Breezes.
But Striped Chipmunk said never a word. He couldn't. He ran faster
than ever until he disappeared under the big stone. When he popped his
head out again he was just his usual saucy little self.
"Say, Striped Chipmunk," cried the Merry Little Breezes, rushing over
to him, "tell us how you happen to have pockets in your cheeks."
But Striped Chipmunk just snapped his bright eyes at them and said
"Busy! busy! busy!" as he scuttled over to the hollow chestnut tree.
The Merry Little Breezes saw that it was no use at all to try to tempt
Striped Chipmunk to play with them or to answer questions.
"I tell you what," cried one, "let's go ask Great-Grandfather Frog how
Striped Chipmunk happens to have pockets in his cheeks. He'll know."
So away they started, after they had raced over to the big hollow
chestnut tree and sent a shower of brown nuts rattling down to Striped
Chipmunk from the burrs that Jack Frost had opened the night before.
"Good-bye, Striped Chipmunk," they shouted as they romped across the
Green Meadows. And Striped Chipmunk stopped long enough to shout
"Good-bye" before he filled his pockets with the brown nuts.
Old Grandfather Frog sat on his big green lily pad blinking in the sun.
It was very still, very, very still indeed. Suddenly out of the brown
bulrushes burst the Merry Little Breezes and surrounded old Grandfather
Frog. And every one of them had brought to him a fat, foolish, green
fly.
Grandfather's big goggly eyes sparkled and he gave a funny little hop
up into the air as he caught each foolish green fly. When the last one
was safely inside his white and yellow waistcoat he settled himself
comfortably on the big green lily pad and folded his hands over the
foolish green flies.
"Chug-a-rum!" said Grandfather Frog. "What is it you want this
morning?"
"Oh, Grandfather Frog," cried the Merry Little Breezes, "tell us how it
happens that Striped Chipmunk has pockets in his cheeks. Do tell us,
Grandfather Frog. Please do!"
"Chug-a-rum," said Grandfather Frog. "How should I know?"
"But you do know, Grandfather Frog, you know you do. Please tell us!"
cried the Merry Little Breezes as they settled themselves among the
rushes.
And presently Grandfather Frog began:
"Once upon a time--a long, long while ago--"
"When the world was young?" asked a mischievous little Breeze.
Grandfather Frog pretended to be very much put out by the interruption,
and tried to look very severe. But the Merry Little Breezes were all
giggling, so that presently he had to smile too.
"Yes," said he, "it was when the world was young, before old
King Bear became king. Mr. Chipmunk, Striped Chipmunk's
great-great-great-grandfather a thousand times removed, was the
smallest of the squirrels, just as Striped Chipmunk is now. But he
didn't mind that, not the least little bit. Mr. Gray Squirrel was four
times as big and had a handsome tail, Mr. Fox Squirrel was four times
as big and he also had a handsome tail, Mr. Red Squirrel was twice as
big and he thought his tail was very good to see. But Mr. Chipmunk
didn't envy his big cousins their fine tails; not he! You see he had
himself a beautiful striped coat of which he was very proud and which
he thought much more to be desired than a big tail.
"So Mr. Chipmunk went his way happy and contented and he was such a
merry little fellow and so full of fun and cut such funny capers that
everybody loved Mr. Chipmunk.
"One day, when the nights were cool and all the trees had put on their
brilliant colors, old Mother Nature sent word down across the Green
Meadows that every squirrel should gather for her and store away until
she came a thousand nuts. Now the squirrels had grown fat and lazy
through the long summer, all but Mr. Chipmunk, who frisked about so
much that he had no chance to grow fat.
"Mr. Gray Squirrel grumbled. Mr. Fox Squirrel grumbled. Mr. Red
Squirrel grumbled. But they didn't dare disobey old Mother Nature, so
they all set out, each to gather a thousand nuts. And Mr. Chipmunk
alone was pleasant and cheerful.
