazy. +Yes, Sir, that must be the matter. It must be that she had gone without +food so long that she had gone crazy. Poor Granny! She was in her +second childhood. Reddy could remember how he had done such things when +he was very young, just by way of showing how fine he felt. But for a +grown-up Fox to do such things was undignified, to say the least. You +know Reddy thinks a great deal of dignity. It was worse than +undignified; it was positively disgraceful. He did hope that none of +his neighbors would happen along and see Granny cutting up so. He never +would hear the end of it if they did. + +Over and over rolled Granny, and around and around she chased her tail. +The snow flew up in a cloud. And all the time she made no sound. Reddy +was just trying to decide whether to go off and leave her until she had +regained her common sense, or to go out and try to stop her, when he +happened to look out in the open water where Quacker was. Quacker was +sitting up as straight as he could. In fact, he had his wings raised to +help him sit up on his tail, the better to see what old Granny Fox was +doing. + +“As I live,” muttered Reddy, “I believe that fellow is nearer than he +was!” + +Reddy crouched lower than ever, and instead of watching Granny he +watched Quacker the Duck. + + + + +CHAPTER IV +Quacker The Duck Grows Curious + + +The most curious thing in the world is curiosity. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Old Granny Fox never said a truer thing than that. It is curious, very +curious, how sometimes curiosity will get the best of even the wisest +and most sensible of people. Even Old Granny Fox herself has been known +to be led into trouble by it. We expect it of Peter Rabbit, but Peter +isn’t a bit more curious than some others of whom we do not expect it. + +Now Quacker the Wild Duck is the last one in the world you would expect +to be led into trouble by curiosity. Quacker had spent the summer in +the Far North with Honker the Goose. In fact, he had been born there. +He had started for the far away Southland at the same time Honker had, +but when he reached the Big River he had found plenty to eat and had +decided to stay until he had to move on. The Big River had frozen over +everywhere except in this one place where the water was too swift to +freeze, and there Quacker had remained. You see, he was a good diver +and on the bottom of the river he found plenty to eat. No one could get +at him out there, unless it were Roughleg the Hawk, and if Roughleg did +happen along, all he had to do was to dive and come up far away to +laugh and make fun of Roughleg. The water couldn’t get through his oily +feathers, and so he didn’t mind how cold it was. + +Now in his home in the Far North there were so many dangers that +Quacker had early learned to be always on the watch and to take the +best of care of himself. On his way down to the Big River he had been +hunted by men with terrible guns, and he had learned all about them. In +fact, he felt quite able to keep out of harm’s way. He rather prided +himself that there was no one smart enough to catch him. + +I suspect he thought he knew all there was to know. In this respect he +was a good deal like Reddy Fox himself. That was because he was young. +It is the way with young Ducks and Foxes and with some other youngsters +I know. + +When Quacker first saw Granny Fox on the little beach, he flirted his +absurd little tail and smiled as he thought how she must wish she could +catch him. But so far as he could see, Granny didn’t once look at him. + +“She doesn’t know I’m out here at all,” thought Quacker. Then suddenly +he sat up very straight and looked with all his might. What under the +sun was the matter with that Fox? She was acting as if she had suddenly +lost her senses. + +Over and over she rolled. Around and around she spun. She turned +somersaults. She lay on her back and kicked her heels in the air. Never +in his life had he known any one to act like that. There must be +something the matter with her. + +Quacker began to get excited. He couldn’t keep his eyes off Old Granny +Fox. He began to swim nearer. He wanted to see better. He quite forgot +she was a Fox. She moved so fast that she was just a queer red spot on +the beach. Whatever she was doing was very curious and very exciting. +He swam nearer and nearer. The excitement was catching. He began to +swim in circles himself. All the time he drew nearer and nearer to the +shore. He didn’t have the least bit of fear. He was just curious. He +wanted to see better. + +All the time Granny was cutting up her antics, she was watching +Quacker, though he didn’t suspect it. As he swam nearer and nearer to +the shore, Granny rolled and tumbled farther and farther back. At last +Quacker was close to the shore. If he kept on, he would be right on the +land in a few minutes. And all the time he stared and stared. No +thought of danger entered his head. You see, there was no room because +it was so filled with curiosity. + +“In a minute more I’ll have him,” thought Granny, and whirled faster +than ever. And just then something happened. + + + + +CHAPTER V +Reddy Fox Is Afraid To Go Home + + +Yes, Sir, a chicken track is good to see, but it often puts nothing but +water in my mouth. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Reddy Fox thought of that saying many times as he hunted through the +Green Forest that night, afraid to go home. You see, he had almost +dined on Quacker the Duck over at the Big River that day and then +hadn’t, and it was all his own fault. That was why he was afraid to go +home. From his hiding-place on the bank he had watched Quacker swim in +and in until he was almost on the shore where old Granny Fox was +whirling and rolling and tumbling about as if she had entirely lost her +senses. Indeed, Reddy had been quite sure that she had when she began. +It wasn’t until he saw that curiosity was drawing Quacker right in so +that in a minute or two Granny would be able to catch him, that he +understood that Granny was anything but crazy, and really was teaching +him a new trick as well as trying to catch a dinner. + +When he realized this, he should have been ashamed of himself for +doubting the smartness of Granny and for thinking that he knew all +there was to know. But he was too much excited for any such thoughts. +Nearer and nearer to the shore came Quacker, his eyes fixed on the red, +whirling form of Granny. Reddy’s own eyes gleamed with excitement. +Would Quacker keep on right up to the shore? Nearer and nearer and +nearer he came. Reddy squirmed uneasily. He couldn’t see as well as he +wanted to. The bushes behind which he was lying were in his way. He +wanted to see Granny make that jump which would mean a dinner for both. + +Forgetting what Granny had charged him, Reddy eagerly raised his head +to look over the edge of the bank. Now it just happened that at that +very minute Quacker chanced to look that way. His quick eyes caught the +movement of Reddy’s head and in an instant all his curiosity vanished. +That sharp face peering at him over the edge of the bank could mean but +one thing—danger! It was all a trick! He saw through it now. Like a +flash he turned. There was the whistle of stiff wings beating the air +and the patter of feet striking the water as he got under way. Then he +flew out to the safety of the open water. Granny sprang, but she was +just too late and succeeded in doing no more than wet her feet. + +Of course, Granny didn’t know what had frightened Quacker, not at +first, anyway. But she had her suspicions. She turned and looked up at +the place where Reddy had been hiding. She couldn’t see him. Then she +bounded up the bank. There was no Reddy there, but far away across the +snow-covered Green Meadows was a red spot growing smaller and smaller. +Reddy was running away. Then she knew. At first Granny was very angry. +You know it is a dreadful thing to be hungry and have a good dinner +disappear just as it is almost within reach. + +“I’ll teach that young scamp a lesson he won’t soon forget when I get +home,” she muttered, as she watched him. Then she went back to the edge +of the Big River and there she found a dead fish which had been washed +ashore. It was a very good fish, and when she had eaten it Granny felt +better. + +“Anyway,” thought she, “I have taught him a new trick and one he is n’t +likely to forget. He knows now that Granny still knows a few tricks +that he doesn’t, and next time he won’t feel so sure he knows it all. I +guess it was worth while even if I didn’t catch Quacker. My, but he +would have tasted good!” Granny smacked her lips and started for home. + +But Reddy, with a guilty conscience, was afraid to go home. And so, +miserable and hungry, he hunted through the Green Forest all the long +night and wished and wished that he had heeded what old Granny Fox had +told him. + + + + +CHAPTER VI +Old Granny Fox Is Caught Napping + + +The wisest folks will make mistakes, but if they are truly wise they +will profit from them. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +There is a saying among the little people of the Green Forest and the +Green Meadows which runs something like this: + +“You must your eyes wide open keep +To catch Old Granny Fox asleep.” + + +Of course this means that Old Granny Fox is so smart, so clever, so +keenly on the watch at all times, that he must be very smart indeed who +fools her or gets ahead of her. Reddy Fox is smart, very smart. But +Reddy isn’t nearly as smart as Old Granny Fox. You see, he hasn’t lived +nearly as long, so of course there is much knowledge of many things +stored away in Granny’s head of which Reddy knows little. + +But once in a while even the smartest people are caught napping. Yes, +Sir, that does happen. They will be careless sometimes. It was just so +with Old Granny Fox. With all her smartness and cleverness and wisdom +she grew careless, and all the smartness and cleverness and wisdom in +the world is useless if the possessor becomes careless. + +You see, Old Granny Fox had become so used to thinking that she was +smarter than any one else, unless it was Old Man Coyote, that she +actually believed that no one was smart enough ever to surprise her. +Yes, Sir, she actually believed that. Now, you know when a person +reaches the point of thinking that no one else in all the Great World +is quite so smart, that person is like Peter Rabbit when he made ready +one winter day to jump out on the smooth ice of the Smiling +Pool,—getting ready for a fall. It was this way with Old Granny Fox. + +Because she had lived near Farmer Brown’s so long and had been hunted +so often by Farmer Brown’s boy and by Bowser the Hound, she had got the +idea in her head that no matter what she did they would not be able to +catch her. So at last she grew careless. Yes, Sir, she grew careless. +And that is something no Fox or anybody else can afford to do. + +Now on the edge of the Green Forest was a warm, sunny knoll, which, as +you know, is a sort of little hill. It overlooked the Green Meadows and +was quite the most pleasant and comfortable place for a sun-nap that +ever was. At least, that is what Old Granny Fox thought. She took +sun-naps there very often. It was her favorite resting place. When +Bowser the Hound had found her trail and had chased her until she was +tired of running and had had quite all the exercise she needed or +wanted, she would play one of her clever tricks by which to make Bowser +lose her trail. Then she would hurry straight to that knoll to rest and +grin at her own smartness. + +It happened that she did this one day when there was fresh snow on the +ground. Of course, every time she put a foot down she left a print in +the snow. And where she curled up in the sun she left the print of her +body. They were very plain to see, were these prints, and Farmer +Brown’s boy saw them. + +He had been tramping through the Green Forest late in the afternoon and +just by chance happened across Granny’s footprints. Just for fun he +followed them and so came to the sunny knoll. Granny had left some time +before, but of course she couldn’t take the print of her body with her. +That remained in the snow, and Farmer Brown’s boy saw it and knew +instantly what it meant. He grinned, and could Granny Fox have seen +that grin, she would have been uncomfortable. You see, he knew that he +had found the place where Granny was in the habit of taking a sun-nap. + +“So,” said he, “this is the place where you rest, Old Mrs. Fox, after +running Bowser almost off his feet. I think we will give you a surprise +one of these days. Yes, indeed, I think we will give you a surprise. +You have fooled us many times, and now it is our turn.” + +The next day Farmer Brown’s boy shouldered his terrible gun and sent +Bowser the Hound to hunt for the trail of Old Granny Fox. It wasn’t +long before Bowser’s great voice told all the Great World that he had +found Granny’s tracks. Farmer Brown’s boy grinned just as he had the +day before. Then with his terrible gun he went over to the Green Forest +and hid under some pine boughs right on the edge of that sunny knoll. + +He waited patiently a long, long time. He heard Bowser’s great voice +growing more and more excited as he followed Old Granny Fox. By and by +Bowser stopped baying and began to yelp impatiently. Farmer Brown’s boy +knew exactly what that meant. It meant that Granny had played one of +her smart tricks and Bowser had lost her trail. + +A few minutes later out of the Green Forest came Old Granny Fox, and +she was grinning, for once more she had fooled Bowser the Hound and now +could take a nap in peace. Still grinning, she turned around two or +three times to make herself comfortable and then, with a sigh of +contentment, curled up for a sun-nap, and in a few minutes was asleep. +And just a little way off behind the pine boughs sat Farmer Brown’s boy +holding his terrible gun and grinning. At last he had caught Old Granny +Fox napping. + + + + +CHAPTER VII +Granny Fox Has A Bad Dream + + +Nothing ever simply happens; + Bear that point in mind. +If you look long and hard enough + A cause you’ll always find. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Old Granny Fox was dreaming. Yes, Sir, she was dreaming. There she lay, +curled up on the sunny little knoll on the edge of the Green Forest, +fast asleep and dreaming. It was a very pleasant and very comfortable +place indeed. You see, jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun poured his warmest +rays right down there from the blue, blue sky. When Old Granny Fox was +tired, she often slipped over there for a short nap and sun-bath even +in winter. She was quite sure that no one knew anything about it. It +was one of her secrets. + +This morning Old Granny Fox was very tired, unusually so. In the first +place she had been out hunting all night. Then, before she could reach +home, Bowser the Hound had found her tracks and started to follow them. +Of course, it wouldn’t have done to go home then. It wouldn’t have done +at all. Bowser would have followed her straight there and so found out +where she lived. So she had led Bowser far away across the Green +Meadows and through the Green Forest and finally played one of her +smart tricks which had so mixed her tracks that Bowser could no longer +follow them. While he had sniffed and snuffed and snuffed and sniffed +with that wonderful nose of his, trying to find out where she had gone, +Old Granny Fox had trotted straight to the sunny knoll and there curled +up to rest. Right away she fell asleep. + +Now Old Granny Fox, like most of the other little people of the Green +Forest and the Green Meadows, sleeps with her ears wide open. Her eyes +may be closed, but not her ears. Those are always on guard, even when +she is asleep, and at the least sound open fly her eyes, and she is +ready to run. If it were not for the way her sharp ears keep guard, she +wouldn’t dare take naps in the open right in broad daylight. If you +ever want to catch a Fox asleep, you mustn’t make the teeniest, +weeniest noise. Just remember that. + +Now Old Granny Fox had no sooner closed her eyes than she began to +dream. At first it was a very pleasant dream, the pleasantest dream a +Fox can have. It was of a chicken dinner, all the chicken she could +eat. Granny certainly enjoyed that dream. It made her smack her lips +quite as if it were a real and not a dream dinner she was enjoying. + +But presently the dream changed and became a bad dream. Yes, indeed, it +became a bad dream. It was as bad as at first it had been good. It +seemed to Granny that Bowser the Hound had become very smart, smarter +than she had ever known him to be before. Do what she would, she +couldn’t fool him. Not one of all the tricks she knew, and she knew a +great many, fooled him at all. They didn’t puzzle him long enough for +her to get her breath. + +Bowser kept getting nearer and nearer and nearer, all in the dream, you +know, until it seemed as if his great voice sounded right at her very +heels. She was so tired that it seemed to her that she couldn’t run +another step. It was a very, very real dream. You know dreams sometimes +do seem very real indeed. This was the way it was with the bad dream of +Old Granny Fox. It seemed to her that she could feel the breath of +Bowser the Hound and that his great jaws were just going to close on +her and shake her to death. + +“Oh! Oh!” cried Granny and waked herself up. Her eyes flew open. Then +she gave a great sigh of relief as she realized that her terrible +fright was only a bad dream and that she was curled up right on the +dear, familiar, old, sunny knoll and not running for her life at all. + +Old Granny Fox smiled to think what a fright she had had and +then,—well, she didn’t know whether she was really awake or still +dreaming! No, Sir, she didn’t. For a full minute she couldn’t be sure +whether what she saw was real or part of that dreadful dream. You see, +she was staring into the face of Farmer Brown’s boy and the muzzle of +his dreadful gun! + +For just a few seconds she didn’t move. She couldn’t. She was too +frightened to move. Then she knew what she saw was real and not a dream +at all. There wasn’t the least bit of doubt about it. That was Farmer +Brown’s boy, and that was his dreadful gun! All in a flash she knew +that Farmer Brown’s boy must have been hiding behind those pine boughs. + +Poor Old Granny Fox! For once in her life she had been caught napping. +She hadn’t the least hope in the world. Farmer Brown’s boy had only to +fire that dreadful gun, and that would be the end of her. She knew it. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII +What Farmer Brown’s Boy Did + + +In time of danger heed this rule: +Think hard and fast, but pray keep cool. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Poor Old Granny Fox! She had thought that she had been in tight places +before, but never, never had she been in such a tight place as this. +There stood Farmer Brown’s boy looking along the barrel of his dreadful +gun straight at her, and only such a short distance, such a very short +distance away! It wasn’t the least bit of use to run. Granny knew that. +That dreadful gun would go “bang!” and that would be the end of her. + +For a few seconds she stared at Farmer Brown’s boy, too frightened to +move or even think. Then she began to wonder why that dreadful gun +didn’t go off. What was Farmer Brown’s boy waiting for? She got to her +feet. She was sure that the first step would be her last, yet she +couldn’t stay there. + +How could Farmer Brown’s boy do such a dreadful thing? Somehow, his +freckled face didn’t look cruel. He was even beginning to grin. That +must be because he had caught her napping and knew that this time she +couldn’t possibly get away from him as she had so many times before. +“Oh!” sobbed Old Granny Fox under her breath. + +And right at that very instant Farmer Brown’s boy did something. What +do you think it was? No, he didn’t shoot her. He didn’t fire his +dreadful gun. What do you think he did do? Why, he threw a snowball at +Old Granny Fox and shouted “Boo!” That is what he did and all he did, +except to laugh as Granny gave a great leap and then made those black +legs of hers fly as never before. + +Every instant Granny expected to hear that dreadful gun, and it seemed +as if her heart would burst with fright as she ran, thinking each jump +would be the last one. But the dreadful gun didn’t bang, and after a +little, when she felt she was safe, she turned to look back over her +shoulder. Farmer Brown’s boy was standing right where she had last seen +him, and he was laughing harder than ever. Yes, Sir, he was laughing, +and though Old Granny Fox didn’t think so at the time, his laugh was +good to hear, for it was good-natured and merry and all that an honest +laugh should be. + +“Go it, Granny! Go it!” shouted Farmer Brown’s boy. “And the next time +you are tempted to steal my chickens, just remember that I caught you +napping and let you off when I might have shot you. Just remember that +and leave my chickens alone.” + +Now it happened that Tommy Tit the Chickadee had seen all that had +happened, and he fairly bubbled over with joy. “Dee, dee, dee, +Chickadee! It is just as I have always said—Farmer Brown’s boy isn’t +bad. He’d be friends with every one if every one would let him,” he +cried. + +“Maybe, maybe,” grumbled Sammy Jay, who also had seen all that had +happened. “But he’s altogether too smart for me to trust. Oh, my! oh, +my! What news this will be to tell! Old Granny Fox will never hear the +end of it. If ever again she boasts of how smart she is, all we will +have to do will be to remind her of the time Farmer Brown’s boy caught +her napping. Ho! ho! ho! I must hurry along and find my cousin, Blacky +the Crow. This will tickle him half to death.” + +As for Old Granny Fox, she feared Farmer Brown’s boy more than ever, +not because of what he had done to her but because of what he had not +done. You see, nothing could make her believe that he wanted to be her +friend. She thought he had let her get away just to show her that he +was smarter than she. Instead of thankfulness, hate and fear filled +Granny’s heart. You know— + +People who themselves do ill +For others seldom have good will. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX +Reddy Fox Hears About Granny Fox + + +Though you may think another wrong + And be quite positive you’re right, +Don’t let your temper get away; + And try at least to be polite. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Sammy Jay hurried through the Green Forest, chuckling as he flew. Sammy +was brimming over with the news he had to tell,—how Old Granny Fox had +been caught napping by Farmer Brown’s boy. Sammy wouldn’t have believed +it if any one had told him. No, Sir, he wouldn’t. But he had seen it +with his own eyes, and it tickled him almost to pieces to think that +Old Granny Fox, whom everybody thought so sly and clever and smart, had +been caught actually asleep by the very one of whom she was most +afraid, but at whom she always had turned up her nose. + +Presently Sammy spied Reddy Fox trotting along the Lone Little Path. +Reddy was forever boasting of how smart Granny Fox was. He had boasted +of it so much that everybody was sick of hearing him. When he saw Reddy +trotting along the Lone Little Path, Sammy chuckled harder than ever. +He hid in a thick hemlock-tree and as Reddy passed he shouted: + +“Had I such a stupid old Granny + As some folks who think they are smart, +I never would boast of my Granny, + But live by myself quite apart!” + + +Reddy looked up angrily. He couldn’t see Sammy Jay, but he knew Sammy’s +voice. There is no mistaking that. Everybody knows the voice of Sammy +Jay. Of course it was foolish, very foolish of Reddy to be angry, and +still more foolish to show that he was angry. Had he stopped a minute +to think, he would have known that Sammy was saying such a mean, +provoking thing just to make him angry, and that the angrier he became +the better pleased Sammy Jay would be. But like a great many people, +Reddy allowed his temper to get the better of his common sense. + +“Who says Granny Fox is stupid?” he snarled. + +“I do,” replied Sammy Jay promptly. “I say she is stupid.” + +“She is smarter than anybody else in all the Green Forest and on all +the Green Meadows. She is smarter than anybody else in all the Great +World,” boasted Reddy, and he really believed it. + +“She isn’t smart enough to fool Farmer Brown’s boy,” taunted Sammy. + +“What’s that? Who says so? Has anything happened to Granny Fox?” Reddy +forgot his anger in a sudden great fear. Could Granny have been shot by +Farmer Brown’s boy? + +“Nothing much, only Farmer Brown’s boy caught her napping in broad +daylight,” replied Sammy, and chuckled so that Reddy heard him. + +“I don’t believe it!” snapped Reddy. “I don’t believe a word of it! +Nobody ever yet caught Old Granny Fox napping, and nobody ever will.” + +“I don’t care whether you believe it or not; it’s so, for I saw him,” +retorted Sammy Jay. + +“You—you—you—” began Reddy Fox. + +“Go ask Tommy Tit the Chickadee if it isn’t true. He saw him too,” +interrupted Sammy Jay. + +“Dee, dee, dee, Chickadee! It’s so, and Farmer Brown’s boy only threw a +snowball at her and let her run away without shooting at her,” declared +a new voice. There sat Tommy Tit himself. + +Reddy didn’t know what to think or say. He just couldn’t believe it, +yet he had never known Tommy Tit to tell an untruth. Sammy Jay alone he +wouldn’t have believed. Then Tommy Tit and Sammy Jay told Reddy all +about what they had seen, how Farmer Brown’s boy had surprised Old +Granny Fox and then allowed her to go unharmed. Reddy had to believe +it. If Tommy Tit said it was so, it must be so. Reddy Fox started off +to hunt up Old Granny Fox and ask her about it. But a sudden thought +popped into his red head, and he changed his mind. + +“I won’t say a thing about it until some time when Granny scolds me for +being careless,” muttered Reddy, with a sly grin. “Then I’ll see what +she has to say. I guess she won’t scold me so much after this.” + +Reddy grinned more than ever, which wasn’t a bit nice of him. Instead +of being sorry that Old Granny Fox had had such a fright, he was +planning how he would get even with her when she should scold him for +his own carelessness. + + + + +CHAPTER X +Reddy Fox Is Impudent + + +A saucy tongue is dangerous to possess; +Be sure some day ’t will get you in a mess. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Reddy Fox is headstrong and, like most headstrong people, is given to +thinking that his way is the best way just because it is _his_ way. He +is smart, is Reddy Fox. Yes, indeed, Reddy Fox is very, very smart. He +has to be in order to live. But a great deal of what he knows he +learned from Old Granny Fox. The very best tricks he knows she taught +him. She began teaching him when he was so little that he tumbled over +his own feet. It was she who taught him how to hunt, that it is better +never to steal chickens near home but to go a long way off for them, +and how to fool Bowser the Hound. + +It was Granny who taught Reddy how to use his little black nose to +follow the tracks of careless young Rabbits, and how to catch Meadow +Mice under the snow. In fact, there is little Reddy knows which he +didn’t learn from wise, shrewd Old Granny Fox. + +But as he grew bigger and bigger, until he was quite as big as Granny +herself, he forgot what he owed to her. He grew to have a very good +opinion of himself and to feel that he knew just about all there was to +know. So sometimes when he had done foolish or careless things and +Granny had scolded him, telling him he was big enough and old enough to +know better, he would sulk and go off muttering to himself. But he +never quite dared to be openly disrespectful to Granny, and this, of +course, was quite as it should have been. + +“If only I could catch Granny doing something foolish or careless,” he +would say to himself. But he never could, and he had begun to think +that he never would. But now at last Granny, clever Old Granny Fox, had +been careless! She had allowed Farmer Brown’s boy to catch her napping! +Reddy did wish he had been there to see it himself. But anyway, he had +been told about it, and he made up his mind that the next time Granny +said anything sharp to him about his carelessness he would have +something to say back. Yes, Sir, Reddy Fox was deliberately planning to +answer back, which, as you know, is always disrespectful to one’s +elders. + +At last the chance came. Reddy did a thing no truly wise Fox ever will +do. He went two nights in succession to the same henhouse, and the +second time he barely escaped being shot. Old Granny Fox found out +about it. How she found out Reddy doesn’t know to this day, but find +out she did, and she gave him such a scolding as even her sharp tongue +had seldom given him. + +“You are the stupidest Fox I ever heard of,” scolded Granny. + +“I’m no more stupid than you are!” retorted Reddy in the most impudent +way. + +“What’s that?” demanded Granny. “What’s that you said?” + +“I said I’m no more stupid than you are, and what is more, I hope I’m +not so stupid. I know better than to take a nap in broad daylight right +under the very nose of Farmer Brown’s boy.” Reddy grinned in the most +impudent way as he said this. + +Granny’s eyes snapped. Then things happened. Reddy was cuffed this way +and cuffed that way and cuffed the other way until it seemed to him +that the air was full of black paws, every one of which landed on his +head or face with a sting that made him whimper and put his tail +between his legs, and finally howl. + +“There!” cried Granny, when at last she had to stop because she was +quite out of breath. “Perhaps that will teach you to be respectful to +your elders. I _was_ careless and stupid, and I am perfectly ready to +admit it, because it has taught me a lesson. Wisdom often is gained +through mistakes, but never when one is not willing to admit the +mistakes. No Fox lives long who makes the same mistake twice. And those +who are impudent to their elders come to no good end. I’ve got a fat +goose hidden away for dinner, but you will get none of it.” + +“I—I wish I’d never heard of Granny’s mistake,” whined Reddy to himself +as he crept dinnerless to bed. + +“You ought to wish that you hadn’t been impudent,” whispered a small +voice down inside him. + + + + +CHAPTER XI +After The Storm + + +The joys and the sunshine that make us glad; +The worries and troubles that makes us sad +Must come to an end; so why complain +Of too little sun or too much rain? + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +The thing to do is to make the most of the sunshine while it lasts, and +when it rains to look forward to the coming of the sun again, knowing +that conic it surely will. A dreadful storm was keeping the little +people of the Green Forest, the Green Meadows, and the Old Orchard +prisoners in their own homes or in such places of shelter as they had +been able to find. + +But it couldn’t last forever, and they knew it. Knowing this was all +that kept some of them alive. + +You see, they were starving. Yes, Sir, they were starving. You and I +would be very hungry, very hungry indeed, if we had to go without food +for two whole days, but if we were snug and warm it wouldn’t do us any +real harm. With the little wild friends, especially the little +feathered folks, it is a very different matter. You see, they are +naturally so active that they have to fill their stomachs very often in +order to supply their little bodies with heat and energy. So when their +food supply is wholly cut off, they starve or else freeze to death in a +very short time. A great many little lives are ended this way in every +long, hard winter storm. + +It was late in the afternoon of the second day when rough Brother North +Wind decided that he had shown his strength and fierceness long enough, +and rumbling and grumbling retired from the Green Meadows and the Green +Forest, blowing the snow clouds away with him. For just a little while +before it was time for him to go to bed behind the Purple Hills, jolly, +round, red Mr. Sun smiled down on the white land, and never was his +smile more welcome. Out from their shelters hurried all the little +prisoners, for they must make the most of the short time before the +coming of the cold night. + +Little Tommy Tit the Chickadee was so weak that he could hardly fly, +and he shook with chills. He made straight for the apple-tree where +Farmer Brown’s boy always keeps a piece of suet tied to a branch for +Tommy and his friends. Drummer the Woodpecker was there before him. Now +it is one of the laws of politeness among the feathered folk that when +one is eating from a piece of suet a newcomer shall await his turn. + +“Dee, dee, dee!” said Tommy Tit faintly but cheerfully, for he couldn’t +be other than cheery if he tried. “Dee, dee, dee! That looks good to +me.” + +“It is good,” mumbled Drummer, pecking away at the suet greedily. “Come +on, Tommy Tit. Don’t wait for me, for I won’t be through for a long +time. I’m nearly starved, and I guess you must be.” + +“I am,” confessed Tommy, as he flew over beside Drummer. “Thank you +ever so much for not making me wait.” + +“Don’t mention it,” replied Drummer, with his mouth full. “This is no +time for politeness. Here comes Yank Yank the Nuthatch. I guess there +is room for him too.” + +Yank Yank was promptly invited to join them and did so after +apologizing for seeming so greedy. + +“If I couldn’t get my stomach full before night, I certainly should +freeze to death before morning,” said he. “What a blessing it is to +have all this good food waiting for us. If I had to hunt for my usual +food on the trees, I certainly should have to give up and die. It took +all my strength to get over here. My, I feel like a new bird already! +Here comes Sammy Jay. I wonder if he will try to drive us away as he +usually does.” + +Sammy did nothing of the kind. He was very meek and most polite. “Can +you make room for a starving fellow to get a bite?” he asked. “I +wouldn’t ask it but that I couldn’t last another night without food.” + +“Dee, dee, dee! Always room for one more,” replied Tommy Tit, crowding +over to give Sammy room. “Wasn’t that a dreadful storm?” + +“Worst I ever knew,” mumbled Sammy. “I wonder if I ever will be warm +again.” + +Until their stomachs were full, not another word was said. Meanwhile +Chatterer the Red Squirrel had discovered that the storm was over. As +he floundered through the snow to another apple-tree he saw Tommy Tit +and his friends, and in his heart he rejoiced that they had found food +waiting for them. His own troubles were at an end, for in the tree he +was headed for was a store of corn. + + + + +CHAPTER XII +Granny And Reddy Fox Hunt In Vain + + +Old Mother Nature’s plans for good +Quite often are not understood. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Tommy Tit and Drummer the Woodpecker and Yank Yank the Nuthatch and +Sammy Jay and Chatterer the Red Squirrel were not the only ones who +were out and about as soon as the great storm ended. Oh, my, no! No, +indeed! Everybody who was not sleeping the winter away, or who had not +a store of food right at hand, was out. But not all were so fortunate +as Tommy Tit and his friends in finding a good meal. + +Peter Rabbit and Mrs. Peter came out of the hole in the heart of the +dear Old Briar-patch, where they had managed to keep comfortably warm, +and at once began to fill their stomachs with bark from young trees and +tender tips of twigs. It was very coarse food, but it would take away +that empty feeling. Mrs. Grouse burst out of the snow and hurried to +get a meal before dark. She had no time to be particular, and so she +ate spruce buds. They were very bitter and not much to her liking, but +she was too hungry, and night was too near for her to be fussy. She was +thankful to have that much. + +Granny Fox and Reddy were out too. They didn’t need to hurry because, +as you know, they could hunt all night, but they were so hungry that +they just had to be looking for something to eat. They knew, of course, +that everybody else would be out, and they hoped that some of these +little people would be so weak that they could easily be caught. That +seems like a dreadful hope, doesn’t it? But one of the first laws of +Old Mother Nature is self-preservation. That means to save your own +life first. So perhaps Granny and Reddy are not to be blamed for hoping +that some of their neighbors might be caught easily because of the +great storm. They were very hungry indeed, and they could not eat bark +like Peter Rabbit, or buds like Mrs. Grouse, or seeds like Whitefoot +the Woodmouse. Their teeth and stomachs are not made for such food. + +It was hard going for Granny and Reddy Fox. The snow was soft and deep +in many places, and they had to keep pretty close to those places where +rough Brother North Wind had blown away enough of the snow to make +walking fairly easy. They soon found that their hope that they would +find some of their neighbors too weak to escape was quite in vain. When +jolly, round, red Mr. Sun dropped down behind the Purple Hills to go +to bed, their stomachs were quite as empty as when they had started +out. + +“We’ll go down to the Old Briar-patch. I don’t believe it will be of +much use, but you never can tell until you try. Peter Rabbit may take +it into his silly head to come outside,” said Granny, leading the way. + +When they reached the dear Old Briar-patch they found that Peter was +not outside. In fact, peering between the brambles and bushes, they +could see his little brown form bobbing about as he hunted for tender +bark. He had already made little paths along which he could hop easily. +Peter saw them almost as soon as they saw him. + +“Hard times these,” said Peter pleasantly. “I hope your stomachs are +not as empty as mine.” He pulled a strip of bark from a young tree and +began to chew it. This was more than Reddy could stand. To see Peter +eating while his own stomach was just one great big ache from emptiness +was too much. + +“I’m going in there and catch him, or drive him out where you can catch +him, if I tear my coat all to pieces!” snarled Reddy. + +Peter stopped chewing and sat up. “Come right along, Reddy. Come right +along if you want to, but I would advise you to save your skin and your +coat,” said he. + +Reddy’s only reply was a snarl as he pushed his way under the brambles. +He yelped as they tore his coat and scratched his face, but he kept on. +Now Peter’s paths were very cunningly made. He had cut them through the +very thickest of the briars just big enough for himself and Mrs. Peter +to hop along comfortably. But Reddy is so much bigger that he had to +force his way through and in places crawl flat on his stomach, which +was very slow work, to say nothing of the painful scratches from the +briars. It was no trouble at all for Peter to keep out of his way, and +before long Reddy gave up. Without a word Granny Fox led the way to the +Green Forest. They would try to find where Mrs. Grouse was sleeping +under the snow. But though they hunted all night, they failed to find +her, for she wisely had gone to bed in a spruce-tree. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII +Granny Fox Admits Growing Old + + +Who will not admit he is older each day fools no one but himself. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Old Granny Fox is a spry old lady for her age. If you don’t believe it +just try to catch her. But spry as she is, she isn’t as spry as she +used to be. No, Sir, Granny Fox isn’t as spry as she used to be. The +truth is, Granny is getting old. She never would admit it, and Reddy +never had realized it until the day after the great storm. All that +night they had hunted in vain for something to eat and at daylight had +crept into their house to rest awhile before starting on another hunt. +They had neither the strength nor the courage to search any longer +then. Wading through snow is very hard work at best and very tiresome, +but when your stomach has been empty for so long that you almost begin +to wonder what food tastes like, it becomes harder work still. You see, +it is food that makes strength, and lack of food takes away strength. + +This was why Granny and Reddy Fox just _had_ to rest. Hungry as they +were, they _had_ to give up for awhile. Reddy flung himself down, and +if ever there was a discouraged young Fox he was that one. “I wish I +were dead,” he moaned. + +“Tut, tut, tut!” said Granny Fox sharply. “That’s no way for a young +Fox to talk! I’m ashamed of you. I am indeed.” Then she added more +kindly: “I know just how you feel. Just try to forget your empty +stomach and rest awhile. We have had a tiresome, disappointing, +discouraging night, but when you are rested things will not look quite +so bad. You know the old saying: + +‘Never a road so long is there + But it reaches a turn at last; +Never a cloud that gathers swift + But disappears as fast.’ + + +You think you couldn’t possibly feel any worse than you do right now, +but you could. Many a time I have had to go hungry longer than this. +After we have rested awhile we will go over to the Old Pasture. Perhaps +we will have better luck there.” + +So Reddy tried to forget the emptiness of his stomach and actually had +a nap, for he was very, very tired. When he awoke he felt better. + +“Well, Granny,” said he, “let’s start for the Old Pasture. The snow has +crusted over, and we won’t find it such hard going as it was last +night.” + +Granny arose and followed Reddy out to the doorstep. She walked +stiffly. The truth is, she ached in every one of her old bones. At +least, that is the way it seemed to her. She looked towards the Old +Pasture. It seemed very far away. She sighed wearily. “I don’t believe +I’ll go, Reddy,” said she. “You run along and luck go with you.” + +Reddy turned and stared at Granny suspiciously. You know his is a very +suspicious nature. Could it be that Granny had some secret plan of her +own to get a meal and wanted to get rid of him? + +“What’s the matter with you?” he demanded roughly. “It was you who +proposed going over to the Old Pasture.” + +Granny smiled. It was a sad sort of smile. She is wonderfully sharp and +smart, is Granny Fox, and she knew what was in Reddy’s mind as well as +if he had told her. + +“Old bones don’t rest and recover as quickly as young bones, and I just +don’t feel equal to going over there now,” said she. “The truth is, +Reddy, I am growing old. I am going to stay right here and rest. +Perhaps then I’ll feel able to go hunting to-night. You trot along now, +and if you get more than a stomachful, just remember old Granny and +bring her a bite.” + +There was something in the way Granny spoke that told Reddy she was +speaking the truth. It was the very first time she ever had admitted +that she was growing old and was no longer the equal of any Fox. Never +before had he noticed how gray she had grown. Reddy felt a feeling of +shame creep over him,—shame that he had suspected Granny of playing a +sharp trick. And this little feeling of shame was followed instantly by +a splendid thought. He would go out and find food of some kind, and he +would bring it straight back to Granny. He had been taken care of by +Granny when he was little, and now he would repay Granny for all she +had done for him by taking care of her in her old age. + +“Go back in the house and lie down, Granny,” said he kindly. “I am +going to get something, and whatever it may be you shall have your +share.” With this he trotted off towards the Old Pasture and somehow he +didn’t mind the ache in his stomach as he had before. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV +Three Vain And Foolish Wishes + + +There’s nothing so foolishly silly and vain +As to wish for a thing you can never attain. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +We all know that, yet most of us are just foolish enough to make such a +wish now and then. I guess you have done it. I know I have. Peter +Rabbit has done it often and then laughed at himself afterwards. I +suspect that even shrewd, clever old Granny Fox has been guilty of it +more than once. So it is not surprising that Reddy Fox, terribly hungry +as he was, should do a little foolish wishing. + +When he left home to go to the Old Pasture, in the hope that he would +be able to find something to eat there, he started off bravely. It was +cold, very cold indeed, but his fur coat kept him warm as long as he +was moving. The Green Meadows were glistening white with snow. All the +world, at least all that part of it with which Reddy was acquainted, +was white. It was beautiful, very beautiful, as millions of sparkles +flashed in the sun. But Reddy had no thought for beauty; the only +thought he had room for was to get something to put in the empty +stomachs of himself and Granny Fox. + +Jack Frost had hardened the snow so that Reddy no longer had to wade +through it. He could run on the crust now without breaking through. +This made it much easier, so he trotted along swiftly. He had intended +to go straight to the Old Pasture, but there suddenly popped into his +head a memory of the shelter down in a far corner of the Old Orchard +which Farmer Brown’s boy had built for Bob White. Probably the Bob +White family were there now, and he might surprise them. He would go +there first. + +Reddy stopped and looked carefully to make sure that Farmer Brown’s boy +and Bowser the Hound were nowhere in sight. Then he ran swiftly towards +the Old Orchard. Just as he entered it he heard a merry voice just over +his head: “Dee, dee, dee, dee!” Reddy stopped and looked up. There was +Tommy Tit the Chickadee clinging tightly to a big piece of fresh suet +tied fast to a branch of a tree, and Tommy was stuffing himself. Reddy +sat down right underneath that suet and looked up longingly. The sight +of it made his mouth water so that it was almost more than he could +stand. He jumped once. He jumped twice. He jumped three times. But all +his jumping was in vain. That suet was beyond his reach. There was no +possible way of reaching it save by flying or climbing. Reddy’s tongue +hung out of his mouth with longing. + +“I wish I could climb,” said Reddy. + +But he couldn’t climb, and all the wishing in the world wouldn’t enable +him to, as he very well knew. So after a little he started on. As he +drew near the far corner of the Old Orchard, he saw Bob White and Mrs. +Bob and all the young Bobs picking up grain which Farmer Brown’s boy +had scattered for them just in front of the shelter he had built for +them. Reddy crouched down and very slowly, an inch at a time, he crept +forward, his eyes shining with eagerness. Just as he was almost within +springing distance, Bob White gave a signal, and away flew the Bob +Whites to the safety of a hemlock-tree on the edge of the Green Forest. + +Tears of rage and disappointment welled up in Reddy’s eyes. “I wish I +could fly,” he muttered, as he watched the brown birds disappear in the +big hemlock-tree. + +This was quite as foolish a wish as the other, so Reddy trotted on and +decided to go down past the Smiling Pool. When he got there he found +it, as he expected, frozen over. But just where the Laughing Brook +joins it there was a little place where there was open water. Billy +Mink was on the ice at its edge, and just as Reddy got there Billy +dived in. A minute later he climbed out with a fish in his mouth. + +“Give me a bite,” begged Reddy. + +“Catch your own fish,” retorted Billy Mink. “I have to work hard enough +for what I get as it is.” + +Reddy was afraid to go out on the ice where Billy was, and so he sat +and watched him eat that fine fish. Then Billy dived into the water +again and disappeared. Reddy waited a long time, but Billy did not +return. “I wish I could dive,” gulped Reddy, thinking of the fine fish +somewhere under the ice. + +And this wish was quite as foolish as the other wishes. + + + + +CHAPTER XV +Reddy Fights A Battle + + +’Tis not the foes that are without + But those that are within +That give us battles that we find + The hardest are to win. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +After the last of his three foolish wishes, Reddy Fox left the Smiling +Pool and headed straight for the Old Pasture for which he had started +in the first place. He wished now that he had gone straight there. Then +he wouldn’t have seen the suet tied out of reach to the branch of a +tree in the Old Orchard; he wouldn’t have seen the Bob Whites fly away +to safety just as he felt almost sure of catching one; he wouldn’t have +seen Billy Mink bring a fine fish out of the water and eat it right +before him. It is bad enough to be starving with no food in sight, but +to be as hungry as Reddy Fox was and to see food just out of reach, to +smell it, and not be able to get it is,—well, it is more than most +folks can stand patiently. + +So Reddy Fox was grumbling to himself as he hurried to the Old Pasture +and his heart was very bitter. It seemed to him that everything was +against him. His neighbors had food, but he had none, not so much as a +crumb. It was unfair. Old Mother Nature was unjust. If he could climb +he could get food. If he could fly he could get food. If he could dive +he could get food. But he could neither climb, fly, nor dive. He didn’t +stop to think that Old Mother Nature had given him some of the sharpest +wits in all the Green Forest or on all the Green Meadows; that she had +given him a wonderful nose; that she had given him the keenest of ears; +that she had given him speed excelled by few. He forgot these things +and was so busy thinking bitterly of the things he didn’t have that he +forgot to use his wits and nose and ears when he reached the Old +Pasture. The result was that he trotted right past Old Jed Thumper, the +big gray Rabbit, who was sitting behind a little bush holding his +breath. The minute Old Jed saw that Reddy was safely past, he started +for his bull-briar castle as fast as he could. + +It was not until then that Reddy discovered him. Of course, Reddy +started after him, and this time he made good use of his speed. But he +was too late. Old Jed Thumper reached his castle with Reddy two jumps +behind him. Reddy knew now that there was no chance to catch Old Jed +that day, and for a few minutes he felt more bitter than ever. Then all +in a flash Reddy Fox became the shrewd, clever fellow that he really +is. he grinned. + +“It’s of no use to try to fill an empty stomach on wishes,” said he. + +“If I had come straight here and minded my own business, I’d have +caught old Jed Thumper. Now I’m going to get some food and I’m not +going home until I do.” + +Very wisely Reddy put all unpleasant thoughts out of his head and +settled down to using his wits and his eyes and his ears and his nose +for all they were worth, as Old Mother Nature had intended he should. + +All through the Old Pasture he hunted, taking care not to miss a single +place where there was the least chance of finding food. But it was all +in vain. Reddy gulped down his disappointment. + +“Now for the Big River,” said he, and started off bravely. + +When he reached the edge of the Big River, he hurried along the bank +until he reached a place where the water seldom freezes. As he had +hoped, he found that it was not frozen now. It looked so black and cold +that it made him shiver just to see it. Back and forth with his nose to +the ground he ran. Suddenly he stopped and sniffed. Then he sniffed +again. Then he followed his nose straight to the very edge of the Big +River. There, floating in the black water, was a dead fish! By wading +in he could get it. + +Reddy shivered at the touch of the cold water, but what were wet feet +compared with such an empty stomach as his? In a minute he had that +fish and was back on the shore. It wasn’t a very big fish, but it would +stop the ache in his stomach until he could get something more. With a +sigh of pure happiness he sank his teeth into it and then—well, then he +remembered poor Old Granny Fox. Reddy swallowed a mouthful and tried to +forget Granny. But he couldn’t. He swallowed another mouthful. Poor old +Granny was back there at home as hungry as he was and too stiff and +tired to hunt. Reddy choked. Then he began a battle with himself. His +stomach demanded that fish. If he ate it, no one would be the wiser. +But Granny needed it even more than he did. For a long time Reddy +fought with himself. In the end he picked up the fish and started for +home. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI +Reddy Is Made Truly Happy + + +It’s what you do for others, + Not what they do for you, +That makes you feel so happy + All through and through and through. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Reddy Fox ran all the way home from the Big River just as fast as he +could go. In his mouth he carried the fish he had found and from which +he had taken just two bites. You remember he had had a battle with +himself over that fish, and now he was running away from himself. That +sounds funny, doesn’t it? But it was true. Yes, Sir, Reddy Fox was +running away from himself. He was afraid that if he didn’t get home to +Old Granny Fox with that fish very soon, he would eat every last bit of +it himself. So he was running his very hardest so as to get there +before this could happen. So really he was running away from himself, +from his selfish self. + +Old Granny Fox was on the doorstep watching for him, and he saw just +how her hungry old eyes brightened when she saw him and what he had. + +“I’ve brought you something to eat, Granny,” he panted, as he laid the +fish at her feet. He was quite out of breath with running. “It isn’t +much, but it is something. It is all I could find for you.” + +Granny looked at the fish and then she looked sharply at Reddy, and +into those keen yellow eyes of hers crept a soft, tender look, such a +look as you would never have believed they could have held. + +“What have _you_ had to eat?” asked Granny softly. + +Reddy turned his head that Granny might not see his face. “Oh, I’ve had +something,” said he, trying to speak lightly. It was true; he had had +two bites from that fish. + +Now you know just how shrewd and smart and wise Granny Fox is. Reddy +didn’t fool her just the least little bit. She took two small bites +from the fish. + +“Now,” said she, “we’ll divide it,” and she bit in two parts what +remained. In a twinkling she had gulped down the smallest part, for you +know she was very, very hungry. “That is your share,” said she, as she +pushed what remained over to Reddy. + +Reddy tried to refuse it. “I brought it all for you,” said he. “I know +you did, Reddy,” replied Granny, and it seemed to Reddy that he never +had known her voice to sound so gentle. “You brought it to me when all +you had had was the two little bites you had taken from it. You can’t +fool me, Reddy Fox. There wasn’t one good meal for either of us in that +fish, but there was enough to give us both a little hope and keep us +from starving. Now you mind what I say and eat your share.” Granny said +this last very sternly. + +Reddy looked at Granny, and then he bolted down that little piece of +fish without another word. + +“That’s better,” said Granny. “We will feel better, both of us. Now +that I’ve something in my stomach, I feel two years younger. Before you +came, I didn’t feel as if I should ever be able to go on another hunt. +If you hadn’t brought something, I—I’m afraid I couldn’t have lasted +much longer. By another day you probably wouldn’t have had old Granny +to think of. You may not know it, but I know that you saved my life, +Reddy. I had reached a point where I just had to have a little food. +You know there are times when a very little food is of more good than a +lot of food could be later. This was one of those times.” + +Never in all his life had Reddy Fox felt so truly happy. He was still +hungry,—very, very hungry. But he gave it no thought. He had saved +Granny Fox, good old Granny who had taught him all he knew. And he knew +that Granny knew how he had had to fight with himself to do it. Reddy +was happy through and through with the great happiness that comes from +having done something for some one else. + +“It was nothing,” he muttered. + +“It was a very great deal,” replied Granny. And then she changed the +subject. “How would you like to eat a dinner of Bowser the Hound’s?” +she asked. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII +Granny Fox Promises Reddy Bowser’s Dinner + + +To give her children what each needs + To get the most from life he can, +To work and play and live his best, + Is wise Old Mother Nature’s plan. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +When old Granny Fox asked Reddy how he would like to eat a dinner of +Bowser the Hound’s, Reddy looked at her sharply to see if she were +joking or really meant what she said. Granny looked so sober and so +much in earnest that Reddy decided she couldn’t be joking, even though +it did sound that way. + +“I certainly would like it, Granny. Yes, indeed, I certainly would like +it,” said he. “You—you don’t suppose he will give us one, do you?” + +Granny chuckled. “No, Reddy,” said she. “Bowser isn’t so generous as +all that, especially to Foxes. He isn’t going to give us that dinner; +we are going to take it away from him. Yes, Sir, we just naturally are +going to take it away from him.” + +Reddy didn’t for the life of him see how it could be possible to take a +dinner away from Bowser the Hound. That seemed to him almost as +impossible as it was for him to climb or fly or dive. But he had great +faith in Granny’s cleverness. He remembered how she had so nearly +caught Quacker the Duck. He knew that all the time he had been away +trying to find something for them to eat, old Granny Fox had been doing +more than just rest her tired old bones. He knew that not for one +single minute had her sharp wits been idle. He knew that all that time +she had been studying and studying to find some way by which they could +get something to eat. So great was his faith in Granny just then that +if she had told him she would get him a slice of the moon he would have +believed her. + +“If you say we can take a dinner away from Bowser the Hound, I suppose +we can,” said Reddy, “though I don’t see how. But if we can, let’s do +it right away. I’m hungry enough to dare almost anything for the sake +of something to put in my stomach. It is so empty that little bit of +fish we divided is shaking around as if it were lost. Gracious, I could +eat a million fish the size of that one! Have you thought of Farmer +Brown’s hens, Granny?” + +“Of course, Reddy! Of course! What a silly question!” replied Granny. +“We may have to come to them yet.” + +“I wish I was at them right now,” interrupted Reddy with a sigh. + +“But you know what I have told you,” went on Granny. “The surest way of +getting into trouble is to steal hens. I’m not feeling quite up to +being chased by Bowser the Hound just now, and if we came right home we +would give away the secret of where we live and might be smoked out, +and that would be the end of us. Besides, those hens will be hard to +get this weather, because they will stay in their house, and there is +no way for us to get in there unless we walk right in, in broad +daylight, and that would never do. It will be a great deal better to +take Bowser’s dinner away from him. In the first place, if we are +careful, no one but Bowser will know about it, and as long as he is +chained up, we will have nothing to worry about from him. Besides, we +will enjoy getting even with him for the times he has spoiled our +chances of catching a fat chicken and for the way he has hunted us. +Most decidedly it will be better and safer to try for Bowser’s dinner +than to try for one of those hens.” + +“Just as you say, Granny; just as you say,” returned Reddy. “You know +best. But how under the sun we can do it beats me.” + +“It is very simple,” replied Granny, “very simple indeed. Most things +are simple enough when you find out how to do them. Neither of us could +do it alone, but together we can do it without the least bit of risk. +Listen.” + +Granny went close to Reddy and whispered to him, although there wasn’t +a soul within hearing. A slow grin spread over Reddy’s face as he +listened. When she had finished, he laughed right out. + +“Granny, you are a wonder!” he exclaimed admiringly. “I never should +have thought of that. Of course we can do it. My, won’t Bowser be +surprised! And how mad he’ll be! Come on, let’s be starting!” + +“All right,” said Granny, and the two started towards Farmer Brown’s. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII +Why Bowser The Hound Didn’t Eat His Dinner + + +The thing you’ve puzzled most about +Is simple once you’ve found it out. