Spreads joy and gladness everywhere.
|NOW though Bobby Coon couldn't speak the language of Farmer Brown's
boy and so tell him how he longed to be free and go back to the Green
Forest, he could and he did tell him in another way just what was in
his heart. He told him with his eyes, though he didn't know it. You know
eyes are sometimes called the windows of the soul. This means simply
that as you look out through your eyes and see all that is going on
about you, so others may sometimes look right in your eyes and see what
is going on within your mind. Eyes are very wonderful things, and a
great deal may be learned from them. Eyes will tell the truth when a
tongue is busy telling a wrong story. I guess you know how hard it is
when you have done wrong to look mother straight in the face-and try to
make her believe that you haven't done wrong. That is because your eyes
are truthful.
Looking straight into the eyes of fierce wild animals often will fill
them with fear. Trainers of lions and other dangerous animals know this
and do it a great deal. Fear will show in the eyes when it shows nowhere
else. It is the same with happiness and contentment. So it is with
sorrow and worry. Just as a thermometer shows just how warm it is or how
cold it is, so the eyes show our feelings. So when Bobby Coon sat down
and gazed towards the Green Forest and wished that he could tell Farmer
Brown's boy how he wanted to go back there, a look of longing grew and
grew in Bobby's eyes, and Farmer Brown's boy saw it. What is more, he
understood it. His own eyes grew soft.
“You poor little rascal,” said he, “I believe you think you are a
prisoner and that you want to go back home. Well, I guess there is no
reason why you shouldn't now. I'm very fond of you, Bobby. Yes, I am.
I'm so fond of you that I hate to have you go, and I guess that I've
kept you longer than was necessary. That leg of yours looks to me to
be as good as ever, so I really haven't an excuse for keeping you any
longer. I think we'll take a walk this afternoon.”
If Bobby could have understood what Farmer Brown's boy was saying, it
would have made him feel a great deal better. But he didn't understand,
and so he continued to stare towards the Green Forest and grow more and
more homesick. After dinner, Farmer Brown's boy came out and took off
the collar and chain, and picked Bobby up in his arms. This time Bobby
didn't have his eyes covered as he did when he had been brought from the
Green Forest. Fear no longer made him want to bite and scratch. Through
the Old Orchard straight to the Green Forest they went, and Bobby began
to grow excited. What was going to happen? What did it mean?
Through the Green Forest straight to the place where Bobby's great
hollow tree used to stand went Farmer Brown's boy. When they got there
he smoothed Bobby's coat and patted him gently. Then he put him down on
the ground.
“Here we are, Bobby,” said he. “Now run along and find a new house and
be happy. I hope you won't forget me, because I am going to come over
often to see you. Just keep out of mischief, and above all keep out of
the way of hunters next fall. They shall not hunt here if I can help it,
but you know I cannot watch all the time. Good-by, Bobby, and take care
of yourself.”
Bobby didn't say good-by, because he didn't know how. But a great
joy came into his eyes, and Farmer Brown's boy saw it and understood.
Straight off among the trees Bobby walked. Once he looked back. Farmer
Brown's boy was watching him and waved a hand.
“He was good to me. He certainly was good to me,” thought Bobby. “I--I
believe I really am very fond of him.”
Then he went on to look for a new house. All the joy of the springtime
was in his heart He was free! He was home once more in the Green Forest!
He no longer feared Farmer Brown's boy!
“I'm the happiest coon in all the world!” cried Bobby.