"When they reached the nut trees, what do you suppose they discovered?
Why, that they had been so greedy that they had eaten most of the nuts
and it was going to be hard work to find and store a thousand nuts for
old Mother Nature. Then they began to hurry, did Mr. Gray Squirrel and
Mr. Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel, each trying to make sure of his
thousand nuts. They quarreled and they fought over the nuts on the
ground and even up in the trees. And because they were so big and so
strong, they pushed Mr. Chipmunk this way and they pushed him that way
and often just as he was going to pick up a fat nut one of them would
knock him over and make off with the prize.
"Poor Mr. Chipmunk kept his temper and was as polite as ever, but how
he did work! His cousins are great climbers and could get the nuts
still left on the trees, but Mr. Chipmunk is a poor climber, so he had
to be content with those on the ground. Of course he could carry only
one nut at a time and his legs were so short that he had to run as fast
as ever he could to store each nut in his secret store-house and get
back for another. And while the others quarreled and fought, he
hurried back and forth, back and forth, from early morning until jolly,
round, red Mr. Sun pulled his night cap on behind the Purple Hills,
hunting for nuts and putting them away in his secret store-house.
"But the nuts grew scarcer and scarcer on the ground and harder to
find, for the other squirrels were picking them up too, and then they
did not have so far to carry them.
"Sometimes one of his cousins up in the trees would drop a nut, but Mr.
Chipmunk never would take it, not even when he was having hard work to
find any, 'for,' said he to himself, 'if my cousin drops a nut, it is
his nut just the same.'
"Finally Mr. Gray Squirrel announced that he had got his thousand nuts.
Then Mr. Fox Squirrel announced that he had got his thousand nuts. The
next day Mr. Red Squirrel stopped hunting because he had his thousand
nuts.
"But Mr. Chipmunk had hardly more than half as many. And that night he
made a dreadful discovery--some one had found his secret store-house
and had _stolen_ some of his precious nuts.
"'It's of no use to cry over what can't be helped,' said Mr. Chipmunk,
and the next morning he bravely started out again. He had worked so
hard that he had grown thinner and thinner until now he was only a
shadow of his old self. But he was as cheerful as ever and kept right
on hunting and hunting for stray nuts. Mr. Gray Squirrel and Mr. Fox
Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel sat around and rested and made fun of
him. Way up in the tops of the tallest trees a few nuts still clung,
but his cousins did not once offer to go up and shake them down for Mr.
Chipmunk.
"And then old Mother Nature came down across the Green Meadows. First
Mr. Gray Squirrel took her to his storehouse and she counted his
thousand nuts. Then Mr. Fox Squirrel led her to his storehouse and she
counted his thousand nuts. Then Mr. Red Squirrel showed her his
store-house and she counted his thousand nuts.
"Last of all Mr. Chipmunk led her to his secret store-house and showed
her the pile of nuts he had worked so hard to get. Old Mother Nature
didn't need to count them to see that there were not a thousand there.
"'I've done the best I could,' said Mr. Chipmunk bravely, and he
trembled all over, he was so tired.
"Old Mother Nature said never a word but went out on the Green Meadows
and sent the Merry Little Breezes to call together all the little
meadow people and all the little forest folks. When they had all
gathered before her she suddenly turned to Mr. Gray Squirrel.
"'Go bring me a hundred nuts from your store-house,' said she.
"Then she turned to Mr. Fox Squirrel.
"'Go bring me a hundred nuts from your store-house,' said she.
"Last of all she called Mr. Red Squirrel out where all could see him.
Mr. Red Squirrel crept out very slowly. His teeth chattered and his
tail, of which he was so proud, dragged on the ground, for you see Mr.
Red Squirrel had something on his mind.
"Then old Mother Nature told how she had ordered each squirrel to get
and store for her a thousand nuts. She told just how selfish Mr. Gray
Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel had been. She told just how hard Mr.
Chipmunk had worked and then she told how part of his precious store
had been stolen.