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Bowser The Hound dearly loves to hunt just for the pleasure of the +chase. It isn’t so much the desire to kill as it is the pleasure of +using that wonderful nose of his and the excitement of trying to catch +some one, especially Granny or Reddy Fox. Farmer Brown’s boy had put +away his dreadful gun because he no longer wanted to kill the little +people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows, but rather to make +them his friends. Bowser had missed the exciting hunts he used to enjoy +so much with Farmer Brown’s boy. So Bowser had formed the habit of +slipping away alone for a hunt every once in a while. When Farmer +Brown’s boy discovered this, he got a chain and chained Bowser to his +little house to keep him from running away and hunting on the sly. + +Of course Bowser wasn’t kept chained all the time. Oh, my, no! When his +master was about, where he could keep an eye on Bowser, he would let +him go free. But whenever he was going away and didn’t want to take +Bowser with him, he would chain Bowser up. Now Bowser always had one +good big meal a day. To be sure, he had scraps or a bone now and then +besides, but once a day he had one good big meal served to him in a +large tin pan. If he happened to be chained, it was brought out to him. +If not, it was given to him just outside the kitchen door. + +Granny Fox knew all about this. Sly old Granny makes it her business to +know the affairs of other people around her because there is no telling +when such knowledge may be of use to her. So Granny had watched Bowser +the Hound when he and his master had no idea at all that she was +anywhere about, and she had found out his ways, the usual hour for his +dinner and just how far that chain would allow him to go. It was such +things which she had stored away in that shrewd old head of hers that +made her so sure she and Reddy could take Bowser’s dinner away from +him. It was just about Bowser’s dinner-time when Granny and Reddy +trotted across the snow-covered fields and crept behind the barn until +they could peep around the corner. No one was in sight, not even +Bowser, who was inside his warm little house at the end of the long +shed back of Farmer Brown’s house. Granny saw that he was chained and a +sly grin crept over her face. + +“You stay right here and watch until his dinner is brought out to him,” +said she to Reddy. “As soon as whoever brings it has gone back to the +house you walk right out where Bowser will see you. At the sight of +you, he’ll forget all about his dinner. Sit right down where he can see +you and stay there until you see that I have got that dinner, or until +you hear somebody coming, for you know Bowser will make a great racket. +Then slip around back of the barn and join me back of that shed.” + +So Reddy sat down to watch, and Granny left him. By and by Mrs. Brown +came out of the house with a pan full of good things. She put it down +in front of Bowser’s little house and called to him. Then she turned +and hurried back, for it was very cold. Bowser came out of his little +house, yawned and stretched lazily. + +It was time for Reddy to do his part. Out he walked and sat down right +in front of Bowser and grinned at him. Bowser stared for a minute as if +he doubted his own eyes. Such impudence! Bowser growled. Then with a +yelp he sprang towards Reddy. + +Now the chain that held him was long, but Reddy had taken care not to +get too near, and of course Bowser couldn’t reach him. He tugged with +all his might and yelped and barked frantically, but Reddy just sat +there and grinned in the most provoking manner. It was great fun to +tease Bowser this way. + +Meanwhile old Granny Fox had stolen out from around the corner of the +shed behind Bowser. Getting hold of the edge of the pan with her teeth +she pulled it back with her around the corner and out of sight. If she +made any noise, Bowser didn’t hear it. He was making too much noise +himself and was too excited. Presently Reddy heard the sound of an +opening door. Mrs. Brown was coming to see what all the fuss was about. +Like a flash Reddy darted behind the barn, and all Mrs. Brown saw was +Bowser tugging at his chain as he whined and yelped excitedly. + +“I guess he must have seen a stray cat or something,” said Mrs. Brown +and went back in the house. Bowser continued to whine and tug at his +chain for a few minutes. Then he gave it up and, growling deep in his +throat, turned to eat his dinner. But there wasn’t any dinner! It had +disappeared, pan and all! Bowser couldn’t understand it at all. + +Back of the shed Granny and Reddy Fox licked that pan clean; licked it +until it was polished. Then, with little sighs of satisfaction, and +every once in a while a chuckle, they trotted happily home. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX +Old Man Coyote Does A Little Thinking + + +Investigate and for yourself find out +Those things which most you want to know about. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Never in all his life had Reddy Fox enjoyed a dinner more than that one +he and Granny had stolen from Bowser the Hound. Of course it would have +tasted delicious anyway, because they were so dreadfully hungry, but to +Reddy it tasted better still because it had been intended for Bowser. +Bowser has hunted Reddy so often that Reddy has no love for him at all, +and it tickled him almost to death to think that they had taken his +dinner from almost under his nose. + +With that good dinner in their stomachs, Reddy and Granny Fox felt so +much better that the Great World no longer seemed such a cold and cruel +place. Funny how differently things look when your stomach is full from +the way those same things look when it is empty. Best of all they knew +they could play the same sharp trick again and steal another dinner +from Bowser if need be. It is a comforting feeling, a very comforting +feeling, to know for a certainty where you can get another meal. It is +a feeling that Granny and Reddy Fox and many other little people of the +Green Meadows and the Green Forest seldom have in winter. As a rule, +when they have eaten one meal, they haven’t the least idea where the +next one is coming from. How would you like to live that way? + +The very next day Granny and Reddy went up to Farmer Brown’s at +Bowser’s dinner hour. But this time Farmer Brown’s boy was at work near +the barn, and Bowser was not chained. Granny and Reddy stole away as +silently as they had come. On the day following they found Bowser +chained and stole another dinner from him; then they went away laughing +until their sides ached as they heard Bowser’s whines of surprise and +disappointment when he discovered that his dinner had vanished. They +knew by the sound of his voice that he hadn’t the least idea what had +become of that dinner. + +Now there was some one else roaming over the snow-covered meadows and +through the Green Forest and the Old Pasture these days with a stomach +so lean and empty that he couldn’t think of anything else. It was Old +Man Coyote. You know he is very clever, is Old Man Coyote, and he +managed to find enough food of one kind and another to keep him alive, +but never enough to give him that comfortable feeling of a full +stomach. While he wasn’t actually starving, he was always hungry. So he +spent all the time when he wasn’t sleeping in hunting for something to +eat. + +Of course he often ran across the tracks of Granny and Reddy Fox, and +once in a while he would meet them. It struck Old Man Coyote that they +didn’t seem as thin as he was. That set him to thinking. Neither of +them was a smarter hunter than he. In fact, he prided himself on being +smarter than either of them. Yet when he met them, they seemed to be in +the best of spirits and not at all worried because food was so scarce. +Why? There must be a reason. They must be getting food of which he knew +nothing. + +“I’ll just keep an eye on them,” muttered Old Man Coyote. + +So very slyly and cleverly Old Man Coyote followed Granny and Reddy +Fox, taking the greatest care that they should not suspect that he was +doing it. All one night he followed them through the Green Forest and +over the Green Meadows, and when at last he saw them go home, appearing +not at all worried because they had caught nothing, he trotted off to +his own home to do some more thinking. + +“They are getting food somewhere, that is sure,” he muttered, as he +scratched first one ear and then the other. Somehow he could think +better when he was scratching his ears. “If they don’t get it in the +night, and they certainly didn’t get anything this night, they must get +it in the daytime. I’ve done considerable hunting myself in the +daytime, and I haven’t once met them in the Green Forest or seen them +on the Green Meadows or up in the Old Pasture. I wonder if they are +stealing Farmer Brown’s hens and haven’t been found out yet. I’ve kept +away from there myself, but if they can steal hens and not be caught, I +certainly can. There never was a Fox yet smart enough to do a thing +that a Coyote cannot do if he tries. I think I’ll slip up where I can +watch Farmer Brown’s and see what is going on up there. Yes, Sir, +that’s what I’ll do.” + +With this, Old Man Coyote grinned and then curled himself up for a +short nap, for he was tired. + + + + +CHAPTER XX +A Twice Stolen Dinner + + +No one ever is so smart that some one else may not prove to be smarter +still. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Listen and you shall hear all about three rogues. Two were in red and +were Granny and Reddy Fox. And one was in gray and was Old Man Coyote. +They were the slyest, smartest rogues on all the Green Meadows or in +all the Green Forest. All three had started out to steal the same +dinner, but the funny part is they didn’t intend to steal it from the +same person. And still funnier is it that one of them didn’t even know +where that dinner was or what kind of a dinner it would be. + +True to his resolve to know what Granny and Reddy Fox were getting to +eat, and where they were getting it, Old Man Coyote hid where he could +see what was going on about Farmer Brown’s, for it was there he felt +sure that Granny and Reddy were getting food. He had waited only a +little while when along came Granny and Reddy Fox past the place where +Old Man Coyote was hiding. They didn’t see him. Of course not. He took +care that they should have no chance. But anyway, they were not +thinking of him. Their thoughts were all of that dinner they intended +to have, and the smart trick by which they would get it. + +So with their thoughts all on that dinner they slipped up behind the +barn and prepared to work the trick which had been so successful +before. Old Man Coyote crept after them. He saw Reddy Fox lie down +where he could peep around the corner of the barn to watch Bowser the +Hound and to see that no one else was about. He saw Granny leave Reddy +there and hurry away. Old Man Coyote’s wits worked fast. + +“I can’t be in two places at once,” thought he, “so I can’t watch both +Granny and Reddy. As I can watch but one, which one shall it be? +Granny, of course. Granny is the smartest of the two, and whatever they +are up to, she is at the bottom of it. Granny is the one to follow.” + +So, like a gray shadow, crafty Old Man Coyote stole after Granny Fox +and saw her hide behind the corner of the shed at the end of which was +the little house of Bowser the Hound. He crept as near as he dared and +then lay flat down behind a little bunch of dead grass close to the +shed. For some time nothing happened, and Old Man Coyote was puzzled. +Every once in a while Granny Fox would look behind and all about to be +sure that no danger was near, but she didn’t see Old Man Coyote. After +what seemed to him a long time, he heard a door open on the other side +of the shed. It was Mrs. Brown carrying Bowser’s dinner out to him. Of +course, Old Man Coyote didn’t know this. He knew by the sounds that +some one had come out of the house, and it made him nervous. He didn’t +like being so close to Farmer Brown’s house in broad daylight. But he +kept his eyes on Granny Fox, and he saw her ears prick up in a way that +he knew meant that those sounds were just what she had been waiting +for. + +“If she isn’t afraid, I don’t need to be,” thought he craftily. After a +few minutes he heard a door close and knew that whoever had come out +had gone back into the house. Almost at once Bowser the Hound began to +yelp and whine. Swiftly Granny Fox disappeared around the corner of the +shed. Just as swiftly Old Man Coyote ran forward and peeped around the +corner. There was Bowser the Hound tugging at his chain, and just +beyond his reach was Reddy Fox, grinning in the most provoking manner. +And there was Granny Fox, backing and dragging after her Bowser’s +dinner. In a flash Old Man Coyote understood the plan, and he almost +chuckled aloud at the cleverness of it. Then he hastily backed behind +the shed and waited. In a minute Granny Fox appeared, dragging Bowser’s +dinner. She was so intent on getting that dinner that she almost backed +into Old Man Coyote without suspecting that he was anywhere about. + +“Thank you, Granny. You needn’t bother about it any longer; I’ll take +it now,” growled Old Man Coyote in Granny’s ear. + +Granny let go of that dinner as if it burned her tongue, and with a +frightened little yelp leaped to one side. A minute later Reddy came +racing around from behind the barn eager for his share. What he saw was +Old Man Coyote bolting down that twice-stolen dinner while Granny Fox +fairly danced with rage. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI +Granny And Reddy Talk Things Over. + + +You’ll find as on through life you go + The thing you want may prove to be +The very thing you shouldn’t have. + Then seeming loss is gain, you see. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +If ever two folks were mad away through, those two were Granny and +Reddy Fox as they watched Old Man Coyote gobble up the dinner they had +so cleverly stolen from Bowser the Hound. It was bad enough to lose the +dinner, but it was worse to see some one else eat it after they had +worked so hard to get it. “Robber!” snarled Granny. Old Man Coyote +stopped eating long enough to grin. + +“Thief! Sneak! Coward!” snarled Reddy. Once more Old Man Coyote +grinned. When that dinner had disappeared down his throat to the last +and smallest crumb, he licked his chops and turned to Granny and Reddy. + +“I’m very much obliged for that dinner,” said he pleasantly, his eyes +twinkling with mischief. “It was the best dinner I have had for a long +time. Allow me to say that that trick of yours was as smart a trick as +ever I have seen. It was quite worthy of a Coyote. You are a very +clever old lady, Granny Fox. Now I hear some one coming, and I would +suggest that it will be better for all concerned if we are not seen +about here.” + +He darted off behind the barn like a gray streak, and Granny and Reddy +followed, for it was true that some one was coming. You see Bowser the +Hound had discovered that something was going on around the corner of +the shed, and he made such a racket that Mrs. Brown had come out of the +house to see what it was all about. By the time she got around there, +all she saw was the empty pan which had held Bowser’s dinner. She was +puzzled. How that pan could be where it was she couldn’t understand, +and Bowser couldn’t tell her, although he tried his very best. She had +been puzzled about that pan two or three times before. + +Old Man Coyote lost no time in getting back home, for he never felt +easy near the home of man in broad daylight. Granny and Reddy Fox went +home too, and there was hate in their hearts,—hate for Old Man Coyote. +But once they reached home, Old Granny Fox stopped growling, and +presently she began to chuckle. + +“What are you laughing at?” demanded Reddy. + +“At the way Old Man Coyote stole that dinner from us,” replied Granny. + +“I hate him! He’s a sneaking robber!” snapped Reddy. + +“Tut, tut, Reddy! Tut, tut!” retorted Granny. “Be fair-minded. We stole +that dinner from Bowser the Hound, and Old Man Coyote stole it from us. +I guess he is no worse than we are, when you come to think it over. Now +is he?” + +“I—I—well, I don’t suppose he is, when you put it that way,” Reddy +admitted grudgingly. + +“And he was smart, very smart, to outwit two such clever people as we +are,” continued Granny. “You will have to agree to that.” + +“Y-e-s,” said Reddy slowly. “He was smart enough, but—” + +“There isn’t any but, Reddy,” interrupted Granny. “You know the law of +the Green Meadows and the Green Forest. It is everybody for himself, +and anything belongs to one who has the wit or the strength to take it. +We had the wit to take that dinner from Bowser the Hound, and Old Man +Coyote had the wit to take it from us and the strength to keep it. It +was all fair enough, and you know there isn’t the least use in crying +over spilled milk, as the saying is. We simply have got to be smart +enough not to let him fool us again. I guess we won’t get any more of +Bowser’s dinners for a while. We’ve got to think of some other way of +filling our stomachs when the hunting is poor. I think if I could have +just one of those fat hens of Farmer Brown’s, it would put new strength +into my old bones. All summer I warned you to keep away from that +henyard, but the time has come now when I think we might try for a +couple of those hens.” + +Reddy pricked up his ears at the mention of fat hens. “I think so too,” +said he. “When shall we try for one?” + +“To-morrow morning,” replied Granny. “Now don’t bother me while I think +out a plan.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXII +Granny Fox Plans To Get A Fat Hen + + +Full half success for Fox or Man +Is won by working out a plan. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Granny Fox knows this. No one knows it better. Whatever she does is +first carefully planned in her wise old head. So now after she had +decided that she and Reddy would try for one of Farmer Brown’s fat +hens, she lay down to think out a plan to get that fat hen. No one knew +better than she how foolish it would be to go over to that henyard and +just trust to luck for a chance to catch one of those biddies. Of +course, they _might_ be lucky and get a hen that way, but then again +they might be unlucky and get in a peck of trouble. + +“You see,” said she to Reddy, “we must not only plan how to get that +fat hen, but we must also plan how to get away with it safely. If only +there was some way of getting in that henhouse at night, there would be +no trouble at all. I don’t suppose there is the least chance of that.” + +“Not the least chance in the world,” replied Reddy. “There isn’t a hole +anywhere big enough for even Shadow the Weasel to get through, and +Farmer Brown’s boy is very careful to lock the door every night.” + +“There’s a little hole that the hens go in and out of during the day, +which is big enough for one of us to slip through, I believe,” said +Granny thoughtfully. + +“Sure! But it’s always closed at night,” snapped Reddy. “Besides, to +get to that or the door either, you have got to get inside the henyard, +and there’s a gate to that which we can’t open.” + +“People are sometimes careless,—even you, Reddy,” said Granny. + +Reddy squirmed uneasily, for he had been in trouble many times through +carelessness. “Well, what of it?” he demanded a wee bit crossly. + +“Nothing much, only if that hen-yard gate should _happen_ to be left +open, and if Farmer Brown’s boy should _happen_ to forget to close that +little hole that the hens go through, and if we _happened_ to be around +at just that time—” + +“Too many ifs to get a dinner with,” interrupted Reddy. + +“Perhaps,” replied Granny mildly, “but I’ve noticed that it is the one +who has an eye open for all the little ifs in life that fares the best. +Now I’ve kept an eye on that henyard, and I’ve noticed that very often +Farmer Brown’s boy _doesn’t_ close the henyard gate at night. I suppose +he thinks that if the henhouse door is locked, the gate doesn’t matter. +Any one who is careless about one thing, is likely to be careless about +another. Sometime he may forget to close that hole. I told you that we +would try for one of those hens to-morrow morning, but the more I think +about it, the more I think it will be wiser to visit that henhouse a +few nights before we run the risk of trying to catch a hen in broad +daylight. In fact, I am pretty sure I can make Farmer Brown’s boy +forget to close that gate.” + +“How?” demanded Reddy eagerly. + +Granny grinned. “I’ll try it first and tell you afterwards,” said she. +“I believe Farmer Brown’s boy closes the henhouse up just before jolly, +round, red Mr. Sun goes to bed behind the Purple Hills, doesn’t he?” + +Reddy nodded. Many times from a safe hiding-place he had hungrily +watched Farmer Brown’s boy shut the biddies up. It was always just +before the Black Shadows began to creep out from their hiding-places. + +“I thought so,” said Granny. The truth is, she _knew_ so. There was +nothing about that henhouse and what went on there that Granny didn’t +know quite as well as Reddy. “You stay right here this afternoon until +I return. I’ll see what I can do.” + +“Let me go along,” begged Reddy. + +“No,” replied Granny in such a decided tone that Reddy knew it would be +of no use to tease. “Sometimes two can do what one cannot do alone, and +sometimes one can do what two might spoil. Now we may as well take a +nap until it is time for Mr. Sun to go to bed. Just you leave it to +your old Granny to take care of the first of those ifs. For the other +one we’ll have to trust to luck, but you know we are lucky sometimes.” + +With this Granny curled up for a nap, and having nothing better to do, +Reddy followed her example. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII +Farmer Brown’s Boy Forgets To Close The Gate + + +How easy ’tis to just forget + Until, alas, it is too late. +The most methodical of folks + Sometimes forget to shut the gate. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Farmer Brown’s Boy is not usually the forgetful kind. He is pretty good +about not forgetting. But Farmer Brown’s boy isn’t perfect by any +means. He _does_ forget sometimes, and he _is_ careless sometimes. He +would be a funny kind of boy otherwise. But take it day in and day out, +he is pretty thoughtful and careful. + +The care of the hens is one of Farmer Brown’s boy’s duties. It is one +of those duties which most of the time is a pleasure. He likes the +biddies, and he likes to take care of them. Every morning one of the +first things he does is to feed them and open the henhouse so that they +can run in the henyard if they want to. Every night he goes out just +before dark, collects the eggs and locks the henhouse so that no harm +can come to the biddies while they are asleep on their roosts. After +the big snowstorm he had shovelled a place in the henyard where the +hens could come out and exercise and get a sun-bath when they wanted +to, and in the very warmest part of the day they would do this. Always +in the daytime he took the greatest care to see that the henyard gate +was fastened, for no one knew better than he how bold Granny and Reddy +Fox can be when they are very hungry, and in winter they are very apt +to be very hungry most of the time. So he didn’t intend to give them a +chance to slip into that henyard while the biddies were out, or to give +the biddies a chance to stray outside where they might be still more +easily caught. + +But at night he sometimes left that gate open, as Granny Fox had found +out. You see, he thought it didn’t matter because the hens were locked +in their warm house and so were safe, anyway. + +It was just at dusk of the afternoon of the day when Granny and Reddy +Fox had talked over a plan to get one of those fat hens that Farmer +Brown’s boy collected the eggs and saw to it that the biddies had gone +to roost for the night. He had just started to close the little sliding +door across the hole through which the hens went in and out in the +daytime when Bowser the Hound began to make a great racket, as if +terribly excited about something. + +Farmer Brown’s boy gave the little sliding door a hasty push, picked up +his basket of eggs, locked the henhouse door and hurried out through +the gate without stopping to close it. You see, he was in a hurry to +find out what Bowser was making such a fuss about. Bowser was yelping +and whining and tugging at his chain, and it was plain to see that he +was terribly eager to be set free. + +“What is it, Bowser, old boy? Did you see something?” asked Farmer +Brown’s boy as he patted Bowser on the head. “I can’t let you go, you +know, because you probably would go off hunting all night and come home +in the morning all tired out and with sore feet. Whatever it was, I +guess you’ve scared it out of a year’s growth, old fellow, so we’ll let +it go at that.” + +Bowser still tugged at his chain and whined, but after a little he +quieted down. His master looked around behind the barn to see if he +could see what had so stirred up Bowser, but nothing was to be seen, +and he returned, patted Bowser once more, and went into the house, +never once giving that open henyard gate another thought. + +Half an hour later old Granny Fox joined Reddy Fox, who was waiting on +the doorstep of their home. “It is all right, Reddy; that gate is +open,” said she. + +“How did you do it, Granny?” asked Reddy eagerly. + +“Easily enough,” replied Granny. “I let Bowser get a glimpse of me just +as his master was locking up the henhouse. Bowser made a great fuss, +and of course, Farmer Brown’s boy hurried out to see what it was all +about. He was in too much of a hurry to close that gate, and afterwards +he forgot all about it or else he thought it didn’t matter. Of course, +I didn’t let him get so much as a glimpse of me.” + +“Of course,” said Reddy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV +A Midnight Visit + + +By those who win ’tis well agreed +He’ll try and try who would succeed. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +It seemed to Reddy Fox as if time never had dragged so slowly as it did +this particular night while he and Granny Fox waited until Granny +thought it safe to visit Farmer Brown’s henhouse and see if by any +chance there was a way of getting into it. Reddy tried not to hope too +much. Granny had found a way to get the gate to the henyard left open, +but this would do them no good unless there was some way of getting +into the house, and this he very much doubted. But if there was a way +he wanted to know it, and he was impatient to start. + +But Granny was in no hurry. Not that she wasn’t just as hungry for a +fat hen as was Reddy, but she was too wise and clever and altogether +too sly to run any risks. + +“There is nothing gained by being in too much of a hurry, Reddy,” said +she, “and often a great deal is lost in that way. A fat hen will taste +just as good a little later as it would now, and it will be foolish to +go up to Farmer Brown’s until we are sure that everybody up there is +asleep. But to ease your mind, I’ll tell you what we will do; we’ll go +where we can see Farmer Brown’s house and watch until the last light +winks out.” + +So they trotted to a point where they could see Farmer Brown’s house, +and there they sat down to watch. It seemed to Reddy that those lights +never would wink out. But at last they did. + +“Come on, Granny!” he cried, jumping to his feet. + +“Not yet, Reddy. Not yet,” replied Granny. “We’ve got to give folks +time to get sound asleep. If we should get into that henhouse, those +hens might make a racket, and if anything like that is going to happen, +we want to be sure that Farmer Brown and Farmer Brown’s boy are +asleep.” + +This was sound advice, and Reddy knew it. So with a groan he once more +threw himself down on the snow to wait. At last Granny arose, +stretched, and looked up at the twinkling stars. “Come on,” said she +and led the way. + +Up back of the barn and around it they stole like two shadows and quite +as noiselessly as shadows. They heard Bowser the Hound sighing in his +sleep in his snug little house, and grinned at each other. Silently +they stole over to the henyard. The gate was open, just as Granny had +told Reddy it would be. Across the henyard they trotted swiftly, +straight to where more than once in the daytime they had seen the hens +come out of the house through a little hole. It was closed. Reddy had +expected it would be. Still, he was dreadfully disappointed. He gave it +merely a glance. + +“I knew it wouldn’t be any use,” said he with a half whine. + +But Granny paid no attention to him. She went close to the hole and +pushed gently against the little door that closed it. It didn’t move. +Then she noticed that at one edge there was a tiny crack. She tried to +push her nose through, but the crack was too narrow. Then she tried a +paw. A claw caught on the edge of the door, and it moved ever so +little. Then Granny knew that the little door wasn’t fastened. Granny +stretched herself flat on the ground and went to work, first with one +paw, then with the other. By and by she caught her claws in it just +right again, and it moved a wee bit more. No, most certainly that door +wasn’t fastened, and that crack was a little wider. + +“What are you wasting your time there for?” demanded Reddy crossly. +“We’d better be off hunting if we would have anything to eat this +night.” + +Granny said nothing but kept on working. She had discovered that this +was a sliding door. Presently the crack was wide enough for her to get +her nose in. Then she pushed and twisted her head this way and that. +The little door slowly slid back, and when Reddy turned to speak to her +again, for he had had his back to her, she was nowhere to be seen. +Reddy just gaped and gaped foolishly. There was no Granny Fox, but +there was a black hole where she had been working, and from it came the +most delicious smell,—the smell of fat hens! It seemed to Reddy that +his stomach fairly flopped over with longing. He rubbed his eyes to be +sure that he was awake. Then in a twinkling he was inside that hole +himself. + +“Sh-h-h, be still!” whispered Old Granny Fox. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV +A Dinner For Two + + +Dark deeds are done in the stilly night, +And who shall say if they’re wrong or right? + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +It all depends on how you look at things. Of course, Granny and Reddy +Fox had no business to be in Farmer Brown’s henhouse in the middle of +the night, or at any other time, for that matter. That is, they had no +business to be there, as Farmer Brown would look at the matter. He +would have called them two red thieves. Perhaps that is just what they +were. But looking at the matter as they did, I am not so sure about it. +To Granny and Reddy Fox those hens were simply big, rather stupid +birds, splendid eating if they could be caught, and bound to be eaten +by somebody. The fact that they were in Farmer Brown’s henhouse didn’t +make them his any more than the fact that Mrs. Grouse was in a part of +the Green Forest owned by Farmer Brown made her his. + +You see, among the little meadow and forest people there is no such +thing as property rights, excepting in the matter of storehouses, and +because these hens were alive, it didn’t occur to Granny and Reddy that +the henhouse was a sort of storehouse. It would have made no difference +if it had. Among the little people it is considered quite right to help +yourself from another’s storehouse if you are smart enough to find it +and really need the food. + +Besides, Reddy and Granny knew that Farmer Brown and his boy would eat +some of those hens themselves, and they didn’t begin to need them as +Reddy and Granny did. So as they looked at the matter, there was +nothing wrong in being in that henhouse in the middle of the night. +They were there simply because they needed food very, very much, and +food was there. + +They stared up at the roosts where the biddies were huddled together, +fast asleep. They were too high up to be reached from the floor even +when Reddy and Granny stood on their hind legs and stretched as far as +they could. + +“We’ve got to wake them up and scare them so that some of the silly +things will fly down where we can catch them,” said Reddy, licking his +lips hungrily. + +“That won’t do at all!” snapped Granny. “They would make a great racket +and waken Bowser the Hound, and he would waken his master, and that is +just what we mustn’t do if we hope to ever get in here again. I thought +you had more sense, Reddy.” + +Reddy looked a little shamefaced. “Well, if we don’t do that, how are +we going to get them? We can’t fly,” he grumbled. + +“You stay right here where you are,” snapped Granny, “and take care +that you don’t make a sound.” + +Then Granny jumped lightly to a little shelf that ran along in front of +the nesting boxes. From this she could reach the lower roost on which +four fat hens were asleep. Very gently she pushed her head in between +two of these and crowded them apart. Sleepily they protested and moved +along a little. Granny continued to crowd them. At last one of them +stretched out her head to see who was crowding so. Like a flash Granny +seized that head, and biddy never knew what had wakened her, nor did +she have a chance to waken the others. + +Dropping this hen at Reddy’s feet, Granny crowded another until she did +the same thing, and just the same thing happened once more. Then Granny +jumped lightly down, picked up one of the hens by the neck, slung the +body over her shoulder, and told Reddy to do the same with the other +and start for home. + +“Aren’t you going to get any more while we have the chance?” grumbled +Reddy. + +“Enough is enough,” retorted Granny. “We’ve got a dinner for two, and +so far no one is any the wiser. Perhaps these two won’t be missed, and +we’ll have a chance to get some more another night. Now come on.” + +This was plain common sense, and Reddy knew it, so without another word +he followed old Granny Fox out by the way they had entered, and then +home to the best dinner he had had for a long long time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI +Farmer Brown’s Boy Sets A Trap + + +The trouble is that troubles are, + More frequently than not, +Brought on by naught but carelessness; + By some one who forgot. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Granny Fox had hoped that those two hens she and Reddy had stolen from +Farmer Brown’s henhouse would not be missed, but they were. They were +missed the very first thing the next morning when Farmer Brown’s boy +went to feed the biddies. He discovered right away that the little +sliding door which should have closed the opening through which the +hens went in and out of the house was open, and then he remembered that +he had left the henyard gate open the night before. Carefully Farmer +Brown’s boy examined the hole with the sliding door. + +“Ha!” said he presently, and held up two red hairs which he had found +on the edge of the door. “Ha! I thought as much. I was careless last +night and didn’t fasten this door, and I left the gate open. Reddy Fox +has been here, and now I know what has become of those two hens. I +suppose it serves me right for my carelessness, and I suppose if the +truth were known, those hens were of more real good to him than they +ever could have been to me, because the poor fellow must be having +pretty hard work to get a living these hard winter days. Still, I can’t +have him stealing any more. That would never do at all. If I shut them +up every night and am not careless, he can’t get them. But accidents +will happen, and I might do just as I did last night—think I had locked +up when I hadn’t. I don’t like to set a trap for Reddy, but I must +teach the rascal a lesson. If I don’t, he will get so bold that those +chickens won’t be safe even in broad daylight.” + +Now at just that very time over in their home, Granny and Reddy Fox +were talking over plans for the future, and shrewd old Granny was +pointing out to Reddy how necessary it was that they should keep away +from that henyard for some time. “We’ve had a good dinner, a splendid +dinner, and if we are smart enough we may be able to get more good +dinners where this one came from,” said she. “But we certainly won’t if +we are too greedy.” + +“But I don’t believe Farmer Brown’s boy has missed those two chickens, +and I don’t see any reason at all why we shouldn’t go back there +to-night and get two more if he is stupid enough to leave that gate and +little door open,” whined Reddy. + +“Maybe he hasn’t missed those two, but if we should take two more he +certainly would miss them, and he would guess what had become of them, +and that might get us into no end of trouble,” snapped Granny. “We are +not starving now, and the best thing for us to do is to keep away from +that henhouse until we can’t get anything to eat anywhere else, Now you +mind what I tell you, Reddy, and don’t you dare go near there.” + +Reddy promised, and so it came about that Farmer Brown’s boy hunted up +a trap all for nothing so far as Reddy and Granny were concerned. Very +carefully he bound strips of cloth around the jaws of the trap, for he +couldn’t bear to think of those cruel jaws cutting into the leg of +Reddy, should he happen to get caught. You see, Farmer Brown’s boy +didn’t intend to kill Reddy if he should catch him, but to make him a +prisoner for a while and so keep him out of mischief. That night he hid +the trap very cunningly just inside the henhouse where any one creeping +through that little hole made for the hens to go in and out would be +sure to step in it. Then he purposely left the little sliding door open +part way as if it had been forgotten, and he also left the henyard gate +open just as he had done the night before. + +“There now, Master Reddy,” said he, talking to himself, “I rather think +that you are going to get into trouble before morning.” + +And doubtless Reddy would have done just that thing but for the wisdom +of sly old Granny. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII +Prickly Porky Takes A Sun Bath + + +Danger comes when least expected; +’Tis often near when not expected. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +The long hard winter had passed, and Spring had come. Prickly Porky the +Porcupine came down from a tall poplar-tree and slowly stretched +himself. He was tired of eating. He was tired of swinging in the +tree-top. + +“I believe I’ll have a sun-bath,” said Prickly Porky, and lazily walked +toward the edge of the Green Forest in search of a place where the sun +lay warm and bright. + +Now Prickly Porky’s stomach was very, very full. He was fat and +naturally lazy, so when he came to the doorstep of an old house just on +the edge of the Green Forest he sat down to rest. It was sunny and warm +there, and the longer he sat the less like moving he felt. He looked +about him with his dull eyes and grunted to himself. + +“It’s a deserted house. Nobody lives here, and I guess nobody’ll care +if I take a nap right here on the doorstep,” said Prickly Porky to +himself. “And I don’t care if they do,” he added, for Prickly Porky the +Porcupine was afraid of nobody and nothing. + +So Prickly Porky made himself as comfortable as possible, yawned once +or twice, tried to wink at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun, who was winking +and smiling down at him and then fell fast asleep right on the doorstep +of the old house. + +Now the old house had been deserted. No one had lived in it for a long, +long time, a very long time indeed. But it happened that, the night +before, old Granny Fox and Reddy Fox had had to move out of their nice +home on the edge of the Green Meadows because Farmer Brown’s boy had +found it. Reddy was very stiff and sore, for he had been shot by a +hunter. He was so sore he could hardly walk, and could not go very far. +So old Granny Fox had led him to the old deserted house and put him to +bed in that. + +“No one will think of looking for us here, for every one knows that no +one lives here,” said old Granny Fox, as she made Reddy as comfortable +as possible. + +As soon as it was daylight, Granny Fox slipped out to watch for Farmer +Brown’s boy, for she felt sure that he would come back to the house +they had left, and sure enough he did. He brought a spade and dug the +house open, and all the time old Granny Fox was watching him from +behind a fence corner and laughing to think that she had been smart +enough to move in the night. + +But Reddy Fox didn’t know anything about this. He was so tired that he +slept and slept and slept. It was the middle of the morning when +finally he awoke. He yawned and stretched, and when he stretched he +groaned because he was so stiff and sore. Then he hobbled up toward the +doorway to see if old Granny Fox had left any breakfast outside for +him. + +It was dark, very dark. Reddy was puzzled. Could it be that he had +gotten up before daylight—that he hadn’t slept as long as he thought? +Perhaps he had slept the whole day through, and it was night again. My, +how hungry he was! + +“I hope Granny has caught a fine, fat chicken for me,” thought Reddy, +and his mouth watered. + +Just then he ran bump into something. “Wow!” screamed Reddy Fox, and +clapped both hands to his nose. Something was sticking into it. It was +one of the sharp little spears that Prickly Porky hides in his coat. +Reddy Fox knew then why the old house was so dark. Prickly Porky was +blocking up the doorway. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII +Prickly Porky Enjoys Himself + + +A boasting tongue, as sure as fate, +Will trip its owner soon or late. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Prickly Porky the Porcupine was enjoying himself. There was no doubt +about that. He was stretched across the doorway of that old house, the +very house in which old Granny Fox had been born. When he had lain down +on the doorstep for a nap and sun-bath, he had thought that the old +house was still deserted. Then he had fallen asleep, only to be wakened +by Reddy Fox, who bad been asleep in the old house and who couldn’t get +out because Prickly Porky was in the way. + +Now Prickly Porky does not love Reddy Fox, and the more Reddy begged +and scolded and called him names, the more Prickly Porky chuckled. It +was such a good joke to think that he had trapped Reddy Fox, and he +made up his mind that he would keep Reddy in there a long time just to +tease him and make him uncomfortable. You see Prickly Porky remembered +how often Reddy Fox played mean tricks on little meadow and forest +folks who are smaller and weaker than himself. + +“It will do him good. It certainly will do him good,” said Prickly +Porky, and rattled the thousand little spears hidden in his long coat, +for he knew that the very sound of them would make Reddy Fox shiver +with fright. + +Suddenly Prickly Porky pricked up his funny little short ears. He heard +the deep voice of Bowser the Hound, and it was coming nearer and +nearer. Prickly Porky chuckled again. + +“I guess Mr. Bowser is going to have a surprise; I certainly think he +is,” said Prickly Porky as he made all the thousand little spears stand +out from his long coat till he looked like a funny great chestnut burr. + +Bowser the Hound did have a surprise. He was hunting Reddy Fox, and he +almost ran into Prickly Porky before he saw him. The very sight of +those thousand little spears sent little cold chills chasing each other +down Bowser’s backbone clear to the tip of his tail, for he remembered +how he had gotten some of them in his lips and mouth once upon a time, +and how it had hurt to have them pulled out. Ever since then he had had +the greatest respect for Prickly Porky. + +“Wow!” yelped Bowser the Hound, stopping short. “I beg your pardon, +Prickly Porky, I beg your pardon, I didn’t know you were taking a nap +here.” + +All the time Bowser the Hound was backing away as fast as he could. +Then he turned around, put his tail between his legs and actually ran +away. + +Slowly Prickly Porky unrolled, and his little eyes twinkled as he +watched Bowser the Hound run away. + +“Bowser’s very big and strong; +His voice is deep; his legs are long; +His bark scares some almost to death. +But as for me he wastes his breath; +I just roll up and shake my spears +And Bowser is the one who fears.” + + +So said Prickly Porky, and laughed aloud. Just then he heard a light +footstep and turned to see who was coming. It was old Granny Fox. She +had seen Bowser run away, and now she was anxious to find out if Reddy +Fox were safe. + +“Good morning,” said Granny Fox, taking care not to come too near. + +“Good morning,” replied Prickly Porky, hiding a smile. + +“I’m very tired and would like to go inside my house; had you just as +soon move?” asked Granny Fox. + +“Oh!” exclaimed Prickly Porky, “is this your house? I thought you lived +over on the Green Meadows.” + +“I did, but I’ve moved. Please let me in,” replied Granny Fox. + +“Certainly, certainly. Don’t mind me, Granny Fox. Step right over me,” +said Prickly Porky, and smiled once more, and at the same time rattled +his little spears. + +Instead of stepping over him, Granny Fox backed away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX +The New Home In The Old Pasture + + +Who keeps a watch upon his toes +Need never fear he’ll bump his nose. + —_Old Granny Fox_. + + +Now there is nothing like being shut in alone in the dark to make one +think. A voice inside of Reddy began to whisper to him. “If you hadn’t +tried to be smart and show off you wouldn’t have brought all this +trouble on yourself and Old Granny Fox,” said the voice. + +“I know it,” replied Reddy right out loud, forgetting that it was only +a small voice inside of him. + +“What do you know?” asked Prickly Porky. He was still keeping Reddy in +and Granny out and he had overheard what Reddy said. + +“It is none of your business!” snapped Reddy. + +Reddy could hear Prickly Porky chuckle. Then Prickly Porky repeated as +if to himself in a queer cracked voice the following: + +“Rudeness never, never pays, +Nor is there gain in saucy ways. +It’s always best to be polite +And ne’er give way to ugly spite. +If that’s the way you feel inside +You’d better all such feelings hide; +For he must smile who hopes to win, +And he who loses best will grin.” + + +Reddy pretended that he hadn’t heard. Prickly Porky continued to +chuckle for a while and finally Reddy fell asleep. When he awoke it was +to find that Prickly Porky had left and old Granny Fox had brought him +something to eat. + +Just as soon as Reddy Fox was able to travel he and Granny had moved to +the Old Pasture. The Old Pasture is very different from the Green +Meadows or the Green Forest. Yes, indeed, it is very, very different. +Reddy Fox thought so. And Reddy didn’t like the change,—not a bit. All +about were great rocks, and around and over them grew bushes and young +trees and bull-briars with long ugly thorns, and blackberry and +raspberry canes that seemed to have a million little hooked hands, +reaching to catch in and tear his red coat and to scratch his face and +hands. There were little open places where wild-eyed young cattle fed +on the short grass. They had made many little paths all crisscross +among the bushes, and when you tried to follow one of these paths you +never could tell where you were coming out. + +No, Reddy Fox did not like the Old Pasture at all. There was no long, +soft green grass to lie down in. And it was lonesome up there. He +missed the little people of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest. +There was no one to bully and tease. And it was such a long, long way +from Farmer Brown’s henyard that old Granny Fox wouldn’t even try to +bring him a fat hen. At least, that’s what she told Reddy. + +The truth is, wise old Granny Fox knew that the very best thing she +could do was to stay away from Farmer Brown’s for a long time. She knew +that Reddy couldn’t go down there, because he was still too lame and +sore to travel such a long way, and she hoped that by the time Reddy +was well enough to go, he would have learned better than to do such a +foolish thing as to try to show off by stealing a chicken in broad +daylight, as he had when he brought all this trouble on them. + +Down on the Green Meadows, the home of Granny and Reddy Fox had been on +a little knoll, which you know is a little low hill, right where they +could sit on their doorstep and look all over the Green Meadows. It had +been very, very beautiful down there. They had made lovely little paths +through the tall green meadow grass, and the buttercups and daisies had +grown close up to their very doorstep. But up here in the Old Pasture +Granny Fox had chosen the thickest clump of bushes and young trees she +could find, and in the middle was a great pile of rocks. Way in among +these rocks Granny Fox had dug their new house. It was right down under +the rocks. Even in the middle of the day jolly, round, red Mr. Sun +could hardly find it with a few of his long, bright beams. All the rest +of the time it was dark and gloomy there. + +No, Reddy Fox didn’t like his new home at all, but when he said so old +Granny Fox boxed his ears. + +“It’s your own fault that we’ve got to live here now,” said she. “It’s +the only place where we are safe. Farmer Brown’s boy never will find +this home, and even if he did he couldn’t dig into it as he did into +our old home on the Green Meadows. Here we are, and here we’ve got to +stay, all because a foolish little Fox thought himself smarter than +anybody else and tried to show off.” + +Reddy hung his head. “I don’t care!” he said, which was very, very +foolish, because, you know, he did care a very great deal. + +And here we will leave wise Old Granny Fox and Reddy, safe, even if +they do not like their new home. You see, Lightfoot the Deer is getting +jealous. He thinks there should be some books about the people of the +Green Forest, and that the first one should be about him. And because +we all love Lightfoot the Deer, the very next book is to bear his name. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD GRANNY FOX *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + 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 www.gutenberg.org. 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. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: + +• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + +• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + +• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ + +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™'s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org. + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact. + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without +widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate. + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate. + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org. + +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + diff --git a/4980-0.zip b/4980-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7cc6b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/4980-0.zip diff --git a/4980-h.zip b/4980-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d67b76 --- /dev/null +++ b/4980-h.zip diff --git a/4980-h/4980-h.htm b/4980-h/4980-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b5c9eb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/4980-h/4980-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3748 @@ +<!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 Old Granny Fox, by Thornton W. Burgess</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: 90%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Old Granny Fox, by Thornton W. Burgess</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: Old Granny Fox</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Thornton W. Burgess</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 7, 2002 [eBook #4980]<br /> +[Most recently updated: May 21, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Kent Fielden and David Widger</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD GRANNY FOX ***</div> + +<h1>OLD GRANNY FOX</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">By Thornton W. Burgess</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0001">CHAPTER I. Reddy Fox Brings Granny News</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0002">CHAPTER II. Granny And Reddy Fox Go Hunting</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0003">CHAPTER III. Reddy Is Sure Granny Has Lost Her Senses</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0004">CHAPTER IV. Quacker The Duck Grows Curious</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0005">CHAPTER V. Reddy Fox Is Afraid To Go Home</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0006">CHAPTER VI. Old Granny Fox Is Caught Napping</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0007">CHAPTER VII. Granny Fox Has A Bad Dream</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0008">CHAPTER VIII. What Farmer Brown's Boy Did</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0009">CHAPTER IX. Reddy Fox Hears About Granny Fox</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0010">CHAPTER X. Reddy Fox Is Impudent</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0011">CHAPTER XI. After The Storm</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0012">CHAPTER XII. Granny And Reddy Fox Hunt In Vain</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0013">CHAPTER XIII. Granny Fox Admits Growing Old</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0014">CHAPTER XIV. Three Vain And Foolish Wishes</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0015">CHAPTER XVI. Reddy Is Made Truly Happy</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0016">CHAPTER XVI. Reddy Is Made Truly Happy</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0017">CHAPTER XVII. Granny Fox Promises Reddy Bowser's Dinner</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0018">CHAPTER XVIII. Why Bowser The Hound Didn't Eat His Dinner</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0019">CHAPTER XIX. Old Man Coyote Does A Little Thinking</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0020">CHAPTER XX. A Twice Stolen Dinner</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0021">CHAPTER XXI. Granny And Reddy Talk Things Over</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0022">CHAPTER XXII. Granny Fox Plans To Get A Fat Hen</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0023">CHAPTER XXIII. Farmer Brown's Boy Forgets To Close The Gate</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0024">CHAPTER XXIV. A Midnight Visit</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0025">CHAPTER XXV. A Dinner For Two</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0026">CHAPTER XXVI. Farmer Brown's Boy Sets A Trap</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0027">CHAPTER XXVII. Prickly Porky Takes A Sun Bath</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0028">CHAPTER XXVIII. Prickly Porky Enjoys Himself</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0029">CHAPTER XXIX. The New Home In The Old Pasture</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0001"></a> CHAPTER I<br/> +Reddy Fox Brings Granny News</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Pray who is there who would refuse<br/> +To bearer be of happy news?<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Snow covered the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, and ice bound the Smiling +Pool and the Laughing Brook. Reddy and Granny Fox were hungry most of the time. +It was not easy to find enough to eat these days, and so they spent nearly +every minute they were awake in hunting. Sometimes they hunted together, but +usually one went one way, and the other went another way so as to have a +greater chance of finding something. If either found enough for two, the one +finding it took the food back to their home if it could be carried. If not, the +other was told where to find it. +</p> + +<p> +For several days they had had very little indeed to eat, and they were so +hungry that they were willing to take almost any chance to get a good meal. For +two nights they had visited Farmer Brown’s henhouse, hoping that they would be +able to find a way inside. But the biddies had been securely locked up, and try +as they would, they couldn’t find a way in. +</p> + +<p> +“It’s of no use,” said Granny, as they started back home after the second try, +“to hope to get one of those hens at night. If we are going to get any at all, +we will have to do it in broad daylight. It can be done, for I have done it +before, but I don’t like the idea. We are likely to be seen, and that means +that Bowser the Hound will be set to hunting us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pooh!” exclaimed Reddy. “What of it? It’s easy enough to fool him.” +</p> + +<p> +“You think so, do you?” snapped Granny. “I never yet saw a young Fox who didn’t +think he knew all there is to know, and you’re just like the rest. When you’ve +lived as long as I have you will have learned not to be quite so sure of your +own opinions. I grant you that when there is no snow on the ground, any Fox +with a reasonable amount of Fox sense in his head can fool Bowser, but with +snow everywhere it is a very different matter. If Bowser once takes it into his +head to follow your trail these days, you will have to be smarter than I think +you are to fool him. The only way you will be able to get away from him will be +by going into a hole in the ground, and when you do that you will have given +away a secret that will mean we will never have any peace at all. We will never +know when Farmer Brown’s boy will take it into his head to smoke us out. I’ve +seen it done. No, Sir, we are not going to try for one of those hens in the +daytime unless we are starving.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m starving now,” whined Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“No such thing!” Granny snapped. “I’ve been without food longer than this many +a time. Have you been over to the Big River lately?” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” replied Reddy. “What’s the use? It’s frozen over. There isn’t anything +there.” +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps not,” replied Granny, “but I learned a long time ago that it is a poor +plan to overlook any chance. There is a place in the Big River which never +freezes because the water runs too swiftly to freeze, and I’ve found more than +one meal washed ashore there. You go over there now while I see what I can find +in the Green Forest. If neither of us finds anything, it will be time enough to +think about Farmer Brown’s hens to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +Much against his will Reddy obeyed. “It isn’t the least bit of use,” he +grumbled, as he trotted towards the Big River. “There won’t be anything there. +It is just a waste of time.” +</p> + +<p> +Late that afternoon he came hurrying back, and Granny knew by the way that he +cocked his ears and carried his tail that he had news of some kind. “Well, what +is it?” she demanded. +</p> + +<p> +“I found a dead fish that had been washed ashore,” replied Reddy. “It wasn’t +big enough for two, so I ate it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Anything else?” asked Granny. +</p> + +<p> +“No-o,” replied Reddy slowly; “that is, nothing that will do us any good. +Quacker the Wild Duck was swimming about out in the open water, but though I +watched and watched he never once came ashore.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha!” exclaimed Granny. “That <i>is</i> good news. I think we’ll go Duck +hunting.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0002"></a> CHAPTER II<br/> +Granny And Reddy Fox Go Hunting</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +When you’re in doubt what course is right,<br/> +The thing to do is just sit tight.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun had just got well started on his daily climb up in +the blue, blue sky that morning when he spied two figures trotting across the +snow-covered Green Meadows, one behind the other. They were trotting along +quite as if they had made up their minds just where they were going. They had. +You see they were Granny and Reddy Fox, and they were bound for the Big River +at the place where the water ran too swiftly to freeze. The day before Reddy +had discovered Quacker the Wild Duck swimming about there, and now they were on +their way to try to catch him. +</p> + +<p> +Granny led the way and Reddy meekly followed her. To tell the truth, Reddy +hadn’t the least idea that they would have a chance to catch Quacker, because +Quacker kept out in the water where he was as safe from them as if they were a +thousand miles away. The only reason that Reddy had willingly started with +Granny was the hope that he might find a dead fish washed up on the shore as he +had the day before. +</p> + +<p> +“Granny certainly is growing foolish in her old age,” thought Reddy, as he +trotted along behind her. “I told her that Quacker never once came ashore all +the time I watched yesterday. I don’t believe he <i>ever</i> comes ashore, and +if she knows anything at all she ought to know that she can’t catch him out +there in the water. Granny used to be smart enough when she was young, I guess, +but she certainly is losing her mind now. It’s a pity, a great pity. I can just +imagine how Quacker will laugh at her. I have to laugh myself.” +</p> + +<p> +He did laugh, but you may be sure he took great pains that Granny should not +see him laughing. Whenever she looked around he was as sober as could be. In +fact, he appeared to be quite as eager as if he felt sure they would catch +Quacker. Now old Granny Fox is very wise in the ways of the Great World, and if +Reddy could have known what was going on in her mind as she led the way to the +Big River, he might not have felt quite so sure of his own smartness. Granny +was doing some quiet laughing herself. +</p> + +<p> +“He thinks I’m old and foolish and don’t know what I’m about, the young scamp!” +thought she. “He thinks he has learned all there is to learn. It isn’t the +least use in the world to try to tell him anything. When young folks feel the +way he does, it is a waste of time to talk to them. He has got to be shown. +There is nothing like experience to take the conceit out of these youngsters.” +</p> + +<p> +Now conceit is the feeling that you know more than any one else. Perhaps you +do. Then again, perhaps you don’t. So sometimes it is best not to be too sure +of your own opinion. Reddy was sure. He trotted along behind old Granny Fox and +planned smart things to say to her when she found that there wasn’t a chance to +catch Quacker the Duck. I am afraid, very much afraid, that Reddy was planning +to be saucy. People who think themselves smart are quite apt to be saucy. +</p> + +<p> +Presently they came to the bank of the Big River. Old Granny Fox told Reddy to +sit still while she crept up behind some bushes where she could peek out over +the Big River. He grinned as he watched her. He was still grinning when she +tiptoed back. He expected to see her face long with disappointment. Instead she +looked very much pleased. +</p> + +<p> +“Quacker is there,” said she, “and I think he will make us a very good dinner. +Creep up behind those bushes and see for yourself, then come back here and tell +me what you think we’d better do to get him.” +</p> + +<p> +So Reddy stole up behind the bushes, and this time it was Granny who grinned as +she watched. As he crept along, Reddy wondered if it could be that for once +Quacker had come ashore. Granny seemed so sure they could catch him that this +must be the case. But when he peeped through the bushes, there was Quacker way +out in the middle of the open water just where he had been the day before. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0003"></a> CHAPTER III<br/> +Reddy Is Sure Granny Has Lost Her Senses</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Perhaps ’tis just as well that we<br/> +Can’t see ourselves as others see.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +“Just as I thought,” muttered Reddy Fox as he peeped through the bushes on the +bank of the Big River and saw Quacker swimming about in the water where it ran +too swiftly to freeze. “We’ve got just as much chance of catching him as I have +of jumping over the moon. That’s what I’ll tell Granny.” +</p> + +<p> +He crept back carefully so as not to be seen by Quacker, and when he had +reached the place where Granny was waiting for him, his face wore a very +impudent look. +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said Granny Fox, “what shall we do to catch him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Learn to swim like a fish and fly like a bird,” replied Reddy in such a saucy +tone that Granny had hard work to keep from boxing his ears. +</p> + +<p> +“You mean that you think he can’t be caught?” said she quietly. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t think anything about it; I <i>know</i> he can’t!” snapped Reddy. “Not +by us, anyway,” he added. +</p> + +<p> +“I suppose you wouldn’t even try?” retorted Granny. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m old enough to know when I’m wasting my time,” replied Reddy with a toss of +his head. +</p> + +<p> +“In other words you think I’m a silly old Fox who has lost her senses,” said +Granny sharply. +</p> + +<p> +“No-o. I didn’t say that,” protested Reddy, looking very uncomfortable. +</p> + +<p> +“But you think it,” declared Granny. “Now look here, Mr. Smarty, you do just as +I tell you. You creep back there where you can watch Quacker and all that +happens, and mind that you keep out of his sight. Now go.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy went. There was nothing else to do. He didn’t dare disobey. Granny +watched until Reddy had reached his hiding-place. Then what do you think she +did? Why, she walked right out on the little beach just below Reddy and in +plain sight of Quacker! Yes, Sir, that is what she did! +</p> + +<p> +Then began such a queer performance that it is no wonder that Reddy was sure +Granny had lost her senses. She rolled over and over. She chased her tail round +and round until it made Reddy dizzy to watch her. She jumped up in the air. She +raced back and forth. She played with a bit of stick. And all the time she +didn’t pay the least attention to Quacker the Duck. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy stared and stared. Whatever had come over Granny? She was crazy. Yes, +Sir, that must be the matter. It must be that she had gone without food so long +that she had gone crazy. Poor Granny! She was in her second childhood. Reddy +could remember how he had done such things when he was very young, just by way +of showing how fine he felt. But for a grown-up Fox to do such things was +undignified, to say the least. You know Reddy thinks a great deal of dignity. +It was worse than undignified; it was positively disgraceful. He did hope that +none of his neighbors would happen along and see Granny cutting up so. He never +would hear the end of it if they did. +</p> + +<p> +Over and over rolled Granny, and around and around she chased her tail. The +snow flew up in a cloud. And all the time she made no sound. Reddy was just +trying to decide whether to go off and leave her until she had regained her +common sense, or to go out and try to stop her, when he happened to look out in +the open water where Quacker was. Quacker was sitting up as straight as he +could. In fact, he had his wings raised to help him sit up on his tail, the +better to see what old Granny Fox was doing. +</p> + +<p> +“As I live,” muttered Reddy, “I believe that fellow is nearer than he was!” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy crouched lower than ever, and instead of watching Granny he watched +Quacker the Duck. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0004"></a> CHAPTER IV<br/> +Quacker The Duck Grows Curious</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +The most curious thing in the world is curiosity.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Old Granny Fox never said a truer thing than that. It is curious, very curious, +how sometimes curiosity will get the best of even the wisest and most sensible +of people. Even Old Granny Fox herself has been known to be led into trouble by +it. We expect it of Peter Rabbit, but Peter isn’t a bit more curious than some +others of whom we do not expect it. +</p> + +<p> +Now Quacker the Wild Duck is the last one in the world you would expect to be +led into trouble by curiosity. Quacker had spent the summer in the Far North +with Honker the Goose. In fact, he had been born there. He had started for the +far away Southland at the same time Honker had, but when he reached the Big +River he had found plenty to eat and had decided to stay until he had to move +on. The Big River had frozen over everywhere except in this one place where the +water was too swift to freeze, and there Quacker had remained. You see, he was +a good diver and on the bottom of the river he found plenty to eat. No one +could get at him out there, unless it were Roughleg the Hawk, and if Roughleg +did happen along, all he had to do was to dive and come up far away to laugh +and make fun of Roughleg. The water couldn’t get through his oily feathers, and +so he didn’t mind how cold it was. +</p> + +<p> +Now in his home in the Far North there were so many dangers that Quacker had +early learned to be always on the watch and to take the best of care of +himself. On his way down to the Big River he had been hunted by men with +terrible guns, and he had learned all about them. In fact, he felt quite able +to keep out of harm’s way. He rather prided himself that there was no one smart +enough to catch him. +</p> + +<p> +I suspect he thought he knew all there was to know. In this respect he was a +good deal like Reddy Fox himself. That was because he was young. It is the way +with young Ducks and Foxes and with some other youngsters I know. +</p> + +<p> +When Quacker first saw Granny Fox on the little beach, he flirted his absurd +little tail and smiled as he thought how she must wish she could catch him. But +so far as he could see, Granny didn’t once look at him. +</p> + +<p> +“She doesn’t know I’m out here at all,” thought Quacker. Then suddenly he sat +up very straight and looked with all his might. What under the sun was the +matter with that Fox? She was acting as if she had suddenly lost her senses. +</p> + +<p> +Over and over she rolled. Around and around she spun. She turned somersaults. +She lay on her back and kicked her heels in the air. Never in his life had he +known any one to act like that. There must be something the matter with her. +</p> + +<p> +Quacker began to get excited. He couldn’t keep his eyes off Old Granny Fox. He +began to swim nearer. He wanted to see better. He quite forgot she was a Fox. +She moved so fast that she was just a queer red spot on the beach. Whatever she +was doing was very curious and very exciting. He swam nearer and nearer. The +excitement was catching. He began to swim in circles himself. All the time he +drew nearer and nearer to the shore. He didn’t have the least bit of fear. He +was just curious. He wanted to see better. +</p> + +<p> +All the time Granny was cutting up her antics, she was watching Quacker, though +he didn’t suspect it. As he swam nearer and nearer to the shore, Granny rolled +and tumbled farther and farther back. At last Quacker was close to the shore. +If he kept on, he would be right on the land in a few minutes. And all the time +he stared and stared. No thought of danger entered his head. You see, there was +no room because it was so filled with curiosity. +</p> + +<p> +“In a minute more I’ll have him,” thought Granny, and whirled faster than ever. +And just then something happened. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0005"></a> CHAPTER V<br/> +Reddy Fox Is Afraid To Go Home</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Yes, Sir, a chicken track is good to see, but it often puts nothing but water +in my mouth.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy Fox thought of that saying many times as he hunted through the Green +Forest that night, afraid to go home. You see, he had almost dined on Quacker +the Duck over at the Big River that day and then hadn’t, and it was all his own +fault. That was why he was afraid to go home. From his hiding-place on the bank +he had watched Quacker swim in and in until he was almost on the shore where +old Granny Fox was whirling and rolling and tumbling about as if she had +entirely lost her senses. Indeed, Reddy had been quite sure that she had when +she began. It wasn’t until he saw that curiosity was drawing Quacker right in +so that in a minute or two Granny would be able to catch him, that he +understood that Granny was anything but crazy, and really was teaching him a +new trick as well as trying to catch a dinner. +</p> + +<p> +When he realized this, he should have been ashamed of himself for doubting the +smartness of Granny and for thinking that he knew all there was to know. But he +was too much excited for any such thoughts. Nearer and nearer to the shore came +Quacker, his eyes fixed on the red, whirling form of Granny. Reddy’s own eyes +gleamed with excitement. Would Quacker keep on right up to the shore? Nearer +and nearer and nearer he came. Reddy squirmed uneasily. He couldn’t see as well +as he wanted to. The bushes behind which he was lying were in his way. He +wanted to see Granny make that jump which would mean a dinner for both. +</p> + +<p> +Forgetting what Granny had charged him, Reddy eagerly raised his head to look +over the edge of the bank. Now it just happened that at that very minute +Quacker chanced to look that way. His quick eyes caught the movement of Reddy’s +head and in an instant all his curiosity vanished. That sharp face peering at +him over the edge of the bank could mean but one thing—danger! It was all a +trick! He saw through it now. Like a flash he turned. There was the whistle of +stiff wings beating the air and the patter of feet striking the water as he got +under way. Then he flew out to the safety of the open water. Granny sprang, but +she was just too late and succeeded in doing no more than wet her feet. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, Granny didn’t know what had frightened Quacker, not at first, +anyway. But she had her suspicions. She turned and looked up at the place where +Reddy had been hiding. She couldn’t see him. Then she bounded up the bank. +There was no Reddy there, but far away across the snow-covered Green Meadows +was a red spot growing smaller and smaller. Reddy was running away. Then she +knew. At first Granny was very angry. You know it is a dreadful thing to be +hungry and have a good dinner disappear just as it is almost within reach. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll teach that young scamp a lesson he won’t soon forget when I get home,” +she muttered, as she watched him. Then she went back to the edge of the Big +River and there she found a dead fish which had been washed ashore. It was a +very good fish, and when she had eaten it Granny felt better. +</p> + +<p> +“Anyway,” thought she, “I have taught him a new trick and one he is n’t likely +to forget. He knows now that Granny still knows a few tricks that he doesn’t, +and next time he won’t feel so sure he knows it all. I guess it was worth while +even if I didn’t catch Quacker. My, but he would have tasted good!” Granny +smacked her lips and started for home. +</p> + +<p> +But Reddy, with a guilty conscience, was afraid to go home. And so, miserable +and hungry, he hunted through the Green Forest all the long night and wished +and wished that he had heeded what old Granny Fox had told him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0006"></a> CHAPTER VI<br/> +Old Granny Fox Is Caught Napping</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +The wisest folks will make mistakes, but if they are truly wise they will +profit from them.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +There is a saying among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green +Meadows which runs something like this: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“You must your eyes wide open keep<br/> +To catch Old Granny Fox asleep.” +</p> + +<p> +Of course this means that Old Granny Fox is so smart, so clever, so keenly on +the watch at all times, that he must be very smart indeed who fools her or gets +ahead of her. Reddy Fox is smart, very smart. But Reddy isn’t nearly as smart +as Old Granny Fox. You see, he hasn’t lived nearly as long, so of course there +is much knowledge of many things stored away in Granny’s head of which Reddy +knows little. +</p> + +<p> +But once in a while even the smartest people are caught napping. Yes, Sir, that +does happen. They will be careless sometimes. It was just so with Old Granny +Fox. With all her smartness and cleverness and wisdom she grew careless, and +all the smartness and cleverness and wisdom in the world is useless if the +possessor becomes careless. +</p> + +<p> +You see, Old Granny Fox had become so used to thinking that she was smarter +than any one else, unless it was Old Man Coyote, that she actually believed +that no one was smart enough ever to surprise her. Yes, Sir, she actually +believed that. Now, you know when a person reaches the point of thinking that +no one else in all the Great World is quite so smart, that person is like Peter +Rabbit when he made ready one winter day to jump out on the smooth ice of the +Smiling Pool,—getting ready for a fall. It was this way with Old Granny Fox. +</p> + +<p> +Because she had lived near Farmer Brown’s so long and had been hunted so often +by Farmer Brown’s boy and by Bowser the Hound, she had got the idea in her head +that no matter what she did they would not be able to catch her. So at last she +grew careless. Yes, Sir, she grew careless. And that is something no Fox or +anybody else can afford to do. +</p> + +<p> +Now on the edge of the Green Forest was a warm, sunny knoll, which, as you +know, is a sort of little hill. It overlooked the Green Meadows and was quite +the most pleasant and comfortable place for a sun-nap that ever was. At least, +that is what Old Granny Fox thought. She took sun-naps there very often. It was +her favorite resting place. When Bowser the Hound had found her trail and had +chased her until she was tired of running and had had quite all the exercise +she needed or wanted, she would play one of her clever tricks by which to make +Bowser lose her trail. Then she would hurry straight to that knoll to rest and +grin at her own smartness. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that she did this one day when there was fresh snow on the ground. +Of course, every time she put a foot down she left a print in the snow. And +where she curled up in the sun she left the print of her body. They were very +plain to see, were these prints, and Farmer Brown’s boy saw them. +</p> + +<p> +He had been tramping through the Green Forest late in the afternoon and just by +chance happened across Granny’s footprints. Just for fun he followed them and +so came to the sunny knoll. Granny had left some time before, but of course she +couldn’t take the print of her body with her. That remained in the snow, and +Farmer Brown’s boy saw it and knew instantly what it meant. He grinned, and +could Granny Fox have seen that grin, she would have been uncomfortable. You +see, he knew that he had found the place where Granny was in the habit of +taking a sun-nap. +</p> + +<p> +“So,” said he, “this is the place where you rest, Old Mrs. Fox, after running +Bowser almost off his feet. I think we will give you a surprise one of these +days. Yes, indeed, I think we will give you a surprise. You have fooled us many +times, and now it is our turn.” +</p> + +<p> +The next day Farmer Brown’s boy shouldered his terrible gun and sent Bowser the +Hound to hunt for the trail of Old Granny Fox. It wasn’t long before Bowser’s +great voice told all the Great World that he had found Granny’s tracks. Farmer +Brown’s boy grinned just as he had the day before. Then with his terrible gun +he went over to the Green Forest and hid under some pine boughs right on the +edge of that sunny knoll. +</p> + +<p> +He waited patiently a long, long time. He heard Bowser’s great voice growing +more and more excited as he followed Old Granny Fox. By and by Bowser stopped +baying and began to yelp impatiently. Farmer Brown’s boy knew exactly what that +meant. It meant that Granny had played one of her smart tricks and Bowser had +lost her trail. +</p> + +<p> +A few minutes later out of the Green Forest came Old Granny Fox, and she was +grinning, for once more she had fooled Bowser the Hound and now could take a +nap in peace. Still grinning, she turned around two or three times to make +herself comfortable and then, with a sigh of contentment, curled up for a +sun-nap, and in a few minutes was asleep. And just a little way off behind the +pine boughs sat Farmer Brown’s boy holding his terrible gun and grinning. At +last he had caught Old Granny Fox napping. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0007"></a> CHAPTER VII<br/> +Granny Fox Has A Bad Dream</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Nothing ever simply happens;<br/> + Bear that point in mind.<br/> +If you look long and hard enough<br/> + A cause you’ll always find.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Old Granny Fox was dreaming. Yes, Sir, she was dreaming. There she lay, curled +up on the sunny little knoll on the edge of the Green Forest, fast asleep and +dreaming. It was a very pleasant and very comfortable place indeed. You see, +jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun poured his warmest rays right down there from the +blue, blue sky. When Old Granny Fox was tired, she often slipped over there for +a short nap and sun-bath even in winter. She was quite sure that no one knew +anything about it. It was one of her secrets. +</p> + +<p> +This morning Old Granny Fox was very tired, unusually so. In the first place +she had been out hunting all night. Then, before she could reach home, Bowser +the Hound had found her tracks and started to follow them. Of course, it +wouldn’t have done to go home then. It wouldn’t have done at all. Bowser would +have followed her straight there and so found out where she lived. So she had +led Bowser far away across the Green Meadows and through the Green Forest and +finally played one of her smart tricks which had so mixed her tracks that +Bowser could no longer follow them. While he had sniffed and snuffed and +snuffed and sniffed with that wonderful nose of his, trying to find out where +she had gone, Old Granny Fox had trotted straight to the sunny knoll and there +curled up to rest. Right away she fell asleep. +</p> + +<p> +Now Old Granny Fox, like most of the other little people of the Green Forest +and the Green Meadows, sleeps with her ears wide open. Her eyes may be closed, +but not her ears. Those are always on guard, even when she is asleep, and at +the least sound open fly her eyes, and she is ready to run. If it were not for +the way her sharp ears keep guard, she wouldn’t dare take naps in the open +right in broad daylight. If you ever want to catch a Fox asleep, you mustn’t +make the teeniest, weeniest noise. Just remember that. +</p> + +<p> +Now Old Granny Fox had no sooner closed her eyes than she began to dream. At +first it was a very pleasant dream, the pleasantest dream a Fox can have. It +was of a chicken dinner, all the chicken she could eat. Granny certainly +enjoyed that dream. It made her smack her lips quite as if it were a real and +not a dream dinner she was enjoying. +</p> + +<p> +But presently the dream changed and became a bad dream. Yes, indeed, it became +a bad dream. It was as bad as at first it had been good. It seemed to Granny +that Bowser the Hound had become very smart, smarter than she had ever known +him to be before. Do what she would, she couldn’t fool him. Not one of all the +tricks she knew, and she knew a great many, fooled him at all. They didn’t +puzzle him long enough for her to get her breath. +</p> + +<p> +Bowser kept getting nearer and nearer and nearer, all in the dream, you know, +until it seemed as if his great voice sounded right at her very heels. She was +so tired that it seemed to her that she couldn’t run another step. It was a +very, very real dream. You know dreams sometimes do seem very real indeed. This +was the way it was with the bad dream of Old Granny Fox. It seemed to her that +she could feel the breath of Bowser the Hound and that his great jaws were just +going to close on her and shake her to death. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! Oh!” cried Granny and waked herself up. Her eyes flew open. Then she gave +a great sigh of relief as she realized that her terrible fright was only a bad +dream and that she was curled up right on the dear, familiar, old, sunny knoll +and not running for her life at all. +</p> + +<p> +Old Granny Fox smiled to think what a fright she had had and then,—well, she +didn’t know whether she was really awake or still dreaming! No, Sir, she +didn’t. For a full minute she couldn’t be sure whether what she saw was real or +part of that dreadful dream. You see, she was staring into the face of Farmer +Brown’s boy and the muzzle of his dreadful gun! +</p> + +<p> +For just a few seconds she didn’t move. She couldn’t. She was too frightened to +move. Then she knew what she saw was real and not a dream at all. There wasn’t +the least bit of doubt about it. That was Farmer Brown’s boy, and that was his +dreadful gun! All in a flash she knew that Farmer Brown’s boy must have been +hiding behind those pine boughs. +</p> + +<p> +Poor Old Granny Fox! For once in her life she had been caught napping. She +hadn’t the least hope in the world. Farmer Brown’s boy had only to fire that +dreadful gun, and that would be the end of her. She knew it. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0008"></a> CHAPTER VIII<br/> +What Farmer Brown’s Boy Did</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +In time of danger heed this rule:<br/> +Think hard and fast, but pray keep cool.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Poor Old Granny Fox! She had thought that she had been in tight places before, +but never, never had she been in such a tight place as this. There stood Farmer +Brown’s boy looking along the barrel of his dreadful gun straight at her, and +only such a short distance, such a very short distance away! It wasn’t the +least bit of use to run. Granny knew that. That dreadful gun would go “bang!” +and that would be the end of her. +</p> + +<p> +For a few seconds she stared at Farmer Brown’s boy, too frightened to move or +even think. Then she began to wonder why that dreadful gun didn’t go off. What +was Farmer Brown’s boy waiting for? She got to her feet. She was sure that the +first step would be her last, yet she couldn’t stay there. +</p> + +<p> +How could Farmer Brown’s boy do such a dreadful thing? Somehow, his freckled +face didn’t look cruel. He was even beginning to grin. That must be because he +had caught her napping and knew that this time she couldn’t possibly get away +from him as she had so many times before. “Oh!” sobbed Old Granny Fox under her +breath. +</p> + +<p> +And right at that very instant Farmer Brown’s boy did something. What do you +think it was? No, he didn’t shoot her. He didn’t fire his dreadful gun. What do +you think he did do? Why, he threw a snowball at Old Granny Fox and shouted +“Boo!” That is what he did and all he did, except to laugh as Granny gave a +great leap and then made those black legs of hers fly as never before. +</p> + +<p> +Every instant Granny expected to hear that dreadful gun, and it seemed as if +her heart would burst with fright as she ran, thinking each jump would be the +last one. But the dreadful gun didn’t bang, and after a little, when she felt +she was safe, she turned to look back over her shoulder. Farmer Brown’s boy was +standing right where she had last seen him, and he was laughing harder than +ever. Yes, Sir, he was laughing, and though Old Granny Fox didn’t think so at +the time, his laugh was good to hear, for it was good-natured and merry and all +that an honest laugh should be. +</p> + +<p> +“Go it, Granny! Go it!” shouted Farmer Brown’s boy. “And the next time you are +tempted to steal my chickens, just remember that I caught you napping and let +you off when I might have shot you. Just remember that and leave my chickens +alone.” +</p> + +<p> +Now it happened that Tommy Tit the Chickadee had seen all that had happened, +and he fairly bubbled over with joy. “Dee, dee, dee, Chickadee! It is just as I +have always said—Farmer Brown’s boy isn’t bad. He’d be friends with every one +if every one would let him,” he cried. +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe, maybe,” grumbled Sammy Jay, who also had seen all that had happened. +“But he’s altogether too smart for me to trust. Oh, my! oh, my! What news this +will be to tell! Old Granny Fox will never hear the end of it. If ever again +she boasts of how smart she is, all we will have to do will be to remind her of +the time Farmer Brown’s boy caught her napping. Ho! ho! ho! I must hurry along +and find my cousin, Blacky the Crow. This will tickle him half to death.” +</p> + +<p> +As for Old Granny Fox, she feared Farmer Brown’s boy more than ever, not +because of what he had done to her but because of what he had not done. You +see, nothing could make her believe that he wanted to be her friend. She +thought he had let her get away just to show her that he was smarter than she. +Instead of thankfulness, hate and fear filled Granny’s heart. You know— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +People who themselves do ill<br/> +For others seldom have good will. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0009"></a> CHAPTER IX<br/> +Reddy Fox Hears About Granny Fox</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Though you may think another wrong<br/> + And be quite positive you’re right,<br/> +Don’t let your temper get away;<br/> + And try at least to be polite.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Sammy Jay hurried through the Green Forest, chuckling as he flew. Sammy was +brimming over with the news he had to tell,—how Old Granny Fox had been caught +napping by Farmer Brown’s boy. Sammy wouldn’t have believed it if any one had +told him. No, Sir, he wouldn’t. But he had seen it with his own eyes, and it +tickled him almost to pieces to think that Old Granny Fox, whom everybody +thought so sly and clever and smart, had been caught actually asleep by the +very one of whom she was most afraid, but at whom she always had turned up her +nose. +</p> + +<p> +Presently Sammy spied Reddy Fox trotting along the Lone Little Path. Reddy was +forever boasting of how smart Granny Fox was. He had boasted of it so much that +everybody was sick of hearing him. When he saw Reddy trotting along the Lone +Little Path, Sammy chuckled harder than ever. He hid in a thick hemlock-tree +and as Reddy passed he shouted: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Had I such a stupid old Granny<br/> + As some folks who think they are smart,<br/> +I never would boast of my Granny,<br/> + But live by myself quite apart!” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy looked up angrily. He couldn’t see Sammy Jay, but he knew Sammy’s voice. +There is no mistaking that. Everybody knows the voice of Sammy Jay. Of course +it was foolish, very foolish of Reddy to be angry, and still more foolish to +show that he was angry. Had he stopped a minute to think, he would have known +that Sammy was saying such a mean, provoking thing just to make him angry, and +that the angrier he became the better pleased Sammy Jay would be. But like a +great many people, Reddy allowed his temper to get the better of his common +sense. +</p> + +<p> +“Who says Granny Fox is stupid?” he snarled. +</p> + +<p> +“I do,” replied Sammy Jay promptly. “I say she is stupid.” +</p> + +<p> +“She is smarter than anybody else in all the Green Forest and on all the Green +Meadows. She is smarter than anybody else in all the Great World,” boasted +Reddy, and he really believed it. +</p> + +<p> +“She isn’t smart enough to fool Farmer Brown’s boy,” taunted Sammy. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s that? Who says so? Has anything happened to Granny Fox?” Reddy forgot +his anger in a sudden great fear. Could Granny have been shot by Farmer Brown’s +boy? +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing much, only Farmer Brown’s boy caught her napping in broad daylight,” +replied Sammy, and chuckled so that Reddy heard him. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t believe it!” snapped Reddy. “I don’t believe a word of it! Nobody ever +yet caught Old Granny Fox napping, and nobody ever will.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t care whether you believe it or not; it’s so, for I saw him,” retorted +Sammy Jay. +</p> + +<p> +“You—you—you—” began Reddy Fox. +</p> + +<p> +“Go ask Tommy Tit the Chickadee if it isn’t true. He saw him too,” interrupted +Sammy Jay. +</p> + +<p> +“Dee, dee, dee, Chickadee! It’s so, and Farmer Brown’s boy only threw a +snowball at her and let her run away without shooting at her,” declared a new +voice. There sat Tommy Tit himself. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy didn’t know what to think or say. He just couldn’t believe it, yet he had +never known Tommy Tit to tell an untruth. Sammy Jay alone he wouldn’t have +believed. Then Tommy Tit and Sammy Jay told Reddy all about what they had seen, +how Farmer Brown’s boy had surprised Old Granny Fox and then allowed her to go +unharmed. Reddy had to believe it. If Tommy Tit said it was so, it must be so. +Reddy Fox started off to hunt up Old Granny Fox and ask her about it. But a +sudden thought popped into his red head, and he changed his mind. +</p> + +<p> +“I won’t say a thing about it until some time when Granny scolds me for being +careless,” muttered Reddy, with a sly grin. “Then I’ll see what she has to say. +I guess she won’t scold me so much after this.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy grinned more than ever, which wasn’t a bit nice of him. Instead of being +sorry that Old Granny Fox had had such a fright, he was planning how he would +get even with her when she should scold him for his own carelessness. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0010"></a> CHAPTER X<br/> +Reddy Fox Is Impudent</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +A saucy tongue is dangerous to possess;<br/> +Be sure some day ’t will get you in a mess.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy Fox is headstrong and, like most headstrong people, is given to thinking +that his way is the best way just because it is <i>his</i> way. He is smart, is +Reddy Fox. Yes, indeed, Reddy Fox is very, very smart. He has to be in order to +live. But a great deal of what he knows he learned from Old Granny Fox. The +very best tricks he knows she taught him. She began teaching him when he was so +little that he tumbled over his own feet. It was she who taught him how to +hunt, that it is better never to steal chickens near home but to go a long way +off for them, and how to fool Bowser the Hound. +</p> + +<p> +It was Granny who taught Reddy how to use his little black nose to follow the +tracks of careless young Rabbits, and how to catch Meadow Mice under the snow. +In fact, there is little Reddy knows which he didn’t learn from wise, shrewd +Old Granny Fox. +</p> + +<p> +But as he grew bigger and bigger, until he was quite as big as Granny herself, +he forgot what he owed to her. He grew to have a very good opinion of himself +and to feel that he knew just about all there was to know. So sometimes when he +had done foolish or careless things and Granny had scolded him, telling him he +was big enough and old enough to know better, he would sulk and go off +muttering to himself. But he never quite dared to be openly disrespectful to +Granny, and this, of course, was quite as it should have been. +</p> + +<p> +“If only I could catch Granny doing something foolish or careless,” he would +say to himself. But he never could, and he had begun to think that he never +would. But now at last Granny, clever Old Granny Fox, had been careless! She +had allowed Farmer Brown’s boy to catch her napping! Reddy did wish he had been +there to see it himself. But anyway, he had been told about it, and he made up +his mind that the next time Granny said anything sharp to him about his +carelessness he would have something to say back. Yes, Sir, Reddy Fox was +deliberately planning to answer back, which, as you know, is always +disrespectful to one’s elders. +</p> + +<p> +At last the chance came. Reddy did a thing no truly wise Fox ever will do. He +went two nights in succession to the same henhouse, and the second time he +barely escaped being shot. Old Granny Fox found out about it. How she found out +Reddy doesn’t know to this day, but find out she did, and she gave him such a +scolding as even her sharp tongue had seldom given him. +</p> + +<p> +“You are the stupidest Fox I ever heard of,” scolded Granny. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m no more stupid than you are!” retorted Reddy in the most impudent way. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s that?” demanded Granny. “What’s that you said?” +</p> + +<p> +“I said I’m no more stupid than you are, and what is more, I hope I’m not so +stupid. I know better than to take a nap in broad daylight right under the very +nose of Farmer Brown’s boy.” Reddy grinned in the most impudent way as he said +this. +</p> + +<p> +Granny’s eyes snapped. Then things happened. Reddy was cuffed this way and +cuffed that way and cuffed the other way until it seemed to him that the air +was full of black paws, every one of which landed on his head or face with a +sting that made him whimper and put his tail between his legs, and finally +howl. +</p> + +<p> +“There!” cried Granny, when at last she had to stop because she was quite out +of breath. “Perhaps that will teach you to be respectful to your elders. I +<i>was</i> careless and stupid, and I am perfectly ready to admit it, because +it has taught me a lesson. Wisdom often is gained through mistakes, but never +when one is not willing to admit the mistakes. No Fox lives long who makes the +same mistake twice. And those who are impudent to their elders come to no good +end. I’ve got a fat goose hidden away for dinner, but you will get none of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I—I wish I’d never heard of Granny’s mistake,” whined Reddy to himself as he +crept dinnerless to bed. +</p> + +<p> +“You ought to wish that you hadn’t been impudent,” whispered a small voice down +inside him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0011"></a> CHAPTER XI<br/> +After The Storm</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +The joys and the sunshine that make us glad;<br/> +The worries and troubles that makes us sad<br/> +Must come to an end; so why complain<br/> +Of too little sun or too much rain?<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +The thing to do is to make the most of the sunshine while it lasts, and when it +rains to look forward to the coming of the sun again, knowing that conic it +surely will. A dreadful storm was keeping the little people of the Green +Forest, the Green Meadows, and the Old Orchard prisoners in their own homes or +in such places of shelter as they had been able to find. +</p> + +<p> +But it couldn’t last forever, and they knew it. Knowing this was all that kept +some of them alive. +</p> + +<p> +You see, they were starving. Yes, Sir, they were starving. You and I would be +very hungry, very hungry indeed, if we had to go without food for two whole +days, but if we were snug and warm it wouldn’t do us any real harm. With the +little wild friends, especially the little feathered folks, it is a very +different matter. You see, they are naturally so active that they have to fill +their stomachs very often in order to supply their little bodies with heat and +energy. So when their food supply is wholly cut off, they starve or else freeze +to death in a very short time. A great many little lives are ended this way in +every long, hard winter storm. +</p> + +<p> +It was late in the afternoon of the second day when rough Brother North Wind +decided that he had shown his strength and fierceness long enough, and rumbling +and grumbling retired from the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, blowing the +snow clouds away with him. For just a little while before it was time for him +to go to bed behind the Purple Hills, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun smiled down on +the white land, and never was his smile more welcome. Out from their shelters +hurried all the little prisoners, for they must make the most of the short time +before the coming of the cold night. +</p> + +<p> +Little Tommy Tit the Chickadee was so weak that he could hardly fly, and he +shook with chills. He made straight for the apple-tree where Farmer Brown’s boy +always keeps a piece of suet tied to a branch for Tommy and his friends. +Drummer the Woodpecker was there before him. Now it is one of the laws of +politeness among the feathered folk that when one is eating from a piece of +suet a newcomer shall await his turn. +</p> + +<p> +“Dee, dee, dee!” said Tommy Tit faintly but cheerfully, for he couldn’t be +other than cheery if he tried. “Dee, dee, dee! That looks good to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is good,” mumbled Drummer, pecking away at the suet greedily. “Come on, +Tommy Tit. Don’t wait for me, for I won’t be through for a long time. I’m +nearly starved, and I guess you must be.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am,” confessed Tommy, as he flew over beside Drummer. “Thank you ever so +much for not making me wait.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t mention it,” replied Drummer, with his mouth full. “This is no time for +politeness. Here comes Yank Yank the Nuthatch. I guess there is room for him +too.” +</p> + +<p> +Yank Yank was promptly invited to join them and did so after apologizing for +seeming so greedy. +</p> + +<p> +“If I couldn’t get my stomach full before night, I certainly should freeze to +death before morning,” said he. “What a blessing it is to have all this good +food waiting for us. If I had to hunt for my usual food on the trees, I +certainly should have to give up and die. It took all my strength to get over +here. My, I feel like a new bird already! Here comes Sammy Jay. I wonder if he +will try to drive us away as he usually does.” +</p> + +<p> +Sammy did nothing of the kind. He was very meek and most polite. “Can you make +room for a starving fellow to get a bite?” he asked. “I wouldn’t ask it but +that I couldn’t last another night without food.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dee, dee, dee! Always room for one more,” replied Tommy Tit, crowding over to +give Sammy room. “Wasn’t that a dreadful storm?” +</p> + +<p> +“Worst I ever knew,” mumbled Sammy. “I wonder if I ever will be warm again.” +</p> + +<p> +Until their stomachs were full, not another word was said. Meanwhile Chatterer +the Red Squirrel had discovered that the storm was over. As he floundered +through the snow to another apple-tree he saw Tommy Tit and his friends, and in +his heart he rejoiced that they had found food waiting for them. His own +troubles were at an end, for in the tree he was headed for was a store of corn. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0012"></a> CHAPTER XII<br/> +Granny And Reddy Fox Hunt In Vain</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Old Mother Nature’s plans for good<br/> +Quite often are not understood.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Tommy Tit and Drummer the Woodpecker and Yank Yank the Nuthatch and Sammy Jay +and Chatterer the Red Squirrel were not the only ones who were out and about as +soon as the great storm ended. Oh, my, no! No, indeed! Everybody who was not +sleeping the winter away, or who had not a store of food right at hand, was +out. But not all were so fortunate as Tommy Tit and his friends in finding a +good meal. +</p> + +<p> +Peter Rabbit and Mrs. Peter came out of the hole in the heart of the dear Old +Briar-patch, where they had managed to keep comfortably warm, and at once began +to fill their stomachs with bark from young trees and tender tips of twigs. It +was very coarse food, but it would take away that empty feeling. Mrs. Grouse +burst out of the snow and hurried to get a meal before dark. She had no time to +be particular, and so she ate spruce buds. They were very bitter and not much +to her liking, but she was too hungry, and night was too near for her to be +fussy. She was thankful to have that much. +</p> + +<p> +Granny Fox and Reddy were out too. They didn’t need to hurry because, as you +know, they could hunt all night, but they were so hungry that they just had to +be looking for something to eat. They knew, of course, that everybody else +would be out, and they hoped that some of these little people would be so weak +that they could easily be caught. That seems like a dreadful hope, doesn’t it? +But one of the first laws of Old Mother Nature is self-preservation. That means +to save your own life first. So perhaps Granny and Reddy are not to be blamed +for hoping that some of their neighbors might be caught easily because of the +great storm. They were very hungry indeed, and they could not eat bark like +Peter Rabbit, or buds like Mrs. Grouse, or seeds like Whitefoot the Woodmouse. +Their teeth and stomachs are not made for such food. +</p> + +<p> +It was hard going for Granny and Reddy Fox. The snow was soft and deep in many +places, and they had to keep pretty close to those places where rough Brother +North Wind had blown away enough of the snow to make walking fairly easy. They +soon found that their hope that they would find some of their neighbors too +weak to escape was quite in vain. When jolly, round, red Mr. Sun dropped down +behind the Purple Hills to go to bed, their stomachs were quite as empty as +when they had started out. +</p> + +<p> +“We’ll go down to the Old Briar-patch. I don’t believe it will be of much use, +but you never can tell until you try. Peter Rabbit may take it into his silly +head to come outside,” said Granny, leading the way. +</p> + +<p> +When they reached the dear Old Briar-patch they found that Peter was not +outside. In fact, peering between the brambles and bushes, they could see his +little brown form bobbing about as he hunted for tender bark. He had already +made little paths along which he could hop easily. Peter saw them almost as +soon as they saw him. +</p> + +<p> +“Hard times these,” said Peter pleasantly. “I hope your stomachs are not as +empty as mine.” He pulled a strip of bark from a young tree and began to chew +it. This was more than Reddy could stand. To see Peter eating while his own +stomach was just one great big ache from emptiness was too much. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m going in there and catch him, or drive him out where you can catch him, if +I tear my coat all to pieces!” snarled Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +Peter stopped chewing and sat up. “Come right along, Reddy. Come right along if +you want to, but I would advise you to save your skin and your coat,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy’s only reply was a snarl as he pushed his way under the brambles. He +yelped as they tore his coat and scratched his face, but he kept on. Now +Peter’s paths were very cunningly made. He had cut them through the very +thickest of the briars just big enough for himself and Mrs. Peter to hop along +comfortably. But Reddy is so much bigger that he had to force his way through +and in places crawl flat on his stomach, which was very slow work, to say +nothing of the painful scratches from the briars. It was no trouble at all for +Peter to keep out of his way, and before long Reddy gave up. Without a word +Granny Fox led the way to the Green Forest. They would try to find where Mrs. +Grouse was sleeping under the snow. But though they hunted all night, they +failed to find her, for she wisely had gone to bed in a spruce-tree. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0013"></a> CHAPTER XIII<br/> +Granny Fox Admits Growing Old</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Who will not admit he is older each day fools no one but himself.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Old Granny Fox is a spry old lady for her age. If you don’t believe it just try +to catch her. But spry as she is, she isn’t as spry as she used to be. No, Sir, +Granny Fox isn’t as spry as she used to be. The truth is, Granny is getting +old. She never would admit it, and Reddy never had realized it until the day +after the great storm. All that night they had hunted in vain for something to +eat and at daylight had crept into their house to rest awhile before starting +on another hunt. They had neither the strength nor the courage to search any +longer then. Wading through snow is very hard work at best and very tiresome, +but when your stomach has been empty for so long that you almost begin to +wonder what food tastes like, it becomes harder work still. You see, it is food +that makes strength, and lack of food takes away strength. +</p> + +<p> +This was why Granny and Reddy Fox just <i>had</i> to rest. Hungry as they were, +they <i>had</i> to give up for awhile. Reddy flung himself down, and if ever +there was a discouraged young Fox he was that one. “I wish I were dead,” he +moaned. +</p> + +<p> +“Tut, tut, tut!” said Granny Fox sharply. “That’s no way for a young Fox to +talk! I’m ashamed of you. I am indeed.” Then she added more kindly: “I know +just how you feel. Just try to forget your empty stomach and rest awhile. We +have had a tiresome, disappointing, discouraging night, but when you are rested +things will not look quite so bad. You know the old saying: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +‘Never a road so long is there<br/> + But it reaches a turn at last;<br/> +Never a cloud that gathers swift<br/> + But disappears as fast.’ +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +You think you couldn’t possibly feel any worse than you do right now, but you +could. Many a time I have had to go hungry longer than this. After we have +rested awhile we will go over to the Old Pasture. Perhaps we will have better +luck there.” +</p> + +<p> +So Reddy tried to forget the emptiness of his stomach and actually had a nap, +for he was very, very tired. When he awoke he felt better. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Granny,” said he, “let’s start for the Old Pasture. The snow has crusted +over, and we won’t find it such hard going as it was last night.” +</p> + +<p> +Granny arose and followed Reddy out to the doorstep. She walked stiffly. The +truth is, she ached in every one of her old bones. At least, that is the way it +seemed to her. She looked towards the Old Pasture. It seemed very far away. She +sighed wearily. “I don’t believe I’ll go, Reddy,” said she. “You run along and +luck go with you.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy turned and stared at Granny suspiciously. You know his is a very +suspicious nature. Could it be that Granny had some secret plan of her own to +get a meal and wanted to get rid of him? +</p> + +<p> +“What’s the matter with you?” he demanded roughly. “It was you who proposed +going over to the Old Pasture.” +</p> + +<p> +Granny smiled. It was a sad sort of smile. She is wonderfully sharp and smart, +is Granny Fox, and she knew what was in Reddy’s mind as well as if he had told +her. +</p> + +<p> +“Old bones don’t rest and recover as quickly as young bones, and I just don’t +feel equal to going over there now,” said she. “The truth is, Reddy, I am +growing old. I am going to stay right here and rest. Perhaps then I’ll feel +able to go hunting to-night. You trot along now, and if you get more than a +stomachful, just remember old Granny and bring her a bite.” +</p> + +<p> +There was something in the way Granny spoke that told Reddy she was speaking +the truth. It was the very first time she ever had admitted that she was +growing old and was no longer the equal of any Fox. Never before had he noticed +how gray she had grown. Reddy felt a feeling of shame creep over him,—shame +that he had suspected Granny of playing a sharp trick. And this little feeling +of shame was followed instantly by a splendid thought. He would go out and find +food of some kind, and he would bring it straight back to Granny. He had been +taken care of by Granny when he was little, and now he would repay Granny for +all she had done for him by taking care of her in her old age. +</p> + +<p> +“Go back in the house and lie down, Granny,” said he kindly. “I am going to get +something, and whatever it may be you shall have your share.” With this he +trotted off towards the Old Pasture and somehow he didn’t mind the ache in his +stomach as he had before. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0014"></a> CHAPTER XIV<br/> +Three Vain And Foolish Wishes</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +There’s nothing so foolishly silly and vain<br/> +As to wish for a thing you can never attain.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +We all know that, yet most of us are just foolish enough to make such a wish +now and then. I guess you have done it. I know I have. Peter Rabbit has done it +often and then laughed at himself afterwards. I suspect that even shrewd, +clever old Granny Fox has been guilty of it more than once. So it is not +surprising that Reddy Fox, terribly hungry as he was, should do a little +foolish wishing. +</p> + +<p> +When he left home to go to the Old Pasture, in the hope that he would be able +to find something to eat there, he started off bravely. It was cold, very cold +indeed, but his fur coat kept him warm as long as he was moving. The Green +Meadows were glistening white with snow. All the world, at least all that part +of it with which Reddy was acquainted, was white. It was beautiful, very +beautiful, as millions of sparkles flashed in the sun. But Reddy had no thought +for beauty; the only thought he had room for was to get something to put in the +empty stomachs of himself and Granny Fox. +</p> + +<p> +Jack Frost had hardened the snow so that Reddy no longer had to wade through +it. He could run on the crust now without breaking through. This made it much +easier, so he trotted along swiftly. He had intended to go straight to the Old +Pasture, but there suddenly popped into his head a memory of the shelter down +in a far corner of the Old Orchard which Farmer Brown’s boy had built for Bob +White. Probably the Bob White family were there now, and he might surprise +them. He would go there first. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy stopped and looked carefully to make sure that Farmer Brown’s boy and +Bowser the Hound were nowhere in sight. Then he ran swiftly towards the Old +Orchard. Just as he entered it he heard a merry voice just over his head: “Dee, +dee, dee, dee!” Reddy stopped and looked up. There was Tommy Tit the Chickadee +clinging tightly to a big piece of fresh suet tied fast to a branch of a tree, +and Tommy was stuffing himself. Reddy sat down right underneath that suet and +looked up longingly. The sight of it made his mouth water so that it was almost +more than he could stand. He jumped once. He jumped twice. He jumped three +times. But all his jumping was in vain. That suet was beyond his reach. There +was no possible way of reaching it save by flying or climbing. Reddy’s tongue +hung out of his mouth with longing. +</p> + +<p> +“I wish I could climb,” said Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +But he couldn’t climb, and all the wishing in the world wouldn’t enable him to, +as he very well knew. So after a little he started on. As he drew near the far +corner of the Old Orchard, he saw Bob White and Mrs. Bob and all the young Bobs +picking up grain which Farmer Brown’s boy had scattered for them just in front +of the shelter he had built for them. Reddy crouched down and very slowly, an +inch at a time, he crept forward, his eyes shining with eagerness. Just as he +was almost within springing distance, Bob White gave a signal, and away flew +the Bob Whites to the safety of a hemlock-tree on the edge of the Green Forest. +</p> + +<p> +Tears of rage and disappointment welled up in Reddy’s eyes. “I wish I could +fly,” he muttered, as he watched the brown birds disappear in the big +hemlock-tree. +</p> + +<p> +This was quite as foolish a wish as the other, so Reddy trotted on and decided +to go down past the Smiling Pool. When he got there he found it, as he +expected, frozen over. But just where the Laughing Brook joins it there was a +little place where there was open water. Billy Mink was on the ice at its edge, +and just as Reddy got there Billy dived in. A minute later he climbed out with +a fish in his mouth. +</p> + +<p> +“Give me a bite,” begged Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“Catch your own fish,” retorted Billy Mink. “I have to work hard enough for +what I get as it is.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy was afraid to go out on the ice where Billy was, and so he sat and +watched him eat that fine fish. Then Billy dived into the water again and +disappeared. Reddy waited a long time, but Billy did not return. “I wish I +could dive,” gulped Reddy, thinking of the fine fish somewhere under the ice. +</p> + +<p> +And this wish was quite as foolish as the other wishes. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0015"></a> CHAPTER XV<br/> +Reddy Fights A Battle</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +’Tis not the foes that are without<br/> + But those that are within<br/> +That give us battles that we find<br/> + The hardest are to win.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +After the last of his three foolish wishes, Reddy Fox left the Smiling Pool and +headed straight for the Old Pasture for which he had started in the first +place. He wished now that he had gone straight there. Then he wouldn’t have +seen the suet tied out of reach to the branch of a tree in the Old Orchard; he +wouldn’t have seen the Bob Whites fly away to safety just as he felt almost +sure of catching one; he wouldn’t have seen Billy Mink bring a fine fish out of +the water and eat it right before him. It is bad enough to be starving with no +food in sight, but to be as hungry as Reddy Fox was and to see food just out of +reach, to smell it, and not be able to get it is,—well, it is more than most +folks can stand patiently. +</p> + +<p> +So Reddy Fox was grumbling to himself as he hurried to the Old Pasture and his +heart was very bitter. It seemed to him that everything was against him. His +neighbors had food, but he had none, not so much as a crumb. It was unfair. Old +Mother Nature was unjust. If he could climb he could get food. If he could fly +he could get food. If he could dive he could get food. But he could neither +climb, fly, nor dive. He didn’t stop to think that Old Mother Nature had given +him some of the sharpest wits in all the Green Forest or on all the Green +Meadows; that she had given him a wonderful nose; that she had given him the +keenest of ears; that she had given him speed excelled by few. He forgot these +things and was so busy thinking bitterly of the things he didn’t have that he +forgot to use his wits and nose and ears when he reached the Old Pasture. The +result was that he trotted right past Old Jed Thumper, the big gray Rabbit, who +was sitting behind a little bush holding his breath. The minute Old Jed saw +that Reddy was safely past, he started for his bull-briar castle as fast as he +could. +</p> + +<p> +It was not until then that Reddy discovered him. Of course, Reddy started after +him, and this time he made good use of his speed. But he was too late. Old Jed +Thumper reached his castle with Reddy two jumps behind him. Reddy knew now that +there was no chance to catch Old Jed that day, and for a few minutes he felt +more bitter than ever. Then all in a flash Reddy Fox became the shrewd, clever +fellow that he really is. he grinned. +</p> + +<p> +“It’s of no use to try to fill an empty stomach on wishes,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“If I had come straight here and minded my own business, I’d have caught old +Jed Thumper. Now I’m going to get some food and I’m not going home until I do.” +</p> + +<p> +Very wisely Reddy put all unpleasant thoughts out of his head and settled down +to using his wits and his eyes and his ears and his nose for all they were +worth, as Old Mother Nature had intended he should. +</p> + +<p> +All through the Old Pasture he hunted, taking care not to miss a single place +where there was the least chance of finding food. But it was all in vain. Reddy +gulped down his disappointment. +</p> + +<p> +“Now for the Big River,” said he, and started off bravely. +</p> + +<p> +When he reached the edge of the Big River, he hurried along the bank until he +reached a place where the water seldom freezes. As he had hoped, he found that +it was not frozen now. It looked so black and cold that it made him shiver just +to see it. Back and forth with his nose to the ground he ran. Suddenly he +stopped and sniffed. Then he sniffed again. Then he followed his nose straight +to the very edge of the Big River. There, floating in the black water, was a +dead fish! By wading in he could get it. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy shivered at the touch of the cold water, but what were wet feet compared +with such an empty stomach as his? In a minute he had that fish and was back on +the shore. It wasn’t a very big fish, but it would stop the ache in his stomach +until he could get something more. With a sigh of pure happiness he sank his +teeth into it and then—well, then he remembered poor Old Granny Fox. Reddy +swallowed a mouthful and tried to forget Granny. But he couldn’t. He swallowed +another mouthful. Poor old Granny was back there at home as hungry as he was +and too stiff and tired to hunt. Reddy choked. Then he began a battle with +himself. His stomach demanded that fish. If he ate it, no one would be the +wiser. But Granny needed it even more than he did. For a long time Reddy fought +with himself. In the end he picked up the fish and started for home. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0016"></a> CHAPTER XVI<br/> +Reddy Is Made Truly Happy</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +It’s what you do for others,<br/> + Not what they do for you,<br/> +That makes you feel so happy<br/> + All through and through and through.