"'And there,' said old Mother Nature in a loud voice so that every one
should hear, 'there is the thief!'
"Then she commanded Mr. Red Squirrel to go to his store-house and bring
her half of the biggest and best nuts he had there!
"Mr. Red Squirrel sneaked off with his head hanging, and began to bring
the nuts. And as he tramped back and forth, back and forth, all the
little meadow people and all the little forest folks pointed their
fingers at him and cried 'Thief! Thief! Thief!'
"When all the nuts had been brought to her by Mr. Gray Squirrel and Mr.
Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel, old Mother Nature gathered them all
up and put them in the secret store-house of Mr. Chipmunk. Then she
set Mr. Chipmunk up on an old stump where all could see him and she
said:
"'Mr. Chipmunk, because you have been faithful, because you have been
cheerful, because you have done your best, henceforth you shall have
two pockets, one in each cheek, so that you can carry two nuts at once,
that you may not have to work so hard the next time I tell you to store
a thousand nuts.'
"And all the little meadow people and all the little forest folks
shouted 'Hurrah for Mr. Chipmunk!' All but his cousins, Mr. Gray
Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel, who hid themselves
for shame.
"And ever since that time long ago, when the world was young, the
Chipmunks have had pockets in their cheeks.
"You can't fool old Mother Nature," concluded Great-Grandfather Frog.
"No, Sir, you can't fool old Mother Nature and it's no use to try."
"Thank you, thank you," cried the Merry Little Breezes, clapping their
hands. Then they all raced across the Green Meadows to shake down some
more nuts for Striped Chipmunk.
VI
REDDY FOX, THE BOASTER
Johnny Chuck waddled down the Lone Little Path across the Green
Meadows. Johnny Chuck was very fat and rolly-poly. His yellow brown
coat fitted him so snugly that it seemed as if it must burst. Johnny
Chuck was feeling very happy--very happy indeed, for you see Johnny
Chuck long ago found the best thing in the world, which is contentment.
Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun, looking down from the sky, smiled and smiled
to see Johnny Chuck waddling down the Lone Little Path, for he loved
the merry-hearted little fellow, as do all the little meadow
people--all but Reddy Fox, for Reddy Fox has not forgotten the surprise
Johnny Chuck once gave him and how he called him a "'fraid cat."
Once in a while Johnny Chuck stopped to brush his coat carefully, for
he is very particular about his appearance, is Johnny Chuck. By and by
he came to the old butternut tree down by the Smiling Pool. He could
see it a long time before he reached it, and up in the top of it he
could see Blacky the Crow flapping his wings and cawing at the top of
his voice.
"There must be something going on," said Johnny Chuck to himself, and
began to waddle faster. He looked so very queer when he tried to hurry
that jolly round, red Mr. Sun smiled more than ever.
When he was almost to the old butter-nut tree Johnny Chuck sat up very
straight so that his head came just above the tall meadow grasses
beside the Lone Little Path. He could see the Merry Little Breezes
dancing and racing under the old butternut tree and having such a good
time! And he could see the long ears of Peter Rabbit standing up
straight above the tall meadow grasses. One of the Merry Little
Breezes spied Johnny Chuck.
"Hurry up, Johnny Chuck!" he shouted, and Johnny Chuck hurried.
When he reached the old butternut tree he was all out of breath. He
was puffing and blowing and he was so warm that he wished just for a
minute, a single little minute, that he could swim like Billy Mink and
Jerry Muskrat and Little Joe Otter, so that he could jump into the
Smiling Pool and cool off.
"Hello, Johnny Chuck!" shouted Peter Rabbit.
"Hello yourself, and see how you like it!" replied Johnny Chuck.
"Hello myself!" said Peter Rabbit.
And then because it was so very foolish everybody laughed. It is a
good thing to feel foolishly happy on a beautiful sunshiny day,
especially down on the Green Meadows.
Jimmy Skunk was there. He was feeling very, very good indeed, was
Jimmy Skunk, for he had found some very fine beetles for his breakfast.
Little Joe Otter was there, and Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat and Happy
Jack Squirrel, and of course Reddy Fox was there. Oh my, yes, of
course Reddy Fox was there! Reddy Fox never misses a chance to show
off. He was wearing his very newest red coat and his whitest
waistcoat. He had brushed his tail till it looked very handsome, and
every few minutes he would turn and admire it. Reddy Fox thought
himself a very fine gentleman. He admired himself and he wanted every
one else to admire him.
"Let's do stunts," said Peter Rabbit. "I can jump farther than anybody
here!"
Then Peter Rabbit jumped a tremendously long jump. Then everybody
jumped, everybody but Reddy Fox. Even Johnny Chuck jumped, and because
he was so rolly-poly he tumbled over and over and everybody laughed and
Johnny Chuck laughed loudest of all.
And because his hind legs are long and meant for jumping Peter Rabbit
had jumped farther than any one else.
"I can climb to the top of the old butternut tree quicker than anybody
else," cried Happy Jack Squirrel, and away he started with Bobby Coon
and Billy Mink after him, for though Billy Mink is a famous swimmer and
can run swiftly, he can also climb when he has to. But Happy Jack
Squirrel was at the top of the old butternut tree almost before the
others had started.
The Merry Little Breezes clapped their hands and everybody shouted for
Happy Jack Squirrel, everybody but Reddy Fox.
"I can swim faster than anybody here," shouted Little Joe Otter.
In a flash three little brown coats splashed into the Smiling Pool so
suddenly that they almost upset Great-Grandfather Frog watching from
his big green lily pad. They belonged to Little Joe Otter, Billy Mink
and Jerry Muskrat. Across the Smiling Pool and back again they raced
and Little Joe Otter was first out on the bank.
"Hurrah for Little Joe Otter!" shouted Blacky the Crow.
And everybody shouted "Hurrah!" Everybody but Reddy Fox.
"What can you do, Jimmy Skunk?" asked Peter Rabbit, dancing up and
down, he was so excited.
Jimmy Skunk yawned lazily.
"I can throw a wonderful perfume farther than anybody here," said Jimmy
Skunk.
"We know it! We know it!" shouted the Merry Little Breezes as
everybody tumbled heels over head away from Jimmy Skunk, even Reddy
Fox. "But please don't!"
And Jimmy Skunk didn't.
Then they all came back, Reddy Fox carefully brushing his handsome red
coat which had become sadly mussed, he had fled in such a hurry.
Now for the first time in his life Johnny Chuck began to feel just a
wee, wee bit discontented. What was there he could do better than any
one else? He couldn't jump and he couldn't climb and he couldn't swim.
He couldn't even run fast, because he was so fat and round and
rolly-poly. He quite forgot that he was so sunny-hearted and
good-natured that everybody loved him, everybody but Reddy Fox.
Just then Reddy Fox began to boast, for Reddy Fox is a great boaster.
"Pooh!" said Reddy Fox, "pooh! Anybody could jump if their legs were
made for jumping. And what's the good of climbing trees anyway? Now I
can run faster than anybody here--faster than anybody in the whole
world!" said Reddy Fox, puffing himself out.
"Chug-a-rum," said Grandfather Frog. "You can't beat Spotty the
Turtle."
Then everyone shouted and rolled over and over in the grass, they were
so tickled, for every one remembered how Spotty the Turtle had once won
a race from Reddy Fox.
For a minute Reddy Fox looked very foolish. Then he lost his temper,
which is a very unwise thing to do, for it is hard to find again. He
swelled himself out until every hair stood on end and he looked twice
as big as he did before. He strutted up and down and glared at each in
turn.
"And I'm not afraid of any living thing on the Green Meadows!" boasted
Reddy Fox.
"Chug-a-rum," said Grandfather Frog. "Do I see Bowser the Hound?"