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy Fox ran all the way home from the Big River just as fast as he could go. +In his mouth he carried the fish he had found and from which he had taken just +two bites. You remember he had had a battle with himself over that fish, and +now he was running away from himself. That sounds funny, doesn’t it? But it was +true. Yes, Sir, Reddy Fox was running away from himself. He was afraid that if +he didn’t get home to Old Granny Fox with that fish very soon, he would eat +every last bit of it himself. So he was running his very hardest so as to get +there before this could happen. So really he was running away from himself, +from his selfish self. +</p> + +<p> +Old Granny Fox was on the doorstep watching for him, and he saw just how her +hungry old eyes brightened when she saw him and what he had. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ve brought you something to eat, Granny,” he panted, as he laid the fish at +her feet. He was quite out of breath with running. “It isn’t much, but it is +something. It is all I could find for you.” +</p> + +<p> +Granny looked at the fish and then she looked sharply at Reddy, and into those +keen yellow eyes of hers crept a soft, tender look, such a look as you would +never have believed they could have held. +</p> + +<p> +“What have <i>you</i> had to eat?” asked Granny softly. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy turned his head that Granny might not see his face. “Oh, I’ve had +something,” said he, trying to speak lightly. It was true; he had had two bites +from that fish. +</p> + +<p> +Now you know just how shrewd and smart and wise Granny Fox is. Reddy didn’t +fool her just the least little bit. She took two small bites from the fish. +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” said she, “we’ll divide it,” and she bit in two parts what remained. In +a twinkling she had gulped down the smallest part, for you know she was very, +very hungry. “That is your share,” said she, as she pushed what remained over +to Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy tried to refuse it. “I brought it all for you,” said he. “I know you did, +Reddy,” replied Granny, and it seemed to Reddy that he never had known her +voice to sound so gentle. “You brought it to me when all you had had was the +two little bites you had taken from it. You can’t fool me, Reddy Fox. There +wasn’t one good meal for either of us in that fish, but there was enough to +give us both a little hope and keep us from starving. Now you mind what I say +and eat your share.” Granny said this last very sternly. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy looked at Granny, and then he bolted down that little piece of fish +without another word. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s better,” said Granny. “We will feel better, both of us. Now that I’ve +something in my stomach, I feel two years younger. Before you came, I didn’t +feel as if I should ever be able to go on another hunt. If you hadn’t brought +something, I—I’m afraid I couldn’t have lasted much longer. By another day you +probably wouldn’t have had old Granny to think of. You may not know it, but I +know that you saved my life, Reddy. I had reached a point where I just had to +have a little food. You know there are times when a very little food is of more +good than a lot of food could be later. This was one of those times.” +</p> + +<p> +Never in all his life had Reddy Fox felt so truly happy. He was still +hungry,—very, very hungry. But he gave it no thought. He had saved Granny Fox, +good old Granny who had taught him all he knew. And he knew that Granny knew +how he had had to fight with himself to do it. Reddy was happy through and +through with the great happiness that comes from having done something for some +one else. +</p> + +<p> +“It was nothing,” he muttered. +</p> + +<p> +“It was a very great deal,” replied Granny. And then she changed the subject. +“How would you like to eat a dinner of Bowser the Hound’s?” she asked. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0017"></a> CHAPTER XVII<br/> +Granny Fox Promises Reddy Bowser’s Dinner</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +To give her children what each needs<br/> + To get the most from life he can,<br/> +To work and play and live his best,<br/> + Is wise Old Mother Nature’s plan.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +When old Granny Fox asked Reddy how he would like to eat a dinner of Bowser the +Hound’s, Reddy looked at her sharply to see if she were joking or really meant +what she said. Granny looked so sober and so much in earnest that Reddy decided +she couldn’t be joking, even though it did sound that way. +</p> + +<p> +“I certainly would like it, Granny. Yes, indeed, I certainly would like it,” +said he. “You—you don’t suppose he will give us one, do you?” +</p> + +<p> +Granny chuckled. “No, Reddy,” said she. “Bowser isn’t so generous as all that, +especially to Foxes. He isn’t going to give us that dinner; we are going to +take it away from him. Yes, Sir, we just naturally are going to take it away +from him.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy didn’t for the life of him see how it could be possible to take a dinner +away from Bowser the Hound. That seemed to him almost as impossible as it was +for him to climb or fly or dive. But he had great faith in Granny’s cleverness. +He remembered how she had so nearly caught Quacker the Duck. He knew that all +the time he had been away trying to find something for them to eat, old Granny +Fox had been doing more than just rest her tired old bones. He knew that not +for one single minute had her sharp wits been idle. He knew that all that time +she had been studying and studying to find some way by which they could get +something to eat. So great was his faith in Granny just then that if she had +told him she would get him a slice of the moon he would have believed her. +</p> + +<p> +“If you say we can take a dinner away from Bowser the Hound, I suppose we can,” +said Reddy, “though I don’t see how. But if we can, let’s do it right away. I’m +hungry enough to dare almost anything for the sake of something to put in my +stomach. It is so empty that little bit of fish we divided is shaking around as +if it were lost. Gracious, I could eat a million fish the size of that one! +Have you thought of Farmer Brown’s hens, Granny?” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course, Reddy! Of course! What a silly question!” replied Granny. “We may +have to come to them yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wish I was at them right now,” interrupted Reddy with a sigh. +</p> + +<p> +“But you know what I have told you,” went on Granny. “The surest way of getting +into trouble is to steal hens. I’m not feeling quite up to being chased by +Bowser the Hound just now, and if we came right home we would give away the +secret of where we live and might be smoked out, and that would be the end of +us. Besides, those hens will be hard to get this weather, because they will +stay in their house, and there is no way for us to get in there unless we walk +right in, in broad daylight, and that would never do. It will be a great deal +better to take Bowser’s dinner away from him. In the first place, if we are +careful, no one but Bowser will know about it, and as long as he is chained up, +we will have nothing to worry about from him. Besides, we will enjoy getting +even with him for the times he has spoiled our chances of catching a fat +chicken and for the way he has hunted us. Most decidedly it will be better and +safer to try for Bowser’s dinner than to try for one of those hens.” +</p> + +<p> +“Just as you say, Granny; just as you say,” returned Reddy. “You know best. But +how under the sun we can do it beats me.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is very simple,” replied Granny, “very simple indeed. Most things are +simple enough when you find out how to do them. Neither of us could do it +alone, but together we can do it without the least bit of risk. Listen.” +</p> + +<p> +Granny went close to Reddy and whispered to him, although there wasn’t a soul +within hearing. A slow grin spread over Reddy’s face as he listened. When she +had finished, he laughed right out. +</p> + +<p> +“Granny, you are a wonder!” he exclaimed admiringly. “I never should have +thought of that. Of course we can do it. My, won’t Bowser be surprised! And how +mad he’ll be! Come on, let’s be starting!” +</p> + +<p> +“All right,” said Granny, and the two started towards Farmer Brown’s. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0018"></a> CHAPTER XVIII<br/> +Why Bowser The Hound Didn’t Eat His Dinner</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +The thing you’ve puzzled most about<br/> +Is simple once you’ve found it out.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Bowser The Hound dearly loves to hunt just for the pleasure of the chase. It +isn’t so much the desire to kill as it is the pleasure of using that wonderful +nose of his and the excitement of trying to catch some one, especially Granny +or Reddy Fox. Farmer Brown’s boy had put away his dreadful gun because he no +longer wanted to kill the little people of the Green Forest and the Green +Meadows, but rather to make them his friends. Bowser had missed the exciting +hunts he used to enjoy so much with Farmer Brown’s boy. So Bowser had formed +the habit of slipping away alone for a hunt every once in a while. When Farmer +Brown’s boy discovered this, he got a chain and chained Bowser to his little +house to keep him from running away and hunting on the sly. +</p> + +<p> +Of course Bowser wasn’t kept chained all the time. Oh, my, no! When his master +was about, where he could keep an eye on Bowser, he would let him go free. But +whenever he was going away and didn’t want to take Bowser with him, he would +chain Bowser up. Now Bowser always had one good big meal a day. To be sure, he +had scraps or a bone now and then besides, but once a day he had one good big +meal served to him in a large tin pan. If he happened to be chained, it was +brought out to him. If not, it was given to him just outside the kitchen door. +</p> + +<p> +Granny Fox knew all about this. Sly old Granny makes it her business to know +the affairs of other people around her because there is no telling when such +knowledge may be of use to her. So Granny had watched Bowser the Hound when he +and his master had no idea at all that she was anywhere about, and she had +found out his ways, the usual hour for his dinner and just how far that chain +would allow him to go. It was such things which she had stored away in that +shrewd old head of hers that made her so sure she and Reddy could take Bowser’s +dinner away from him. It was just about Bowser’s dinner-time when Granny and +Reddy trotted across the snow-covered fields and crept behind the barn until +they could peep around the corner. No one was in sight, not even Bowser, who +was inside his warm little house at the end of the long shed back of Farmer +Brown’s house. Granny saw that he was chained and a sly grin crept over her +face. +</p> + +<p> +“You stay right here and watch until his dinner is brought out to him,” said +she to Reddy. “As soon as whoever brings it has gone back to the house you walk +right out where Bowser will see you. At the sight of you, he’ll forget all +about his dinner. Sit right down where he can see you and stay there until you +see that I have got that dinner, or until you hear somebody coming, for you +know Bowser will make a great racket. Then slip around back of the barn and +join me back of that shed.” +</p> + +<p> +So Reddy sat down to watch, and Granny left him. By and by Mrs. Brown came out +of the house with a pan full of good things. She put it down in front of +Bowser’s little house and called to him. Then she turned and hurried back, for +it was very cold. Bowser came out of his little house, yawned and stretched +lazily. +</p> + +<p> +It was time for Reddy to do his part. Out he walked and sat down right in front +of Bowser and grinned at him. Bowser stared for a minute as if he doubted his +own eyes. Such impudence! Bowser growled. Then with a yelp he sprang towards +Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +Now the chain that held him was long, but Reddy had taken care not to get too +near, and of course Bowser couldn’t reach him. He tugged with all his might and +yelped and barked frantically, but Reddy just sat there and grinned in the most +provoking manner. It was great fun to tease Bowser this way. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile old Granny Fox had stolen out from around the corner of the shed +behind Bowser. Getting hold of the edge of the pan with her teeth she pulled it +back with her around the corner and out of sight. If she made any noise, Bowser +didn’t hear it. He was making too much noise himself and was too excited. +Presently Reddy heard the sound of an opening door. Mrs. Brown was coming to +see what all the fuss was about. Like a flash Reddy darted behind the barn, and +all Mrs. Brown saw was Bowser tugging at his chain as he whined and yelped +excitedly. +</p> + +<p> +“I guess he must have seen a stray cat or something,” said Mrs. Brown and went +back in the house. Bowser continued to whine and tug at his chain for a few +minutes. Then he gave it up and, growling deep in his throat, turned to eat his +dinner. But there wasn’t any dinner! It had disappeared, pan and all! Bowser +couldn’t understand it at all. +</p> + +<p> +Back of the shed Granny and Reddy Fox licked that pan clean; licked it until it +was polished. Then, with little sighs of satisfaction, and every once in a +while a chuckle, they trotted happily home. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0019"></a> CHAPTER XIX<br/> +Old Man Coyote Does A Little Thinking</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Investigate and for yourself find out<br/> +Those things which most you want to know about.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Never in all his life had Reddy Fox enjoyed a dinner more than that one he and +Granny had stolen from Bowser the Hound. Of course it would have tasted +delicious anyway, because they were so dreadfully hungry, but to Reddy it +tasted better still because it had been intended for Bowser. Bowser has hunted +Reddy so often that Reddy has no love for him at all, and it tickled him almost +to death to think that they had taken his dinner from almost under his nose. +</p> + +<p> +With that good dinner in their stomachs, Reddy and Granny Fox felt so much +better that the Great World no longer seemed such a cold and cruel place. Funny +how differently things look when your stomach is full from the way those same +things look when it is empty. Best of all they knew they could play the same +sharp trick again and steal another dinner from Bowser if need be. It is a +comforting feeling, a very comforting feeling, to know for a certainty where +you can get another meal. It is a feeling that Granny and Reddy Fox and many +other little people of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest seldom have in +winter. As a rule, when they have eaten one meal, they haven’t the least idea +where the next one is coming from. How would you like to live that way? +</p> + +<p> +The very next day Granny and Reddy went up to Farmer Brown’s at Bowser’s dinner +hour. But this time Farmer Brown’s boy was at work near the barn, and Bowser +was not chained. Granny and Reddy stole away as silently as they had come. On +the day following they found Bowser chained and stole another dinner from him; +then they went away laughing until their sides ached as they heard Bowser’s +whines of surprise and disappointment when he discovered that his dinner had +vanished. They knew by the sound of his voice that he hadn’t the least idea +what had become of that dinner. +</p> + +<p> +Now there was some one else roaming over the snow-covered meadows and through +the Green Forest and the Old Pasture these days with a stomach so lean and +empty that he couldn’t think of anything else. It was Old Man Coyote. You know +he is very clever, is Old Man Coyote, and he managed to find enough food of one +kind and another to keep him alive, but never enough to give him that +comfortable feeling of a full stomach. While he wasn’t actually starving, he +was always hungry. So he spent all the time when he wasn’t sleeping in hunting +for something to eat. +</p> + +<p> +Of course he often ran across the tracks of Granny and Reddy Fox, and once in a +while he would meet them. It struck Old Man Coyote that they didn’t seem as +thin as he was. That set him to thinking. Neither of them was a smarter hunter +than he. In fact, he prided himself on being smarter than either of them. Yet +when he met them, they seemed to be in the best of spirits and not at all +worried because food was so scarce. Why? There must be a reason. They must be +getting food of which he knew nothing. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll just keep an eye on them,” muttered Old Man Coyote. +</p> + +<p> +So very slyly and cleverly Old Man Coyote followed Granny and Reddy Fox, taking +the greatest care that they should not suspect that he was doing it. All one +night he followed them through the Green Forest and over the Green Meadows, and +when at last he saw them go home, appearing not at all worried because they had +caught nothing, he trotted off to his own home to do some more thinking. +</p> + +<p> +“They are getting food somewhere, that is sure,” he muttered, as he scratched +first one ear and then the other. Somehow he could think better when he was +scratching his ears. “If they don’t get it in the night, and they certainly +didn’t get anything this night, they must get it in the daytime. I’ve done +considerable hunting myself in the daytime, and I haven’t once met them in the +Green Forest or seen them on the Green Meadows or up in the Old Pasture. I +wonder if they are stealing Farmer Brown’s hens and haven’t been found out yet. +I’ve kept away from there myself, but if they can steal hens and not be caught, +I certainly can. There never was a Fox yet smart enough to do a thing that a +Coyote cannot do if he tries. I think I’ll slip up where I can watch Farmer +Brown’s and see what is going on up there. Yes, Sir, that’s what I’ll do.” +</p> + +<p> +With this, Old Man Coyote grinned and then curled himself up for a short nap, +for he was tired. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0020"></a> CHAPTER XX<br/> +A Twice Stolen Dinner</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +No one ever is so smart that some one else may not prove to be smarter +still.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Listen and you shall hear all about three rogues. Two were in red and were +Granny and Reddy Fox. And one was in gray and was Old Man Coyote. They were the +slyest, smartest rogues on all the Green Meadows or in all the Green Forest. +All three had started out to steal the same dinner, but the funny part is they +didn’t intend to steal it from the same person. And still funnier is it that +one of them didn’t even know where that dinner was or what kind of a dinner it +would be. +</p> + +<p> +True to his resolve to know what Granny and Reddy Fox were getting to eat, and +where they were getting it, Old Man Coyote hid where he could see what was +going on about Farmer Brown’s, for it was there he felt sure that Granny and +Reddy were getting food. He had waited only a little while when along came +Granny and Reddy Fox past the place where Old Man Coyote was hiding. They +didn’t see him. Of course not. He took care that they should have no chance. +But anyway, they were not thinking of him. Their thoughts were all of that +dinner they intended to have, and the smart trick by which they would get it. +</p> + +<p> +So with their thoughts all on that dinner they slipped up behind the barn and +prepared to work the trick which had been so successful before. Old Man Coyote +crept after them. He saw Reddy Fox lie down where he could peep around the +corner of the barn to watch Bowser the Hound and to see that no one else was +about. He saw Granny leave Reddy there and hurry away. Old Man Coyote’s wits +worked fast. +</p> + +<p> +“I can’t be in two places at once,” thought he, “so I can’t watch both Granny +and Reddy. As I can watch but one, which one shall it be? Granny, of course. +Granny is the smartest of the two, and whatever they are up to, she is at the +bottom of it. Granny is the one to follow.” +</p> + +<p> +So, like a gray shadow, crafty Old Man Coyote stole after Granny Fox and saw +her hide behind the corner of the shed at the end of which was the little house +of Bowser the Hound. He crept as near as he dared and then lay flat down behind +a little bunch of dead grass close to the shed. For some time nothing happened, +and Old Man Coyote was puzzled. Every once in a while Granny Fox would look +behind and all about to be sure that no danger was near, but she didn’t see Old +Man Coyote. After what seemed to him a long time, he heard a door open on the +other side of the shed. It was Mrs. Brown carrying Bowser’s dinner out to him. +Of course, Old Man Coyote didn’t know this. He knew by the sounds that some one +had come out of the house, and it made him nervous. He didn’t like being so +close to Farmer Brown’s house in broad daylight. But he kept his eyes on Granny +Fox, and he saw her ears prick up in a way that he knew meant that those sounds +were just what she had been waiting for. +</p> + +<p> +“If she isn’t afraid, I don’t need to be,” thought he craftily. After a few +minutes he heard a door close and knew that whoever had come out had gone back +into the house. Almost at once Bowser the Hound began to yelp and whine. +Swiftly Granny Fox disappeared around the corner of the shed. Just as swiftly +Old Man Coyote ran forward and peeped around the corner. There was Bowser the +Hound tugging at his chain, and just beyond his reach was Reddy Fox, grinning +in the most provoking manner. And there was Granny Fox, backing and dragging +after her Bowser’s dinner. In a flash Old Man Coyote understood the plan, and +he almost chuckled aloud at the cleverness of it. Then he hastily backed behind +the shed and waited. In a minute Granny Fox appeared, dragging Bowser’s dinner. +She was so intent on getting that dinner that she almost backed into Old Man +Coyote without suspecting that he was anywhere about. +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you, Granny. You needn’t bother about it any longer; I’ll take it now,” +growled Old Man Coyote in Granny’s ear. +</p> + +<p> +Granny let go of that dinner as if it burned her tongue, and with a frightened +little yelp leaped to one side. A minute later Reddy came racing around from +behind the barn eager for his share. What he saw was Old Man Coyote bolting +down that twice-stolen dinner while Granny Fox fairly danced with rage. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0021"></a> CHAPTER XXI<br/> +Granny And Reddy Talk Things Over.</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +You’ll find as on through life you go<br/> + The thing you want may prove to be<br/> +The very thing you shouldn’t have.<br/> + Then seeming loss is gain, you see.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +If ever two folks were mad away through, those two were Granny and Reddy Fox as +they watched Old Man Coyote gobble up the dinner they had so cleverly stolen +from Bowser the Hound. It was bad enough to lose the dinner, but it was worse +to see some one else eat it after they had worked so hard to get it. “Robber!” +snarled Granny. Old Man Coyote stopped eating long enough to grin. +</p> + +<p> +“Thief! Sneak! Coward!” snarled Reddy. Once more Old Man Coyote grinned. When +that dinner had disappeared down his throat to the last and smallest crumb, he +licked his chops and turned to Granny and Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m very much obliged for that dinner,” said he pleasantly, his eyes twinkling +with mischief. “It was the best dinner I have had for a long time. Allow me to +say that that trick of yours was as smart a trick as ever I have seen. It was +quite worthy of a Coyote. You are a very clever old lady, Granny Fox. Now I +hear some one coming, and I would suggest that it will be better for all +concerned if we are not seen about here.” +</p> + +<p> +He darted off behind the barn like a gray streak, and Granny and Reddy +followed, for it was true that some one was coming. You see Bowser the Hound +had discovered that something was going on around the corner of the shed, and +he made such a racket that Mrs. Brown had come out of the house to see what it +was all about. By the time she got around there, all she saw was the empty pan +which had held Bowser’s dinner. She was puzzled. How that pan could be where it +was she couldn’t understand, and Bowser couldn’t tell her, although he tried +his very best. She had been puzzled about that pan two or three times before. +</p> + +<p> +Old Man Coyote lost no time in getting back home, for he never felt easy near +the home of man in broad daylight. Granny and Reddy Fox went home too, and +there was hate in their hearts,—hate for Old Man Coyote. But once they reached +home, Old Granny Fox stopped growling, and presently she began to chuckle. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you laughing at?” demanded Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“At the way Old Man Coyote stole that dinner from us,” replied Granny. +</p> + +<p> +“I hate him! He’s a sneaking robber!” snapped Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“Tut, tut, Reddy! Tut, tut!” retorted Granny. “Be fair-minded. We stole that +dinner from Bowser the Hound, and Old Man Coyote stole it from us. I guess he +is no worse than we are, when you come to think it over. Now is he?” +</p> + +<p> +“I—I—well, I don’t suppose he is, when you put it that way,” Reddy admitted +grudgingly. +</p> + +<p> +“And he was smart, very smart, to outwit two such clever people as we are,” +continued Granny. “You will have to agree to that.” +</p> + +<p> +“Y-e-s,” said Reddy slowly. “He was smart enough, but—” +</p> + +<p> +“There isn’t any but, Reddy,” interrupted Granny. “You know the law of the +Green Meadows and the Green Forest. It is everybody for himself, and anything +belongs to one who has the wit or the strength to take it. We had the wit to +take that dinner from Bowser the Hound, and Old Man Coyote had the wit to take +it from us and the strength to keep it. It was all fair enough, and you know +there isn’t the least use in crying over spilled milk, as the saying is. We +simply have got to be smart enough not to let him fool us again. I guess we +won’t get any more of Bowser’s dinners for a while. We’ve got to think of some +other way of filling our stomachs when the hunting is poor. I think if I could +have just one of those fat hens of Farmer Brown’s, it would put new strength +into my old bones. All summer I warned you to keep away from that henyard, but +the time has come now when I think we might try for a couple of those hens.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy pricked up his ears at the mention of fat hens. “I think so too,” said +he. “When shall we try for one?” +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow morning,” replied Granny. “Now don’t bother me while I think out a +plan.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0022"></a> CHAPTER XXII<br/> +Granny Fox Plans To Get A Fat Hen</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Full half success for Fox or Man<br/> +Is won by working out a plan.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Granny Fox knows this. No one knows it better. Whatever she does is first +carefully planned in her wise old head. So now after she had decided that she +and Reddy would try for one of Farmer Brown’s fat hens, she lay down to think +out a plan to get that fat hen. No one knew better than she how foolish it +would be to go over to that henyard and just trust to luck for a chance to +catch one of those biddies. Of course, they <i>might</i> be lucky and get a hen +that way, but then again they might be unlucky and get in a peck of trouble. +</p> + +<p> +“You see,” said she to Reddy, “we must not only plan how to get that fat hen, +but we must also plan how to get away with it safely. If only there was some +way of getting in that henhouse at night, there would be no trouble at all. I +don’t suppose there is the least chance of that.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not the least chance in the world,” replied Reddy. “There isn’t a hole +anywhere big enough for even Shadow the Weasel to get through, and Farmer +Brown’s boy is very careful to lock the door every night.” +</p> + +<p> +“There’s a little hole that the hens go in and out of during the day, which is +big enough for one of us to slip through, I believe,” said Granny thoughtfully. +</p> + +<p> +“Sure! But it’s always closed at night,” snapped Reddy. “Besides, to get to +that or the door either, you have got to get inside the henyard, and there’s a +gate to that which we can’t open.” +</p> + +<p> +“People are sometimes careless,—even you, Reddy,” said Granny. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy squirmed uneasily, for he had been in trouble many times through +carelessness. “Well, what of it?” he demanded a wee bit crossly. +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing much, only if that hen-yard gate should <i>happen</i> to be left open, +and if Farmer Brown’s boy should <i>happen</i> to forget to close that little +hole that the hens go through, and if we <i>happened</i> to be around at just +that time—” +</p> + +<p> +“Too many ifs to get a dinner with,” interrupted Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps,” replied Granny mildly, “but I’ve noticed that it is the one who has +an eye open for all the little ifs in life that fares the best. Now I’ve kept +an eye on that henyard, and I’ve noticed that very often Farmer Brown’s boy +<i>doesn’t</i> close the henyard gate at night. I suppose he thinks that if the +henhouse door is locked, the gate doesn’t matter. Any one who is careless about +one thing, is likely to be careless about another. Sometime he may forget to +close that hole. I told you that we would try for one of those hens to-morrow +morning, but the more I think about it, the more I think it will be wiser to +visit that henhouse a few nights before we run the risk of trying to catch a +hen in broad daylight. In fact, I am pretty sure I can make Farmer Brown’s boy +forget to close that gate.” +</p> + +<p> +“How?” demanded Reddy eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +Granny grinned. “I’ll try it first and tell you afterwards,” said she. “I +believe Farmer Brown’s boy closes the henhouse up just before jolly, round, red +Mr. Sun goes to bed behind the Purple Hills, doesn’t he?” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy nodded. Many times from a safe hiding-place he had hungrily watched +Farmer Brown’s boy shut the biddies up. It was always just before the Black +Shadows began to creep out from their hiding-places. +</p> + +<p> +“I thought so,” said Granny. The truth is, she <i>knew</i> so. There was +nothing about that henhouse and what went on there that Granny didn’t know +quite as well as Reddy. “You stay right here this afternoon until I return. +I’ll see what I can do.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let me go along,” begged Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“No,” replied Granny in such a decided tone that Reddy knew it would be of no +use to tease. “Sometimes two can do what one cannot do alone, and sometimes one +can do what two might spoil. Now we may as well take a nap until it is time for +Mr. Sun to go to bed. Just you leave it to your old Granny to take care of the +first of those ifs. For the other one we’ll have to trust to luck, but you know +we are lucky sometimes.” +</p> + +<p> +With this Granny curled up for a nap, and having nothing better to do, Reddy +followed her example. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0023"></a> CHAPTER XXIII<br/> +Farmer Brown’s Boy Forgets To Close The Gate</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +How easy ’tis to just forget<br/> + Until, alas, it is too late.<br/> +The most methodical of folks<br/> + Sometimes forget to shut the gate.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Farmer Brown’s Boy is not usually the forgetful kind. He is pretty good about +not forgetting. But Farmer Brown’s boy isn’t perfect by any means. He +<i>does</i> forget sometimes, and he <i>is</i> careless sometimes. He would be +a funny kind of boy otherwise. But take it day in and day out, he is pretty +thoughtful and careful. +</p> + +<p> +The care of the hens is one of Farmer Brown’s boy’s duties. It is one of those +duties which most of the time is a pleasure. He likes the biddies, and he likes +to take care of them. Every morning one of the first things he does is to feed +them and open the henhouse so that they can run in the henyard if they want to. +Every night he goes out just before dark, collects the eggs and locks the +henhouse so that no harm can come to the biddies while they are asleep on their +roosts. After the big snowstorm he had shovelled a place in the henyard where +the hens could come out and exercise and get a sun-bath when they wanted to, +and in the very warmest part of the day they would do this. Always in the +daytime he took the greatest care to see that the henyard gate was fastened, +for no one knew better than he how bold Granny and Reddy Fox can be when they +are very hungry, and in winter they are very apt to be very hungry most of the +time. So he didn’t intend to give them a chance to slip into that henyard while +the biddies were out, or to give the biddies a chance to stray outside where +they might be still more easily caught. +</p> + +<p> +But at night he sometimes left that gate open, as Granny Fox had found out. You +see, he thought it didn’t matter because the hens were locked in their warm +house and so were safe, anyway. +</p> + +<p> +It was just at dusk of the afternoon of the day when Granny and Reddy Fox had +talked over a plan to get one of those fat hens that Farmer Brown’s boy +collected the eggs and saw to it that the biddies had gone to roost for the +night. He had just started to close the little sliding door across the hole +through which the hens went in and out in the daytime when Bowser the Hound +began to make a great racket, as if terribly excited about something. +</p> + +<p> +Farmer Brown’s boy gave the little sliding door a hasty push, picked up his +basket of eggs, locked the henhouse door and hurried out through the gate +without stopping to close it. You see, he was in a hurry to find out what +Bowser was making such a fuss about. Bowser was yelping and whining and tugging +at his chain, and it was plain to see that he was terribly eager to be set +free. +</p> + +<p> +“What is it, Bowser, old boy? Did you see something?” asked Farmer Brown’s boy +as he patted Bowser on the head. “I can’t let you go, you know, because you +probably would go off hunting all night and come home in the morning all tired +out and with sore feet. Whatever it was, I guess you’ve scared it out of a +year’s growth, old fellow, so we’ll let it go at that.” +</p> + +<p> +Bowser still tugged at his chain and whined, but after a little he quieted +down. His master looked around behind the barn to see if he could see what had +so stirred up Bowser, but nothing was to be seen, and he returned, patted +Bowser once more, and went into the house, never once giving that open henyard +gate another thought. +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour later old Granny Fox joined Reddy Fox, who was waiting on the +doorstep of their home. “It is all right, Reddy; that gate is open,” said she. +</p> + +<p> +“How did you do it, Granny?” asked Reddy eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +“Easily enough,” replied Granny. “I let Bowser get a glimpse of me just as his +master was locking up the henhouse. Bowser made a great fuss, and of course, +Farmer Brown’s boy hurried out to see what it was all about. He was in too much +of a hurry to close that gate, and afterwards he forgot all about it or else he +thought it didn’t matter. Of course, I didn’t let him get so much as a glimpse +of me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course,” said Reddy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0024"></a> CHAPTER XXIV<br/> +A Midnight Visit</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +By those who win ’tis well agreed<br/> +He’ll try and try who would succeed.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed to Reddy Fox as if time never had dragged so slowly as it did this +particular night while he and Granny Fox waited until Granny thought it safe to +visit Farmer Brown’s henhouse and see if by any chance there was a way of +getting into it. Reddy tried not to hope too much. Granny had found a way to +get the gate to the henyard left open, but this would do them no good unless +there was some way of getting into the house, and this he very much doubted. +But if there was a way he wanted to know it, and he was impatient to start. +</p> + +<p> +But Granny was in no hurry. Not that she wasn’t just as hungry for a fat hen as +was Reddy, but she was too wise and clever and altogether too sly to run any +risks. +</p> + +<p> +“There is nothing gained by being in too much of a hurry, Reddy,” said she, +“and often a great deal is lost in that way. A fat hen will taste just as good +a little later as it would now, and it will be foolish to go up to Farmer +Brown’s until we are sure that everybody up there is asleep. But to ease your +mind, I’ll tell you what we will do; we’ll go where we can see Farmer Brown’s +house and watch until the last light winks out.” +</p> + +<p> +So they trotted to a point where they could see Farmer Brown’s house, and there +they sat down to watch. It seemed to Reddy that those lights never would wink +out. But at last they did. +</p> + +<p> +“Come on, Granny!” he cried, jumping to his feet. +</p> + +<p> +“Not yet, Reddy. Not yet,” replied Granny. “We’ve got to give folks time to get +sound asleep. If we should get into that henhouse, those hens might make a +racket, and if anything like that is going to happen, we want to be sure that +Farmer Brown and Farmer Brown’s boy are asleep.” +</p> + +<p> +This was sound advice, and Reddy knew it. So with a groan he once more threw +himself down on the snow to wait. At last Granny arose, stretched, and looked +up at the twinkling stars. “Come on,” said she and led the way. +</p> + +<p> +Up back of the barn and around it they stole like two shadows and quite as +noiselessly as shadows. They heard Bowser the Hound sighing in his sleep in his +snug little house, and grinned at each other. Silently they stole over to the +henyard. The gate was open, just as Granny had told Reddy it would be. Across +the henyard they trotted swiftly, straight to where more than once in the +daytime they had seen the hens come out of the house through a little hole. It +was closed. Reddy had expected it would be. Still, he was dreadfully +disappointed. He gave it merely a glance. +</p> + +<p> +“I knew it wouldn’t be any use,” said he with a half whine. +</p> + +<p> +But Granny paid no attention to him. She went close to the hole and pushed +gently against the little door that closed it. It didn’t move. Then she noticed +that at one edge there was a tiny crack. She tried to push her nose through, +but the crack was too narrow. Then she tried a paw. A claw caught on the edge +of the door, and it moved ever so little. Then Granny knew that the little door +wasn’t fastened. Granny stretched herself flat on the ground and went to work, +first with one paw, then with the other. By and by she caught her claws in it +just right again, and it moved a wee bit more. No, most certainly that door +wasn’t fastened, and that crack was a little wider. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you wasting your time there for?” demanded Reddy crossly. “We’d +better be off hunting if we would have anything to eat this night.” +</p> + +<p> +Granny said nothing but kept on working. She had discovered that this was a +sliding door. Presently the crack was wide enough for her to get her nose in. +Then she pushed and twisted her head this way and that. The little door slowly +slid back, and when Reddy turned to speak to her again, for he had had his back +to her, she was nowhere to be seen. Reddy just gaped and gaped foolishly. There +was no Granny Fox, but there was a black hole where she had been working, and +from it came the most delicious smell,—the smell of fat hens! It seemed to +Reddy that his stomach fairly flopped over with longing. He rubbed his eyes to +be sure that he was awake. Then in a twinkling he was inside that hole himself. +</p> + +<p> +“Sh-h-h, be still!” whispered Old Granny Fox. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0025"></a> CHAPTER XXV<br/> +A Dinner For Two</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Dark deeds are done in the stilly night,<br/> +And who shall say if they’re wrong or right?<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +It all depends on how you look at things. Of course, Granny and Reddy Fox had +no business to be in Farmer Brown’s henhouse in the middle of the night, or at +any other time, for that matter. That is, they had no business to be there, as +Farmer Brown would look at the matter. He would have called them two red +thieves. Perhaps that is just what they were. But looking at the matter as they +did, I am not so sure about it. To Granny and Reddy Fox those hens were simply +big, rather stupid birds, splendid eating if they could be caught, and bound to +be eaten by somebody. The fact that they were in Farmer Brown’s henhouse didn’t +make them his any more than the fact that Mrs. Grouse was in a part of the +Green Forest owned by Farmer Brown made her his. +</p> + +<p> +You see, among the little meadow and forest people there is no such thing as +property rights, excepting in the matter of storehouses, and because these hens +were alive, it didn’t occur to Granny and Reddy that the henhouse was a sort of +storehouse. It would have made no difference if it had. Among the little people +it is considered quite right to help yourself from another’s storehouse if you +are smart enough to find it and really need the food. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, Reddy and Granny knew that Farmer Brown and his boy would eat some of +those hens themselves, and they didn’t begin to need them as Reddy and Granny +did. So as they looked at the matter, there was nothing wrong in being in that +henhouse in the middle of the night. They were there simply because they needed +food very, very much, and food was there. +</p> + +<p> +They stared up at the roosts where the biddies were huddled together, fast +asleep. They were too high up to be reached from the floor even when Reddy and +Granny stood on their hind legs and stretched as far as they could. +</p> + +<p> +“We’ve got to wake them up and scare them so that some of the silly things will +fly down where we can catch them,” said Reddy, licking his lips hungrily. +</p> + +<p> +“That won’t do at all!” snapped Granny. “They would make a great racket and +waken Bowser the Hound, and he would waken his master, and that is just what we +mustn’t do if we hope to ever get in here again. I thought you had more sense, +Reddy.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy looked a little shamefaced. “Well, if we don’t do that, how are we going +to get them? We can’t fly,” he grumbled. +</p> + +<p> +“You stay right here where you are,” snapped Granny, “and take care that you +don’t make a sound.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Granny jumped lightly to a little shelf that ran along in front of the +nesting boxes. From this she could reach the lower roost on which four fat hens +were asleep. Very gently she pushed her head in between two of these and +crowded them apart. Sleepily they protested and moved along a little. Granny +continued to crowd them. At last one of them stretched out her head to see who +was crowding so. Like a flash Granny seized that head, and biddy never knew +what had wakened her, nor did she have a chance to waken the others. +</p> + +<p> +Dropping this hen at Reddy’s feet, Granny crowded another until she did the +same thing, and just the same thing happened once more. Then Granny jumped +lightly down, picked up one of the hens by the neck, slung the body over her +shoulder, and told Reddy to do the same with the other and start for home. +</p> + +<p> +“Aren’t you going to get any more while we have the chance?” grumbled Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“Enough is enough,” retorted Granny. “We’ve got a dinner for two, and so far no +one is any the wiser. Perhaps these two won’t be missed, and we’ll have a +chance to get some more another night. Now come on.” +</p> + +<p> +This was plain common sense, and Reddy knew it, so without another word he +followed old Granny Fox out by the way they had entered, and then home to the +best dinner he had had for a long long time. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0026"></a> CHAPTER XXVI<br/> +Farmer Brown’s Boy Sets A Trap</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +The trouble is that troubles are,<br/> + More frequently than not,<br/> +Brought on by naught but carelessness;<br/> + By some one who forgot.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Granny Fox had hoped that those two hens she and Reddy had stolen from Farmer +Brown’s henhouse would not be missed, but they were. They were missed the very +first thing the next morning when Farmer Brown’s boy went to feed the biddies. +He discovered right away that the little sliding door which should have closed +the opening through which the hens went in and out of the house was open, and +then he remembered that he had left the henyard gate open the night before. +Carefully Farmer Brown’s boy examined the hole with the sliding door. +</p> + +<p> +“Ha!” said he presently, and held up two red hairs which he had found on the +edge of the door. “Ha! I thought as much. I was careless last night and didn’t +fasten this door, and I left the gate open. Reddy Fox has been here, and now I +know what has become of those two hens. I suppose it serves me right for my +carelessness, and I suppose if the truth were known, those hens were of more +real good to him than they ever could have been to me, because the poor fellow +must be having pretty hard work to get a living these hard winter days. Still, +I can’t have him stealing any more. That would never do at all. If I shut them +up every night and am not careless, he can’t get them. But accidents will +happen, and I might do just as I did last night—think I had locked up when I +hadn’t. I don’t like to set a trap for Reddy, but I must teach the rascal a +lesson. If I don’t, he will get so bold that those chickens won’t be safe even +in broad daylight.” +</p> + +<p> +Now at just that very time over in their home, Granny and Reddy Fox were +talking over plans for the future, and shrewd old Granny was pointing out to +Reddy how necessary it was that they should keep away from that henyard for +some time. “We’ve had a good dinner, a splendid dinner, and if we are smart +enough we may be able to get more good dinners where this one came from,” said +she. “But we certainly won’t if we are too greedy.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I don’t believe Farmer Brown’s boy has missed those two chickens, and I +don’t see any reason at all why we shouldn’t go back there to-night and get two +more if he is stupid enough to leave that gate and little door open,” whined +Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe he hasn’t missed those two, but if we should take two more he certainly +would miss them, and he would guess what had become of them, and that might get +us into no end of trouble,” snapped Granny. “We are not starving now, and the +best thing for us to do is to keep away from that henhouse until we can’t get +anything to eat anywhere else, Now you mind what I tell you, Reddy, and don’t +you dare go near there.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy promised, and so it came about that Farmer Brown’s boy hunted up a trap +all for nothing so far as Reddy and Granny were concerned. Very carefully he +bound strips of cloth around the jaws of the trap, for he couldn’t bear to +think of those cruel jaws cutting into the leg of Reddy, should he happen to +get caught. You see, Farmer Brown’s boy didn’t intend to kill Reddy if he +should catch him, but to make him a prisoner for a while and so keep him out of +mischief. That night he hid the trap very cunningly just inside the henhouse +where any one creeping through that little hole made for the hens to go in and +out would be sure to step in it. Then he purposely left the little sliding door +open part way as if it had been forgotten, and he also left the henyard gate +open just as he had done the night before. +</p> + +<p> +“There now, Master Reddy,” said he, talking to himself, “I rather think that +you are going to get into trouble before morning.” +</p> + +<p> +And doubtless Reddy would have done just that thing but for the wisdom of sly +old Granny. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0027"></a> CHAPTER XXVII<br/> +Prickly Porky Takes A Sun Bath</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Danger comes when least expected;<br/> +’Tis often near when not expected.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +The long hard winter had passed, and Spring had come. Prickly Porky the +Porcupine came down from a tall poplar-tree and slowly stretched himself. He +was tired of eating. He was tired of swinging in the tree-top. +</p> + +<p> +“I believe I’ll have a sun-bath,” said Prickly Porky, and lazily walked toward +the edge of the Green Forest in search of a place where the sun lay warm and +bright. +</p> + +<p> +Now Prickly Porky’s stomach was very, very full. He was fat and naturally lazy, +so when he came to the doorstep of an old house just on the edge of the Green +Forest he sat down to rest. It was sunny and warm there, and the longer he sat +the less like moving he felt. He looked about him with his dull eyes and +grunted to himself. +</p> + +<p> +“It’s a deserted house. Nobody lives here, and I guess nobody’ll care if I take +a nap right here on the doorstep,” said Prickly Porky to himself. “And I don’t +care if they do,” he added, for Prickly Porky the Porcupine was afraid of +nobody and nothing. +</p> + +<p> +So Prickly Porky made himself as comfortable as possible, yawned once or twice, +tried to wink at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun, who was winking and smiling down at +him and then fell fast asleep right on the doorstep of the old house. +</p> + +<p> +Now the old house had been deserted. No one had lived in it for a long, long +time, a very long time indeed. But it happened that, the night before, old +Granny Fox and Reddy Fox had had to move out of their nice home on the edge of +the Green Meadows because Farmer Brown’s boy had found it. Reddy was very stiff +and sore, for he had been shot by a hunter. He was so sore he could hardly +walk, and could not go very far. So old Granny Fox had led him to the old +deserted house and put him to bed in that. +</p> + +<p> +“No one will think of looking for us here, for every one knows that no one +lives here,” said old Granny Fox, as she made Reddy as comfortable as possible. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as it was daylight, Granny Fox slipped out to watch for Farmer Brown’s +boy, for she felt sure that he would come back to the house they had left, and +sure enough he did. He brought a spade and dug the house open, and all the time +old Granny Fox was watching him from behind a fence corner and laughing to +think that she had been smart enough to move in the night. +</p> + +<p> +But Reddy Fox didn’t know anything about this. He was so tired that he slept +and slept and slept. It was the middle of the morning when finally he awoke. He +yawned and stretched, and when he stretched he groaned because he was so stiff +and sore. Then he hobbled up toward the doorway to see if old Granny Fox had +left any breakfast outside for him. +</p> + +<p> +It was dark, very dark. Reddy was puzzled. Could it be that he had gotten up +before daylight—that he hadn’t slept as long as he thought? Perhaps he had +slept the whole day through, and it was night again. My, how hungry he was! +</p> + +<p> +“I hope Granny has caught a fine, fat chicken for me,” thought Reddy, and his +mouth watered. +</p> + +<p> +Just then he ran bump into something. “Wow!” screamed Reddy Fox, and clapped +both hands to his nose. Something was sticking into it. It was one of the sharp +little spears that Prickly Porky hides in his coat. Reddy Fox knew then why the +old house was so dark. Prickly Porky was blocking up the doorway. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0028"></a> CHAPTER XXVIII<br/> +Prickly Porky Enjoys Himself</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +A boasting tongue, as sure as fate,<br/> +Will trip its owner soon or late.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Prickly Porky the Porcupine was enjoying himself. There was no doubt about +that. He was stretched across the doorway of that old house, the very house in +which old Granny Fox had been born. When he had lain down on the doorstep for a +nap and sun-bath, he had thought that the old house was still deserted. Then he +had fallen asleep, only to be wakened by Reddy Fox, who bad been asleep in the +old house and who couldn’t get out because Prickly Porky was in the way. +</p> + +<p> +Now Prickly Porky does not love Reddy Fox, and the more Reddy begged and +scolded and called him names, the more Prickly Porky chuckled. It was such a +good joke to think that he had trapped Reddy Fox, and he made up his mind that +he would keep Reddy in there a long time just to tease him and make him +uncomfortable. You see Prickly Porky remembered how often Reddy Fox played mean +tricks on little meadow and forest folks who are smaller and weaker than +himself. +</p> + +<p> +“It will do him good. It certainly will do him good,” said Prickly Porky, and +rattled the thousand little spears hidden in his long coat, for he knew that +the very sound of them would make Reddy Fox shiver with fright. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly Prickly Porky pricked up his funny little short ears. He heard the +deep voice of Bowser the Hound, and it was coming nearer and nearer. Prickly +Porky chuckled again. +</p> + +<p> +“I guess Mr. Bowser is going to have a surprise; I certainly think he is,” said +Prickly Porky as he made all the thousand little spears stand out from his long +coat till he looked like a funny great chestnut burr. +</p> + +<p> +Bowser the Hound did have a surprise. He was hunting Reddy Fox, and he almost +ran into Prickly Porky before he saw him. The very sight of those thousand +little spears sent little cold chills chasing each other down Bowser’s backbone +clear to the tip of his tail, for he remembered how he had gotten some of them +in his lips and mouth once upon a time, and how it had hurt to have them pulled +out. Ever since then he had had the greatest respect for Prickly Porky. +</p> + +<p> +“Wow!” yelped Bowser the Hound, stopping short. “I beg your pardon, Prickly +Porky, I beg your pardon, I didn’t know you were taking a nap here.” +</p> + +<p> +All the time Bowser the Hound was backing away as fast as he could. Then he +turned around, put his tail between his legs and actually ran away. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly Prickly Porky unrolled, and his little eyes twinkled as he watched +Bowser the Hound run away. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bowser’s very big and strong;<br/> +His voice is deep; his legs are long;<br/> +His bark scares some almost to death.<br/> +But as for me he wastes his breath;<br/> +I just roll up and shake my spears<br/> +And Bowser is the one who fears.” +</p> + +<p> +So said Prickly Porky, and laughed aloud. Just then he heard a light footstep +and turned to see who was coming. It was old Granny Fox. She had seen Bowser +run away, and now she was anxious to find out if Reddy Fox were safe. +</p> + +<p> +“Good morning,” said Granny Fox, taking care not to come too near. +</p> + +<p> +“Good morning,” replied Prickly Porky, hiding a smile. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m very tired and would like to go inside my house; had you just as soon +move?” asked Granny Fox. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh!” exclaimed Prickly Porky, “is this your house? I thought you lived over on +the Green Meadows.” +</p> + +<p> +“I did, but I’ve moved. Please let me in,” replied Granny Fox. +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly, certainly. Don’t mind me, Granny Fox. Step right over me,” said +Prickly Porky, and smiled once more, and at the same time rattled his little +spears. +</p> + +<p> +Instead of stepping over him, Granny Fox backed away. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0029"></a> CHAPTER XXIX<br/> +The New Home In The Old Pasture</h2> + +<p class="poem"> +Who keeps a watch upon his toes<br/> +Need never fear he’ll bump his nose.<br/> + —<i>Old Granny Fox</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Now there is nothing like being shut in alone in the dark to make one think. A +voice inside of Reddy began to whisper to him. “If you hadn’t tried to be smart +and show off you wouldn’t have brought all this trouble on yourself and Old +Granny Fox,” said the voice. +</p> + +<p> +“I know it,” replied Reddy right out loud, forgetting that it was only a small +voice inside of him. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you know?” asked Prickly Porky. He was still keeping Reddy in and +Granny out and he had overheard what Reddy said. +</p> + +<p> +“It is none of your business!” snapped Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +Reddy could hear Prickly Porky chuckle. Then Prickly Porky repeated as if to +himself in a queer cracked voice the following: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Rudeness never, never pays,<br/> +Nor is there gain in saucy ways.<br/> +It’s always best to be polite<br/> +And ne’er give way to ugly spite.<br/> +If that’s the way you feel inside<br/> +You’d better all such feelings hide;<br/> +For he must smile who hopes to win,<br/> +And he who loses best will grin.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy pretended that he hadn’t heard. Prickly Porky continued to chuckle for a +while and finally Reddy fell asleep. When he awoke it was to find that Prickly +Porky had left and old Granny Fox had brought him something to eat. +</p> + +<p> +Just as soon as Reddy Fox was able to travel he and Granny had moved to the Old +Pasture. The Old Pasture is very different from the Green Meadows or the Green +Forest. Yes, indeed, it is very, very different. Reddy Fox thought so. And +Reddy didn’t like the change,—not a bit. All about were great rocks, and around +and over them grew bushes and young trees and bull-briars with long ugly +thorns, and blackberry and raspberry canes that seemed to have a million little +hooked hands, reaching to catch in and tear his red coat and to scratch his +face and hands. There were little open places where wild-eyed young cattle fed +on the short grass. They had made many little paths all crisscross among the +bushes, and when you tried to follow one of these paths you never could tell +where you were coming out. +</p> + +<p> +No, Reddy Fox did not like the Old Pasture at all. There was no long, soft +green grass to lie down in. And it was lonesome up there. He missed the little +people of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest. There was no one to bully and +tease. And it was such a long, long way from Farmer Brown’s henyard that old +Granny Fox wouldn’t even try to bring him a fat hen. At least, that’s what she +told Reddy. +</p> + +<p> +The truth is, wise old Granny Fox knew that the very best thing she could do +was to stay away from Farmer Brown’s for a long time. She knew that Reddy +couldn’t go down there, because he was still too lame and sore to travel such a +long way, and she hoped that by the time Reddy was well enough to go, he would +have learned better than to do such a foolish thing as to try to show off by +stealing a chicken in broad daylight, as he had when he brought all this +trouble on them. +</p> + +<p> +Down on the Green Meadows, the home of Granny and Reddy Fox had been on a +little knoll, which you know is a little low hill, right where they could sit +on their doorstep and look all over the Green Meadows. It had been very, very +beautiful down there. They had made lovely little paths through the tall green +meadow grass, and the buttercups and daisies had grown close up to their very +doorstep. But up here in the Old Pasture Granny Fox had chosen the thickest +clump of bushes and young trees she could find, and in the middle was a great +pile of rocks. Way in among these rocks Granny Fox had dug their new house. It +was right down under the rocks. Even in the middle of the day jolly, round, red +Mr. Sun could hardly find it with a few of his long, bright beams. All the rest +of the time it was dark and gloomy there. +</p> + +<p> +No, Reddy Fox didn’t like his new home at all, but when he said so old Granny +Fox boxed his ears. +</p> + +<p> +“It’s your own fault that we’ve got to live here now,” said she. “It’s the only +place where we are safe. Farmer Brown’s boy never will find this home, and even +if he did he couldn’t dig into it as he did into our old home on the Green +Meadows. Here we are, and here we’ve got to stay, all because a foolish little +Fox thought himself smarter than anybody else and tried to show off.” +</p> + +<p> +Reddy hung his head. “I don’t care!” he said, which was very, very foolish, +because, you know, he did care a very great deal. +</p> + +<p> +And here we will leave wise Old Granny Fox and Reddy, safe, even if they do not +like their new home. You see, Lightfoot the Deer is getting jealous. He thinks +there should be some books about the people of the Green Forest, and that the +first one should be about him. And because we all love Lightfoot the Deer, the +very next book is to bear his name. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD GRANNY FOX ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. +</div> + +<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div> +<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div> +<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person +or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: +</div> + +<blockquote> + <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> +</blockquote> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: +</div> + +<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + </div> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +</div> + +</div> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/4980-h/images/cover.jpg b/4980-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ebe5d55 --- /dev/null +++ b/4980-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..97d4855 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #4980 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4980) diff --git a/old/4980.txt b/old/4980.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d747213 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/4980.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2799 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Granny Fox, by Thornton W. Burgess + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Old Granny Fox + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4980] +Posting Date: April 23, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD GRANNY FOX *** + + + + +Produced by Kent Fielden + + + + + + + + +OLD GRANNY FOX + + +By Thornton W. Burgess + + + + +CHAPTER I: Reddy Fox Brings Granny News + + Pray who is there who would refuse + To bearer be of happy news? + --Old Granny Fox. + +Snow covered the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, and ice bound the +Smiling Pool and the Laughing Brook. Reddy and Granny Fox were hungry +most of the time. It was not easy to find enough to eat these days, and +so they spent nearly every minute they were awake in hunting. Sometimes +they hunted together, but usually one went one way, and the other went +another way so as to have a greater chance of finding something. If +either found enough for two, the one finding it took the food back to +their home if it could be carried. If not, the other was told where to +find it. + +For several days they had had very little indeed to eat, and they were +so hungry that they were willing to take almost any chance to get a good +meal. For two nights they had visited Farmer Brown's henhouse, hoping +that they would be able to find a way inside. But the biddies had been +securely locked up, and try as they would, they couldn't find a way in. + +"It's of no use," said Granny, as they started back home after the +second try, "to hope to get one of those hens at night. If we are going +to get any at all, we will have to do it in broad daylight. It can +be done, for I have done it before, but I don't like the idea. We are +likely to be seen, and that means that Bowser the Hound will be set to +hunting us." + +"Pooh!" exclaimed Reddy. "What of it? It's easy enough to fool him." + +"You think so, do you?" snapped Granny. "I never yet saw a young Fox +who didn't think he knew all there is to know, and you're just like the +rest. When you've lived as long as I have you will have learned not to +be quite so sure of your own opinions. I grant you that when there is no +snow on the ground, any Fox with a reasonable amount of Fox sense in his +head can fool Bowser, but with snow everywhere it is a very different +matter. If Bowser once takes it into his head to follow your trail these +days, you will have to be smarter than I think you are to fool him. The +only way you will be able to get away from him will be by going into +a hole in the ground, and when you do that you will have given away a +secret that will mean we will never have any peace at all. We will never +know when Farmer Brown's boy will take it into his head to smoke us out. +I've seen it done. No, Sir, we are not going to try for one of those +hens in the daytime unless we are starving." + +"I'm starving now," whined Reddy. + +"No such thing!" Granny snapped. "I've been without food longer than +this many a time. Have you been over to the Big River lately?" + +"No," replied Reddy. "What's the use? It's frozen over. There isn't +anything there." + +"Perhaps not," replied Granny, "but I learned a long time ago that it +is a poor plan to overlook any chance. There is a place in the Big River +which never freezes because the water runs too swiftly to freeze, and +I've found more than one meal washed ashore there. You go over there now +while I see what I can find in the Green Forest. If neither of us finds +anything, it will be time enough to think about Farmer Brown's hens +to-morrow." + +Much against his will Reddy obeyed. "It isn't the least bit of use," he +grumbled, as he trotted towards the Big River. "There won't be anything +there. It is just a waste of time." + +Late that afternoon he came hurrying back, and Granny knew by the way +that he cocked his ears and carried his tail that he had news of some +kind. "Well, what is it?" she demanded. + +"I found a dead fish that had been washed ashore," replied Reddy. "It +wasn't big enough for two, so I ate it." + +"Anything else?" asked Granny. + +"No-o," replied Reddy slowly; "that is, nothing that will do us any +good. Quacker the Wild Duck was swimming about out in the open water, +but though I watched and watched he never once came ashore." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Granny. "That is good news. I think we'll go Duck +hunting." + + + +CHAPTER II: Granny And Reddy Fox Go Hunting + + When you're in doubt what course is right, + The thing to do is just sit tight. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun had just got well started on his daily +climb up in the blue, blue sky that morning when he spied two figures +trotting across the snow-covered Green Meadows, one behind the other. +They were trotting along quite as if they had made up their minds just +where they were going. They had. You see they were Granny and Reddy Fox, +and they were bound for the Big River at the place where the water ran +too swiftly to freeze. The day before Reddy had discovered Quacker the +Wild Duck swimming about there, and now they were on their way to try to +catch him. + +Granny led the way and Reddy meekly followed her. To tell the truth, +Reddy hadn't the least idea that they would have a chance to catch +Quacker, because Quacker kept out in the water where he was as safe from +them as if they were a thousand miles away. The only reason that Reddy +had willingly started with Granny was the hope that he might find a dead +fish washed up on the shore as he had the day before. + +"Granny certainly is growing foolish in her old age," thought Reddy, as +he trotted along behind her. "I told her that Quacker never once came +ashore all the time I watched yesterday. I don't believe he ever comes +ashore, and if she knows anything at all she ought to know that she +can't catch him out there in the water. Granny used to be smart enough +when she was young, I guess, but she certainly is losing her mind now. +It's a pity, a great pity. I can just imagine how Quacker will laugh at +her. I have to laugh myself." + +He did laugh, but you may be sure he took great pains that Granny should +not see him laughing. Whenever she looked around he was as sober as +could be. In fact, he appeared to be quite as eager as if he felt sure +they would catch Quacker. Now old Granny Fox is very wise in the ways of +the Great World, and if Reddy could have known what was going on in her +mind as she led the way to the Big River, he might not have felt quite +so sure of his own smartness. Granny was doing some quiet laughing +herself. + +"He thinks I'm old and foolish and don't know what I'm about, the young +scamp!" thought she. "He thinks he has learned all there is to learn. It +isn't the least use in the world to try to tell him anything. When young +folks feel the way he does, it is a waste of time to talk to them. +He has got to be shown. There is nothing like experience to take the +conceit out of these youngsters." + +Now conceit is the feeling that you know more than any one else. Perhaps +you do. Then again, perhaps you don't. So sometimes it is best not to +be too sure of your own opinion. Reddy was sure. He trotted along behind +old Granny Fox and planned smart things to say to her when she found +that there wasn't a chance to catch Quacker the Duck. I am afraid, +very much afraid, that Reddy was planning to be saucy. People who think +themselves smart are quite apt to be saucy. + +Presently they came to the bank of the Big River. Old Granny Fox told +Reddy to sit still while she crept up behind some bushes where she could +peek out over the Big River. He grinned as he watched her. He was still +grinning when she tiptoed back. He expected to see her face long with +disappointment. Instead she looked very much pleased. + +"Quacker is there," said she, "and I think he will make us a very good +dinner. Creep up behind those bushes and see for yourself, then come +back here and tell me what you think we'd better do to get him." + +So Reddy stole up behind the bushes, and this time it was Granny who +grinned as she watched. As he crept along, Reddy wondered if it could be +that for once Quacker had come ashore. Granny seemed so sure they could +catch him that this must be the case. But when he peeped through the +hushes, there was Quacker way out in the middle of the open water just +where he had been the day before. + + + +CHAPTER III: Reddy Is Sure Granny Has Lost Her Senses + + Perhaps 'tis just as well that we + Can't see ourselves as others see. + --Old Granny Fox. + +"Just as I thought," muttered Reddy Fox as he peeped through the bushes +on the bank of the Big River and saw Quacker swimming about in the water +where it ran too swiftly to freeze. "We've got just as much chance of +catching him as I have of jumping over the moon. That's what I'll tell +Granny." + +He crept back carefully so as not to be seen by Quacker, and when he had +reached the place where Granny was waiting for him, his face wore a very +impudent look. + +"Well," said Granny Fox, "what shall we do to catch him?" + +"Learn to swim like a fish and fly like a bird," replied Reddy in such a +saucy tone that Granny had hard work to keep from boxing his ears. + +"You mean that you think he can't be caught?" said she quietly. + +"I don't think anything about it; I know he can't!" snapped Reddy. "Not +by us, anyway," he added. + +"I suppose you wouldn't even try?" retorted Granny. + +"I'm old enough to know when I'm wasting my time," replied Reddy with a +toss of his head. + +"In other words you think I'm a silly old Fox who has lost her senses," +said Granny sharply. + +"No-o. I didn't say that," protested Reddy, looking very uncomfortable. + +"But you think it," declared Granny. "Now look here, Mr. Smarty, you do +just as I tell you. You creep back there where you can watch Quacker and +all that happens, and mind that you keep out of his sight. Now go." + +Reddy went. There was nothing else to do. He didn't dare disobey. +Granny watched until Reddy had readied his hiding-place. Then what do +you think she did? Why, she walked right out on the little beach just +below Reddy and in plain sight of Quacker! Yes, Sir, that is what she +did! + +Then began such a queer performance that it is no wonder that Reddy was +sure Granny had lost her senses. She rolled over and over. She chased +her tail round and round until it made Reddy dizzy to watch her. She +jumped up in the air. She raced back and forth. She played with a bit +of stick. And all the time she didn't pay the least attention to Quacker +the Duck. + +Reddy stared and stared. Whatever had come over Granny? She was crazy. +Yes, Sir, that must be the matter. It must be that she had gone without +food so long that she had gone crazy. Poor Granny! She was in her second +childhood. Reddy could remember how he had done such things when he was +very young, just by way of showing how fine he felt. But for a grown-up +Fox to do such things was undignified, to say the least. You know Reddy +thinks a great deal of dignity. It was worse than undignified; it was +positively disgraceful. He did hope that none of his neighbors would +happen along and see Granny cutting up so. He never would hear the end +of it if they did. + +Over and over rolled Granny, and around and around she chased her tail. +The snow flew up in a cloud. And all the time she made no sound. Reddy +was just trying to decide whether to go off and leave her until she had +regained her common sense, or to go out and try to stop her, when he +happened to look out in the open water where Quacker was. Quacker was +sitting up as straight as he could. In fact, he had his wings raised to +help him sit up on his tail, the better to see what old Granny Fox was +doing. + +"As I live," muttered Reddy, "I believe that fellow is nearer than he +was!" + +Reddy crouched lower than ever, and instead of watching Granny he +watched Quacker the Duck. + + + +CHAPTER IV: Quacker The Duck Grows Curious + + The most curious thing in the world is curiosity. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Old Granny Fox never said a truer thing than that. It is curious, very +curious, how sometimes curiosity will get the best of even the wisest +and most sensible of people. Even Old Granny Fox herself has been known +to be led into trouble by it. We expect it of Peter Rabbit, but Peter +isn't a bit more curious than some others of whom we do not expect it. + +Now Quacker the Wild Duck is the last one in the world you would expect +to be led into trouble by curiosity. Quacker had spent the summer in the +Far North with Honker the Goose. In fact, he had been born there. He had +started for the far away Southland at the same time Honker had, but when +he reached the Big River he had found plenty to eat and had decided to +stay until he had to move on. The Big River had frozen over everywhere +except in this one place where the water was too swift to freeze, and +there Quacker had remained. You see, he was a good diver and on the +bottom of the river he found plenty to eat. No one could get at him +out there, unless it were Roughleg the Hawk, and if Roughleg did happen +along, all he had to do was to dive and come up far away to laugh and +make fun of Roughleg. The water couldn't get through his oily feathers, +and so he didn't mind how cold it was. + +Now in his home in the Far North there were so many dangers that Quacker +had early learned to be always on the watch and to take the best of care +of himself. On his way down to the Big River he had been hunted by men +with terrible guns, and he had learned all about them. In fact, he felt +quite able to keep out of harm's way. He rather prided himself that +there was no one smart enough to catch him. + +I suspect he thought he knew all there was to know. In this respect he +was a good deal like Reddy Fox himself. That was because he was young. +It is the way with young Ducks and Foxes and with some other youngsters +I know. + +When Quacker first saw Granny Fox on the little beach, he flirted his +absurd little tail and smiled as he thought how she must wish she could +catch him. But so far as he could see, Granny didn't once look at him. + +"She doesn't know I'm out here at all," thought Quacker. Then suddenly +he sat up very straight and looked with all his might. What under the +sun was the matter with that Fox? She was acting as if she had suddenly +lost her senses. + +Over and over she rolled. Around and around she spun. She turned +somersaults. She lay on her back and kicked her heels in the air. +Never in his life had he known any one to act like that. There must be +something the matter with her. + +Quacker began to get excited. He couldn't keep his eyes off Old Granny +Fox. He began to swim nearer. He wanted to see better. He quite forgot +she was a Fox. She moved so fast that she was just a queer red spot on +the beach. Whatever she was doing was very curious and very exciting. He +swam nearer and nearer. The excitement was catching. He began to swim in +circles himself. All the time he drew nearer and nearer to the shore. He +didn't have the least bit of fear. He was just curious. He wanted to see +better. + +All the time Granny was cutting up her antics, she was watching Quacker, +though he didn't suspect it. As he swam nearer and nearer to the shore, +Granny rolled and tumbled farther and farther back. At last Quacker was +close to the shore. If he kept on, he would be right on the land in a +few minutes. And all the time he stared and stared. No thought of danger +entered his head. You see, there was no room because it was so filled +with curiosity. + +"In a minute more I'll have him," thought Granny, and whirled faster +than ever. And just then something happened. + + + +CHAPTER V: Reddy Fox Is Afraid To Go Home + + Yes, Sir, a chicken track is good to see, but + it often puts nothing but water in my mouth. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Reddy Fox thought of that saying many times as he hunted through the +Green Forest that night, afraid to go home. You see, he had almost dined +on Quacker the Duck over at the Big River that day and then hadn't, and +it was all his own fault. That was why he was afraid to go home. From +his hiding-place on the bank he had watched Quacker swim in and in until +he was almost on the shore where old Granny Fox was whirling and rolling +and tumbling about as if she had entirely lost her senses. Indeed, Reddy +had been quite sure that she had when she began. It wasn't until he saw +that curiosity was drawing Quacker right in so that in a minute or two +Granny would be able to catch him, that he understood that Granny was +anything but crazy, and really was teaching him a new trick as well as +trying to catch a dinner. + +When he realized this, he should have been ashamed of himself for +doubting the smartness of Granny and for thinking that he knew all there +was to know. But he was too much excited for any such thoughts. Nearer +and nearer to the shore came Quacker, his eyes fixed on the red, +whirling form of Granny. Reddy's own eyes gleamed with excitement. Would +Quacker keep on right up to the shore? Nearer and nearer and nearer he +came. Reddy squirmed uneasily. He couldn't see as well as he wanted to. +The bushes behind which he was lying were in his way. He wanted to see +Granny make that jump which would mean a dinner for both. + +Forgetting what Granny had charged him, Reddy eagerly raised his head to +look over the edge of the bank. Now it just happened that at that very +minute Quacker chanced to look that way. His quick eyes caught the +movement of Reddy's head and in an instant all his curiosity vanished. +That sharp face peering at him over the edge of the bank could mean but +one thing--danger! It was all a trick! He saw through it now. Like a +flash he turned. There was the whistle of stiff wings beating the air +and the patter of feet striking the water as he got under way. Then he +flew out to the safety of the open water. Granny sprang, but she was +just too late and succeeded in doing no more than wet her feet. + +Of course, Granny didn't know what had frightened Quacker, not at first, +anyway. But she had her suspicions. She turned and looked up at the +place where Reddy had been hiding. She couldn't see him. Then she +bounded up the bank. There was no Reddy there, but far away across the +snow-covered Green Meadows was a red spot growing smaller and smaller. +Reddy was running away. Then she knew. At first Granny was very angry. +You know it is a dreadful thing to be hungry and have a good dinner +disappear just as it is almost within reach. + +"I'll teach that young scamp a lesson he won't soon forget when I get +home," she muttered, as she watched him. Then she went back to the edge +of the Big River and there she found a dead fish which had been washed +ashore. It was a very good fish, and when she had eaten it Granny felt +better. + +"Anyway," thought she, "I have taught him a new trick and one he is n't +likely to forget. He knows now that Granny still knows a few tricks that +he doesn't, and next time he won't feel so sure he knows it all. I guess +it was worth while even if I didn't catch Quacker. My, but he would have +tasted good!" Granny smacked her lips and started for home. + +But Reddy, with a guilty conscience, was afraid to go home. And so, +miserable and hungry, he hunted through the Green Forest all the long +night and wished and wished that he had heeded what old Granny Fox had +told him. + + + +CHAPTER VI: Old Granny Fox Is Caught Napping + + The wisest folks will make mistakes, but + if they are truly wise they will profit from them. + --Old Granny Fox. + +There is a saying among the little people of the Green Forest and the +Green Meadows which runs something like this: + + "You must your eyes wide open keep + To catch Old Granny Fox asleep." + +Of course this means that Old Granny Fox is so smart, so clever, so +keenly on the watch at all times, that he must be very smart indeed +who fools her or gets ahead of her. Reddy Fox is smart, very smart. But +Reddy isn't nearly as smart as Old Granny Fox. You see, he hasn't lived +nearly as long, so of course there is much knowledge of many things +stored away in Granny's head of which Reddy knows little. + +But once in a while even the smartest people are caught napping. Yes, +Sir, that does happen. They will be careless sometimes. It was just so +with Old Granny Fox. With all her smartness and cleverness and wisdom +she grew careless, and all the smartness and cleverness and wisdom in +the world is useless if the possessor becomes careless. + +You see, Old Granny Fox had become so used to thinking that she was +smarter than any one else, unless it was Old Man Coyote, that she +actually believed that no one was smart enough ever to surprise her. +Yes, Sir, she actually believed that. Now, you know when a person +reaches the point of thinking that no one else in all the Great World is +quite so smart, that person is like Peter Rabbit when he made ready one +winter day to jump out on the smooth ice of the Smiling Pool,--getting +ready for a fall. It was this way with Old Granny Fox. + +Because she had lived near Farmer Brown's so long and had been hunted +so often by Farmer Brown's boy and by Bowser the Hound, she had got the +idea in her head that no matter what she did they would not be able to +catch her. So at last she grew careless. Yes, Sir, she grew careless. +And that is something no Fox or anybody else can afford to do. + +Now on the edge of the Green Forest was a warm, sunny knoll, which, as +you know, is a sort of little hill. It overlooked the Green Meadows and +was quite the most pleasant and comfortable place for a sun-nap that +ever was. At least, that is what Old Granny Fox thought. She took +sun-naps there very often. It was her favorite resting place. When +Bowser the Hound had found her trail and had chased her until she +was tired of running and had had quite all the exercise she needed or +wanted, she would play one of her clever tricks by which to make Bowser +lose her trail. Then she would hurry straight to that knoll to rest and +grin at her own smartness. + +It happened that she did this one day when there was fresh snow on the +ground. Of course, every time she put a foot down she left a print in +the snow. And where she curled up in the sun she left the print of her +body. They were very plain to see, were these prints, and Farmer Brown's +boy saw them. + +He had been tramping through the Green Forest late in the afternoon +and just by chance happened across Granny's footprints. Just for fun he +followed them and so came to the sunny knoll. Granny had left some time +before, but of course she couldn't take the print of her body with +her. That remained in the snow, and Farmer Brown's boy saw it and knew +instantly what it meant. He grinned, and could Granny Fox have seen that +grin, she would have been uncomfortable. You see, he knew that he had +found the place where Granny was in the habit of taking a sun-nap. + +"So," said he, "this is the place where you rest, Old Mrs. Fox, after +running Bowser almost off his feet. I think we will give you a surprise +one of these days. Yes, indeed, I think we will give you a surprise. You +have fooled us many times, and now it is our turn." + +The next day Farmer Brown's boy shouldered his terrible gun and sent +Bowser the Hound to hunt for the trail of Old Granny Fox. It wasn't long +before Bowser's great voice told all the Great World that he had found +Granny's tracks. Farmer Brown's boy grinned just as he had the day +before. Then with his terrible gun he went over to the Green Forest and +hid under some pine boughs right on the edge of that sunny knoll. + +He waited patiently a long, long time. He heard Bowser's great voice +growing more and more excited as he followed Old Granny Fox. By and by +Bowser stopped baying and began to yelp impatiently. Farmer Brown's boy +knew exactly what that meant. It meant that Granny had played one of her +smart tricks and Bowser had lost her trail. + +A few minutes later out of the Green Forest came Old Granny Fox, and +she was grinning, for once more she had fooled Bowser the Hound and +now could take a nap in peace. Still grinning, she turned around two +or three times to make herself comfortable and then, with a sigh of +contentment, curled up for a sun-nap, and in a few minutes was asleep. +And just a little way off behind the pine boughs sat Farmer Brown's boy +holding his terrible gun and grinning. At last he had caught Old Granny +Fox napping. + + + +CHAPTER VII: Granny Fox Has A Bad Dream + + Nothing ever simply happens; + Bear that point in mind. + If you look long and hard enough + A cause you'll always find. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Old Granny Fox was dreaming. Yes, Sir, she was dreaming. There she lay, +curled up on the sunny little knoll on the edge of the Green Forest, +fast asleep and dreaming. It was a very pleasant and very comfortable +place indeed. You see, jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun poured his warmest +rays right down there from the blue, blue sky. When Old Granny Fox was +tired, she often slipped over there for a short nap and sun-bath even +in winter. She was quite sure that no one knew anything about it. It was +one of her secrets. + +This morning Old Granny Fox was very tired, unusually so. In the first +place she had been out hunting all night. Then, before she could reach +home, Bowser the Hound had found her tracks and started to follow them. +Of course, it wouldn't have done to go home then. It wouldn't have done +at all. Bowser would have followed her straight there and so found out +where she lived. So she had led Bowser far away across the Green Meadows +and through the Green Forest and finally played one of her smart tricks +which had so mixed her tracks that Bowser could no longer follow them. +While he had sniffed and snuffed and snuffed and sniffed with that +wonderful nose of his, trying to find out where she had gone, Old Granny +Fox had trotted straight to the sunny knoll and there curled up to rest. +Right away she fell asleep. + +Now Old Granny Fox, like most of the other little people of the Green +Forest and the Green Meadows, sleeps with her ears wide open. Her eyes +may be closed, but not her ears. Those are always on guard, even when +she is asleep, and at the least sound open fly her eyes, and she is +ready to run. If it were not for the way her sharp ears keep guard, she +wouldn't dare take naps in the open right in broad daylight. If you +ever want to catch a Fox asleep, you mustn't make the teeniest, weeniest +noise. Just remember that. + +Now Old Granny Fox had no sooner closed her eyes than she began to +dream. At first it was a very pleasant dream, the pleasantest dream a +Fox can have. It was of a chicken dinner, all the chicken she could eat. +Granny certainly enjoyed that dream. It made her smack her lips quite as +if it were a real and not a dream dinner she was enjoying. + +But presently the dream changed and became a bad dream. Yes, indeed, +it became a bad dream. It was as bad as at first it had been good. It +seemed to Granny that Bowser the Hound had become very smart, smarter +than she had ever known him to be before. Do what she would, she +couldn't fool him. Not one of all the tricks she knew, and she knew a +great many, fooled him at all. They didn't puzzle him long enough for +her to get her breath. + +Bowser kept getting nearer and nearer and nearer, all in the dream, you +know, until it seemed as if his great voice sounded right at her very +heels. She was so tired that it seemed to her that she couldn't run +another step. It was a very, very real dream. You know dreams sometimes +do seem very real indeed. This was the way it was with the bad dream +of Old Granny Fox. It seemed to her that she could feel the breath of +Bowser the Hound and that his great jaws were just going to close on her +and shake her to death. + +"Oh! Oh!" cried Granny and waked herself up. Her eyes flew open. Then +she gave a great sigh of relief as she realized that her terrible fright +was only a bad dream and that she was curled up right on the dear, +familiar, old, sunny knoll and not running for her life at all. + +Old Granny Fox smiled to think what a fright she had had and +then,--well, she didn't know whether she was really awake or still +dreaming! No, Sir, she didn't. For a full minute she couldn't be sure +whether what she saw was real or part of that dreadful dream. You see, +she was staring into the face of Farmer Brown's boy and the muzzle of +his dreadful gun! + +For just a few seconds she didn't move. She couldn't. She was too +frightened to move. Then she knew what she saw was real and not a dream +at all. There wasn't the least bit of doubt about it. That was Farmer +Brown's boy, and that was his dreadful gun! All in a flash she knew that +Farmer Brown's boy must have been hiding behind those pine boughs. + +Poor Old Granny Fox! For once in her life she had been caught napping. +She hadn't the least hope in the world. Farmer Brown's boy had only to +fire that dreadful gun, and that would be the end of her. She knew it. + + + +CHAPTER VIII: What Farmer Brown's Boy Did + + In time of danger heed this rule: + Think hard and fast, but pray keep cool. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Poor Old Granny Fox! She had thought that she had been in tight places +before, but never, never had she been in such a tight place as this. +There stood Farmer Brown's boy looking along the barrel of his dreadful +gun straight at her, and only such a short distance, such a very short +distance away! It wasn't the least bit of use to run. Granny knew that. +That dreadful gun would go "bang!" and that would be the end of her. + +For a few seconds she stared at Farmer Brown's boy, too frightened +to move or even think. Then she began to wonder why that dreadful gun +didn't go off. What was Farmer Brown's boy waiting for? She got to +her feet. She was sure that the first step would be her last, yet she +couldn't stay there. + +How could Fanner Brown's boy do such a dreadful thing? Somehow, his +freckled face didn't look cruel. He was even beginning to grin. That +must be because he had caught her napping and knew that this time she +couldn't possibly get away from him as she had so many times before. +"Oh!" sobbed Old Granny Fox under her breath. + +And right at that very instant Farmer Brown's boy did something. What do +you think it was? No, he didn't shoot her. He didn't fire his dreadful +gun. What do you think he did do? Why, he threw a snowball at Old Granny +Fox and shouted "Boo!" That is what he did and all he did, except to +laugh as Granny gave a great leap and then made those black legs of hers +fly as never before. + +Every instant Granny expected to hear that dreadful gun, and it seemed +as if her heart would burst with fright as she ran, thinking each jump +would be the last one. But the dreadful gun didn't bang, and after a +little, when she felt she was safe, she turned to look back over her +shoulder. Farmer Brown's boy was standing right where she had last seen +him, and he was laughing harder than ever. Yes, Sir, he was laughing, +and though Old Granny Fox didn't think so at the time, his laugh was +good to hear, for it was good-natured and merry and all that an honest +laugh should be. + +"Go it, Granny! Go it!" shouted Farmer Brown's boy. "And the next time +you are tempted to steal my chickens, just remember that I caught you +napping and let you off when I might have shot you. Just remember that +and leave my chickens alone." + +Now it happened that Tommy Tit the Chickadee had seen all that +had happened, and he fairly bubbled over with joy. "Dee, dee, dee, +Chickadee! It is just as I have always said--Farmer Brown's boy isn't +bad. He'd be friends with every one if every one would let him," he +cried. + +"Maybe, maybe," grumbled Sammy Jay, who also had seen all that had +happened. "But he's altogether too smart for me to trust. Oh, my! oh, +my! What news this will be to tell! Old Granny Fox will never hear the +end of it. If ever again she boasts of how smart she is, all we will +have to do will be to remind her of the time Farmer Brown's boy caught +her napping. Ho! ho! ho! I must hurry along and find my cousin, Blacky +the Crow. This will tickle him half to death." + +As for Old Granny Fox, she feared Farmer Brown's boy more than ever, not +because of what he had done to her but because of what he had not done. +You see, nothing could make her believe that he wanted to be her friend. +She thought he had let her get away just to show her that he was smarter +than she. Instead of thankfulness, hate and fear filled Granny's heart. +You know-- + + People who themselves do ill + For others seldom have good will. + + + +CHAPTER IX: Reddy Fox Hears About Granny Fox + + Though you may think another wrong + And be quite positive you're right, + Don't let your temper get away; + And try at least to be polite. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Sammy Jay hurried through the Green Forest, chuckling as he flew. Sammy +was brimming over with the news he had to tell,--how Old Granny Fox had +been caught napping by Farmer Brown's boy. Sammy wouldn't have believed +it if any one had told him. No, Sir, he wouldn't. But he had seen it +with his own eyes, and it tickled him almost to pieces to think that Old +Granny Fox, whom everybody thought so sly and clever and smart, had been +caught actually asleep by the very one of whom she was most afraid, but +at whom she always had turned up her nose. + +Presently Sammy spied Reddy Fox trotting along the Lone Little Path. +Reddy was forever boasting of how smart Granny Fox was. He had boasted +of it so much that everybody was sick of hearing him. When he saw Reddy +trotting along the Lone Little Path, Sammy chuckled harder than ever. He +hid in a thick hemlock-tree and as Reddy passed he shouted: + + "Had I such a stupid old Granny + As some folks who think they are smart, + I never would boast of my Granny, + But live by myself quite apart!" + +Reddy looked up angrily. He couldn't see Sammy Jay, but he knew Sammy's +voice. There is no mistaking that. Everybody knows the voice of Sammy +Jay. Of course it was foolish, very foolish of Reddy to be angry, and +still more foolish to show that he was angry. Had he stopped a minute to +think, he would have known that Sammy was saying such a mean, provoking +thing just to make him angry, and that the angrier he became the better +pleased Sammy Jay would be. But like a great many people, Reddy allowed +his temper to get the better of his common sense. + +"Who says Granny Fox is stupid?" he snarled. + +"I do," replied Sammy Jay promptly. "I say she is stupid." + +"She is smarter than anybody else in all the Green Forest and on all the +Green Meadows. She is smarter than anybody else in all the Great World," +boasted Reddy, and he really believed it. + +"She isn't smart enough to fool Farmer Brown's boy," taunted Sammy. + +"What's that? Who says so? Has anything happened to Granny Fox?" Reddy +forgot his anger in a sudden great fear. Could Granny have been shot by +Farmer Brown's boy? + +"Nothing much, only Farmer Brown's boy caught her napping in broad +daylight," replied Sammy, and chuckled so that Reddy heard him. + +"I don't believe it!" snapped Reddy. "I don't believe a word of it! +Nobody ever yet caught Old Granny Fox napping, and nobody ever will." + +"I don't care whether you believe it or not; it's so, for I saw him," +retorted Sammy Jay. + +"You--you--you--" began Reddy Fox. + +"Go ask Tommy Tit the Chickadee if it isn't true. He saw him too," +interrupted Sammy Jay. + +"Dee, dee, dee, Chickadee! It's so, and Farmer Brown's boy only threw a +snowball at her and let her run away without shooting at her," declared +a new voice. There sat Tommy Tit himself. + +Reddy didn't know what to think or say. He just couldn't believe it, +yet he had never known Tommy Tit to tell an untruth. Sammy Jay alone +he wouldn't have believed. Then Tommy Tit and Sammy Jay told Reddy +all about what they had seen, how Farmer Brown's boy had surprised Old +Granny Fox and then allowed her to go unharmed. Reddy had to believe +it. If Tommy Tit said it was so, it must be so. Reddy Fox started off to +hunt up Old Granny Fox and ask her about it. But a sudden thought popped +into his red head, and he changed his mind. + +"I won't say a thing about it until some time when Granny scolds me for +being careless," muttered Reddy, with a sly grin. "Then I'll see what +she has to say. I guess she won't scold me so much after this." + +Reddy grinned more than ever, which wasn't a bit nice of him. Instead of +being sorry that Old Granny Fox had had such a fright, he was planning +how he would get even with her when she should scold him for his own +carelessness. + + + +CHAPTER X: Reddy Fox Is Impudent + + A saucy tongue is dangerous to possess; + Be sure some day 't will get you in a mess. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Reddy Fox is headstrong and, like most headstrong people, is given to +thinking that his way is the best way just because it is his way. He is +smart, is Reddy Fox. Yes, indeed, Reddy Fox is very, very smart. He has +to be in order to live. But a great deal of what he knows he learned +from Old Granny Fox. The very best tricks he knows she taught him. She +began teaching him when he was so little that he tumbled over his own +feet. It was she who taught him how to hunt, that it is better never to +steal chickens near home but to go a long way off for them, and how to +fool Bowser the Hound. + +It was Granny who taught Reddy how to use his little black nose to +follow the tracks of careless young Rabbits, and how to catch Meadow +Mice under the snow. In fact, there is little Reddy knows which he +didn't learn from wise, shrewd Old Granny Fox. + +But as he grew bigger and bigger, until he was quite as big as Granny +herself, he forgot what he owed to her. He grew to have a very good +opinion of himself and to feel that he knew just about all there was +to know. So sometimes when he had done foolish or careless things and +Granny had scolded him, telling him he was big enough and old enough to +know better, he would sulk and go off muttering to himself. But he never +quite dared to be openly disrespectful to Granny, and this, of course, +was quite as it should have been. + +"If only I could catch Granny doing something foolish or careless," he +would say to himself. But he never could, and he had begun to think that +he never would. But now at last Granny, clever Old Granny Fox, had been +careless! She had allowed Farmer Brown's boy to catch her napping! Reddy +did wish he had been there to see it himself. But anyway, he had been +told about it, and he made up his mind that the next time Granny said +anything sharp to him about his carelessness he would have something to +say back. Yes, Sir, Reddy Fox was deliberately planning to answer back, +which, as you know, is always disrespectful to one's elders. + +At last the chance came. Reddy did a thing no truly wise Fox ever will +do. He went two nights in succession to the same henhouse, and the +second time he barely escaped being shot. Old Granny Fox found out about +it. How she found out Reddy doesn't know to this day, but find out +she did, and she gave him such a scolding as even her sharp tongue had +seldom given him. + +"You are the stupidest Fox I ever heard of," scolded Granny. + +"I'm no more stupid than you are!" retorted Reddy in the most impudent +way. + +"What's that?" demanded Granny. "What's that you said?" + +"I said I'm no more stupid than you are, and what is more, I hope I'm +not so stupid. I know better than to take a nap in broad daylight right +under the very nose of Farmer Brown's boy." Reddy grinned in the most +impudent way as he said this. + +Granny's eyes snapped. Then things happened. Reddy was cuffed this way +and cuffed that way and cuffed the other way until it seemed to him that +the air was full of black paws, every one of which landed on his head +or face with a sting that made him whimper and put his tail between his +legs, and finally howl. + +"There!" cried Granny, when at last she had to stop because she was +quite out of breath. "Perhaps that will teach you to be respectful to +your elders. I was careless and stupid, and I am perfectly ready to +admit it, because it has taught me a lesson. Wisdom often is gained +through mistakes, but never when one is not willing to admit the +mistakes. No Fox lives long who makes the same mistake twice. And those +who are impudent to their elders come to no good end. I've got a fat +goose hidden away for dinner, but you will get none of it." + +"I--I wish I'd never heard of Granny's mistake," whined Reddy to himself +as he crept dinnerless to bed. + +"You ought to wish that you hadn't been impudent," whispered a small +voice down inside him. + + + +CHAPTER XI: After The Storm + + The joys and the sunshine that make us glad; + The worries and troubles that makes us sad + Must come to an end; so why complain + Of too little sun or too much rain? + --Old Granny Fox. + +The thing to do is to make the most of the sunshine while it lasts, and +when it rains to look forward to the corning of the sun again, knowing +that conic it surely will. A dreadful storm was keeping the little +people of the Green Forest, the Green Meadows, and the Old Orchard +prisoners in their own homes or in such places of shelter as they had +been able to find. + +But it couldn't last forever, and they knew it. Knowing this was all +that kept some of them alive. + +You see, they were starving. Yes, Sir, they were starving. You and I +would be very hungry, very hungry indeed, if we had to go without food +for two whole days, but if we were snug and warm it wouldn't do us any +real harm. With the little wild friends, especially the little feathered +folks, it is a very different matter. You see, they are naturally so +active that they have to fill their stomachs very often in order to +supply their little bodies with heat and energy. So when their food +supply is wholly cut off, they starve or else freeze to death in a very +short time. A great many little lives are ended this way in every long, +hard winter storm. + +It was late in the afternoon of the second day when rough Brother North +Wind decided that he had shown his strength and fierceness long enough, +and rumbling and grumbling retired from the Green Meadows and the Green +Forest, blowing the snow clouds away with him. For just a little while +before it was time for him to go to bed behind the Purple Hills, jolly, +round, red Mr. Sun smiled down on the white land, and never was his +smile more welcome. Out from their shelters hurried all the little +prisoners, for they must make the most of the short time before the +coming of the cold night. + +Little Tommy Tit the Chickadee was so weak that he could hardly fly, and +he shook with chills. He made straight for the apple-tree where Farmer +Brown's boy always keeps a piece of suet tied to a branch for Tommy and +his friends. Drummer the Woodpecker was there before him. Now it is +one of the laws of politeness among the feathered folk that when one is +eating from a piece of suet a newcomer shall await his turn. + +"Dee, dee, dee!" said Tommy Tit faintly but cheerfully, for he couldn't +be other than cheery if he tried. "Dee, dee, dee! That looks good to +me." + +"It is good," mumbled Drummer, pecking away at the suet greedily. "Come +on, Tommy Tit. Don't wait for me, for I won't be through for a long +time. I'm nearly starved, and I guess you must be." + +"I am," confessed Tommy, as he flew over beside Drummer. "Thank you ever +so much for not making me wait." + +"Don't mention it," replied Drummer, with his mouth full. "This is no +time for politeness. Here comes Yank Yank the Nuthatch. I guess there is +room for him too." + +Yank Yank was promptly invited to join them and did so after apologizing +for seeming so greedy. + +"If I couldn't get my stomach full before night, I certainly should +freeze to death before morning," said he. "What a blessing it is to have +all this good food waiting for us. If I had to hunt for my usual food +on the trees, I certainly should have to give up and die. It took all +my strength to get over here. My, I feel like a new bird already! Here +comes Sammy Jay. I wonder if he will try to drive us away as he usually +does." + +Sammy did nothing of the kind. He was very meek and most polite. +"Can you make room for a starving fellow to get a bite?" he asked. "I +wouldn't ask it but that I couldn't last another night without food." + +"Dee, dee, dee! Always room for one more," replied Tommy Tit, crowding +over to give Sammy room. "Wasn't that a dreadful storm?" + +"Worst I ever knew," mumbled Sammy. "I wonder if I ever will be warm +again." + +Until their stomachs were full, not another word was said. Meanwhile +Chatterer the Red Squirrel had discovered that the storm was over. As he +floundered through the snow to another apple-tree he saw Tommy Tit +and his friends, and in his heart he rejoiced that they had found food +waiting for them. His own troubles were at an end, for in the tree he +was headed for was a store of corn. + + + +CHAPTER XII: Granny And Reddy Fox Hunt In Vain + + Old Mother Nature's plans for good + Quite often are not understood. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Tommy Tit and Drummer the Woodpecker and Yank Yank the Nuthatch and +Sammy Jay and Chatterer the Red Squirrel were not the only ones who were +out and about as soon as the great storm ended. Oh, my, no! No, indeed! +Everybody who was not sleeping the winter away, or who had not a store +of food right at hand, was out. But not all were so fortunate as Tommy +Tit and his friends in finding a good meal. + +Peter Rabbit and Mrs. Peter came out of the hole in the heart of the +dear Old Briar-patch, where they had managed to keep comfortably warm, +and at once began to fill their stomachs with bark from young trees and +tender tips of twigs. It was very coarse food, but it would take away +that empty feeling. Mrs. Grouse burst out of the snow and hurried to +get a meal before dark. She had no time to be particular, and so she ate +spruce buds. They were very bitter and not much to her liking, but she +was too hungry, and night was too near for her to be fussy. She was +thankful to have that much. + +Granny Fox and Reddy were out too. They didn't need to hurry because, as +you know, they could hunt all night, but they were so hungry that they +just had to be looking for something to eat. They knew, of course, that +everybody else would be out, and they hoped that some of these little +people would be so weak that they could easily be caught. That seems +like a dreadful hope, doesn't it? But one of the first laws of Old +Mother Nature is self-preservation. That means to save your own life +first. So perhaps Granny and Reddy are not to be blamed for hoping that +some of their neighbors might be caught easily because of the great +storm. They were very hungry indeed, and they could not eat bark like +Peter Rabbit, or buds like Mrs. Grouse, or seeds like Whitefoot the +Woodmouse. Their teeth and stomachs are not made for such food. + +It was hard going for Granny and Reddy Fox. The snow was soft and deep +in many places, and they had to keep pretty close to those places where +rough Brother North Wind had blown away enough of the snow to make +walking fairly easy. They soon found that their hope that they would +find some of their neighbors too weak to escape was quite in vain. When +jolly, round, red Mr. Sun dropped clown behind the Purple Hills to go to +bed, their stomachs were quite as empty as when they had started out. + +"We'll go down to the Old Briar-patch. I don't believe it will be of +much use, but you never can tell until you try. Peter Rabbit may take it +into his silly head to come outside," said Granny, leading the way. + +When they reached the dear Old Briar-patch they found that Peter was not +outside. In fact, peering between the brambles and bushes, they could +see his little brown form bobbing about as he hunted for tender bark. He +had already made little paths along which he could hop easily. Peter saw +them almost as soon as they saw him. + +"Hard times these," said Peter pleasantly. "I hope your stomachs are not +as empty as mine." He pulled a strip of bark from a young tree and began +to chew it. This was more than Reddy could stand. To see Peter eating +while his own stomach was just one great big ache from emptiness was too +much. + +"I'm going in there and catch him, or drive him out where you can catch +him, if I tear my coat all to pieces!" snarled Reddy. + +Peter stopped chewing and sat up. "Come right along, Reddy. Come right +along if you want to, but I would advise you to save your skin and your +coat," said he. + +Reddy's only reply was a snarl as he pushed his way under the brambles. +He yelped as they tore his coat and scratched his face, but he kept on. +Now Peter's paths were very cunningly made. He had cut them through the +very thickest of the briars just big enough for himself and Mrs. Peter +to hop along comfortably. But Reddy is so much bigger that he had to +force his way through and in places crawl flat on his stomach, which was +very slow work, to say nothing of the painful scratches from the briars. +It was no trouble at all for Peter to keep out of his way, and before +long Reddy gave up. Without a word Granny Fox led the way to the Green +Forest. They would try to find where Mrs. Grouse was sleeping under the +snow. But though they hunted all night, they failed to find her, for she +wisely had gone to bed in a spruce-tree. + + + +CHAPTER XIII: Granny Fox Admits Growing Old + + Who will not admit he is older each day + fools no one but himself. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Old Granny Fox is a spry old lady for her age. If you don't believe it +just try to catch her. But spry as she is, she isn't as spry as she used +to be. No, Sir, Granny Fox isn't as spry as she used to be. The truth +is, Granny is getting old. She never would admit it, and Reddy never had +realized it until the day after the great storm. All that night they had +hunted in vain for something to eat and at daylight had crept into their +house to rest awhile before starting on another hunt. They had neither +the strength nor the courage to search any longer then. Wading through +snow is very hard work at best and very tiresome, but when your stomach +has been empty for so long that you almost begin to wonder what food +tastes like, it becomes harder work still. You see, it is food that +makes strength, and lack of food takes away strength. + +This was why Granny and Reddy Fox just HAD to rest. Hungry as they were, +they HAD to give up for awhile. Reddy flung himself down, and if ever +there was a discouraged young Fox he was that one. "I wish I were dead," +he moaned. + +"Tut, tut, tut!" said Granny Fox sharply. "That's no way for a young Fox +to talk! I'm ashamed of you. I am indeed." Then she added more kindly: +"I know just how you feel. Just try to forget your empty stomach and +rest awhile. We have had a tiresome, disappointing, discouraging night, +but when you are rested things will not look quite so bad. You know the +old saying: + + 'Never a road so long is there + But it reaches a turn at last; + Never a cloud that gathers swift But + disappears as fast.' + +You think you couldn't possibly feel any worse than you do right now, +but you could. Many a time I have had to go hungry longer than this. +After we have rested awhile we will go over to the Old Pasture. Perhaps +we will have better luck there." + +So Reddy tried to forget the emptiness of his stomach and actually had a +nap, for he was very, very tired. When he awoke he felt better. + +"Well, Granny," said he, "let's start for the Old Pasture. The snow +has crusted over, and we won't find it such hard going as it was last +night." + +Granny arose and followed Reddy out to the doorstep. She walked stiffly. +The truth is, she ached in every one of her old bones. At least, that is +the way it seemed to her. She looked towards the Old Pasture. It seemed +very far away. She sighed wearily. "I don't believe I'll go, Reddy," +said she. "You run along and luck go with you." + +Reddy turned and stared at Granny suspiciously. You know his is a very +suspicious nature. Could it be that Granny had some secret plan of her +own to get a meal and wanted to get rid of him? + +"What's the matter with you?" he demanded roughly. "It was you who +proposed going over to the Old Pasture." + +Granny smiled. It was a sad sort of smile. She is wonderfully sharp and +smart, is Granny Fox, and she knew what was in Reddy's mind as well as +if he had told her. + +"Old bones don't rest and recover as quickly as young bones, and I just +don't feel equal to going over there now," said she. "The truth is, +Reddy, I am growing old. I am going to stay right here and rest. Perhaps +then I'll feel able to go hunting to-night. You trot along now, and if +you get more than a stomachful, just remember old Granny and bring her a +bite." + +There was something in the way Granny spoke that told Reddy she was +speaking the truth. It was the very first time she ever had admitted +that she was growing old and was no longer the equal of any Fox. Never +before had he noticed how gray she had grown. Reddy felt a feeling of +shame creep over him,--shame that he had suspected Granny of playing a +sharp trick. And this little feeling of shame was followed instantly by +a splendid thought. He would go out and find food of some kind, and he +would bring it straight back to Granny. He had been taken care of by +Granny when he was little, and now he would repay Granny for all she had +done for him by taking care of her in her old age. + +"Go back in the house and lie down, Granny," said he kindly. "I am going +to get something, and whatever it may be you shall have your share." +With this he trotted off towards the Old Pasture and somehow he didn't +mind the ache in his stomach as he had before. + + + +CHAPTER XIV: Three Vain And Foolish Wishes + + There's nothing so foolishly silly and vain + As to wish for a thing you can never attain. + --Old Granny Fox. + +We all know that, yet most of us are just foolish enough to make such a +wish now and then. I guess you have done it. I know I have. Peter Rabbit +has done it often and then laughed at himself afterwards. I suspect that +even shrewd, clever old Granny Fox has been guilty of it more than +once. So it is not surprising that Reddy Fox, terribly hungry as he was, +should do a little foolish wishing. + +When he left home to go to the Old Pasture, in the hope that he would +be able to find something to eat there, he started off bravely. It was +cold, very cold indeed, but his fur coat kept him warm as long as he +was moving. The Green Meadows were glistening white with snow. All the +world, at least all that part of it with which Reddy was acquainted, was +white. It was beautiful, very beautiful, as millions of sparkles flashed +in the sun. But Reddy had no thought for beauty; the only thought he had +room for was to get something to put in the empty stomachs of himself +and Granny Fox. + +Jack Frost had hardened the snow so that Reddy no longer had to wade +through it. He could run on the crust now without breaking through. This +made it much easier, so he trotted along swiftly. He had intended to go +straight to the Old Pasture, but there suddenly popped into his head +a memory of the shelter down in a far corner of the Old Orchard which +Farmer Brown's boy had built for Bob White. Probably the Bob White +family were there now, and he might surprise them. He would go there +first. + +Reddy stopped and looked carefully to make sure that Farmer Brown's boy +and Bowser the Hound were nowhere in sight. Then he ran swiftly towards +the Old Orchard. Just as he entered it he heard a merry voice just over +his head: "Dee, dee, dee, dee!" Reddy stopped and looked up. There was +Tommy Tit the Chickadee clinging tightly to a big piece of fresh suet +tied fast to a branch of a tree, and Tommy was stuffing himself. Reddy +sat down right underneath that suet and looked up longingly. The sight +of it made his mouth water so that it was almost more than he could +stand. He jumped once. He jumped twice. He jumped three times. But all +his jumping was in vain. That suet was beyond his reach. There was no +possible way of reaching it save by flying or climbing. Reddy's tongue +hung out of his mouth with longing. + +"I wish I could climb," said Reddy. + +But he couldn't climb, and all the wishing in the world wouldn't enable +him to, as he very well knew. So after a little he started on. As he +drew near the far corner of the Old Orchard, he saw Bob White and Mrs. +Bob and all the young Bobs picking up grain which Farmer Brown's boy had +scattered for them just in front of the shelter he had built for +them. Reddy crouched down and very slowly, an inch at a time, he crept +forward, his eyes shining with eagerness. Just as he was almost within +springing distance, Bob White gave a signal, and away flew the Bob +Whites to the safety of a hemlock-tree on the edge of the Green Forest. + +Tears of rage and disappointment welled up in Reddy's eyes. "I wish I +could fly," he muttered, as he watched the brown birds disappear in the +big hemlock-tree. + +This was quite as foolish a wish as the other, so Reddy trotted on and +decided to go down past the Smiling Pool. When he got there he found it, +as he expected, frozen over. But just where the Laughing Brook joins it +there was a little place where there was open water. Billy Mink was +on the ice at its edge, and just as Reddy got there Billy dived in. A +minute later he climbed out with a fish in his mouth. + +"Give me a bite," begged Reddy. + +"Catch your own fish," retorted Billy Mink. "I have to work hard enough +for what I get as it is." + +Reddy was afraid to go out on the ice where Billy was, and so he sat and +watched him eat that fine fish. Then Billy dived into the water again +and disappeared. Reddy waited a long time, but Billy did not return. "I +wish I could dive," gulped Reddy, thinking of the fine fish somewhere +under the ice. + +And this wish was quite as foolish as the other wishes. + + + +CHAPTER XV: Reddy Fights A Battle + + 'T is not the foes that are without + But those that are within + That give us battles that we find + The hardest are to win. + --Old Granny Fox + +After the last of his three foolish wishes, Reddy Fox left the Smiling +Pool and headed straight for the Old Pasture for which he had started in +the first place. He wished now that he had gone straight there. Then he +wouldn't have seen the suet tied out of reach to the branch of a tree in +the Old Orchard; he wouldn't have seen the Bob Whites fly away to safety +just as he felt almost sure of catching one; he wouldn't have seen Billy +Mink bring a fine fish out of the water and eat it right before him. It +is bad enough to be starving with no food in sight, but to be as hungry +as Reddy Fox was and to see food just out of reach, to smell it, and +not be able to get it is,--well, it is more than most folks can stand +patiently. + +So Reddy Fox was grumbling to himself as he hurried to the Old Pasture +and his heart was very bitter. It seemed to him that everything was +against him. His neighbors had food, but he had none, not so much as a +crumb. It was unfair. Old Mother Nature was unjust. If he could climb he +could get food. If he could fly he could get food. If he could dive he +could get food. But he could neither climb, fly, nor dive. He didn't +stop to think that Old Mother Nature had given him some of the sharpest +wits in all the Green Forest or on all the Green Meadows; that she had +given him a wonderful nose; that she had given him the keenest of ears; +that she had given him speed excelled by few. He forgot these things +and was so busy thinking bitterly of the things he didn't have that +he forgot to use his wits and nose and ears when he reached the Old +Pasture. The result was that he trotted right past Old Jed Thumper, +the big gray Rabbit, who was sitting behind a little bush holding his +breath. The minute Old Jed saw that Reddy was safely past, he started +for his bull-briar castle as fast as he could. + +It was not until then that Reddy discovered him. Of course, Reddy +started after him, and this time he made good use of his speed. But he +was too late. Old Jed Thumper reached his castle with Reddy two jumps +behind him. Reddy knew now that there was no chance to catch Old Jed +that day, and for a few minutes he felt more bitter than ever. Then all +in a flash Reddy Fox became the shrewd, clever fellow that he really is. +he grinned. + +"It's of no use to try to fill an empty stomach on wishes," said he. + +"If I had come straight here and minded my own business, I'd have caught +old Jed Thumper. Now I'm going to get some food and I'm not going home +until I do." + +Very wisely Reddy put all unpleasant thoughts out of his head and +settled down to using his wits and his eyes and his ears and his nose +for all they were worth, as Old Mother Nature had intended he should. + +All through the Old Pasture he hunted, taking care not to miss a single +place where there was the least chance of finding food. But it was all +in vain. Reddy gulped down his disappointment. + +"Now for the Big River," said he, and started off bravely. + +When he reached the edge of the Big River, he hurried along the bank +until he reached a place where the water seldom freezes. As he had +hoped, he found that it was not frozen now. It looked so black and cold +that it made him shiver just to see it. Back and forth with his nose +to the ground he ran. Suddenly he stopped and sniffed. Then he sniffed +again. Then he followed his nose straight to the very edge of the Big +River. There, floating in the black water, was a dead fish! By wading in +he could get it. + +Reddy shivered at the touch of the cold water, but what were wet feet +compared with such an empty stomach as his? In a minute he had that fish +and was back on the shore. It wasn't a very big fish, but it would stop +the ache in his stomach until he could get something more. With a sigh +of pure happiness he sank his teeth into it and then--well, then he +remembered poor Old Granny Fox. Reddy swallowed a mouthful and tried to +forget Granny. But he couldn't. He swallowed another mouthful. Poor +old Granny was back there at home as hungry as he was and too stiff and +tired to hunt. Reddy choked. Then he began a battle with himself. His +stomach demanded that fish. If he ate it, no one would be the wiser. +But Granny needed it even more than he did. For a long time Reddy fought +with himself. In the end he picked up the fish and started for home. + + + +CHAPTER XVI: Reddy Is Made Truly Happy + + It's what you do for others, + Not what they do for you, + That makes you feel so happy + All through and through and through. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Reddy Fox ran all the way home from the Big River just as fast as he +could go. In his mouth he carried the fish he had found and from which +he had taken just two bites. You remember he had had a battle with +himself over that fish, and now he was running away from himself. That +sounds funny, doesn't it? But it was true. Yes, Sir, Reddy Fox was +running away from himself. He was afraid that if he didn't get home to +Old Granny Fox with that fish very soon, he would eat every last bit of +it himself. So he was running his very hardest so as to get there before +this could happen. So really he was running away from himself, from his +selfish self. + +Old Granny Fox was on the doorstep watching for him, and he saw just how +her hungry old eyes brightened when she saw him and what he had. + +"I've brought you something to eat, Granny," he panted, as he laid the +fish at her feet. He was quite out of breath with running. "It isn't +much, but it is something. It is all I could find for you." + +Granny looked at the fish and then she looked sharply at Reddy, and into +those keen yellow eyes of hers crept a soft, tender look, such a look as +you would never have believed they could have held. + +"What have YOU had to eat?" asked Granny softly. + +Reddy turned his head that Granny might not see his face. "Oh, I've had +something," said he, trying to speak lightly. It was true; he had had +two bites from that fish. + +Now you know just how shrewd and smart and wise Granny Fox is. Reddy +didn't fool her just the least little bit. She took two small bites from +the fish. + +"Now," said she, "we'll divide it," and she bit in two parts what +remained. In a twinkling she had gulped down the smallest part, for you +know she was very, very hungry. "That is your share," said she, as she +pushed what remained over to Reddy. + +Reddy tried to refuse it. "I brought it all for you," said he. "I know +you did, Reddy," replied Granny, and it seemed to Reddy that he never +had known her voice to sound so gentle. "You brought it to me when all +you had had was the two little bites you had taken from it. You can't +fool me, Reddy Fox. There wasn't one good meal for either of us in that +fish, but there was enough to give us both a little hope and keep us +from starving. Now you mind what I say and eat your share." Granny said +this last very sternly. + +Reddy looked at Granny, and then he bolted down that little piece of +fish without another word. + +"That's better," said Granny. "We will feel better, both of us. Now that +I've something in my stomach, I feel two years younger. Before you came, +I didn't feel as if I should ever be able to go on another hunt. If +you hadn't brought something, I--I'm afraid I couldn't have lasted much +longer. By another day you probably wouldn't have had old Granny to +think of. You may not know it, but I know that you saved my life, Reddy. +I had reached a point where I just had to have a little food. You know +there are times when a very little food is of more good than a lot of +food could be later. This was one of those times." + +Never in all his life had Reddy Fox felt so truly happy. He was still +hungry,--very, very hungry. But he gave it no thought. He had saved +Granny Fox, good old Granny who had taught him all he knew. And he knew +that Granny knew how he had had to fight with himself to do it. Reddy +was happy through and through with the great happiness that comes from +having done something for some one else. + +"It was nothing," he muttered. + +"It was a very great deal," replied Granny. And then she changed the +subject. "How would you like to eat a dinner of Bowser the Hound's?" she +asked. + + + +CHAPTER XVII: Granny Fox Promises Reddy Bowser's Dinner + + To give her children what each needs + To get the most from life he can, + To work and play and live his best, + Is wise Old Mother Nature's plan. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Old Granny Fox asked Reddy how he would like to eat a dinner of Bowser +the Hound's, Reddy looked at her sharply to see if she were joking +or really meant what she said. Granny looked so sober and so much in +earnest that Reddy decided she couldn't be joking, even though it did +sound that way. + +"I certainly would like it, Granny. Yes, indeed, I certainly would like +it," said he. "You--you don't suppose he will give us one, do you?" + +Granny chuckled. "No, Reddy," said she. "Bowser isn't so generous as all +that, especially to Foxes. He isn't going to give us that dinner; we are +going to take it away from him. Yes, Sir, we just naturally are going to +take it away from, him." + +Reddy didn't for the life of him see how it could be possible to take +a dinner away from Bowser the Hound. That seemed to him almost as +impossible as it was for him to climb or fly or dive. But he had great +faith in Granny's cleverness. He remembered how she had so nearly caught +Quacker the Duck. He knew that all the time he had been away trying to +find something for them to eat, old Granny Fox had been doing more than +just rest her tired old bones. He knew that not for one single minute +had her sharp wits been idle. He knew that all that time she had been +studying and studying to find some way by which they could get something +to eat. So great was his faith in Granny just then that if she had told +him she would get him a slice of the moon he would have believed her. + +"If you say we can take a dinner away from Bowser the Hound, I suppose +we can," said Reddy, "though I don't see how. But if we can, let's do +it right away. I'm hungry enough to dare almost anything for the sake of +something to put in my stomach. It is so empty that little bit of fish +we divided is shaking around as if it were lost. Gracious, I could eat +a million fish the size of that one! Have you thought of Fanner Brown's +hens, Granny?" + +"Of course, Reddy! Of course! What a silly question!" replied Granny. +"We may have to come to them yet." + +"I wish I was at them right now," interrupted Reddy with a sigh. + +"But you know what I have told you," went on Granny. "The surest way of +getting into trouble is to steal hens. I'm not feeling quite up to being +chased by Bowser the Hound just now, and if we came right home we would +give away the secret of where we live and might be smoked out, and that +would be the end of us. Besides, those hens will be hard to get this +weather, because they will stay in their house, and there is no way for +us to get in there unless we walk right in, in broad daylight, and that +would never do. It will be a great deal better to take Bowser's dinner +away from him. In the first place, if we are careful, no one but Bowser +will know about it, and as long as he is chained up, we will have +nothing to worry about from him. Besides, we will enjoy getting even +with him for the times he has spoiled our chances of catching a fat +chicken and for the way he has hunted us. Most decidedly it will be +better and safer to try for Bowser's dinner than to try for one of those +hens." + +"Just as you say, Granny; just as you say," returned Reddy. "You know +best. But how under the sun we can do it beats me." + +"It is very simple," replied Granny, "very simple indeed. Most things +are simple enough when you find out how to do them. Neither of us could +do it alone, but together we can do it without the least bit of risk. +Listen." + +Granny went close to Reddy and whispered to him, although there wasn't +a soul within hearing. A slow grin spread over Reddy's face as he +listened. When she had finished, he laughed right out. + +"Granny, you are a wonder!" he exclaimed admiringly. "I never should +have thought of that. Of course we can do it. My, won't Bowser be +surprised! And how mad he'll be! Come on, let's be starting!" + +"All right," said Granny, and the two started towards Farmer Brown's. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: Why Bowser The Hound Didn't Eat His Dinner + + The thing you've puzzled most about + Is simple once you've found it out. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Bowser The Hound dearly loves to hunt just for the pleasure of the +chase. It isn't so much the desire to kill as it is the pleasure of +using that wonderful nose of his and the excitement of trying to catch +some one, especially Granny or Reddy Fox. Farmer Brown's boy had put +away his dreadful gun because he no longer wanted to kill the little +people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows, but rather to make +them his friends. Bowser had missed the exciting hunts he used to enjoy +so much with Farmer Brown's boy. So Bowser had formed the habit of +slipping away alone for a hunt every once in a while. When Farmer +Brown's boy discovered this, he got a chain and chained Bowser to his +little house to keep him from running away and hunting on the sly. + +Of course Bowser wasn't kept chained all the time. Oh, my, no! When his +master was about, where he could keep an eye on Bowser, he would let him +go free. But whenever he was going away and didn't want to take Bowser +with him, he would chain Bowser up. Now Bowser always had one good big +meal a day. To be sure, he had scraps or a bone now and then besides, +but once a day he had one good big meal served to him in a large tin +pan. If he happened to be chained, it was brought out to him. If not, it +was given to him just outside the kitchen door. + +Granny Fox knew all about this. Sly old Granny makes it her business to +know the affairs of other people around her because there is no telling +when such knowledge may be of use to her. So Granny had watched Bowser +the Hound when he and his master had no idea at all that she was +anywhere about, and she had found out his ways, the usual hour for his +dinner and just how far that chain would allow him to go. It was such +things which she had stored away in that shrewd old head of hers that +made her so sure she and Reddy could take Bowser's dinner away from him. +It was just about Bowser's dinner-time when Granny and Reddy trotted +across the snow-covered fields and crept behind the barn until they +could peep around the corner. No one was in sight, not even Bowser, who +was inside his warm little house at the end of the long shed back of +Farmer Brown's house. Granny saw that he was chained and a sly grin +crept over her face. + +"You stay right here and watch until his dinner is brought out to him," +said she to Reddy. "As soon as whoever brings it has gone back to the +house you walk right out where Bowser will see you. At the sight of you, +he'll forget all about his dinner. Sit right down where he can see you +and stay there until you see that I have got that dinner, or until you +hear somebody coming, for you know Bowser will make a great racket. Then +slip around back of the barn and join me back of that shed." + +So Reddy sat down to watch, and Granny left him. By and by Mrs. Brown +came out of the house with a pan full of good things. She put it down +in front of Bowser's little house and called to him. Then she turned and +hurried back, for it was very cold. Bowser came out of his little house, +yawned and stretched lazily. + +It was time for Reddy to do his part. Out he walked and sat down right +in front of Bowser and grinned at him. Bowser stared for a minute as +if he doubted his own eyes. Such impudence! Bowser growled. Then with a +yelp he sprang towards Reddy. + +Now the chain that held him was long, but Reddy had taken care not to +get too near, and of course Bowser couldn't reach him. He tugged with +all his might and yelped and barked frantically, but Reddy just sat +there and grinned in the most provoking manner. It was great fun to +tease Bowser this way. + +Meanwhile old Granny Fox had stolen out from around the corner of the +shed behind Bowser. Getting hold of the edge of the pan with her teeth +she pulled it back with her around the corner and out of sight. If she +made any noise, Bowser didn't hear it. He was making too much noise +himself and was too excited. Presently Reddy heard the sound of an +opening door. Mrs. Brown was coming to see what all the fuss was about. +Like a flash Reddy darted behind the barn, and all Mrs. Brown saw was +Bowser tugging at his chain as he whined and yelped excitedly. + +"I guess he must have seen a stray cat or something," said Mrs. Brown +and went back in the house. Bowser continued to whine and tug at his +chain for a few minutes. Then he gave it up and, growling deep in his +throat, turned to eat his dinner. But there wasn't any dinner! It had +disappeared, pan and all! Bowser couldn't understand it at all. + +Back of the shed Granny and Reddy Fox licked that pan clean; licked +it until it was polished. Then, with little sighs of satisfaction, and +every once in a while a chuckle, they trotted happily home. + + + +CHAPTER XIX: Old Man Coyote Does A Little Thinking + + Investigate and for yourself find out + Those things which most you want to know about. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Never in all his life had Reddy Fox enjoyed a dinner more than that one +he and Granny had stolen from Bowser the Hound. Of course it would have +tasted delicious anyway, because they were so dreadfully hungry, but to +Reddy it tasted better still because it had been intended for Bowser. +Bowser has hunted Reddy so often that Reddy has no love for him at all, +and it tickled him almost to death to think that they had taken his +dinner from almost under his nose. + +With that good dinner in their stomachs, Reddy and Granny Fox felt so +much better that the Great World no longer seemed such a cold and cruel +place. Funny how differently things look when your stomach is full from +the way those same things look when it is empty. Best of all they knew +they could play the same sharp trick again and steal another dinner +from Bowser if need be. It is a comforting feeling, a very comforting +feeling, to know for a certainty where you can get another meal. It is +a feeling that Granny and Reddy Fox and many other little people of the +Green Meadows and the Green Forest seldom have in winter. As a rule, +when they have eaten one meal, they haven't the least idea where the +next one is coming from. How would you like to live that way? + +The very next day Granny and Reddy went up to Farmer Brown's at Bowser's +dinner hour. But this time Farmer Brown's boy was at work near the barn, +and Bowser was not chained. Granny and Reddy stole away as silently as +they had come. On the day following they found Bowser chained and stole +another dinner from him; then they went away laughing until their sides +ached as they heard Bowser's whines of surprise and disappointment when +he discovered that his dinner had vanished. They knew by the sound of +his voice that he hadn't the least idea what had become of that dinner. + +Now there was some one else roaming over the snow-covered meadows and +through the Green Forest and the Old Pasture these days with a stomach +so lean and empty that he couldn't think of anything else. It was +Old Man Coyote. You know he is very clever, is Old Man Coyote, and he +managed to find enough food of one kind and another to keep him alive, +but never enough to give him that comfortable feeling of a full stomach. +While he wasn't actually starving, he was always hungry. So he spent all +the time when he wasn't sleeping in hunting for something to eat. + +Of course he often ran across the tracks of Granny and Reddy Fox, and +once in a while he would meet them. It struck Old Man Coyote that they +didn't seem as thin as he was. That set him to thinking. Neither of +them was a smarter hunter than he. In fact, he prided himself on being +smarter than either of them. Yet when he met them, they seemed to be in +the best of spirits and not at all worried because food was so scarce. +Why? There must be a reason. They must be getting food of which he knew +nothing. + +"I'll just keep an eye on them," muttered Old Man Coyote. + +So very slyly and cleverly Old Man Coyote followed Granny and Reddy Fox, +taking the greatest care that they should not suspect that he was doing +it. All one night he followed them through the Green Forest and over the +Green Meadows, and when at last he saw them go home, appearing not at +all worried because they had caught nothing, he trotted off to his own +home to do some more thinking. + +"They are getting food somewhere, that is sure," he muttered, as he +scratched first one ear and then the other. Somehow he could think +better when he was scratching his ears. "If they don't get it in the +night, and they certainly didn't get anything this night, they must get +it in the daytime. I've done considerable hunting myself in the daytime, +and I haven't once met them in the Green Forest or seen them on the +Green Meadows or up in the Old Pasture. I wonder if they are stealing +Farmer Brown's hens and haven't been found out yet. I've kept away from +there myself, but if they can steal hens and not be caught, I certainly +can. There never was a Fox yet smart enough to do a thing that a Coyote +cannot do if he tries. I think I'll slip up where I can watch Farmer +Brown's and see what is going on up there. Yes, Sir, that's what I'll +do." + +With this, Old Man Coyote grinned and then curled himself up for a short +nap, for he was tired. + + + +CHAPTER XX: A Twice Stolen Dinner + + No one ever is so smart that some one else + may not prove to be smarter still. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Listen and you shall hear all about three rogues. Two were in red and +were Granny and Reddy Fox. And one was in gray and was Old Man Coyote. +They were the slyest, smartest rogues on all the Green Meadows or in all +the Green Forest. All three had started out to steal the same dinner, +but the funny part is they didn't intend to steal it from the same +person. And still funnier is it that one of them didn't even know where +that dinner was or what kind of a dinner it would be. + +True to his resolve to know what Granny and Reddy Fox were getting to +eat, and where they were getting it, Old Man Coyote hid where he could +see what was going on about Farmer Brown's, for it was there he felt +sure that Granny and Reddy were getting food. He had waited only a +little while when along came Granny and Reddy Fox past the place where +Old Man Coyote was hiding. They didn't see him. Of course not. He took +care that they should have no chance. But anyway, they were not thinking +of him. Their thoughts were all of that dinner they intended to have, +and the smart trick by which they would get it. + +So with their thoughts all on that dinner they slipped up behind the +barn and prepared to work the trick which had been so successful before. +Old Man Coyote crept after them. He saw Reddy Fox lie down where he +could peep around the corner of the barn to watch Bowser the Hound and +to see that no one else was about. He saw Granny leave Reddy there and +hurry away. Old Man Coyote's wits worked fast. + +"I can't be in two places at once," thought he, "so I can't watch both +Granny and Reddy. As I can watch but one, which one shall it be? Granny, +of course. Granny is the smartest of the two, and whatever they are up +to, she is at the bottom of it. Granny is the one to follow." + +So, like a gray shadow, crafty Old Man Coyote stole after Granny Fox and +saw her hide behind the corner of the shed at the end of which was the +little house of Bowser the Hound. He crept as near as he dared and then +lay flat down behind a little bunch of dead grass close to the shed. For +some time nothing happened, and Old Man Coyote was puzzled. Every once +in a while Granny Fox would look behind and all about to be sure that no +danger was near, but she didn't see Old Man Coyote. After what seemed to +him a long time, he heard a door open on the other side of the shed. It +was Mrs. Brown carrying Bowser's dinner out to him. Of course, Old Man +Coyote didn't know this. He knew by the sounds that some one had come +out of the house, and it made him nervous. He didn't like being so +close to Farmer Brown's house in broad daylight. But he kept his eyes +on Granny Fox, and he saw her ears prick up in a way that he knew meant +that those sounds were just what she had been waiting for. + +"If she isn't afraid, I don't need to be," thought he craftily. After a +few minutes he heard a door close and knew that whoever had come out had +gone back into the house. Almost at once Bowser the Hound began to yelp +and whine. Swiftly Granny Fox disappeared around the corner of the shed. +Just as swiftly Old Man Coyote ran forward and peeped around the corner. +There was Bowser the Hound tugging at his chain, and just beyond his +reach was Reddy Fox, grinning in the most provoking manner. And there +was Granny Fox, backing and dragging after her Bowser's dinner. In a +flash Old Man Coyote understood the plan, and he almost chuckled aloud +at the cleverness of it. Then he hastily backed behind the shed and +waited. In a minute Granny Fox appeared, dragging Bowser's dinner. She +was so intent on getting that dinner that she almost backed into Old Man +Coyote without suspecting that he was anywhere about. + +"Thank you, Granny. You needn't bother about it any longer; I'll take it +now," growled Old Man Coyote in Granny's ear. + +Granny let go of that dinner as if it burned her tongue, and with a +frightened little yelp leaped to one side. A minute later Reddy came +racing around from behind the barn eager for his share. What he saw was +Old Man Coyote bolting down that twice-stolen dinner while Granny Fox +fairly danced with rage. + + + +CHAPTER XXI: Granny And Reddy Talk Things Over. + + You'll find as on through life you go + The thing you want may prove to be + The very thing you shouldn't have. + Then seeming loss is gain, you see. + --Old Granny Fox. + +If ever two folks were mad away through, those two were Granny and Reddy +Fox as they watched Old Man Coyote gobble up the dinner they had so +cleverly stolen from Bowser the Hound. It was bad enough to lose the +dinner, but it was worse to see some one else eat it after they had +worked so hard to get it. "Robber!" snarled Granny. Old Man Coyote +stopped eating long enough to grin. + +"Thief! Sneak! Coward!" snarled Reddy. Once more Old Man Coyote grinned. +When that dinner had disappeared down his throat to the last and +smallest crumb, he licked his chops and turned to Granny and Reddy. + +"I'm very much obliged for that dinner," said he pleasantly, his eyes +twinkling with mischief. "It was the best dinner I have had for a long +time. Allow me to say that that trick of yours was as smart a trick as +ever I have seen. It was quite worthy of a Coyote. You are a very clever +old lady, Granny Fox. Now I hear some one coming, and I would suggest +that it will be better for all concerned if we are not seen about here." + +He darted off behind the barn like a gray streak, and Granny and Reddy +followed, for it was true that some one was coming. You see Bowser the +Hound had discovered that something was going on around the corner of +the shed, and he made such a racket that Mrs. Brown had come out of the +house to see what it was all about. By the time she got around there, +all she saw was the empty pan which had held Bowser's dinner. She was +puzzled. How that pan could be where it was she couldn't understand, and +Bowser couldn't tell her, although he tried his very best. She had been +puzzled about that pan two or three times before. + +Old Man Coyote lost no time in getting back home, for he never felt easy +near the home of man in broad daylight. Granny and Reddy Fox went home +too, and there was hate in their hearts,--hate for Old Man Coyote. But +once they reached home, Old Granny Fox stopped growling, and presently +she began to chuckle. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded Reddy. + +"At the way Old Man Coyote stole that dinner from us," replied Granny. + +"I hate him! He's a sneaking robber!" snapped Reddy. + +"Tut, tut, Reddy! Tut, tut!" retorted Granny. "Be fair-minded. We stole +that dinner from Bowser the Hound, and Old Man Coyote stole it from us. +I guess he is no worse than we are, when you come to think it over. Now +is he?" + +"I--I--well, I don't suppose he is, when you put it that way," Reddy +admitted grudgingly. + +"And he was smart, very smart, to outwit two such clever people as we +are," continued Granny. "You will have to agree to that." + +"Y-e-s," said Reddy slowly. "He was smart enough, but--" + +"There isn't any but, Reddy," interrupted Granny. "You know the law of +the Green Meadows and the Green Forest. It is everybody for himself, and +anything belongs to one who has the wit or the strength to take it. +We had the wit to take that dinner from Bowser the Hound, and Old Man +Coyote had the wit to take it from us and the strength to keep it. It +was all fair enough, and you know there isn't the least use in crying +over spilled milk, as the saying is. We simply have got to be smart +enough not to let him fool us again. I guess we won't get any more of +Bowser's dinners for a while. We've got to think of some other way of +filling our stomachs when the hunting is poor. I think if I could have +just one of those fat hens of Farmer Brown's, it would put new strength +into my old bones. All summer I warned you to keep away from that +henyard, but the time has come now when I think we might try for a +couple of those hens." + +Reddy pricked up his ears at the mention of fat hens. "I think so too," +said he. "When shall we try for one?" + +"To-morrow morning," replied Granny. "Now don't bother me while I think +out a plan." + + + +CHAPTER XXII: Granny Fox Plans To Get A Fat Hen + + Full half success for Fox or Man + Is won by working out a plan. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Granny Fox knows this. No one knows it better. Whatever she does is +first carefully planned in her wise old head. So now after she had +decided that she and Reddy would try for one of Farmer Brown's fat hens, +she lay down to think out a plan to get that fat hen. No one knew better +than she how foolish it would be to go over to that henyard and just +trust to luck for a chance to catch one of those biddies. Of course, +they might be lucky and get a hen that way, but then again they might be +unlucky and get in a peck of trouble. + +"You see," said she to Reddy, "we must not only plan how to get that fat +hen, but we must also plan how to get away with it safely. If only there +was some way of getting in that henhouse at night, there would be no +trouble at all. I don't suppose there is the least chance of that." + +"Not the least chance in the world," replied Reddy. "There isn't a +hole anywhere big enough for even Shadow the Weasel to get through, and +Farmer Brown's boy is very careful to lock the door every night." + +"There's a little hole that the hens go in and out of during the day, +which is big enough for one of us to slip through, I believe," said +Granny thoughtfully. + +"Sure! But it's always closed at night," snapped Reddy. "Besides, to get +to that or the door either, you have got to get inside the henyard, and +there's a gate to that which we can't open." + +"People are sometimes careless,--even you, Reddy," said Granny. + +Reddy squirmed uneasily, for he had been in trouble many times through +carelessness. "Well, what of it?" he demanded a wee bit crossly. + +"Nothing much, only if that hen-yard gate should happen to be left open, +and if Farmer Brown's boy should happen to forget to close that little +hole that the hens go through, and if we happened to be around at just +that time--" + +"Too many ifs to get a dinner with," interrupted Reddy. + +"Perhaps," replied Granny mildly, "but I've noticed that it is the one +who has an eye open for all the little ifs in life that fares the best. +Now I've kept an eye on that henyard, and I've noticed that very often +Farmer Brown's boy doesn't close the henyard gate at night. I suppose he +thinks that if the henhouse door is locked, the gate doesn't matter. +Any one who is careless about one thing, is likely to be careless about +another. Sometime he may forget to close that hole. I told you that we +would try for one of those hens to-morrow morning, but the more I think +about it, the more I think it will be wiser to visit that henhouse a +few nights before we run the risk of trying to catch a hen in broad +daylight. In fact, I am pretty sure I can make Farmer Brown's boy forget +to close that gate." + +"How?" demanded Reddy eagerly. + +Granny grinned. "I'll try it first and tell you afterwards," said she. +"I believe Farmer Brown's boy closes the henhouse up just before jolly, +round, red Mr. Sun goes to bed behind the Purple Hills, doesn't he?" + +Reddy nodded. Many times from a safe hiding-place he had hungrily +watched Farmer Brown's boy shut the biddies up. It was always just +before the Black Shadows began to creep out from their hiding-places. + +"I thought so," said Granny. The truth is, she KNEW so. There was +nothing about that henhouse and what went on there that Granny didn't +know quite as well as Reddy. "You stay right here this afternoon until I +return. I'll see what I can do." + +"Let me go along," begged Reddy. + +"No," replied Granny in such a decided tone that Reddy knew it would be +of no use to tease. "Sometimes two can do what one cannot do alone, and +sometimes one can do what two might spoil. Now we may as well take a nap +until it is time for Mr. Sun to go to bed. Just you leave it to your old +Granny to take care of the first of those ifs. For the other one we'll +have to trust to luck, but you know we are lucky sometimes." + +With this Granny curled up for a nap, and having nothing better to do, +Reddy followed her example. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII: Farmer Brown's Boy Forgets To Close The Gate + + How easy 't is to just forget + Until, alas, it is too late. + The most methodical of folks + Sometimes forget to shut the gate. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Farmer Brown's Boy is not usually the forgetful kind. He is pretty good +about not forgetting. But Farmer Brown's boy isn't perfect by any means. +He does forget sometimes, and he is careless sometimes. He would be +a funny kind of boy otherwise. But take it day in and day out, he is +pretty thoughtful and careful. + +The care of the hens is one of Farmer Brown's boy's duties. It is one of +those duties which most of the time is a pleasure. He likes the biddies, +and he likes to take care of them. Every morning one of the first things +he does is to feed them and open the henhouse so that they can run in +the henyard if they want to. Every night he goes out just before dark, +collects the eggs and locks the henhouse so that no harm can come to the +biddies while they are asleep on their roosts. After the big snowstorm +he had shovelled a place in the henyard where the hens could come out +and exercise and get a sun-bath when they wanted to, and in the very +warmest part of the clay they would do this. Always in the daytime he +took the greatest care to see that the henyard gate was fastened, for no +one knew better than he how bold Granny and Reddy Fox can be when they +are very hungry, and in winter they are very apt to be very hungry most +of the time. So he didn't intend to give them a chance to slip into that +henyard while the biddies were out, or to give the biddies a chance to +stray outside where they might be still more easily caught. + +But at night he sometimes left that gate open, as Granny Fox had found +out. You see, he thought it didn't matter because the hens were locked +in their warm house and so were safe, anyway. + +It was just at dusk of the afternoon of the day when Granny and Reddy +Fox had talked over a plan to get one of those fat hens that Farmer +Brown's boy collected the eggs and saw to it that the biddies had gone +to roost for the night. He had just started to close the little sliding +door across the hole through which the hens went in and out in the +daytime when Bowser the Hound began to make a great racket, as if +terribly excited about something. + +Farmer Brown's boy gave the little sliding door a hasty push, picked up +his basket of eggs, locked the henhouse door and hurried out through the +gate without stopping to close it. You see, he was in a hurry to find +out what Bowser was making such a fuss about. Bowser was yelping and +whining and tugging at his chain, and it was plain to see that he was +terribly eager to be set free. + +"What is it, Bowser, old boy? Did you see something?" asked Farmer +Brown's boy as he patted Bowser on the head. "I can't let you go, you +know, because you probably would go off hunting all night and come home +in the morning all tired out and with sore feet. Whatever it was, I +guess you've scared it out of a year's growth, old fellow, so we'll let +it go at that." + +Bowser still tugged at his chain and whined, but after a little he +quieted down. His master looked around behind the barn to see if he +could see what had so stirred up Bowser, but nothing was to be seen, +and he returned, patted Bowser once more, and went into the house, never +once giving that open henyard gate another thought. + +Half an hour later old Granny Fox joined Reddy Fox, who was waiting on +the doorstep of their home. "It is all right, Reddy; that gate is open," +said she. + +"How did you do it, Granny?" asked Reddy eagerly. + +"Easily enough," replied Granny. "I let Bowser get a glimpse of me just +as his master was locking up the henhouse. Bowser made a great fuss, and +of course, Farmer Brown's boy hurried out to see what it was all about. +He was in too much of a hurry to close that gate, and afterwards he +forgot all about it or else he thought it didn't matter. Of course, I +didn't let him get so much as a glimpse of me." + +"Of course," said Reddy. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV: A Midnight Visit + + By those who win 't is well agreed + He'll try and try who would succeed. + --Old Granny Fox. + +It seemed to Reddy Fox as if time never had dragged so slowly as it +did this particular night while he and Granny Fox waited until Granny +thought it safe to visit Farmer Brown's henhouse and see if by any +chance there was a way of getting into it. Reddy tried not to hope too +much. Granny had found a way to get the gate to the henyard left open, +but this would do them no good unless there was some way of getting +into the house, and this he very much doubted. But if there was a way he +wanted to know it, and he was impatient to start. + +But Granny was in no hurry. Not that she wasn't just as hungry for a fat +hen as was Reddy, but she was too wise and clever and altogether too sly +to run any risks. + +"There is nothing gained by being in too much of a hurry, Reddy," said +she, "and often a great deal is lost in that way. A fat hen will taste +just as good a little later as it would now, and it will be foolish to +go up to Farmer Brown's until we are sure that everybody up there is +asleep. But to ease your mind, I'll tell you what we will do; we'll go +where we can see Farmer Brown's house and watch until the last light +winks out." + +So they trotted to a point where they could see Farmer Brown's house, +and there they sat down to watch. It seemed to Reddy that those lights +never would wink out. But at last they did. + +"Come on, Granny!" he cried, jumping to his feet. + +"Not yet, Reddy. Not yet," replied Granny. "We've got to give folks time +to get sound asleep. If we should get into that henhouse, those hens +might make a racket, and if anything like that is going to happen, we +want to be sure that Farmer Brown and Farmer Brown's boy are asleep." + +This was sound advice, and Reddy knew it. So with a groan he once more +threw himself down on the snow to wait. At last Granny arose, stretched, +and looked up at the twinkling stars. "Come on," said she and led the +way. + +Up back of the barn and around it they stole like two shadows and quite +as noiselessly as shadows. They heard Bowser the Hound sighing in his +sleep in his snug little house, and grinned at each other. Silently they +stole over to the henyard. The gate was open, just as Granny had told +Reddy it would be. Across the henyard they trotted swiftly, straight to +where more than once in the daytime they had seen the hens come out of +the house through a little hole. It was closed. Reddy had expected it +would be. Still, he was dreadfully disappointed. He gave it merely a +glance. + +"I knew it wouldn't be any use," said he with a half whine. + +But Granny paid no attention to him. She went close to the hole and +pushed gently against the little door that closed it. It didn't move. +Then she noticed that at one edge there was a tiny crack. She tried to +push her nose through, but the crack was too narrow. Then she tried a +paw. A claw caught on the edge of the door, and it moved ever so little. +Then Granny knew that the little door wasn't fastened. Granny stretched +herself flat on the ground and went to work, first with one paw, then +with the other. By and by she caught her claws in it just right again, +and it moved a wee bit more. No, most certainly that door wasn't +fastened, and that crack was a little wider. + +"What are you wasting your time there for?" demanded Reddy crossly. +"We'd better be off hunting if we would have anything to eat this +night." + +Granny said nothing but kept on working. She had discovered that this +was a sliding door. Presently the crack was wide enough for her to get +her nose in. Then she pushed and twisted her head this way and that. +The little door slowly slid back, and when Reddy turned to speak to her +again, for he had had his back to her, she was nowhere to be seen. Reddy +just gaped and gaped foolishly. There was no Granny Fox, but there was +a black hole where she had been working, and from it came the most +delicious smell,--the smell of fat hens! It seemed to Reddy that his +stomach fairly flopped over with longing. He rubbed his eyes to be sure +that he was awake. Then in a twinkling he was inside that hole himself. + +"Sh-h-h, be still!" whispered Old Granny Fox. + + + +CHAPTER XXV: A Dinner For Two + + Dark deeds are done in the stilly night, + And who shall say if they're wrong or right? + --Old Granny Fox. + +It all depends on how you look at things. Of course, Granny and Reddy +Fox had no business to be in Farmer Brown's henhouse in the middle of +the night, or at any other time, for that matter. That is, they had no +business to be there, as Farmer Brown would look at the matter. He would +have called them two red thieves. Perhaps that is just what they were. +But looking at the matter as they did, I am not so sure about it. To +Granny and Reddy Fox those hens were simply big, rather stupid birds, +splendid eating if they could be caught, and bound to be eaten by +somebody. The fact that they were in Farmer Brown's henhouse didn't make +them his any more than the fact that Mrs. Grouse was in a part of the +Green Forest owned by Farmer Brown made her his. + +You see, among the little meadow and forest people there is no such +thing as property rights, excepting in the matter of storehouses, and +because these hens were alive, it didn't occur to Granny and Reddy that +the henhouse was a sort of storehouse. It would have made no difference +if it had. Among the little people it is considered quite right to help +yourself from another's storehouse if you are smart enough to find it +and really need the food. + +Besides, Reddy and Granny knew that Fanner Brown and his boy would eat +some of those hens themselves, and they didn't begin to need them as +Reddy and Granny did. So as they looked at the matter, there was nothing +wrong in being in that henhouse in the middle of the night. They were +there simply because they needed food very, very much, and food was +there. + +They stared up at the roosts where the biddies were huddled together, +fast asleep. They were too high up to be reached from the floor even +when Reddy and Granny stood on their hind legs and stretched as far as +they could. + +"We've got to wake them up and scare them so that some of the silly +things will fly down where we can catch them," said Reddy, licking his +lips hungrily. + +"That won't do at all!" snapped Granny. "They would make a great racket +and waken Bowser the Hound, and he would waken his master, and that is +just what we mustn't do if we hope to ever get in here again. I thought +you had more sense, Reddy." + +Reddy looked a little shamefaced. "Well, if we don't do that, how are we +going to get them? We can't fly," he grumbled. + +"You stay right here where you are," snapped Granny, "and take care that +you don't make a sound." + +Then Granny jumped lightly to a little shelf that ran along in front of +the nesting boxes. From this she could reach the lower roost on which +four fat hens were asleep. Very gently she pushed her head in between +two of these and crowded them apart. Sleepily they protested and moved +along a little. Granny continued to crowd them. At last one of them +stretched out her head to see who was crowding so. Like a flash Granny +seized that head, and biddy never knew what had wakened her, nor did she +have a chance to waken the others. + +Dropping this hen at Reddy's feet, Granny crowded another until she did +the same thing, and just the same thing happened once more. Then Granny +jumped lightly down, picked up one of the hens by the neck, slung the +body over her shoulder, and told Reddy to do the same with the other and +start for home. + +"Aren't you going to get any more while we have the chance?" grumbled +Reddy. + +"Enough is enough," retorted Granny. "We've got a dinner for two, and +so far no one is any the wiser. Perhaps these two won't be missed, and +we'll have a chance to get some more another night. Now come on." + +This was plain common sense, and Reddy knew it, so without another word +he followed old Granny Fox out by the way they had entered, and then +home to the best dinner he had had for a long long time. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI: Farmer Brown's Boy Sets A Trap + + The trouble is that troubles are, + More frequently than not, + Brought on by naught but carelessness; + By some one who forgot. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Granny Fox had hoped that those two hens she and Reddy had stolen from +Farmer Brown's henhouse would not be missed, but they were. They were +missed the very first thing the next morning when Farmer Brown's boy +went to feed the biddies. He discovered right away that the little +sliding door which should have closed the opening through which the hens +went in and out of the house was open, and then he remembered that +he had left the henyard gate open the night before. Carefully Farmer +Brown's boy examined the hole with the sliding door. + +"Ha!" said he presently, and held up two red hairs which he had found on +the edge of the door. "Ha! I thought as much. I was careless last night +and didn't fasten this door, and I left the gate open. Reddy Fox has +been here, and now I know what has become of those two hens. I suppose +it serves me right for my carelessness, and I suppose if the truth were +known, those hens were of more real good to him than they ever could +have been to me, because the poor fellow must be having pretty hard work +to get a living these hard winter days. Still, I can't have him stealing +any more. That would never do at all. If I shut them up every night and +am not careless, he can't get them. But accidents will happen, and I +might do just as I did last night--think I had locked up when I hadn't. +I don't like to set a trap for Reddy, but I must teach the rascal a +lesson. If I don't, he will get so bold that those chickens won't be +safe even in broad daylight." + +Now at just that very time over in their home, Granny and Reddy Fox were +talking over plans for the future, and shrewd old Granny was pointing +out to Reddy how necessary it was that they should keep away from that +henyard for some time. "We've had a good dinner, a splendid dinner, and +if we are smart enough we may be able to get more good dinners where +this one came from," said she. "But we certainly won't if we are too +greedy." + +"But I don't believe Farmer Brown's boy has missed those two chickens, +and I don't see any reason at all why we shouldn't go back there +to-night and get two more if he is stupid enough to leave that gate and +little door open," whined Reddy. + +"Maybe he hasn't missed those two, but if we should take two more he +certainly would miss them, and he would guess what had become of them, +and that might get us into no end of trouble," snapped Granny. "We are +not starving now, and the best thing for us to do is to keep away from +that henhouse until we can't get anything to eat anywhere else, Now you +mind what I tell you, Reddy, and don't you dare go near there." + +Reddy promised, and so it came about that Farmer Brown's boy hunted up +a trap all for nothing so far as Reddy and Granny were concerned. Very +carefully he bound strips of cloth around the jaws of the trap, for +he couldn't bear to think of those cruel jaws cutting into the leg +of Reddy, should he happen to get caught. You see, Farmer Brown's boy +didn't intend to kill Reddy if he should catch him, but to make him a +prisoner for a while and so keep him out of mischief. That night he hid +the trap very cunningly just inside the henhouse where any one creeping +through that little hole made for the hens to go in and out would be +sure to step in it. Then he purposely left the little sliding door open +part way as if it had been forgotten, and he also left the henyard gate +open just as he had done the night before. + +"There now, Master Reddy," said he, talking to himself, "I rather think +that you are going to get into trouble before morning." + +And doubtless Reddy would have done just that thing but for the wisdom +of sly old Granny. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII: Prickly Porky Takes A Sun Bath + + Danger comes when least expected; + 'T is often near when not expected. + --Old Granny Fox. + +The long hard winter had passed, and Spring had come. Prickly Porky +the Porcupine came down from a tall poplar-tree and slowly stretched +himself. He was tired of eating. He was tired of swinging in the +tree-top. + +"I believe I'll have a sun-bath," said Prickly Porky, and lazily walked +toward the edge of the Green Forest in search of a place where the sun +lay warm and bright. + +Now Prickly Porky's stomach was very, very full. He was fat and +naturally lazy, so when he came to the doorstep of an old house just on +the edge of the Green Forest he sat down to rest. It was sunny and warm +there, and the longer he sat the less like moving he felt. He looked +about him with his dull eyes and grunted to himself. + +"It's a deserted house. Nobody lives here, and I guess nobody'll care if +I take a nap right here on the doorstep," said Prickly Porky to himself. +"And I don't care if they do," he added, for Prickly Porky the Porcupine +was afraid of nobody and nothing. + +So Prickly Porky made himself as comfortable as possible, yawned once or +twice, tried to wink at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun, who was winking and +smiling down at him and then fell fast asleep right on the doorstep of +the old house. + +Now the old house had been deserted. No one had lived in it for a long, +long time, a very long time indeed. But it happened that, the night +before, old Granny Fox and Reddy Fox had had to move out of their nice +home on the edge of the Green Meadows because Farmer Brown's boy had +found it. Reddy was very stiff and sore, for he had been shot by a +hunter. He was so sore he could hardly walk, and could not go very far. +So old Granny Fox had led him to the old deserted house and put him to +bed in that. + +"No one will think of looking for us here, for every one knows that no +one lives here," said old Granny Fox, as she made Reddy as comfortable +as possible. + +As soon as it was daylight, Granny Fox slipped out to watch for Farmer +Brown's boy, for she felt sure that he would come back to the house they +had left, and sure enough he did. He brought a spade and dug the house +open, and all the time old Granny Fox was watching him from behind a +fence corner and laughing to think that she had been smart enough to +move in the night. + +But Reddy Fox didn't know anything about this. He was so tired that he +slept and slept and slept. It was the middle of the morning when finally +he awoke. He yawned and stretched, and when he stretched he groaned +because he was so stiff and sore. Then he hobbled up toward the doorway +to see if old Granny Fox had left any breakfast outside for him. + +It was dark, very dark. Reddy was puzzled. Could it be that he had +gotten up before daylight--that he hadn't slept as long as he thought? +Perhaps he had slept the whole day through, and it was night again. My, +how hungry he was! + +"I hope Granny has caught a fine, fat chicken for me," thought Reddy, +and his mouth watered. + +Just then he ran bump into something. "Wow!" screamed Reddy Fox, and +clapped both hands to his nose. Something was sticking into it. It was +one of the sharp little spears that Prickly Porky hides in his coat. +Reddy Fox knew then why the old house was so dark. Prickly Porky was +blocking up the doorway. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII: Prickly Porky Enjoys Himself + + A boasting tongue, as sure as fate, + Will trip its owner soon or late. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Prickly Porky the Porcupine was enjoying himself. There was no doubt +about that. He was stretched across the doorway of that old house, the +very house in which old Granny Fox had been born. When he had lain down +on the doorstep for a nap and sun-bath, he had thought that the old +house was still deserted. Then he had fallen asleep, only to be wakened +by Reddy Fox, who bad been asleep in the old house and who couldn't get +out because Prickly Porky was in the way. + +Now Prickly Porky does not love Reddy Fox, and the more Reddy begged and +scolded and called him names, the more Prickly Porky chuckled. It was +such a good joke to think that he had trapped Reddy Fox, and he made up +his mind that he would keep Reddy in there a long time just to tease him +and make him uncomfortable. You see Prickly Porky remembered how often +Reddy Fox played mean tricks on little meadow and forest folks who are +smaller and weaker than himself. + +"It will do him good. It certainly will do him good," said Prickly +Porky, and rattled the thousand little spears hidden in his long coat, +for he knew that the very sound of them would make Reddy Fox shiver with +fright. + +Suddenly Prickly Porky pricked up his funny little short ears. He heard +the deep voice of Bowser the Hound, and it was coming nearer and nearer. +Prickly Porky chuckled again. + +"I guess Mr. Bowser is going to have a surprise; I certainly think he +is," said Prickly Porky as he made all the thousand little spears stand +out from his long coat till he looked like a funny great chestnut burr. + +Bowser the Hound did have a surprise. He was hunting Reddy Fox, and he +almost ran into Prickly Porky before he saw him. The very sight of those +thousand little spears sent little cold chills chasing each other down +Bowser's backbone clear to the tip of his tail, for he remembered how he +had gotten some of them in his lips and mouth once upon a time, and +how it had hurt to have them pulled out. Ever since then he had had the +greatest respect for Prickly Porky. + +"Wow!" yelped Bowser the Hound, stopping short. "I beg your pardon, +Prickly Porky, I beg your pardon, I didn't know you were taking a nap +here." + +All the time Bowser the Hound was backing away as fast as he could. Then +he turned around, put his tail between his legs and actually ran away. + +Slowly Prickly Porky unrolled, and his little eyes twinkled as he +watched Bowser the Hound run away. + + "Bowser's very big and strong; + His voice is deep; his legs are long; + His bark scares some almost to death. + But as for me he wastes his breath; + I just roll up and shake my spears + And Bowser is the one who fears." + +So said Prickly Porky, and laughed aloud. Just then he heard a light +footstep and turned to see who was coming. It was old Granny Fox. She +had seen Bowser run away, and now she was anxious to find out if Reddy +Fox were safe. + +"Good morning," said Granny Fox, taking care not to come too near. + +"Good morning," replied Prickly Porky, hiding a smile. + +"I'm very tired and would like to go inside my house; had you just as +soon move?" asked Granny Fox. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Prickly Porky, "is this your house? I thought you lived +over on the Green Meadows." + +"I did, but I've moved. Please let me in," replied Granny Fox. + +"Certainly, certainly. Don't mind me, Granny Fox. Step right over me," +said Prickly Porky, and smiled once more, and at the same time rattled +his little spears. + +Instead of stepping over him, Granny Fox backed away. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX: The New Home In The Old Pasture + + Who keeps a watch upon his toes + Need never fear he'll bump his nose. + --Old Granny Fox. + +Now there is nothing like being shut in alone in the dark to make one +think. A voice inside of Reddy began to whisper to him. "If you hadn't +tried to be smart and show off you wouldn't have brought all this +trouble on yourself and Old Granny Fox," said the voice. + +"I know it," replied Reddy right out loud, forgetting that it was only a +small voice inside of him. + +"What do you know?" asked Prickly Porky. He was still keeping Reddy in +and Granny out and he had overheard what Reddy said. + +"It is none of your business!" snapped Reddy. + +Reddy could hear Prickly Porky chuckle. Then Prickly Porky repeated as +if to himself in a queer cracked voice the following: + + "Rudeness never, never pays, + Nor is there gain in saucy ways. + It's always best to be polite + And ne'er give way to ugly spite. + If that's the way you feel inside + You'd better all such feelings hide; + For he must smile who hopes to win, + And he who loses best will grin." + +Reddy pretended that he hadn't heard. Prickly Porky continued to chuckle +for a while and finally Reddy fell asleep. When he awoke it was to find +that Prickly Porky had left and old Granny Fox had brought him something +to eat. + +Just as soon as Reddy Fox was able to travel he and Granny had moved +to the Old Pasture. The Old Pasture is very different from the Green +Meadows or the Green Forest. Yes, indeed, it is very, very different. +Reddy Fox thought so. And Reddy didn't like the change,--not a bit. All +about were great rocks, and around and over them grew bushes and +young trees and bull-briars with long ugly thorns, and blackberry and +raspberry canes that seemed to have a million little hooked hands, +reaching to catch in and tear his red coat and to scratch his face and +hands. There were little open places where wild-eyed young cattle fed +on the short grass. They had made many little paths all crisscross among +the bushes, and when you tried to follow one of these paths you never +could tell where you were coming out. + +No, Reddy Fox did not like the Old Pasture at all. There was no long, +soft green grass to lie down in. And it was lonesome up there. He missed +the little people of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest. There was +no one to bully and tease. And it was such a long, long way from Farmer +Brown's henyard that old Granny Fox wouldn't even try to bring him a fat +hen. At least, that's what she told Reddy. + +The truth is, wise old Granny Fox knew that the very best thing she +could do was to stay away from Farmer Brown's for a long time. She knew +that Reddy couldn't go down there, because he was still too lame and +sore to travel such a long way, and she hoped that by the time Reddy +was well enough to go, he would have learned better than to do such +a foolish thing as to try to show off by stealing a chicken in broad +daylight, as he had when he brought all this trouble on them. + +Down on the Green Meadows, the home of Granny and Reddy Fox had been on +a little knoll, which you know is a little low hill, right where they +could sit on their doorstep and look all over the Green Meadows. It had +been very, very beautiful down there. They had made lovely little paths +through the tall green meadow grass, and the buttercups and daisies had +grown close up to their very doorstep. But up here in the Old Pasture +Granny Fox had chosen the thickest clump of bushes and young trees she +could find, and in the middle was a great pile of rocks. Way in among +these rocks Granny Fox had dug their new house. It was right down under +the rocks. Even in the middle of the day jolly, round, red Mr. Sun could +hardly find it with a few of his long, bright beams. All the rest of the +time it was dark and gloomy there. + +No, Reddy Fox didn't like his new home at all, but when he said so old +Granny Fox boxed his ears. + +"It's your own fault that we've got to live here now," said she. "It's +the only place where we are safe. Farmer Brown's boy never will find +this home, and even if he did he couldn't dig into it as he did into our +old home on the Green Meadows. Here we are, and here we've got to stay, +all because a foolish little Fox thought himself smarter than anybody +else and tried to show off." + +Reddy hung his head. "I don't care!" he said, which was very, very +foolish, because, you know, he did care a very great deal. + +And here we will leave wise Old Granny Fox and Reddy, safe, even if +they do not like their new home. You see, Lightfoot the Deer is getting +jealous. He thinks there should be some books about the people of the +Green Forest, and that the first one should be about him. And because we +all love Lightfoot the Deer, the very next book is to bear his name. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Granny Fox, by Thornton W. Burgess + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD GRANNY FOX *** + +***** This file should be named 4980.txt or 4980.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/9/8/4980/ + +Produced by Kent Fielden + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/4980.zip b/old/4980.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d62b428 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/4980.zip diff --git a/old/ogfox10.txt b/old/ogfox10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8d50dfc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ogfox10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2829 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Granny Fox, by Thornton W. Burgess +(#9 in our series by Thornton W. Burgess) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Old Granny Fox + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4980] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 7, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, OLD GRANNY FOX *** + + + + +This eBook was transcribed by Kent Fielden (fielden3@aol.com). + +OLD GRANNY FOX + +BY THORNTON W. BURGESS + + + +CHAPTER I: Reddy Fox Brings Granny News + + Pray who is there who would refuse + To bearer be of happy news? + - Old Granny Fox. + +Snow covered the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, and ice bound +the Smiling Pool and the Laughing Brook. Reddy and Granny Fox were +hungry most of the time. It was not easy to find enough to eat these +days, and so they spent nearly every minute they were awake in hunting. +Sometimes they hunted together, but usually one went one way, and +the other went another way so as to have a greater chance of finding +something. If either found enough for two, the one finding it took +the food back to their home if it could be carried. If not, the +other was told where to find it. + +For several days they had had very little indeed to eat, and they were +so hungry that they were willing to take almost any chance to get a +good meal. For two nights they had visited Farmer Brown's henhouse, +hoping that they would be able to find a way inside. But the biddies +had been securely locked up, and try as they would, they couldn't +find a way in. + +"It's of no use," said Granny, as they started back home after the +second try, "to hope to get one of those hens at night. If we are +going to get any at all, we will have to do it in broad daylight. +It can be done, for I have done it before, but I don't like the idea. +We are likely to be seen, and that means that Bowser the Hound will +be set to hunting us." + +"Pooh!" exclaimed Reddy. "What of it? It's easy enough to fool him." + +"You think so, do you?" snapped Granny. "I never yet saw a young Fox +who didn't think he knew all there is to know, and you're just like +the rest. When you've lived as long as I have you will have learned +not to be quite so sure of your own opinions. I grant you that when +there is no snow on the ground, any Fox with a reasonable amount of +Fox sense in his head can fool Bowser, but with snow everywhere it is +a very different matter. If Bowser once takes it into his head to +follow your trail these days, you will have to be smarter than I think +you are to fool him. The only way you will be able to get away from +him will be by going into a hole in the ground, and when you do that +you will have given away a secret that will mean we will never have any +peace at all. We will never know when Farmer Brown's boy will take it +into his head to smoke us out. I've seen it done. No, Sir, we are not +going to try for one of those hens in the daytime unless we are starving." + +"I'm starving now," whined Reddy. + +"No such thing!" Granny snapped. "I've been without food longer than +this many a time. Have you been over to the Big River lately?" + +"No," replied Reddy. "What's the use? It's frozen over. There isn't +anything there." + +"Perhaps not," replied Granny, "but I learned a long time ago that +it is a poor plan to overlook any chance. There is a place in the +Big River which never freezes because the water runs too swiftly +to freeze, and I've found more than one meal washed ashore there. +You go over there now while I see what I can find in the Green +Forest. If neither of us finds anything, it will be time enough to +think about Farmer Brown's hens to-morrow." + +Much against his will Reddy obeyed. "It isn't the least bit of use," +he grumbled, as he trotted towards the Big River. "There won't be +anything there. It is just a waste of time." + +Late that afternoon he came hurrying back, and Granny knew by the way +that he cocked his ears and carried his tail that he had news of some +kind. "Well, what is it?" she demanded. + +"I found a dead fish that had been washed ashore," replied Reddy. +"It wasn't big enough for two, so I ate it." + +"Anything else?" asked Granny. + +"No-o," replied Reddy slowly; "that is, nothing that will do us any good. +Quacker the Wild Duck was swimming about out in the open water, but +though I watched and watched he never once came ashore." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Granny. "That is good news. I think we'll go +Duck hunting." + + + +CHAPTER II: Granny And Reddy Fox Go Hunting + + When you're in doubt what course is right, + The thing to do is just sit tight. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun had just got well started on his daily +climb up in the blue, blue sky that morning when he spied two figures +trotting across the snow-covered Green Meadows, one behind the other. +They were trotting along quite as if they had made up their minds +just where they were going. They had. You see they were Granny and +Reddy Fox, and they were bound for the Big River at the place where +the water ran too swiftly to freeze. The day before Reddy had +discovered Quacker the Wild Duck swimming about there, and now they +were on their way to try to catch him. + +Granny led the way and Reddy meekly followed her. To tell the truth, +Reddy hadn't the least idea that they would have a chance to catch +Quacker, because Quacker kept out in the water where he was as safe +from them as if they were a thousand miles away. The only reason that +Reddy had willingly started with Granny was the hope that he might +find a dead fish washed up on the shore as he had the day before. + +"Granny certainly is growing foolish in her old age," thought Reddy, +as he trotted along behind her. "I told her that Quacker never once +came ashore all the time I watched yesterday. I don't believe he +ever comes ashore, and if she knows anything at all she ought to +know that she can't catch him out there in the water. Granny used +to be smart enough when she was young, I guess, but she certainly is +losing her mind now. It's a pity, a great pity. I can just imagine +how Quacker will laugh at her. I have to laugh myself." + +He did laugh, but you may be sure he took great pains that Granny +should not see him laughing. Whenever she looked around he was as +sober as could be. In fact, he appeared to be quite as eager as if +he felt sure they would catch Quacker. Now old Granny Fox is very +wise in the ways of the Great World, and if Reddy could have known +what was going on in her mind as she led the way to the Big River, +he might not have felt quite so sure of his own smartness. +Granny was doing some quiet laughing herself. + +"He thinks I'm old and foolish and don't know what I'm about, the young +scamp!" thought she. "He thinks he has learned all there is to learn. +It isn't the least use in the world to try to tell him anything. +When young folks feel the way he does, it is a waste of time to talk +to them. He has got to be shown. There is nothing like experience +to take the conceit out of these youngsters." + +Now conceit is the feeling that you know more than any one else. +Perhaps you do. Then again, perhaps you don't. So sometimes it +is best not to be too sure of your own opinion. Reddy was sure. +He trotted along behind old Granny Fox and planned smart things to +say to her when she found that there wasn't a chance to catch +Quacker the Duck. I am afraid, very much afraid, that Reddy was +planning to be saucy. People who think themselves smart are quite +apt to be saucy. + +Presently they came to the bank of the Big River. Old Granny Fox +told Reddy to sit still while she crept up behind some bushes where +she could peek out over the Big River. He grinned as he watched her. +He was still grinning when she tiptoed back. He expected to see her +face long with disappointment. Instead she looked very much pleased. + +"Quacker is there," said she, "and I think he will make us a very +good dinner. Creep up behind those bushes and see for yourself, then +come back here and tell me what you think we'd better do to get him." + +So Reddy stole up behind the bushes, and this time it was Granny who +grinned as she watched. As he crept along, Reddy wondered if it +could be that for once Quacker had come ashore. Granny seemed so +sure they could catch him that this must be the case. But when he +peeped through the hushes, there was Quacker way out in the middle +of the open water just where he had been the day before. + + + +CHAPTER III: Reddy Is Sure Granny Has Lost Her Senses + + Perhaps 'tis just as well that we + Can't see ourselves as others see. + - Old Granny Fox. + +"Just as I thought," muttered Reddy Fox as he peeped through the +bushes on the bank of the Big River and saw Quacker swimming about +in the water where it ran too swiftly to freeze. "We've got just as +much chance of catching him as I have of jumping over the moon. +That's what I'll tell Granny." + +He crept back carefully so as not to be seen by Quacker, and when +he had reached the place where Granny was waiting for him, his face +wore a very impudent look. + +"Well," said Granny Fox, "what shall we do to catch him?" + +"Learn to swim like a fish and fly like a bird," replied Reddy in such +a saucy tone that Granny had hard work to keep from boxing his ears. + +"You mean that you think he can't be caught?" said she quietly. + +"I don't think anything about it; I know he can't!" snapped Reddy. +"Not by us, anyway," he added. + +"I suppose you wouldn't even try?" retorted Granny. + +"I'm old enough to know when I'm wasting my time," replied Reddy +with a toss of his head. + +"In other words you think I'm a silly old Fox who has lost her senses," +said Granny sharply. + +"No-o. I didn't say that," protested Reddy, looking very uncomfortable. + +"But you think it," declared Granny. "Now look here, Mr. Smarty, you +do just as I tell you. You creep back there where you can watch Quacker +and all that happens, and mind that you keep out of his sight. Now go." + +Reddy went. There was noth-ing else to do. He didn't dare disobey. +Granny watched until Reddy had readied his hiding-place. Then what +do you think she did? Why, she walked right out on the little beach +just below Reddy and in plain sight of Quacker! Yes, Sir, that is +what she did! + +Then began such a queer performance that it is no wonder that Reddy +was sure Granny had lost her senses. She rolled over and over. +She chased her tail round and round until it made Reddy dizzy to +watch her. She jumped up in the air. She raced back and forth. +She played with a bit of stick. And all the time she didn't pay the +least attention to Quacker the Duck. + +Reddy stared and stared. Whatever had come over Granny? She was +crazy. Yes, Sir, that must be the matter. It must be that she had +gone without food so long that she had gone crazy. Poor Granny! She +was in her second childhood. Reddy could remember how he had done +such things when he was very young, just by way of showing how fine +he felt. But for a grown-up Fox to do such things was undignified, +to say the least. You know Reddy thinks a great deal of dignity. +It was worse than undignified; it was positively disgraceful. He +did hope that none of his neighbors would happen along and see +Granny cutting up so. He never would hear the end of it if they did. + +Over and over rolled Granny, and around and around she chased her tail. +The snow flew up in a cloud. And all the time she made no sound. +Reddy was just trying to decide whether to go off and leave her +until she had regained her common sense, or to go out and try to +stop her, when he happened to look out in the open water where +Quacker was. Quacker was sitting up as straight as he could. +In fact, he had his wings raised to help him sit up on his tail, the +better to see what old Granny Fox was doing. + +"As I live," muttered Reddy, "I believe that fellow is nearer than +he was!" + +Reddy crouched lower than ever, and instead of watching Granny he +watched Quacker the Duck. + + + +CHAPTER IV: Quacker The Duck Grows Curious + + The most curious thing in the world is curiosity. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Old Granny Fox never said a truer thing than that. It is curious, very +curious, how sometimes curiosity will get the best of even the wisest +and most sensible of people. Even Old Granny Fox herself has been +known to be led into trouble by it. We expect it of Peter Rabbit, but +Peter isn't a bit more curious than some others of whom we do not +expect it. + +Now Quacker the Wild Duck is the last one in the world you would +expect to be led into trouble by curiosity. Quacker had spent the +summer in the Far North with Honker the Goose. In fact, he had been +born there. He had started for the far away Southland at the same +time Honker had, but when he reached the Big River he had found +plenty to eat and had decided to stay until he had to move on. +The Big River had frozen over everywhere except in this one place +where the water was too swift to freeze, and there Quacker had remained. +You see, he was a good diver and on the bottom of the river he found +plenty to eat. No one could get at him out there, unless it were +Roughleg the Hawk, and if Roughleg did happen along, all he had to +do was to dive and come up far away to laugh and make fun of Roughleg. +The water couldn't get through his oily feathers, and so he didn't +mind how cold it was. + +Now in his home in the Far North there were so many dangers that +Quacker had early learned to be always on the watch and to take the +best of care of himself. On his way down to the Big River he had been +hunted by men with terrible guns, and he had learned all about them. +In fact, he felt quite able to keep out of harm's way. He rather +prided himself that there was no one smart enough to catch him. + +I suspect he thought he knew all there was to know. In this respect he +was a good deal like Reddy Fox himself. That was because he was young. +It is the way with young Ducks and Foxes and with some other youngsters +I know. + +When Quacker first saw Granny Fox on the little beach, he flirted his +absurd little tail and smiled as he thought how she must wish she +could catch him. But so far as he could see, Granny didn't once look +at him. + +"She doesn't know I'm out here at all," thought Quacker. +Then suddenly he sat up very straight and looked with all his might. +What under the sun was the matter with that Fox? She was acting as +if she had suddenly lost her senses. + +Over and over she rolled. Around and around she spun. She turned +somersaults. She lay on her back and kicked her heels in the air. +Never in his life had he known any one to act like that. There must +be something the matter with her. + +Quacker began to get excited. He couldn't keep his eyes off Old +Granny Fox. He began to swim nearer. He wanted to see better. +He quite forgot she was a Fox. She moved so fast that she was just +a queer red spot on the beach. Whatever she was doing was very +curious and very exciting. He swam nearer and nearer. The excitement +was catching. He began to swim in circles himself. All the time he +drew nearer and nearer to the shore. He didn't have the least bit +of fear. He was just curious. He wanted to see better. + +All the time Granny was cutting up her antics, she was watching Quacker, +though he didn't suspect it. As he swam nearer and nearer to the shore, +Granny rolled and tumbled farther and farther back. At last Quacker +was close to the shore. If he kept on, he would be right on the land +in a few minutes. And all the time he stared and stared. No thought +of danger entered his head. You see, there was no room because it +was so filled with curiosity. + +"In a minute more I'll have him," thought Granny, and whirled faster +than ever. And just then something happened. + + + +CHAPTER V: Reddy Fox Is Afraid To Go Home + + Yes, Sir, a chicken track is good to see, but + it often puts nothing but water in my mouth. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Reddy Fox thought of that saying many times as he hunted through the +Green Forest that night, afraid to go home. You see, he had almost +dined on Quacker the Duck over at the Big River that day and then +hadn't, and it was all his own fault. That was why he was afraid to +go home. From his hiding-place on the bank he had watched Quacker +swim in and in until he was almost on the shore where old Granny Fox +was whirling and rolling and tumbling about as if she had entirely +lost her senses. Indeed, Reddy had been quite sure that she had +when she began. It wasn't until he saw that curiosity was drawing +Quacker right in so that in a minute or two Granny would be able to +catch him, that he understood that Granny was anything but crazy, +and really was teaching him a new trick as well as trying to catch +a dinner. + +When he realized this, he should have been ashamed of himself for +doubting the smartness of Granny and for thinking that he knew all +there was to know. But he was too much excited for any such thoughts. +Nearer and nearer to the shore came Quacker, his eyes fixed on the +red, whirling form of Granny. Reddy's own eyes gleamed with excitement. +Would Quacker keep on right up to the shore? Nearer and nearer and +nearer he came. Reddy squirmed uneasily. He couldn't see as well +as he wanted to. The bushes behind which he was lying were in his way. +He wanted to see Granny make that jump which would mean a dinner +for both. + +Forgetting what Granny had charged him, Reddy eagerly raised his +head to look over the edge of the bank. Now it just happened that +at that very minute Quacker chanced to look that way. His quick +eyes caught the movement of Reddy's head and in an instant all his +curiosity vanished. That sharp face peering at him over the edge of +the bank could mean but one thing -- danger! It was all a trick! +He saw through it now. Like a flash he turned. There was the +whistle of stiff wings beating the air and the patter of feet +striking the water as he got under way. Then he flew out to the +safety of the open water. Granny sprang, but she was just too late +and succeeded in doing no more than wet her feet. + +Of course, Granny didn't know what had frightened Quacker, not at +first, anyway. But she had her suspicions. She turned and looked +up at the place where Reddy had been hiding. She couldn't see him. +Then she bounded up the bank. There was no Reddy there, but far +away across the snow-covered Green Meadows was a red spot growing +smaller and smaller. Reddy was running away. Then she knew. +At first Granny was very angry. You know it is a dreadful thing to +be hungry and have a good dinner disappear just as it is almost +within reach. + +"I'll teach that young scamp a lesson he won't soon forget when I +get home," she muttered, as she watched him. Then she went back to +the edge of the Big River and there she found a dead fish which had +been washed ashore. It was a very good fish, and when she had eaten +it Granny felt better. + +"Anyway," thought she, "I have taught him a new trick and one he is +n't likely to forget. He knows now that Granny still knows a few +tricks that he doesn't, and next time he won't feel so sure he knows +it all. I guess it was worth while even if I didn't catch Quacker. +My, but he would have tasted good!" Granny smacked her lips and +started for home. + +But Reddy, with a guilty conscience, was afraid to go home. And so, +miserable and hungry, he hunted through the Green Forest all the long +night and wished and wished that he had heeded what old Granny Fox had +told him. + + + +CHAPTER VI: Old Granny Fox Is Caught Napping + + The wisest folks will make mistakes, but + if they are truly wise they will profit from them. + - Old Granny Fox. + +There is a saying among the little people of the Green Forest and the +Green Meadows which runs something like this: + + "You must your eyes wide open keep + To catch Old Granny Fox asleep." + +Of course this means that Old Granny Fox is so smart, so clever, so +keenly on the watch at all times, that he must be very smart indeed +who fools her or gets ahead of her. Reddy Fox is smart, very smart. +But Reddy isn't nearly as smart as Old Granny Fox. You see, he +hasn't lived nearly as long, so of course there is much knowledge of +many things stored away in Granny's head of which Reddy knows little. + +But once in a while even the smartest people are caught napping. +Yes, Sir, that does happen. They will be careless sometimes. +It was just so with Old Granny Fox. With all her smartness and +cleverness and wisdom she grew careless, and all the smartness and +cleverness and wisdom in the world is useless if the possessor +becomes careless. + +You see, Old Granny Fox had become so used to thinking that she was +smarter than any one else, unless it was Old Man Coyote, that she +actually believed that no one was smart enough ever to surprise her. +Yes, Sir, she actually believed that. Now, you know when a person +reaches the point of thinking that no one else in all the Great +World is quite so smart, that person is like Peter Rabbit when he +made ready one winter day to jump out on the smooth ice of the +Smiling Pool, -- getting ready for a fall. It was this way with Old +Granny Fox. + +Because she had lived near Farmer Brown's so long and had been +hunted so often by Farmer Brown's boy and by Bowser the Hound, she +had got the idea in her head that no matter what she did they would +not be able to catch her. So at last she grew careless. Yes, Sir, +she grew careless. And that is something no Fox or anybody else can +afford to do. + +Now on the edge of the Green Forest was a warm, sunny knoll, which, +as you know, is a sort of little hill. It overlooked the Green +Meadows and was quite the most pleasant and comfortable place for a +sun-nap that ever was. At least, that is what Old Granny Fox +thought. She took sun-naps there very often. It was her favorite +resting place. When Bowser the Hound had found her trail and had +chased her until she was tired of running and had had quite all the +exercise she needed or wanted, she would play one of her clever +tricks by which to make Bowser lose her trail. Then she would hurry +straight to that knoll to rest and grin at her own smartness. + +It happened that she did this one day when there was fresh snow on +the ground. Of course, every time she put a foot down she left a +print in the snow. And where she curled up in the sun she left the +print of her body. They were very plain to see, were these prints, +and Farmer Brown's boy saw them. + +He had been tramping through the Green Forest late in the afternoon +and just by chance happened across Granny's footprints. Just for +fun he followed them and so came to the sunny knoll. Granny had +left some time before, but of course she couldn't take the print of +her body with her. That remained in the snow, and Farmer Brown's +boy saw it and knew instantly what it meant. He grinned, and could +Granny Fox have seen that grin, she would have been uncomfortable. +You see, he knew that he had found the place where Granny was in the +habit of taking a sun-nap. + +"So," said he, "this is the place where you rest, Old Mrs. Fox, +after running Bowser almost off his feet. I think we will give you +a surprise one of these days. Yes, indeed, I think we will give you +a surprise. You have fooled us many times, and now it is our turn." + +The next day Farmer Brown's boy shouldered his terrible gun and sent +Bowser the Hound to hunt for the trail of Old Granny Fox. It wasn't +long before Bowser's great voice told all the Great World that he +had found Granny's tracks. Farmer Brown's boy grinned just as he +had the day before. Then with his terrible gun he went over to the +Green Forest and hid under some pine boughs right on the edge of +that sunny knoll. + +He waited patiently a long, long time. He heard Bowser's great +voice growing more and more excited as he followed Old Granny Fox. +By and by Bowser stopped baying and began to yelp impatiently. +Farmer Brown's boy knew exactly what that meant. It meant that +Granny had played one of her smart tricks and Bowser had lost her trail. + +A few minutes later out of the Green Forest came Old Granny Fox, and +she was grinning, for once more she had fooled Bowser the Hound and +now could take a nap in peace. Still grinning, she turned around two +or three times to make herself comfortable and then, with a sigh of +contentment, curled up for a sun-nap, and in a few minutes was asleep. +And just a little way off behind the pine boughs sat Farmer Brown's +boy holding his terrible gun and grinning. At last he had caught +Old Granny Fox napping. + + + +CHAPTER VII: Granny Fox Has A Bad Dream + + Nothing ever simply happens; + Bear that point in mind. + If you look long and hard enough + A cause you'll always find. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Old Granny Fox was dreaming. Yes, Sir, she was dreaming. There she +lay, curled up on the sunny little knoll on the edge of the Green +Forest, fast asleep and dreaming. It was a very pleasant and very +comfortable place indeed. You see, jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun +poured his warmest rays right down there from the blue, blue sky. +When Old Granny Fox was tired, she often slipped over there for a +short nap and sun-bath even in winter. She was quite sure that no +one knew anything about it. It was one of her secrets. + +This morning Old Granny Fox was very tired, unusually so. In the +first place she had been out hunting all night. Then, before she +could reach home, Bowser the Hound had found her tracks and started +to follow them. Of course, it wouldn't have done to go home then. +It wouldn't have done at all. Bowser would have followed her +straight there and so found out where she lived. So she had led +Bowser far away across the Green Meadows and through the Green +Forest and finally played one of her smart tricks which had so mixed +her tracks that Bowser could no longer follow them. While he had +sniffed and snuffed and snuffed and sniffed with that wonderful nose +of his, trying to find out where she had gone, Old Granny Fox had +trotted straight to the sunny knoll and there curled up to rest. +Right away she fell asleep. + +Now Old Granny Fox, like most of the other little people of the +Green Forest and the Green Meadows, sleeps with her ears wide open. +Her eyes may be closed, but not her ears. Those are always on +guard, even when she is asleep, and at the least sound open fly her +eyes, and she is ready to run. If it were not for the way her sharp +ears keep guard, she wouldn't dare take naps in the open right in +broad daylight. If you ever want to catch a Fox asleep, you mustn't +make the teeniest, weeniest noise. Just remember that. + +Now Old Granny Fox had no sooner closed her eyes than she began to +dream. At first it was a very pleasant dream, the pleasantest dream a +Fox can have. It was of a chicken dinner, all the chicken she could +eat. Granny certainly enjoyed that dream. It made her smack her lips +quite as if it were a real and not a dream dinner she was enjoying. + +But presently the dream changed and became a bad dream. Yes, indeed, +it became a bad dream. It was as bad as at first it had been good. +It seemed to Granny that Bowser the Hound had become very smart, +smarter than she had ever known him to be before. Do what she +would, she couldn't fool him. Not one of all the tricks she knew, +and she knew a great many, fooled him at all. They didn't puzzle +him long enough for her to get her breath. + +Bowser kept getting nearer and nearer and nearer, all in the dream, +you know, until it seemed as if his great voice sounded right at her +very heels. She was so tired that it seemed to her that she couldn't +run another step. It was a very, very real dream. You know dreams +sometimes do seem very real indeed. This was the way it was with +the bad dream of Old Granny Fox. It seemed to her that she could +feel the breath of Bowser the Hound and that his great jaws were +just going to close on her and shake her to death. + +"Oh! Oh!" cried Granny and waked herself up. Her eyes flew open. +Then she gave a great sigh of relief as she realized that her +terrible fright was only a bad dream and that she was curled up +right on the dear, familiar, old, sunny knoll and not running for +her life at all. + +Old Granny Fox smiled to think what a fright she had had and then, +-- well, she didn't know whether she was really awake or still +dreaming! No, Sir, she didn't. For a full minute she couldn't be +sure whether what she saw was real or part of that dreadful dream. +You see, she was staring into the face of Farmer Brown's boy and the +muzzle of his dreadful gun! + +For just a few seconds she didn't move. She couldn't. She was +too frightened to move. Then she knew what she saw was real and +not a dream at all. There wasn't the least bit of doubt about it. +That was Farmer Brown's boy, and that was his dreadful gun! All in a +flash she knew that Farmer Brown's boy must have been hiding behind +those pine boughs. + +Poor Old Granny Fox! For once in her life she had been caught napping. +She hadn't the least hope in the world. Farmer Brown's boy had only +to fire that dreadful gun, and that would be the end of her. She +knew it. + + + +CHAPTER VIII: What Farmer Brown's Boy Did + + In time of danger heed this rule: + Think hard and fast, but pray keep cool. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Poor Old Granny Fox! She had thought that she had been in tight +places before, but never, never had she been in such a tight place +as this. There stood Farmer Brown's boy looking along the barrel of +his dreadful gun straight at her, and only such a short distance, +such a very short distance away! It wasn't the least bit of use to run. +Granny knew that. That dreadful gun would go "bang!" and that would +be the end of her. + +For a few seconds she stared at Farmer Brown's boy, too frightened +to move or even think. Then she began to wonder why that dreadful +gun didn't go off. What was Farmer Brown's boy waiting for? She got +to her feet. She was sure that the first step would be her last, +yet she couldn't stay there. + +How could Fanner Brown's boy do such a dreadful thing? Somehow, his +freckled face didn't look cruel. He was even beginning to grin. +That must be because he had caught her napping and knew that this +time she couldn't possibly get away from him as she had so many +times before. "Oh!" sobbed Old Granny Fox under her breath. + +And right at that very instant Farmer Brown's boy did something. +What do you think it was? No, he didn't shoot her. He didn't fire +his dreadful gun. What do you think he did do? Why, he threw a +snowball at Old Granny Fox and shouted "Boo!" That is what he did +and all he did, except to laugh as Granny gave a great leap and then +made those black legs of hers fly as never before. + +Every instant Granny expected to hear that dreadful gun, and it +seemed as if her heart would burst with fright as she ran, thinking +each jump would be the last one. But the dreadful gun didn't bang, +and after a little, when she felt she was safe, she turned to look +back over her shoulder. Farmer Brown's boy was standing right where +she had last seen him, and he was laughing harder than ever. +Yes, Sir, he was laughing, and though Old Granny Fox didn't think so +at the time, his laugh was good to hear, for it was good-natured and +merry and all that an honest laugh should be. + +"Go it, Granny! Go it!" shouted Farmer Brown's boy. "And the next time +you are tempted to steal my chickens, just remember that I caught you +napping and let you off when I might have shot you. Just remember that +and leave my chickens alone." + +Now it happened that Tommy Tit the Chickadee had seen all that had +happened, and he fairly bubbled over with joy. "Dee, dee, dee, +Chickadee! It is just as I have always said -- Farmer Brown's boy +isn't bad. He'd be friends with every one if every one would let him," +he cried. + +"Maybe, maybe," grumbled Sammy Jay, who also had seen all that had +happened. "But he's altogether too smart for me to trust. Oh, my! +oh, my! What news this will be to tell! Old Granny Fox will never +hear the end of it. If ever again she boasts of how smart she is, +all we will have to do will be to remind her of the time Farmer +Brown's boy caught her napping. Ho! ho! ho! I must hurry along and +find my cousin, Blacky the Crow. This will tickle him half to death." + +As for Old Granny Fox, she feared Farmer Brown's boy more than ever, +not because of what he had done to her but because of what he had +not done. You see, nothing could make her believe that he wanted to +be her friend. She thought he had let her get away just to show her +that he was smarter than she. Instead of thankfulness, hate and +fear filled Granny's heart. You know -- + + People who themselves do ill + For others seldom have good will. + + + +CHAPTER IX: Reddy Fox Hears About Granny Fox + + Though you may think another wrong + And be quite positive you're right, + Don't let your temper get away; + And try at least to be polite. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Sammy Jay hurried through the Green Forest, chuckling as he flew. +Sammy was brimming over with the news he had to tell, -- how +Old Granny Fox had been caught napping by Farmer Brown's boy. +Sammy wouldn't have believed it if any one had told him. No, Sir, +he wouldn't. But he had seen it with his own eyes, and it tickled +him almost to pieces to think that Old Granny Fox, whom everybody +thought so sly and clever and smart, had been caught actually asleep +by the very one of whom she was most afraid, but at whom she always +had turned up her nose. + +Presently Sammy spied Reddy Fox trotting along the Lone Little Path. +Reddy was forever boasting of how smart Granny Fox was. He had +boasted of it so much that everybody was sick of hearing him. +When he saw Reddy trotting along the Lone Little Path, Sammy +chuckled harder than ever. He hid in a thick hemlock-tree and as +Reddy passed he shouted: + + "Had I such a stupid old Granny + As some folks who think they are smart, + I never would boast of my Granny, + But live by myself quite apart!" + +Reddy looked up angrily. He couldn't see Sammy Jay, but he knew +Sammy's voice. There is no mistaking that. Everybody knows the +voice of Sammy Jay. Of course it was foolish, very foolish of +Reddy to be angry, and still more foolish to show that he was angry. +Had he stopped a minute to think, he would have known that Sammy +was saying such a mean, provoking thing just to make him angry, and +that the angrier he became the better pleased Sammy Jay would be. +But like a great many people, Reddy allowed his temper to get the +better of his common sense. + +"Who says Granny Fox is stupid?" he snarled. + +"I do," replied Sammy Jay promptly. "I say she is stupid." + +"She is smarter than anybody else in all the Green Forest and on all +the Green Meadows. She is smarter than anybody else in all the Great +World," boasted Reddy, and he really believed it. + +"She isn't smart enough to fool Farmer Brown's boy," taunted Sammy. + +"What's that? Who says so? Has anything happened to Granny Fox?" Reddy +forgot his anger in a sudden great fear. Could Granny have been shot +by Farmer Brown's boy? + +"Nothing much, only Farmer Brown's boy caught her napping in broad +daylight," replied Sammy, and chuckled so that Reddy heard him. + +"I don't believe it!" snapped Reddy. "I don't believe a word of it! +Nobody ever yet caught Old Granny Fox napping, and nobody ever will." + +"I don't care whether you believe it or not; it's so, for I saw him," +retorted Sammy Jay. + +"You -- you -- you --" began Reddy Fox. + +"Go ask Tommy Tit the Chickadee if it isn't true. He saw him too," +interrupted Sammy Jay. + +"Dee, dee, dee, Chickadee! It's so, and Farmer Brown's boy only +threw a snowball at her and let her run away without shooting at her," +declared a new voice. There sat Tommy Tit himself. + +Reddy didn't know what to think or say. He just couldn't believe it, +yet he had never known Tommy Tit to tell an untruth. Sammy Jay alone +he wouldn't have believed. Then Tommy Tit and Sammy Jay told Reddy all +about what they had seen, how Farmer Brown's boy had surprised Old Granny +Fox and then allowed her to go unharmed. Reddy had to believe it. +If Tommy Tit said it was so, it must be so. Reddy Fox started off +to hunt up Old Granny Fox and ask her about it. But a sudden thought +popped into his red head, and he changed his mind. + +"I won't say a thing about it until some time when Granny scolds me +for being careless," muttered Reddy, with a sly grin. "Then I'll see +what she has to say. I guess she won't scold me so much after this." + +Reddy grinned more than ever, which wasn't a bit nice of him. +Instead of being sorry that Old Granny Fox had had such a fright, he +was planning how he would get even with her when she should scold +him for his own carelessness. + + + +CHAPTER X: Reddy Fox Is Impudent + + A saucy tongue is dangerous to possess; + Be sure some day 't will get you in a mess. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Reddy Fox is headstrong and, like most headstrong people, is given +to thinking that his way is the best way just because it is his way. +He is smart, is Reddy Fox. Yes, indeed, Reddy Fox is very, very +smart. He has to be in order to live. But a great deal of what he +knows he learned from Old Granny Fox. The very best tricks he knows +she taught him. She began teaching him when he was so little that +he tumbled over his own feet. It was she who taught him how to hunt, +that it is better never to steal chickens near home but to go a long +way off for them, and how to fool Bowser the Hound. + +It was Granny who taught Reddy how to use his little black nose to +follow the tracks of careless young Rabbits, and how to catch Meadow +Mice under the snow. In fact, there is little Reddy knows which he +didn't learn from wise, shrewd Old Granny Fox. + +But as he grew bigger and bigger, until he was quite as big as +Granny herself, he forgot what he owed to her. He grew to have a +very good opinion of himself and to feel that he knew just about all +there was to know. So sometimes when he had done foolish or +careless things and Granny had scolded him, telling him he was big +enough and old enough to know better, he would sulk and go off +muttering to himself. But he never quite dared to be openly +disrespectful to Granny, and this, of course, was quite as it should +have been. + +"If only I could catch Granny doing something foolish or careless," +he would say to himself. But he never could, and he had begun to +think that he never would. But now at last Granny, clever Old +Granny Fox, had been careless! She had allowed Farmer Brown's boy to +catch her napping! Reddy did wish he had been there to see it himself. +But anyway, he had been told about it, and he made up his mind that +the next time Granny said anything sharp to him about his carelessness +he would have something to say back. Yes, Sir, Reddy Fox was +deliberately planning to answer back, which, as you know, is always +disrespectful to one's elders. + +At last the chance came. Reddy did a thing no truly wise Fox ever +will do. He went two nights in succession to the same henhouse, and +the second time he barely escaped being shot. Old Granny Fox found +out about it. How she found out Reddy doesn't know to this day, but +find out she did, and she gave him such a scolding as even her sharp +tongue had seldom given him. + +"You are the stupidest Fox I ever heard of," scolded Granny. + +"I'm no more stupid than you are!" retorted Reddy in the most +impudent way. + +"What's that?" demanded Granny. "What's that you said?" + +"I said I'm no more stupid than you are, and what is more, I hope I'm +not so stupid. I know better than to take a nap in broad daylight +right under the very nose of Farmer Brown's boy." Reddy grinned in +the most impudent way as he said this. + +Granny's eyes snapped. Then things happened. Reddy was cuffed this +way and cuffed that way and cuffed the other way until it seemed to +him that the air was full of black paws, every one of which landed +on his head or face with a sting that made him whimper and put his +tail between his legs, and finally howl. + +"There!" cried Granny, when at last she had to stop because she was +quite out of breath. "Perhaps that will teach you to be respectful +to your elders. I was careless and stupid, and I am perfectly ready +to admit it, because it has taught me a lesson. Wisdom often is +gained through mistakes, but never when one is not willing to admit +the mistakes. No Fox lives long who makes the same mistake twice. +And those who are impudent to their elders come to no good end. +I've got a fat goose hidden away for dinner, but you will get none +of it." + +"I -- I wish I'd never heard of Granny's mistake," whined Reddy to +himself as he crept dinnerless to bed. + +"You ought to wish that you hadn't been impudent," whispered a small +voice down inside him. + + + +CHAPTER XI: After The Storm + + The joys and the sunshine that make us glad; + The worries and troubles that makes us sad + Must come to an end; so why complain + Of too little sun or too much rain? + - Old Granny Fox. + +The thing to do is to make the most of the sunshine while it lasts, +and when it rains to look forward to the corning of the sun again, +knowing that conic it surely will. A dreadful storm was keeping the +little people of the Green Forest, the Green Meadows, and the Old +Orchard prisoners in their own homes or in such places of shelter as +they had been able to find. + +But it couldn't last forever, and they knew it. Knowing this was all +that kept some of them alive. + +You see, they were starving. Yes, Sir, they were starving. You and I +would be very hungry, very hungry indeed, if we had to go without food +for two whole days, but if we were snug and warm it wouldn't do us +any real harm. With the little wild friends, especially the little +feathered folks, it is a very different matter. You see, they are +naturally so active that they have to fill their stomachs very often +in order to supply their little bodies with heat and energy. So when +their food supply is wholly cut off, they starve or else freeze to +death in a very short time. A great many little lives are ended this +way in every long, hard winter storm. + +It was late in the afternoon of the second day when rough Brother +North Wind decided that he had shown his strength and fierceness long +enough, and rumbling and grumbling retired from the Green Meadows and +the Green Forest, blowing the snow clouds away with him. For just a +little while before it was time for him to go to bed behind the Purple +Hills, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun smiled down on the white land, and +never was his smile more welcome. Out from their shelters hurried all +the little prisoners, for they must make the most of the short time +before the coming of the cold night. + +Little Tommy Tit the Chickadee was so weak that he could hardly fly, +and he shook with chills. He made straight for the apple-tree where +Farmer Brown's boy always keeps a piece of suet tied to a branch for +Tommy and his friends. Drummer the Woodpecker was there before +him. Now it is one of the laws of politeness among the feathered folk +that when one is eating from a piece of suet a newcomer shall await +his turn. + +"Dee, dee, dee!" said Tommy Tit faintly but cheerfully, for he couldn't +be other than cheery if he tried. "Dee, dee, dee! That looks good to me." + +"It is good," mumbled Drummer, pecking away at the suet greedily." +Come on, Tommy Tit. Don't wait for me, for I won't be through for a +long time. I'm nearly starved, and I guess you must be." + +"I am," confessed Tommy, as he flew over beside Drummer. "Thank you +ever so much for not making me wait." + +"Don't mention it," replied Drummer, with his mouth full. "This is no +time for politeness. Here comes Yank Yank the Nuthatch. I guess there +is room for him too." + +Yank Yank was promptly invited to join them and did so after +apologizing for seeming so greedy. + +"If I couldn't get my stomach full before night, I certainly should +freeze to death before morning," said he. "What a blessing it is to +have all this good food waiting for us. If I had to hunt for my usual +food on the trees, I certainly should have to give up and die. It took +all my strength to get over here. My, I feel like a new bird already! +Here comes Sammy Jay. I wonder if he will try to drive us away as he +usually does." + +Sammy did nothing of the kind. He was very meek and most polite. +"Can you make room for a starving fellow to get a bite?" he asked. +"I wouldn't ask it but that I couldn't last another night without food." + +"Dee, dee, dee! Always room for one more," replied Tommy Tit, +crowding over to give Sammy room. "Wasn't that a dreadful storm?" + +"Worst I ever knew," mumbled Sammy. "I wonder if I ever will be warm +again." + +Until their stomachs were full, not another word was said. Meanwhile +Chatterer the Red Squirrel had discovered that the storm was over. As +he floundered through the snow to another apple-tree he saw Tommy Tit +and his friends, and in his heart he rejoiced that they had found food +waiting for them. His own troubles were at an end, for in the tree he +was headed for was a store of corn. + + + +CHAPTER XII: Granny And Reddy Fox Hunt In Vain + + Old Mother Nature's plans for good + Quite often are not understood. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Tommy Tit and Drummer the Woodpecker and Yank Yank the Nuthatch and +Sammy Jay and Chatterer the Red Squirrel were not the only ones who +were out and about as soon as the great storm ended. Oh, my, no! No, +indeed! Everybody who was not sleeping the winter away, or who had not +a store of food right at hand, was out. But not all were so fortunate +as Tommy Tit and his friends in finding a good meal. + +Peter Rabbit and Mrs. Peter came out of the hole in the heart of the +dear Old Briar-patch, where they had managed to keep comfortably warm, +and at once began to fill their stomachs with bark from young +trees and tender tips of twigs. It was very coarse food, but it +would take away that empty feeling. Mrs. Grouse burst out of the +snow and hurried to get a meal before dark. She had no time to be +particular, and so she ate spruce buds. They were very bitter and +not much to her liking, but she was too hungry, and night was too +near for her to be fussy. She was thankful to have that much. + +Granny Fox and Reddy were out too. They didn't need to hurry because, +as you know, they could hunt all night, but they were so hungry that +they just had to be looking for something to eat. They knew, of +course, that everybody else would be out, and they hoped that some +of these little people would be so weak that they could easily be caught. +That seems like a dreadful hope, doesn't it? But one of the first +laws of Old Mother Nature is self-preservation. That means to save +your own life first. So perhaps Granny and Reddy are not to be +blamed for hoping that some of their neighbors might be caught +easily because of the great storm. They were very hungry indeed, +and they could not eat bark like Peter Rabbit, or buds like Mrs. +Grouse, or seeds like Whitefoot the Woodmouse. Their teeth and +stomachs are not made for such food. + +It was hard going for Granny and Reddy Fox. The snow was soft and +deep in many places, and they had to keep pretty close to those +places where rough Brother North Wind had blown away enough of the +snow to make walking fairly easy. They soon found that their hope +that they would find some of their neighbors too weak to escape was +quite in vain. When jolly, round, red Mr. Sun dropped clown behind +the Purple Hills to go to bed, their stomachs were quite as empty as +when they had started out. + +"We'll go down to the Old Briar-patch. I don't believe it will be of +much use, but you never can tell until you try. Peter Rabbit may take +it into his silly head to come outside," said Granny, leading the way. + +When they reached the dear Old Briar-patch they found that Peter was +not outside. In fact, peering between the brambles and bushes, they +could see his little brown form bobbing about as he hunted for tender +bark. He had already made little paths along which he could hop +easily. Peter saw them almost as soon as they saw him. + +"Hard times these," said Peter pleasantly. "I hope your stomachs +are not as empty as mine." He pulled a strip of bark from a young +tree and began to chew it. This was more than Reddy could stand. +To see Peter eating while his own stomach was just one great big +ache from emptiness was too much. + +"I'm going in there and catch him, or drive him out where you can +catch him, if I tear my coat all to pieces!" snarled Reddy. + +Peter stopped chewing and sat up. "Come right along, Reddy. Come right +along if you want to, but I would advise you to save your skin and +your coat," said he. + +Reddy's only reply was a snarl as he pushed his way under the +brambles. He yelped as they tore his coat and scratched his face, +but he kept on. Now Peter's paths were very cunningly made. He had +cut them through the very thickest of the briars just big enough for +himself and Mrs. Peter to hop along comfortably. But Reddy is so +much bigger that he had to force his way through and in places crawl +flat on his stomach, which was very slow work, to say nothing of the +painful scratches from the briars. It was no trouble at all for +Peter to keep out of his way, and before long Reddy gave up. +Without a word Granny Fox led the way to the Green Forest. They +would try to find where Mrs. Grouse was sleeping under the snow. +But though they hunted all night, they failed to find her, for she +wisely had gone to bed in a spruce-tree. + + + +CHAPTER XIII: Granny Fox Admits Growing Old + + Who will not admit he is older each day + fools no one but himself. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Old Granny Fox is a spry old lady for her age. If you don't believe +it just try to catch her. But spry as she is, she isn't as spry as +she used to be. No, Sir, Granny Fox isn't as spry as she used to be. +The truth is, Granny is getting old. She never would admit it, +and Reddy never had realized it until the day after the great storm. +All that night they had hunted in vain for something to eat and at +daylight had crept into their house to rest awhile before starting +on another hunt. They had neither the strength nor the courage to +search any longer then. Wading through snow is very hard work at +best and very tiresome, but when your stomach has been empty for so +long that you almost begin to wonder what food tastes like, it +becomes harder work still. You see, it is food that makes strength, +and lack of food takes away strength. + +This was why Granny and Reddy Fox just HAD to rest. Hungry as they +were, they HAD to give up for awhile. Reddy flung himself down, and if +ever there was a discouraged young Fox he was that one. "I wish I were +dead," he moaned. + +"Tut, tut, tut!" said Granny Fox sharply. "That's no way for a young +Fox to talk! I'm ashamed of you. I am indeed." Then she added more +kindly: "I know just how you feel. Just try to forget your empty +stomach and rest awhile. We have had a tiresome, disappointing, +discouraging night, but when you are rested things will not look quite +so bad. You know the old saying: + + 'Never a road so long is there + But it reaches a turn at last; + Never a cloud that gathers swift But + disappears as fast.' + +You think you couldn't possibly feel any worse than you do right now, +but you could. Many a time I have had to go hungry longer than this. +After we have rested awhile we will go over to the Old Pasture. +Perhaps we will have better luck there." + +So Reddy tried to forget the emptiness of his stomach and actually had +a nap, for he was very, very tired. When he awoke he felt better. + +"Well, Granny," said he, "let's start for the Old Pasture. The snow +has crusted over, and we won't find it such hard going as it was last +night." + +Granny arose and followed Reddy out to the doorstep. She walked stiffly. +The truth is, she ached in every one of her old bones. At least, +that is the way it seemed to her. She looked towards the Old Pasture. +It seemed very far away. She sighed wearily. "I don't believe I'll go, +Reddy," said she. "You run along and luck go with vou." + +Reddy turned and stared at Granny suspiciously. You know his is a very +suspicious nature. Could it be that Granny had some secret plan of her +own to get a meal and wanted to get rid of him? + +"What's the matter with you?" he demanded roughly. "It was you who +proposed going over to the Old Pasture." + +Granny smiled. It was a sad sort of smile. She is wonderfully sharp +and smart, is Granny Fox, and she knew what was in Reddy's mind as +well as if he had told her. + +"Old bones don't rest and recover as quickly as young bones, and I +just don't feel equal to going over there now," said she. "The truth +is, Reddy, I am growing old. I am going to stay right here and rest. +Perhaps then I'll feel able to go hunting to-night. You trot along now, +and if you get more than a stomachful, just remember old Granny +and bring her a bite." + +There was something in the way Granny spoke that told Reddy she was +speaking the truth. It was the very first time she ever had admitted +that she was growing old and was no longer the equal of any Fox. +Never before had he noticed how gray she had grown. Reddy felt a +feeling of shame creep over him, -- shame that he had suspected +Granny of playing a sharp trick. And this little feeling of shame +was followed instantly by a splendid thought. He would go out and +find food of some kind, and he would bring it straight back to Granny. +He had been taken care of by Granny when he was little, and now he +would repay Granny for all she had done for him by taking care of her +in her old age. + +"Go back in the house and lie down, Granny," said he kindly. "I am +going to get something, and whatever it may be you shall have your share." +With this he trotted off towards the Old Pasture and somehow he +didn't mind the ache in his stomach as he had before. + + + +CHAPTER XIV: Three Vain And Foolish Wishes + + There's nothing so foolishly silly and vain + As to wish for a thing youcan never attain. + - Old Granny Fox. + +We all know that, yet most of us are just foolish enough to make +such a wish now and then. I guess you have done it. I know I have. +Peter Rabbit has done it often and then laughed at himself afterwards. +I suspect that even shrewd, clever old Granny Fox has been guilty of +it more than once. So it is not surprising that Reddy Fox, terribly +hungry as he was, should do a little foolish wishing. + +When he left home to go to the Old Pasture, in the hope that he would +be able to find something to eat there, he started off bravely. It was +cold, very cold indeed, but his fur coat kept him warm as long as he +was moving. The Green Meadows were glistening white with snow. All the +world, at least all that part of it with which Reddy was acquainted, +was white. It was beautiful, very beautiful, as millions of sparkles +flashed in the sun. But Reddy had no thought for beauty; the only +thought he had room for was to get something to put in the empty +stomachs of himself and Granny Fox. + +Jack Frost had hardened the snow so that Reddy no longer had to wade +through it. He could run on the crust now without breaking through. +This made it much easier, so he trotted along swiftly. He had +intended to go straight to the Old Pasture, but there suddenly popped +into his head a memory of the shelter down in a far corner of +the Old Orchard which Farmer Brown's boy had built for Bob White. +Probably the Bob White family were there now, and he might surprise +them. He would go there first. + +Reddy stopped and looked carefully to make sure that Farmer Brown's +boy and Bowser the Hound were nowhere in sight. Then he ran swiftly +towards the Old Orchard. Just as he entered it he heard a merry +voice just over his head: "Dee, dee, dee, dee!" Reddy stopped and +looked up. There was Tommy Tit the Chickadee clinging tightly to a +big piece of fresh suet tied fast to a branch of a tree, and Tommy +was stuffing himself. Reddy sat down right underneath that suet and +looked up longingly. The sight of it made his mouth water so that +it was almost more than he could stand. He jumped once. He jumped +twice. He jumped three times. But all his jumping was in vain. +That suet was beyond his reach. There was no possible way of +reaching it save by flying or climbing. Reddy's tongue hung out of +his mouth with longing. + +"I wish I could climb," said Reddy. + +But he couldn't climb, and all the wishing in the world wouldn't +enable him to, as he very well knew. So after a little he started on. +As he drew near the far corner of the Old Orchard, he saw Bob White +and Mrs. Bob and all the young Bobs picking up grain which Farmer +Brown's boy had scattered for them just in front of the shelter he +had built for them. Reddy crouched down and very slowly, an inch at +a time, he crept forward, his eyes shining with eagerness. Just as +he was almost within springing distance, Bob White gave a signal, +and away flew the Bob Whites to the safety of a hemlock-tree on the +edge of the Green Forest. + +Tears of rage and disappointment welled up in Reddy's eyes. "I wish I +could fly," he muttered, as he watched the brown birds disappear in +the big hemlock-tree. + +This was quite as foolish a wish as the other, so Reddy trotted on and +decided to go down past the Smiling Pool. When he got there he found +it, as he expected, frozen over. But just where the Laughing Brook +joins it there was a little place where there was open water. Billy +Mink was on the ice at its edge, and just as Reddy got there Billy +dived in. A minute later he climbed out with a fish in his mouth. + +"Give me a bite," begged Reddy. + +"Catch your own fish," retorted Billy Mink. "I have to work hard +enough for what I get as it is." + +Reddy was afraid to go out on the ice where Billy was, and so he sat +and watched him eat that fine fish. Then Billy dived into the water +again and disappeared. Reddy waited a long time, but Billy did not +return. "I wish I could dive," gulped Reddy, thinking of the fine +fish somewhere under the ice. + +And this wish was quite as foolish as the other wishes. + + + +CHAPTER XV: Reddy Fights A Battle + +'T is not the foes that are without +But those that are within +That give us battles that we find +The hardest are to win. +Old Granny Fox + +After the last of his three foolish wishes, Reddy Fox left the Smiling +Pool and headed straight for the Old Pasture for which he had started +in the first place. He wished now that he had gone straight there. +Then he wouldn't have seen the suet tied out of reach to the branch of +a tree in the Old Orchard; he wouldn't have seen the Bob Whites fly +away to safety just as he felt almost sure of catching one; he +wouldn't have seen Billy Mink bring a fine fish out of the water and +eat it right before him. It is bad enough to be starving with no food +in sight, but to be as hungry as Reddy Fox was and to see food just +out of reach, to smell it, and not be able to get it is, -- well, it +is more than most folks can stand patiently. + +So Reddy Fox was grumbling to himself as he hurried to the Old Pasture +and his heart was very bitter. It seemed to him that everything was +against him. His neighbors had food, but he had none, not so much as +a crumb. It was unfair. Old Mother Nature was unjust. If he could +climb he could get food. If he could fly he could get food. If he +could dive he could get food. But he could neither climb, fly, nor +dive. He didn't stop to think that Old Mother Nature had given him +some of the sharpest wits in all the Green Forest or on all the Green +Meadows; that she had given him a wonderful nose; that she had given +him the keenest of ears; that she had given him speed excelled by few. +He forgot these things and was so busy thinking bitterly of the +things he didn't have that he forgot to use his wits and nose and +ears when he reached the Old Pasture. The result was that he trotted +right past Old Jed Thumper, the big gray Rabbit, who was sitting +behind a little bush holding his breath. The minute Old Jed saw that +Reddy was safely past, he started for his bull-briar castle as fast as +he could. + +It was not until then that Reddy discovered him. Of course, Reddy +started after him, and this time he made good use of his speed. +But he was too late. Old Jed Thumper reached his castle with Reddy +two jumps behind him. Reddy knew now that there was no chance to catch +Old Jed that day, and for a few minutes he felt more bitter than ever. +Then all in a flash Reddy Fox became the shrewd, clever fellow that he +really is. he grinned. + +"It's of no use to try to fill an empty stomach on wishes," said he. + +"If I had come straight here and minded my own business, I'd have +caught old Jed Thumper. Now I'm going to get some food and I'm not +going home until I do." + +Very wisely Reddy put all unpleasant thoughts out of his head and +settled down to using his wits and his eyes and his ears and his nose +for all they were worth, as Old Mother Nature had intended he should. + +All through the Old Pasture he hunted, taking care not to miss a single +place where there was the least chance of finding food. But it was +all in vain. Reddy gulped down his disappointment. + +"Now for the Big River," said he, and started off bravely. + +When he reached the edge of the Big River, he hurried along the bank +until he reached a place where the water seldom freezes. As he had +hoped, he found that it was not frozen now. It looked so black and +cold that it made him shiver just to see it. Back and forth with his +nose to the ground he ran. Suddenly he stopped and sniffed. Then he +sniffed again. Then he followed his nose straight to the very edge of +the Big River. There, floating in the black water, was a dead fish! +By wading in he could get it. + +Reddy shivered at the touch of the cold water, but what were wet feet +compared with such an empty stomach as his? In a minute he had that +fish and was back on the shore. It wasn't a very big fish, but it +would stop the ache in his stomach until he could get something more. +With a sigh of pure happiness he sank his teeth into it and then -- +well, then he remembered poor Old Granny Fox. Reddy swallowed a +mouthful and tried to forget Granny. But he couldn't. He swallowed +another mouthful. Poor old Granny was back there at home as hungry as +he was and too stiff and tired to hunt. Reddy choked. Then he began +a battle with himself. His stomach demanded that fish. If he ate it, +no one would be the wiser. But Granny needed it even more than he did. +For a long time Reddy fought with himself. In the end he picked +up the fish and started for home. + + + +CHAPTER XVI: Reddy Is Made Truly Happy + + It's what you do for others, + Not what they do for you, + That makes you feel so happy + All through and through and through. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Reddy Fox ran all the way home from the Big River just as fast as he +could go. In his mouth he carried the fish he had found and from +which he had taken just two bites. You remember he had had a battle +with himself over that fish, and now he was running away from himself. +That sounds funny, doesn't it? But it was true. Yes, Sir, Reddy Fox +was running away from himself. He was afraid that if he didn't get +home to Old Granny Fox with that fish very soon, he would eat every +last bit of it himself. So he was running his very hardest so as to +get there before this could happen. So really he was running away +from himself, from his selfish self. + +Old Granny Fox was on the doorstep watching for him, and he saw just +how her hungry old eyes brightened when she saw him and what he had. + +"I've brought you something to eat, Granny," he panted, as he laid +the fish at her feet. He was quite out of breath with running. "It +isn't much, but it is something. It is all I could find for you." + +Granny looked at the fish and then she looked sharply at Reddy, and +into those keen yellow eyes of hers crept a soft, tender look, such a +look as you would never have believed they could have held. + +"What have YOU had to eat?" asked Granny softly. + +Reddy turned his head that Granny might not see his face. "Oh, I've +had something," said he, trying to speak lightly. It was true; he had +had two bites from that fish. + +Now you know just how shrewd and smart and wise Granny Fox is. Reddy +didn't fool her just the least little bit. She took two small bites +from the fish. + +"Now," said she, "we'll divide it," and she bit in two parts what +remained. In a twinkling she had gulped down the smallest part, for +you know she was very, very hungry. "That is your share," said she, +as she pushed what remained over to Reddy. + +Reddy tried to refuse it. "I brought it all for you," said he. +"I know you did, Reddy," replied Granny, and it seemed to Reddy that +he never had known her voice to sound so gentle. "You brought it to me +when all you had had was the two little bites you had taken from it. +You can't fool me, Reddy Fox. There wasn't one good meal for either +of us in that fish, but there was enough to give us both a little hope +and keep us from starving. Now you mind what I say and eat your share." +Granny said this last very sternly. + +Reddy looked at Granny, and then he bolted down that little piece of +fish without another word. + +"That's better," said Granny. "We will feel better, both of us. +Now that I've something in my stomach, I feel two years younger. +Before you came, I didn't feel as if I should ever be able to go on +another hunt. If you hadn't brought something, I -- I'm afraid I +couldn't have lasted much longer. By another day you probably +wouldn't have had old Granny to think of. You may not know it, but +I know that you saved my life, Reddy. I had reached a point where I +just had to have a little food. You know there are times when a +very little food is of more good than a lot of food could be later. +This was one of those times." + +Never in all his life had Reddy Fox felt so truly happy. He was +still hungry, -- very, very hungry. But he gave it no thought. +He had saved Granny Fox, good old Granny who had taught him all he knew. +And he knew that Granny knew how he had had to fight with himself to +do it. Reddy was happy through and through with the great happiness +that comes from having done something for some one else. + +"It was nothing," he muttered. + +"It was a very great deal," replied Granny. And then she changed the +subject. "How would you like to eat a dinner of Bowser the Hound's?" +she asked. + + + +CHAPTER XVII: Granny Fox Promises Reddy Bowser's Dinner + + To give her children what each needs + To get the most from life he can, + To work and play and live his best, + Is wise Old Mother Nature's plan. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Old Granny Fox asked Reddy how he would like to eat a dinner of Bowser +the Hound's, Reddy looked at her sharply to see if she were joking or +really meant what she said. Granny looked so sober and so much in +earnest that Reddy decided she couldn't be joking, even though it did +sound that way. + +"I certainly would like it, Granny. Yes, indeed, I certainly would +like it," said he. "You -- you don't suppose he will give us one, do +you?" + +Granny chuckled. "No, Reddy," said she. "Bowser isn't so generous +as all that, especially to Foxes. He isn't going to give us that +dinner; we are going to take it away from him. Yes, Sir, we just +naturally are going to take it away from, him." + +Reddy didn't for the life of him see how it could be possible to +take a dinner away from Bowser the Hound. That seemed to him almost +as impossible as it was for him to climb or fly or dive. But he had +great faith in Granny's cleverness. He remembered how she had so +nearly caught Quacker the Duck. He knew that all the time he had +been away trying to find something for them to eat, old Granny Fox +had been doing more than just rest her tired old bones. He knew +that not for one single minute had her sharp wits been idle. He +knew that all that time she had been studying and studying to find +some way by which they could get something to eat. So great was his +faith in Granny just then that if she had told him she would get him +a slice of the moon he would have believed her. + +"If you say we can take a dinner away from Bowser the Hound, I +suppose we can," said Reddy, "though I don't see how. But if we +can, let's do it right away. I'm hungry enough to dare almost +anything for the sake of something to put in my stomach. It is so +empty that little bit of fish we divided is shaking around as if it +were lost. Gracious, I could eat a million fish the size of that +one! Have you thought of Fanner Brown's hens, Granny?" + +"Of course, Reddy! Of course! What a silly question!" replied Granny. +"We may have to come to them yet." + +"I wish I was at them right now," interrupted Reddy with a sigh. + +"But you know what I have told you," went on Granny. "The surest +way of getting into trouble is to steal hens. I'm not feeling quite +up to being chased by Bowser the Hound just now, and if we came +right home we would give away the secret of where we live and might +be smoked out, and that would be the end of us. Besides, those hens +will be hard to get this weather, because they will stay in their +house, and there is no way for us to get in there unless we walk +right in, in broad daylight, and that would never do. It will be a +great deal better to take Bowser's dinner away from him. In the +first place, if we are careful, no one but Bowser will know about it, +and as long as he is chained up, we will have nothing to worry about +from him. Besides, we will enjoy getting even with him for the +times he has spoiled our chances of catching a fat chicken and for +the way he has hunted us. Most decidedly it will be better and +safer to try for Bowser's dinner than to try for one of those hens." + +"Just as you say, Granny; just as you say," returned Reddy. "You +know best. But how under the sun we can do it beats me." + +"It is very simple," replied Granny, "very simple indeed. Most things +are simple enough when you find out how to do them. Neither of us +could do it alone, but together we can do it without the least bit +of risk. Listen." + +Granny went close to Reddy and whispered to him, although there +wasn't a soul within hearing. A slow grin spread over Reddy's face +as he listened. When she had finished, he laughed right out. + +"Granny, you are a wonder!" he exclaimed admiringly. "I never should +have thought of that. Of course we can do it. My, won't Bowser be +surprised! And how mad he'll be! Come on, let's he starting!" + +All right," said Granny, and the two started towards Farmer Brown's. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: Why Bowser The Hound Didn't Eat His Dinner + + The thing you've puzzled most about + Is simple once you've found it out. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Bowser The Hound dearly loves to hunt just for the pleasure of the +chase. It isn't so much the desire to kill as it is the pleasure of +using that wonderful nose of his and the excitement of trying to +catch some one, especially Granny or Reddy Fox. Farmer Brown's boy +had put away his dreadful gun because he no longer wanted to kill +the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows, but +rather to make them his friends. Bowser had missed the exciting +hunts he used to enjoy so much with Farmer Brown's boy. So Bowser +had formed the habit of slipping away alone for a hunt every once in +a while. When Farmer Brown's boy discovered this, he got a chain +and chained Bowser to his little house to keep him from running away +and hunting on the sly. + +Of course Bowser wasn't kept chained all the time. Oh, my, no! When +his master was about, where he could keep an eye on Bowser, he would +let him go free. But whenever he was going away and didn't want to +take Bowser with him, he would chain Bowser up. Now Bowser always +had one good big meal a day. To be sure, he had scraps or a bone +now and then besides, but once a day he had one good big meal served +to him in a large tin pan. If he happened to be chained, it was +brought out to him. If not, it was given to him just outside the +kitchen door. + +Granny Fox knew all about this. Sly old Granny makes it her +business to know the affairs of other people around her because +there is no telling when such knowledge may be of use to her. +So Granny had watched Bowser the Hound when he and his master had no +idea at all that she was anywhere about, and she had found out his +ways, the usual hour for his dinner and just how far that chain +would allow him to go. It was such things which she had stored away +in that shrewd old head of hers that made her so sure she and Reddy +could take Bowser's dinner away from him. It was just about +Bowser's dinner-time when Granny and Reddy trotted across the +snow-covered fields and crept behind the barn until they could peep +around the corner. No one was in sight, not even Bowser, who was +inside his warm little house at the end of the long shed back of +Farmer Brown's house. Granny saw that he was chained and a sly grin +crept over her face. + +"You stay right here and watch until his dinner is brought out to him," +said she to Reddy. "As soon as whoever brings it has gone back to +the house you walk right out where Bowser will see you. At the +sight of you, he'll forget all about his dinner. Sit right down +where he can see you and stay there until you see that I have got +that dinner, or until you hear somebody coming, for you know Bowser +will make a great racket. Then slip around back of the barn and +join me back of that shed." + +So Reddy sat down to watch, and Granny left him. By and by +Mrs. Brown came out of the house with a pan full of good things. +She put it down in front of Bowser's little house and called to him. +Then she turned and hurried back, for it was very cold. Bowser came +out of his little house, yawned and stretched lazily. + +It was time for Reddy to do his part. Out he walked and sat down right +in front of Bowser and grinned at him. Bowser stared for a minute as +if he doubted his own eyes. Such impudence! Bowser growled. Then with +a yelp he sprang towards Reddy. + +Now the chain that held him was long, but Reddy had taken care not +to get too near, and of course Bowser couldn't reach him. He tugged +with all his might and yelped and barked frantically, but Reddy just +sat there and grinned in the most provoking manner. It was great fun +to tease Bowser this way. + +Meanwhile old Granny Fox had stolen out from around the corner of the +shed behind Bowser. Getting hold of the edge of the pan with her teeth +she pulled it back with her around the corner and out of sight. If she +made any noise, Bowser didn't hear it. He was making too much noise +himself and was too excited. Presently Reddy heard the sound of an +opening door. Mrs. Brown was coming to see what all the fuss was about. +Like a flash Reddy darted behind the barn, and all Mrs. Brown saw +was Bowser tugging at his chain as he whined and yelped excitedly. + +"I guess he must have seen a stray cat or something," said Mrs. Brown +and went back in the house. Bowser continued to whine and tug at his +chain for a few minutes. Then he gave it up and, growling deep in his +throat, turned to eat his dinner. But there wasn't any dinner! It had +disappeared, pan and all! Bowser couldn't understand it at all. + +Back of the shed Granny and Reddy Fox licked that pan clean; licked it +until it was polished. Then, with little sighs of satisfaction, and +every once in a while a chuckle, they trotted happily home. + + + +CHAPTER XIX: Old Man Coyote Does A Little Thinking + + Investigate and for yourself find out + Those things which most you want to know about. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Never in all his life had Reddy Fox enjoyed a dinner more than that +one he and Granny had stolen from Bowser the Hound. Of course it +would have tasted delicious anyway, because they were so dreadfully +hungry, but to Reddy it tasted better still because it had been +intended for Bowser. Bowser has hunted Reddy so often that Reddy +has no love for him at all, and it tickled him almost to death to +think that they had taken his dinner from almost under his nose. + +With that good dinner in their stomachs, Reddy and Granny Fox felt +so much better that the Great World no longer seemed such a cold and +cruel place. Funny how differently things look when your stomach is +full from the way those same things look when it is empty. Best of +all they knew they could play the same sharp trick again and steal +another dinner from Bowser if need be. It is a comforting feeling, +a very comforting feeling, to know for a certainty where you can get +another meal. It is a feeling that Granny and Reddy Fox and many +other little people of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest seldom +have in winter. As a rule, when they have eaten one meal, they +haven't the least idea where the next one is coming from. How would +you like to live that way? + +The very next day Granny and Reddy went up to Farmer Brown's at +Bowser's dinner hour. But this time Farmer Brown's boy was at work +near the barn, and Bowser was not chained. Granny and Reddy stole +away as silently as they had come. On the day following they found +Bowser chained and stole another dinner from him; then they went +away laughing until their sides ached as they heard Bowser's whines +of surprise and disappointment when he discovered that his dinner +had vanished. They knew by the sound of his voice that he hadn't +the least idea what had become of that dinner. + +Now there was some one else roaming over the snow-covered meadows +and through the Green Forest and the Old Pasture these days with a +stomach so lean and empty that he couldn't think of anything else. +It was Old Man Coyote. You know he is very clever, is Old Man +Coyote, and he managed to find enough food of one kind and another +to keep him alive, but never enough to give him that comfortable +feeling of a full stomach. While he wasn't actually starving, he +was always hungry. So he spent all the time when he wasn't sleeping +in hunting for something to eat. + +Of course he often ran across the tracks of Granny and Reddy Fox, +and once in a while he would meet them. It struck Old Man Coyote +that they didn't seem as thin as he was. That set him to thinking. +Neither of them was a smarter hunter than he. In fact, he prided +himself on being smarter than either of them. Yet when he met them, +they seemed to be in the best of spirits and not at all worried +because food was so scarce. Why? There must be a reason. They must +be getting food of which he knew nothing. + +"I'll just keep an eye on them," muttered Old Man Coyote. + +So very slyly and cleverly Old Man Coyote followed Granny and Reddy +Fox, taking the greatest care that they should not suspect that he +was doing it. All one night he followed them through the Green +Forest and over the Green Meadows, and when at last he saw them go +home, appearing not at all worried because they had caught nothing, +he trotted off to his own home to do some more thinking. + +"They are getting food somewhere, that is sure," he muttered, as he +scratched first one ear and then the other. Somehow he could think +better when he was scratching his ears. "If they don't get it in +the night, and they certainly didn't get anything this night, they +must get it in the daytime. I've done considerable hunting myself +in the daytime, and I haven't once met them in the Green Forest or +seen them on the Green Meadows or up in the Old Pasture. I wonder +if they are stealing Farmer Brown's hens and haven't been found out +yet. I've kept away from there myself, but if they can steal hens +and not be caught, I certainly can. There never was a Fox yet smart +enough to do a thing that a Coyote cannot do if he tries. I think +I'll slip up where I can watch Farmer Brown's and see what is going +on up there. Yes, Sir, that's what I'll do." + +With this, Old Man Coyote grinned and then curled himself up for a +short nap, for he was tired. + + + +CHAPTER XX: A Twice Stolen Dinner + + No one ever is so smart that some one else + may not prove to be smarter still. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Listen and you shall hear all about three rogues. Two were in red and +were Granny and Reddy Fox. And one was in gray and was Old Man Coyote. +They were the slyest, smartest rogues on all the Green Meadows or in +all the Green Forest. All three had started out to steal the same +dinner, but the funny part is they didn't intend to steal it from +the same person. And still funnier is it that one of them didn't +even know where that dinner was or what kind of a dinner it would be. + +True to his resolve to know what Granny and Reddy Fox were getting +to eat, and where they were getting it, Old Man Coyote hid where he +could see what was going on about Farmer Brown's, for it was there +he felt sure that Granny and Reddy were getting food. He had +waited only a little while when along came Granny and Reddy Fox +past the place where Old Man Coyote was hiding. They didn't see him. +Of course not. He took care that they should have no chance. But +anyway, they were not thinking of him. Their thoughts were all of +that dinner they intended to have, and the smart trick by which they +would get it. + +So with their thoughts all on that dinner they slipped up behind the +barn and prepared to work the trick which had been so successful +before. Old Man Coyote crept after them. He saw Reddy Fox lie down +where he could peep around the corner of the barn to watch Bowser the +Hound and to see that no one else was about. He saw Granny leave Reddy +there and hurry away. Old Man Coyote's wits worked fast. + +"I can't be in two places at once," thought he, "so I can't watch +both Granny and Reddy. As I can watch but one, which one shall it be? +Granny, of course. Granny is the smartest of the two, and whatever +they are up to, she is at the bottom of it. Granny is the one to +follow." + +So, like a gray shadow, crafty Old Man Coyote stole after Granny Fox +and saw her hide behind the corner of the shed at the end of which +was the little house of Bowser the Hound. He crept as near as he +dared and then lay flat down behind a little bunch of dead grass +close to the shed. For some time nothing happened, and Old Man +Coyote was puzzled. Every once in a while Granny Fox would look +behind and all about to be sure that no danger was near, but she +didn't see Old Man Coyote. After what seemed to him a long time, he +heard a door open on the other side of the shed. It was Mrs. Brown +carrying Bowser's dinner out to him. Of course, Old Man Coyote +didn't know this. He knew by the sounds that some one had come out +of the house, and it made him nervous. He didn't like being so +close to Farmer Brown's house in broad daylight. But he kept his +eyes on Granny Fox, and he saw her ears prick up in a way that he +knew meant that those sounds were just what she had been waiting for. + +"If she isn't afraid, I don't need to be," thought he craftily. +After a few minutes he heard a door close and knew that whoever had +come out had gone back into the house. Almost at once Bowser the +Hound began to yelp and whine. Swiftly Granny Fox disappeared +around the corner of the shed. Just as swiftly Old Man Coyote ran +forward and peeped around the corner. There was Bowser the Hound +tugging at his chain, and just beyond his reach was Reddy Fox, +grinning in the most provoking manner. And there was Granny Fox, +backing and dragging after her Bowser's dinner. In a flash Old Man +Coyote understood the plan, and he almost chuckled aloud at the +cleverness of it. Then he hastily backed behind the shed and waited. +In a minute Granny Fox appeared, dragging Bowser's dinner. She was +so intent on getting that dinner that she almost backed into Old Man +Coyote without suspecting that he was anywhere about. + +"Thank you, Granny. You needn't bother about it any longer; I'll take +it now," growled Old Man Coyote in Granny's ear. + +Granny let go of that dinner as if it burned her tongue, and with a +frightened little yelp leaped to one side. A minute later Reddy came +racing around from behind the barn eager for his share. What he saw +was Old Man Coyote bolting down that twice-stolen dinner while Granny +Fox fairly danced with rage. + + + +CHAPTER XXI: Granny And Reddy Talk Things Over. + + You'll find as on through life you go + The thing you want may prove to be + The very thing you shouldn't have. + Then seeming loss is gain, you see. + - Old Granny Fox. + +If ever two folks were mad away through, those two were Granny and +Reddy Fox as they watched Old Man Coyote gobble up the dinner they +had so cleverly stolen from Bowser the Hound. It was bad enough +to lose the dinner, but it was worse to see some one else eat it +after they had worked so hard to get it. "Robber!" snarled Granny. +Old Man Coyote stopped eating long enough to grin. + +"Thief! Sneak! Coward!" snarled Reddy. Once more Old Man Coyote +grinned. When that dinner had disappeared down his throat to the last +and smallest crumb, he licked his chops and turned to Granny and +Reddy. + +"I'm very much obliged for that dinner," said he pleasantly, his +eyes twinkling with mischief. "It was the best dinner I have had +for a long time. Allow me to say that that trick of yours was as +smart a trick as ever I have seen. It was quite worthy of a Coyote. +You are a very clever old lady, Granny Fox. Now I hear some one +coming, and I would suggest that it will be better for all concerned +if we are not seen about here." + +He darted off behind the barn like a gray streak, and Granny and Reddy +followed, for it was true that some one was coming. You see Bowser the +Hound had discovered that something was going on around the corner of +the shed, and he made such a racket that Mrs. Brown had come out of +the house to see what it was all about. By the time she got around +there, all she saw was the empty pan which had held Bowser's dinner. +She was puzzled. How that pan could be where it was she couldn't +understand, and Bowser couldn't tell her, although he tried his very +best. She had been puzzled about that pan two or three times before. + +Old Man Coyote lost no time in getting back home, for he never felt +easy near the home of man in broad daylight. Granny and Reddy Fox went +home too, and there was hate in their hearts, -- hate for Old Man +Coyote. But once they reached home, Old Granny Fox stopped growling, +and presently she began to chuckle. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded Reddy. + +"At the way Old Man Coyote stole that dinner from us," replied Granny. + +"I hate him! He's a sneaking robber!" snapped Reddy. + +"Tut, tut, Reddy! Tut, tut!" retorted Granny. "Be fair-minded. +We stole that dinner from Bowser the Hound, and Old Man Coyote stole +it from us. I guess he is no worse than we are, when you come to +think it over. Now is he?" + +"I -- I -- well, I don't suppose he is, when you put it that way, " +Reddy admitted grudgingly. + +"And he was smart, very smart, to outwit two such clever people as we +are," continued Granny. "You will have to agree to that." + +"Y-e-s," said Reddy slowly. "He was smart enough, but--" + +"There isn't any but, Reddy," interrupted Granny. "You know the law +of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest. It is everybody for +himself, and anything belongs to one who has the wit or the strength +to take it. We had the wit to take that dinner from Bowser the +Hound, and Old Man Coyote had the wit to take it from us and the +strength to keep it. It was all fair enough, and you know there +isn't the least use in crying over spilled milk, as the saying is. +We simply have got to be smart enough not to let him fool us again. +I guess we won't get any more of Bowser's dinners for a while. +We've got to think of some other way of filling our stomachs when +the hunting is poor. I think if I could have just one of those fat +hens of Farmer Brown's, it would put new strength into my old bones. +All summer I warned you to keep away from that henyard, but the time +has come now when I think we might try for a couple of those hens." + +Reddy pricked up his ears at the mention of fat hens. "I think so too," +said he. "When shall we try for one?" + +"To-morrow morning," replied Granny. "Now don't bother me while I +think out a plan." + + + +CHAPTER XXII: Granny Fox Plans To Get A Fat Hen + + Full half success for Fox or Man + Is won by working out a plan. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Granny Fox knows this. No one knows it better. Whatever she does +is first carefully planned in her wise old head. So now after she +had decided that she and Reddy would try for one of Farmer Brown's +fat hens, she lay down to think out a plan to get that fat hen. +No one knew better than she how foolish it would be to go over to +that henyard and just trust to luck for a chance to catch one of +those biddies. Of course, they might be lucky and get a hen that +way, but then again they might be unlucky and get in a peck of trouble. + +"You see," said she to Reddy, "we must not only plan how to get +that fat hen, but we must also plan how to get away with it safely. +If only there was some way of getting in that henhouse at night, +there would be no trouble at all. I don't suppose there is the +least chance of that." + +"Not the least chance in the world," replied Reddy. "There isn't a +hole anywhere big enough for even Shadow the Weasel to get through, +and Farmer Brown's boy is very careful to lock the door every night." + +"There's a little hole that the hens go in and out of during the day, +which is big enough for one of us to slip through, I believe," said +Granny thoughtfully. + +"Sure! But it's always closed at night," snapped Reddy. "Besides, to +get to that or the door either, you have got to get inside the henyard, +and there's a gate to that which we can't open." + +"People are sometimes careless, -- even you, Reddy," said Granny. + +Reddy squirmed uneasily, for he had been in trouble many times through +carelessness. "Well, what of it?" he demanded a wee bit crossly. + +"Nothing much, only if that hen-yard gate should happen to be left +open, and if Farmer Brown's boy should happen to forget to close that +little hole that the hens go through, and if we happened to be around +at just that time --" + +"Too many ifs to get a dinner with," interrupted Reddy. + +"Perhaps," replied Granny mildly, "but I've noticed that it is the one +who has an eye open for all the little ifs in life that fares the best. +Now I've kept an eye on that henyard, and I've noticed that very +often Farmer Brown's boy doesn't close the henyard gate at night. +I suppose he thinks that if the henhouse door is locked, the gate +doesn't matter. Any one who is careless about one thing, is likely +to be careless about another. Sometime he may forget to close that +hole. I told you that we would try for one of those hens to-morrow +morning, but the more I think about it, the more I think it will be +wiser to visit that henhouse a few nights before we run the risk of +trying to catch a hen in broad daylight. In fact, I am pretty sure +I can make Farmer Brown's boy forget to close that gate." + +"How?" demanded Reddy eagerly. + +Granny grinned. "I'll try it first and tell you afterwards," said +she. "I believe Farmer Brown's boy closes the henhouse up just +before jolly, round, red Mr. Sun goes to bed behind the Purple +Hills, doesn't he?" + +Reddy nodded. Many times from a safe hiding-place he had hungrily +watched Farmer Brown's boy shut the biddies up. It was always just +before the Black Shadows began to creep out from their hiding-places. + +"I thought so," said Granny. The truth is, she KNEW so. There was +nothing about that henhouse and what went on there that Granny didn't +know quite as well as Reddy. "You stay right here this afternoon until +I return. I'll see what I can do." + +"Let me go along," begged Reddy. + +"No," replied Granny in such a decided tone that Reddy knew it would +be of no use to tease. "Sometimes two can do what one cannot do alone, +and sometimes one can do what two might spoil. Now we may as well +take a nap until it is time for Mr. Sun to go to bed. Just you +leave it to your old Granny to take care of the first of those ifs. +For the other one we'll have to trust to luck, but you know we are +lucky sometimes." + +With this Granny curled up for a nap, and having nothing better to do, +Reddy followed her example. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII: Farmer Brown's Boy Forgets To Close The Gate + + How easy 't is to just forget + Until, alas, it is too late. + The most methodical of folks + Sometimes forget to shut the gate. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Farmer Brown's Boy is not usually the forgetful kind. He is pretty +good about not forgetting. But Farmer Brown's boy isn't perfect by +any means. He does forget sometimes, and he is careless sometimes. +He would be a funny kind of boy otherwise. But take it day in and +day out, he is pretty thoughtful and careful. + +The care of the hens is one of Farmer Brown's boy's duties. It is one +of those duties which most of the time is a pleasure. He likes the +biddies, and he likes to take care of them. Every morning one of the +first things he does is to feed them and open the henhouse so that +they can run in the henyard if they want to. Every night he goes out +just before dark, collects the eggs and locks the henhouse so that no +harm can come to the biddies while they are asleep on their roosts. +After the big snowstorm he had shovelled a place in the henyard +where the hens could come out and exercise and get a sun-bath when +they wanted to, and in the very warmest part of the clay they would +do this. Always in the daytime he took the greatest care to see +that the henyard gate was fastened, for no one knew better than he +how bold Granny and Reddy Fox can be when they are very hungry, and +in winter they are very apt to be very hungry most of the time. So +he didn't intend to give them a chance to slip into that henyard +while the biddies were out, or to give the biddies a chance to stray +outside where they might be still more easily caught. + +But at night he sometimes left that gate open, as Granny Fox had +found out. You see, he thought it didn't matter because the hens +were locked in their warm house and so were safe, anyway. + +It was just at dusk of the afternoon of the day when Granny and Reddy +Fox had talked over a plan to get one of those fat hens that Farmer +Brown's boy collected the eggs and saw to it that the biddies had gone +to roost for the night. He had just started to close the little +sliding door across the hole through which the hens went in and out in +the daytime when Bowser the Hound began to make a great racket, as if +terribly excited about something. + +Farmer Brown's boy gave the little sliding door a hasty push, picked +up his basket of eggs, locked the henhouse door and hurried out through +the gate without stopping to close it. You see, he was in a hurry +to find out what Bowser was making such a fuss about. Bowser was +yelping and whining and tugging at his chain, and it was plain to +see that he was terribly eager to be set free. + +"What is it, Bowser, old boy? Did you see something?" asked Farmer +Brown's boy as he patted Bowser on the head. "I can't let you go, +you know, because you probably would go off hunting all night and +come home in the morning all tired out and with sore feet. Whatever +it was, I guess you've scared it out of a year's growth, old fellow, +so we'll let it go at that." + +Bowser still tugged at his chain and whined, but after a little he +quieted down. His master looked around behind the barn to see if he +could see what had so stirred up Bowser, but nothing was to be seen, +and he returned, patted Bowser once more, and went into the house, +never once giving that open henyard gate another thought. + +Half an hour later old Granny Fox joined Reddy Fox, who was waiting on +the doorstep of their home. "It is all right, Reddy; that gate is +open," said she. + +"How did you do it, Granny?" asked Reddy eagerly. + +"Easily enough," replied Granny. "I let Bowser get a glimpse of me +just as his master was locking up the henhouse. Bowser made a great +fuss, and of course, Farmer Brown's boy hurried out to see what it +was all about. He was in too much of a hurry to close that gate, +and afterwards he forgot all about it or else he thought it didn't +matter. Of course, I didn't let him get so much as a glimpse of +me." + +"Of course," said Reddy. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV: A Midnight Visit + + By those who win 't is well agreed + He'll try and try who would succeed. + - Old Granny Fox. + +It seemed to Reddy Fox as if time never had dragged so slowly as it +did this particular night while he and Granny Fox waited until Granny +thought it safe to visit Farmer Brown's henhouse and see if by any +chance there was a way of getting into it. Reddy tried not to hope +too much. Granny had found a way to get the gate to the henyard +left open, but this would do them no good unless there was some way +of getting into the house, and this he very much doubted. But if +there was a way he wanted to know it, and he was impatient to start. + +But Granny was in no hurry. Not that she wasn't just as hungry for a +fat hen as was Reddy, but she was too wise and clever and altogether +too sly to run any risks. + +"There is nothing gained by being in too much of a hurry, Reddy," +said she, "and often a great deal is lost in that way. A fat hen +will taste just as good a little later as it would now, and it will +be foolish to go up to Farmer Brown's until we are sure that everybody +up there is asleep. But to ease your mind, I'll tell you what we +will do; we'll go where we can see Farmer Brown's house and watch +until the last light winks out." + +So they trotted to a point where they could see Farmer Brown's house, +and there they sat down to watch. It seemed to Reddy that those lights +never would wink out. But at last they did. + +"Come on, Granny!" he cried, jumping to his feet. + +"Not yet, Reddy. Not yet," replied Granny. "We've got to give folks +time to get sound asleep. If we should get into that henhouse, +those hens might make a racket, and if anything like that is going +to happen, we want to be sure that Farmer Brown and Farmer Brown's +boy are asleep." + +This was sound advice, and Reddy knew it. So with a groan he once more +threw himself down on the snow to wait. At last Granny arose, +stretched, and looked up at the twinkling stars. "Come on," said she +and led the way. + +Up back of the barn and around it they stole like two shadows and +quite as noiselessly as shadows. They heard Bowser the Hound +sighing in his sleep in his snug little house, and grinned at each +other. Silently they stole over to the henyard. The gate was open, +just as Granny had told Reddy it would be. Across the henyard they +trotted swiftly, straight to where more than once in the daytime +they had seen the hens come out of the house through a little hole. +It was closed. Reddy had expected it would be. Still, he was +dreadfully disappointed. He gave it merely a glance. + +"I knew it wouldn't be any use," said he with a half whine. + +But Granny paid no attention to him. She went close to the hole and +pushed gently against the little door that closed it. It didn't move. +Then she noticed that at one edge there was a tiny crack. She tried +to push her nose through, but the crack was too narrow. Then she +tried a paw. A claw caught on the edge of the door, and it moved +ever so little. Then Granny knew that the little door wasn't fastened. +Granny stretched herself flat on the ground and went to work, first +with one paw, then with the other. By and by she caught her claws +in it just right again, and it moved a wee bit more. No, most +certainly that door wasn't fastened, and that crack was a little wider. + +"What are you wasting your time there for?" demanded Reddy crossly. +"We'd better be off hunting if we would have anything to eat this night." + +Granny said nothing but kept on working. She had discovered that +this was a sliding door. Presently the crack was wide enough for +her to get her nose in. Then she pushed and twisted her head this +way and that. The little door slowly slid back, and when Reddy +turned to speak to her again, for he had had his back to her, she +was nowhere to be seen. Reddy just gaped and gaped foolishly. +There was no Granny Fox, but there was a black hole where she had +been working, and from it came the most delicious smell, -- the +smell of fat hens! It seemed to Reddy that his stomach fairly +flopped over with longing. He rubbed his eyes to be sure that he +was awake. Then in a twinkling he was inside that hole himself. + +"Sh-h-h, be still!" whispered Old Granny Fox. + + + +CHAPTER XXV: A Dinner For Two + + Dark deeds are done in the stilly night, + And who shall say if they're wrong or right? + - Old Granny Fox. + +It all depends on how you look at things. Of course, Granny and +Reddy Fox had no business to be in Farmer Brown's henhouse in the +middle of the night, or at any other time, for that matter. That is, +they had no business to be there, as Farmer Brown would look at the +matter. He would have called them two red thieves. Perhaps that is +just what they were. But looking at the matter as they did, I am +not so sure about it. To Granny and Reddy Fox those hens were +simply big, rather stupid birds, splendid eating if they could be +caught, and bound to be eaten by somebody. The fact that they were +in Farmer Brown's henhouse didn't make them his any more than the +fact that Mrs. Grouse was in a part of the Green Forest owned by +Farmer Brown made her his. + +You see, among the little meadow and forest people there is no such +thing as property rights, excepting in the matter of storehouses, +and because these hens were alive, it didn't occur to Granny and +Reddy that the henhouse was a sort of storehouse. It would have +made no difference if it had. Among the little people it is +considered quite right to help yourself from another's storehouse if +you are smart enough to find it and really need the food. + +Besides, Reddy and Granny knew that Fanner Brown and his boy would eat +some of those hens themselves, and they didn't begin to need them as +Reddy and Granny did. So as they looked at the matter, there was +nothing wrong in being in that henhouse in the middle of the night. +They were there simply because they needed food very, very much, and +food was there. + +They stared up at the roosts where the biddies were huddled together, +fast asleep. They were too high up to be reached from the floor +even when Reddy and Granny stood on their hind legs and stretched as +far as they could. + +"We've got to wake them up and scare them so that some of the silly +things will fly down where we can catch them," said Reddy, licking +his lips hungrily. + +"That won't do at all!" snapped Granny. "They would make a great +racket and waken Bowser the Hound, and he would waken his master, and +that is just what we mustn't do if we hope to ever get in here again. +I thought you had more sense, Reddy." + +Reddy looked a little shamefaced. "Well, if we don't do that, how are +we going to get them? We can't fly," he grumbled. + +"You stay right here where you are," snapped Granny, "and take care +that you don't make a sound." + +Then Granny jumped lightly to a little shelf that ran along in front +of the nesting boxes. From this she could reach the lower roost on +which four fat hens were asleep. Very gently she pushed her head in +between two of these and crowded them apart. Sleepily they protested +and moved along a little. Granny continued to crowd them. At last one +of them stretched out her head to see who was crowding so. Like a flash +Granny seized that head, and biddy never knew what had wakened her, +nor did she have a chance to waken the others. + +Dropping this hen at Reddy's feet, Granny crowded another until she +did the same thing, and just the same thing happened once more. Then +Granny jumped lightly down, picked up one of the hens by the neck, +slung the body over her shoulder, and told Reddy to do the same with +the other and start for home. + +"Aren't you going to get any more while we have the chance?" grumbled +Reddy. + +"Enough is enough," retorted Granny. "We've got a dinner for two, and +so far no one is any the wiser. Perhaps these two won't be missed, and +we'll have a chance to get some more another night. Now come on." + +This was plain common sense, and Reddy knew it, so without another +word he followed old Granny Fox out by the way they had entered, and +then home to the best dinner he had had for a long long time. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI: Farmer Brown's Boy Sets A Trap + + The trouble is that troubles are, + More frequently than not, + Brought on by naught but carelessness; + By some one who forgot. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Granny Fox had hoped that those two hens she and Reddy had stolen +from Farmer Brown's henhouse would not be missed, but they were. +They were missed the very first thing the next morning when Farmer +Brown's boy went to feed the biddies. He discovered right away that +the little sliding door which should have closed the opening through +which the hens went in and out of the house was open, and then he +remembered that he had left the henyard gate open the night before. +Carefully Farmer Brown's boy examined the hole with the sliding door. + +"Ha!" said he presently, and held up two red hairs which he had found +on the edge of the door. "Ha! I thought as much. I was careless last +night and didn't fasten this door, and I left the gate open. Reddy Fox +has been here, and now I know what has become of those two hens. I +suppose it serves me right for my carelessness, and I suppose if the +truth were known, those hens were of more real good to him than +they ever could have been to me, because the poor fellow must be +having pretty hard work to get a living these hard winter days. Still, +I can't have him stealing any more. That would never do at all. If I +shut them up every night and am not careless, he can't get them. But +accidents will happen, and I might do just as I did last night -- +think I had locked up when I hadn't. I don't like to set a trap for +Reddy, but I must teach the rascal a lesson. If I don't, he will get +so bold that those chickens won't be safe even in broad daylight." + +Now at just that very time over in their home, Granny and Reddy Fox +were talking over plans for the future, and shrewd old Granny was +pointing out to Reddy how necessary it was that they should keep +away from that henyard for some time. We've had a good dinner, a +splendid dinner, and if we are smart enough we may be able to get +more good dinners where this one came from," said she. "But we +certainly won't if we are too greedy." + +"But I don't believe Farmer Brown's boy has missed those two chickens, +and I don't see any reason at all why we shouldn't go back there +to-night and get two more if he is stupid enough to leave that gate +and little door open," whined Reddy. + +"Maybe he hasn't missed those two, but if we should take two more he +certainly would miss them, and he would guess what had become of +them, and that might get us into no end of trouble," snapped Granny. +"We are not starving now, and the best thing for us to do is to keep +away from that henhouse until we can't get anything to eat anywhere +else, Now you mind what I tell you, Reddy, and don't you dare go +near there." + +Reddy promised, and so it came about that Farmer Brown's boy hunted +up a trap all for nothing so far as Reddy and Granny were concerned. +Very carefully he bound strips of cloth around the jaws of the trap, +for he couldn't bear to think of those cruel jaws cutting into the +leg of Reddy, should he happen to get caught. You see, Farmer +Brown's boy didn't intend to kill Reddy if he should catch him, but +to make him a prisoner for a while and so keep him out of mischief. +That night he hid the trap very cunningly just inside the henhouse +where any one creeping through that little hole made for the hens to +go in and out would be sure to step in it. Then he purposely left +the little sliding door open part way as if it had been forgotten, +and he also left the henyard gate open just as he had done the night +before. + +"There now, Master Reddy, " said he, talking to himself, "I rather +think that you are going to get into trouble before morning." + +And doubtless Reddy would have done just that thing but for the wisdom +of sly old Granny. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII: Prickly Porky Takes A Sun Bath + + Danger comes when least expected; + 'T is often near when not expected. + - Old Granny Fox. + +The long hard winter had passed, and Spring had come. Prickly Porky +the Porcupine came down from a tall poplar-tree and slowly stretched +himself. He was tired of eating. He was tired of swinging in the +tree-top. + +"I believe I'll have a sun-bath," said Prickly Porky, and lazily +walked toward the edge of the Green Forest in search of a place +where the sun lay warm and bright. + +Now Prickly Porky's stomach was very, very full. He was fat and +naturally lazy, so when he came to the doorstep of an old house just +on the edge of the Green Forest he sat down to rest. It was sunny +and warm there, and the longer he sat the less like moving he felt. +He looked about him with his dull eyes and grunted to himself. + +"It's a deserted house. Nobody lives here, and I guess nobody'll care +if I take a nap right here on the doorstep," said Prickly Porky to +himself. "And I don't care if they do," he added, for Prickly Porky +the Porcupine was afraid of nobody and nothing. + +So Prickly Porky made himself as comfortable as possible, yawned +once or twice, tried to wink at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun, who was +winking and similing down at him and then fell fast asleep right on +the doorstep of the old house. + +Now the old house had been deserted. No one had lived in it for a +long, long time, a very long time indeed. But it happened that, +the night before, old Granny Fox and Reddy Fox had had to move out +of their nice home on the edge of the Green Meadows because Farmer +Brown's boy had found it. Reddy was very stiff and sore, for he had +been shot by a hunter. He was so sore he could hardly walk, and +could not go very far. So old Granny Fox had led him to the old +deserted house and put him to bed in that. + +"No one will think of looking for us here, for every one knows that +no one lives here," said old Granny Fox, as she made Reddy as +comfortable as possible. + +As soon as it was daylight, Granny Fox slipped out to watch for Farmer +Brown's boy, for she felt sure that he would come back to the house +they had left, and sure enough he did. He brought a spade and dug the +house open, and all the time old Granny Fox was watching him from +behind a fence corner and laughing to think that she had been smart +enough to move in the night. + +But Reddy Fox didn't know anything about this. He was so tired that he +slept and slept and slept. It was the middle of the morning when +finally he awoke. He yawned and stretched, and when he stretched he +groaned because he was so stiff and sore. Then he hobbled up toward +the doorway to see if old Granny Fox had left any breakfast outside +for him. + +It was dark, very dark. Reddy was puzzled. Could it be that he had +gotten up before daylight -- that he hadn't slept as long as he thought? +Perhaps he had slept the whole day through, and it was night again. +My, how hungry he was! + +"I hope Granny has caught a fine, fat chicken for me," thought Reddy, +and his mouth watered. + +Just then he ran bump into something. "Wow!" screamed Reddy Fox, and +clapped both hands to his nose. Something was sticking into it. It was +one of the sharp little spears that Prickly Porky hides in his coat. +Reddy Fox knew then why the old house was so dark. Prickly Porky +was blocking up the doorway. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII: Prickly Porky Enjoys Himself + + A boasting tongue, as sure as fate, + Will trip its owner soon or late. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Prickly Porky the Porcupine was enjoying himself. There was no +doubt about that. He was stretched across the doorway of that old +house, the very house in which old Granny Fox had been born. When he +had lain down on the doorstep for a nap and sun-bath, he had thought +that the old house was still deserted. Then he had fallen asleep, +only to be wakened by Reddy Fox, who bad been asleep in the old +house and who couldn't get out because Prickly Porky was in the way. + +Now Prickly Porky does not love Reddy Fox, and the more Reddy begged +and scolded and called him names, the more Prickly Porky chuckled. +It was such a good joke to think that he had trapped Reddy Fox, and +he made up his mind that he would keep Reddy in there a long time +just to tease him and make him uncomfortable. You see Prickly Porky +remembered how often Reddy Fox played mean tricks on little meadow +and forest folks who are smaller and weaker than himself. + +"It will do him good. It certainly will do him good," said Prickly +Porky, and rattled the thousand little spears hidden in his long +coat, for he knew that the very sound of them would make Reddy Fox +shiver with fright. + +Suddenly Prickly Porky pricked up his funny little short ears. He heard +the deep voice of Bowser the Hound, and it was coming nearer and nearer. +Prickly Porky chuckled again. + +"I guess Mr. Bowser is going to have a surprise; I certainly think he +is," said Prickly Porky as he made all the thousand little spears +stand out from his long coat till he looked like a funny great +chestnut burr. + +Bowser the Hound did have a surprise. He was hunting Reddy Fox, and +he almost ran into Prickly Porky before he saw him. The very sight +of those thousand little spears sent little cold chills chasing each +other down Bowser's backbone clear to the tip of his tail, for he +remembered how he had gotten some of them in his lips and mouth +once upon a time, and how it had hurt to have them pulled out. +Ever since then he had had the greatest respect for Prickly Porky. + +"Wow!" yelped Bowser the Hound, stopping short. "I beg your pardon, +Prickly Porky, I beg your pardon, I didn't know you were taking a nap +here." + +All the time Bowser the Hound was backing away as fast as he could. +Then he turned around, put his tail between his legs and actually +ran away. + +Slowly Prickly Porky unrolled, and his little eyes twinkled as he +watched Bowser the Hound run away. + + "Bowser's very big and strong; + His voice is deep; his legs are long; + His bark scares some almost to death. + But as for me he wastes his breath; + I just roll up and shake my spears + And Bowser is the one who fears." + +So said Prickly Porky, and laughed aloud. Just then he heard a light +footstep and turned to see who was coming. It was old Granny Fox. +She had seen Bowser run away, and now she was anxious to find out if +Reddy Fox were safe. + +"Good morning," said Granny Fox, taking care not to come too near. + +"Good morning," replied Prickly Porky, hiding a smile. + +"I'm very tired and would like to go inside my house; had you just as +soon move?" asked Granny Fox. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Prickly Porky, "is this your house? I thought you +lived over on the Green Meadows." + +"I did, but I've moved. Please let me in," replied Granny Fox. + +"Certainly, certainly. Don't mind me, Granny Fox. Step right over +me," said Prickly Porky, and smiled once more, and at the same time +rattled his little spears. + +Instead of stepping over him, Granny Fox backed away. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX: The New Home In The Old Pasture + + Who keeps a watch upon his toes + Need never fear he'll bump his nose. + - Old Granny Fox. + +Now there is nothing like being shut in alone in the dark to make +one think. A voice inside of Reddy began to whisper to him. "If +you hadn't tried to be smart and show off you wouldn't have brought +all this trouble on yourself and Old Granny Fox," said the voice. + +"I know it," replied Reddy right out loud, forgetting that it was +only a small voice inside of him. + +"What do you know?" asked Prickly Porky. He was still keeping Reddy in +and Granny out and he had overheard what Reddy said. + +"It is none of your business!" snapped Reddy. + +Reddy could hear Prickly Porky chuckle. Then Prickly Porky repeated as +if to himself in a queer cracked voice the following: + + "Rudeness never, never pays, + Nor is there gain in saucy ways. + It's always best to be polite + And ne'er give way to ugly spite. + If that's the way you feel inside + You'd better all such feelings hide; + For he must smile who hopes to win, + And he who loses best will grin." + +Reddy pretended that he hadn't heard. Prickly Porky continued to +chuckle for a while and finally Reddy fell asleep. When he awoke it +was to find that Prickly Porky had left and old Granny Fox had +brought him something to eat. + +Just as soon as Reddy Fox was able to travel he and Granny had moved +to the Old Pasture. The Old Pasture is very different from the +Green Meadows or the Green Forest. Yes, indeed, it is very, very +different. Reddy Fox thought so. And Reddy didn't like the change, +-- not a bit. All about were great rocks, and around and over them +grew bushes and young trees and bull-briars with long ugly thorns, +and blackberry and raspberry canes that seemed to have a million +little hooked hands, reaching to catch in and tear his red coat and +to scratch his face and hands. There were little open places where +wild-eyed young cattle fed on the short grass. They had made many +little paths all crisscross among the bushes, and when you tried to +follow one of these paths you never could tell where you were coming +out. + +No, Reddy Fox did not like the Old Pasture at all. There was no long, +soft green grass to lie down in. And it was lonesome up there. +He missed the little people of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest. +There was no one to bully and tease. And it was such a long, long +way from Farmer Brown's henyard that old Granny Fox wouldn't even +try to bring him a fat hen. At least, that's what she told Reddy. + +The truth is, wise old Granny Fox knew that the very best thing she +could do was to stay away from Farmer Brown's for a long time. She +knew that Reddy couldn't go down there, because he was still too lame +and sore to travel such a long way, and she hoped that by the time +Reddy was well enough to go, he would have learned better than to do +such a foolish thing as to try to show off by stealing a chicken in +broad daylight, as he had when he brought all this trouble on them. + +Down on the Green Meadows, the home of Granny and Reddy Fox had been +on a little knoll, which you know is a little low hill, right where +they could sit on their doorstep and look all over the Green Meadows. +It had been very, very beautiful down there. They had made lovely +little paths through the tall green meadow grass, and the buttercups +and daisies had grown close up to their very doorstep. But up here +in the Old Pasture Granny Fox had chosen the thickest clump of +bushes and young trees she could find, and in the middle was a great +pile of rocks. Way in among these rocks Granny Fox had dug their +new house. It was right down under the rocks. Even in the middle +of the day jolly, round, red Mr. Sun could hardly find it with a few +of his long, bright beams. All the rest of the time it was dark and +gloomy there. + +No, Reddy Fox didn't like his new home at all, but when he said so old +Granny Fox boxed his ears. + +"It's your own fault that we've got to live here now," said +she. "It's the only place where we are safe. Farmer Brown's boy never +will find this home, and even if he did he couldn't dig into it as he +did into our old home on the Green Meadows. Here we are, and here +we've got to stay, all because a foolish little Fox thought himself +smarter than anybody else and tried to show off." + +Reddy hung his head. "I don't care!" he said, which was very, very +foolish, because, you know, he did care a very great deal. + +And here we will leave wise Old Granny Fox and Reddy, safe, even if +they do not like their new home. You see, Lightfoot the Deer is +getting jealous. He thinks there should be some books about the people +of the Green Forest, and that the first one should be about him. And +because we all love Lightfoot the Deer, the very next book is to bear +his name. + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, OLD GRANNY FOX *** + +This file should be named ogfox10.txt or ogfox10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, ogfox11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, ogfox10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/ogfox10.zip b/old/ogfox10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad465d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ogfox10.zip |