Every hair on Reddy Fox suddenly fell back into place. He whirled
about nervously and anxiously looked over the Green Meadows. Then
everybody shouted again and rolled over and over in the grass and held
on to their sides, for you see Bowser the Hound wasn't there at all.
But everybody took good care to keep away from Reddy Fox, everybody but
Johnny Chuck. He just sat still and chuckled and chuckled till his fat
sides shook.
"What are you laughing at?" demanded Reddy Fox.
"I was just thinking," said Johnny Chuck, "that though you can run so
fast, you can't even catch me."
Reddy Fox just glared at him for a minute, he was so mad. Then he
sprang straight at Johnny Chuck.
"I'll show you!" he snarled.
Now Johnny Chuck had been sitting close beside a hole that Grandfather
Chuck had dug a long time before and which was empty. In a flash
Johnny Chuck disappeared head first in the hole. Now the hole was too
small for Reddy Fox to enter, but he was so angry that he straightway
began to dig it larger. My, how the sand did fly! It poured out
behind Reddy Fox in a stream of shining yellow.
Johnny Chuck ran down the long tunnel underground until he reached the
end. Then when he heard Reddy Fox digging and knew that he was really
coming, Johnny Chuck began to dig, too, only instead of digging down he
dug up towards the sunshine and the blue sky.
My, how his short legs did fly and his stout little claws dug into the
soft earth! His little forepaws flew so fast that if you had been
there you could hardly have seen them at all. And with his strong hind
legs he kicked the sand right back into the face of Reddy Fox.
All the little meadow people gathered around the hole where Johnny
Chuck and Reddy Fox had disappeared. They were very anxious, very
anxious indeed. Would Reddy Fox catch Johnny Chuck? And what would he
do to him? Was all their fun to end in something terrible to
sunny-hearted, merry Johnny Chuck, whom everybody loved?
All of a sudden, pop! right out of the solid earth among the daisies
and buttercups, just like a jack-in-the-box, came Johnny Chuck! He
looked very warm and a little tired, but he was still chuckling as he
scampered across to another hole of Grandfather Chuck's.
By and by something else crawled out of the hole Johnny Chuck had made.
Could it be Reddy Fox? Where were his white waistcoat and beautiful
red coat? And was that thing dragging behind him his splendid tail?
He crept out of the hole and then just lay down and panted for breath.
He was almost too tired to move. Then he began to spit sand out of his
mouth and blow it out of his nose and try to wipe it out of his eyes.
The long hair of his fine coat was filled full of sand and no one would
ever have guessed that this was Reddy Fox.
"Haw! haw! haw!" shouted Blacky the Crow.
Then everybody shouted "Haw! haw! haw!" and began to roll in the grass
and hold on to their sides once more; everybody but Reddy Fox. When he
could get his breath he didn't look this way or that way, but just
sneaked off to his home under the big hickory.
[Illustration: Then everybody shouted "Haw! haw! haw!"]
And when Old Mother West Wind came with her big bag to take the Merry
Little Breezes to their home behind the Purple Hills, Johnny Chuck
waddled back up the Lone Little Path chuckling to himself, for that
little feeling of discontent was all gone. He had found that after all
he could do something better than anybody else on the Green Meadows,
for in his heart he knew that none could dig so fast as he.
VII
JOHNNY CHUCK'S SECRET
Johnny Chuck pushed up the last bit of gravel from the hole he had dug
between the roots of the old apple tree in a corner of the Green
Meadows. He smoothed it down on the big, yellow mound he had made in
front of his door. Then he sat up very straight on top of the mound,
brushed his coat, shook the sand from his trousers and carefully
cleaned his hands.
After he had rested a bit, he turned around and looked at his new home,
for that is what it was, although he had not come there to live yet,
and no one knew of it, no one but jolly, round, red Mr. Sun, who,
peeping between the branches of the old apple tree, had caught Johnny
Chuck at work. But _he_ wouldn't tell, not jolly Mr. Sun! Looking
down from the blue sky every day he sees all sorts of queer things and
he learns all kinds of secrets, does Mr. Sun, but he never, never
tells. No, Sir! Mr. Sun never tells one of them, not even to Old
Mother West Wind when at night they go down together behind the Purple
Hills.
So jolly, round, red Mr. Sun just smiled and smiled when he discovered
Johnny Chuck's secret, for that is just what the new home under the
apple tree was--a secret. Not even the Merry Little Breezes, who find
out almost everything, had discovered it.
Johnny Chuck chuckled to himself as he planned a back door, a beautiful
back door, hidden behind a tall clump of meadow grass where no one
would think to look for a door. When he had satisfied himself as to
just where he would put it, he once more sat up very straight on his
nice, new mound and looked this way and looked that way to be sure that
no one was near. Then he started for his old home along a secret
little path he had made for himself.
Pretty soon he came to the Lone Little Path that went past his own
home. He danced and he skipped along the Lone Little Path, and,
because he was so happy, he tried to turn a somersault. But Johnny
Chuck was so round and fat and rolly-poly that he just tumbled over in
a heap.
"Well, well, well! What's the matter with you?" said a voice close
beside him before he could pick himself up. It was Jimmy Skunk, who
was out looking for some beetles for his dinner.
Johnny Chuck scrambled to his feet and looked foolish, very foolish
indeed.
"There's nothing the matter with me, Jimmy Skunk," said Johnny.
"There's nothing the matter with me. It's just because I've got a
secret."
"A secret!" cried Jimmy Skunk. "What is it?"
"Yes, a secret, a really, truly secret," said Johnny Chuck, and looked
very important.
"Tell me, Johnny Chuck. Come on, tell just _me_, and then we'll have
the secret together," begged Jimmy Skunk.
Now Johnny Chuck was so tickled with his secret that it seemed as if he
_must_ share it with some one. He just couldn't keep it to himself any
longer.
"You won't tell any one?" said Johnny Chuck.
Jimmy Skunk promised that he wouldn't tell a soul.
"Cross your heart," commanded Johnny Chuck.
Jimmy Skunk crossed his heart.
Then Johnny Chuck looked this way and looked that way to be sure that
no one was listening. Finally he whispered in Jimmy Skunk's ear:
"I've got a new home under the old apple tree in a corner of the Green
Meadows," said Johnny Chuck.
Of course Jimmy Skunk was very much surprised and very much interested,
so Johnny Chuck told him all about it.
"Now, remember, it's a secret," said Johnny Chuck, as Jimmy Skunk
started off down the Lone Little Path across the Green Meadows, to look
for some beetles.
"I'll remember," said Jimmy Skunk.
"And don't tell!" called Johnny Chuck.
Jimmy Skunk promised that he wouldn't tell. Then Johnny Chuck started
off up the Lone Little Path, whistling, and Jimmy Skunk trotted down
the Lone Little Path onto the Green Meadows.
Jimmy Skunk was thinking so much about Johnny Chuck's new home that he
quite forgot to look for beetles, and he almost ran into Peter Rabbit.
"Hello, Jimmy Skunk," said Peter Rabbit, "can't you see where you are
going? It must be you have something on your mind; what is it?"
"I was thinking of Johnny Chuck's new home," said Jimmy Skunk.
"Johnny Chuck's new home!" exclaimed Peter Rabbit. "Has Johnny Chuck
got a new home? Where is it?"
"Under the roots of the old apple tree in a corner of the Green
Meadows," said Jimmy Skunk, and then he clapped both hands over his
mouth. You see he hadn't really meant to tell. It just slipped out.
"Oh, but it's a secret!" cried Jimmy Skunk. "It's a secret, and you
mustn't tell. I guess Johnny Chuck won't mind if you know, Peter
Rabbit, but you mustn't tell any one else." Peter Rabbit promised he
wouldn't.