sharper. Then, too, he is a mischief-maker. Mischief-makers are always
on the watch lest they get caught in their mischief. So Blacky the Crow,
sitting on the tip-top of the big pine, kept one eye out for trouble
while he enjoyed the tormenting of Hooty the Owl by his aunts and his
uncles and his cousins. He had seen Farmer Brown's boy even before
Johnny Chuck had. But he couldn't bear to spoil the fun of tormenting
Hooty the Owl, so he waited just as long as he dared. Then he gave the
signal.
"Caw, caw, caw, caw!" shouted Blacky at the top of his lungs.
"Caw, caw, caw, caw!" replied all his aunts and uncles and cousins,
rising into the air in a black cloud. Then, with Blacky in the lead,
they flew over on to the Green Meadows, laughing and talking noisily as
they went.
Farmer Brown's boy did not try to follow them, for he knew that it was
of not the least bit of use. But he was curious to learn what the crows
had been making such a fuss about, so he kept on towards the big pine.
Johnny Chuck watched him go. Suddenly he remembered Hooty the Owl, and
that Hooty cannot see well in the daytime. Very likely Hooty would think
that the crows had become tired of tormenting him and had gone off of
their own accord. Farmer Brown's boy would find him there and
then--Johnny Chuck shuddered as he thought of what might happen to Hooty
the Owl.
"Run, Peter Rabbit, run as fast as you can down on the Green Meadows
where the Merry Little Breezes are at play and send one of them to tell
Hooty the Owl that Farmer Brown's boy is coming with a gun to the big
pine! Hurry, Peter, hurry!" cried Johnny Chuck.
Peter did not need to be told twice. He saw the danger of Hooty the Owl,
and he started down the Lone Little Path on to the Green Meadows so fast
that in a few minutes all Johnny Chuck and Sammy Jay could see of him
was a little spot of white, which was the patch on the seat of Peter's
pants, bobbing through the grass on the Green Meadows.
Johnny Chuck would have gone himself, but he is round and fat and
roly-poly and cannot run fast, while Peter Rabbit's legs are long and
meant for running. In a few minutes Johnny Chuck saw one of the Merry
Little Breezes start for the big pine as fast as he could go. Johnny
gave a great sigh of relief.
Farmer Brown's boy kept on to the big pine. When he got there he found
no one there, for Hooty the Owl had heeded the warning of the Merry
Little Breeze and had flown into the deepest, darkest part of the Green
Forest, where not even the sharp eyes of Blacky the Crow were likely to
find him.
And back on his doorstep Johnny Chuck chuckled to himself, for he was
happy, was Johnny Chuck, happy because he possessed the best thing in
the world, which is contentment.
And this is all I am going to tell you about the fuss in the big
pine.
IX
JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS A USE FOR HIS BACK DOOR
Johnny Chuck sat in his doorway looking over the Green Meadows. He felt
very fine. He had had a good breakfast in the sweet-clover patch. He had
had a good nap on his own doorstep. By and by he saw the Merry Little
Breezes of old Mother West Wind hurrying in his direction. They seemed
in a very great hurry. They didn't stop to kiss the buttercups or tease
the daisies. Johnny pricked up his small ears and watched them hurry up
the hill.
"Good morning, Johnny Chuck," panted the first Merry Little Breeze to
reach him, "have you heard the news?"
"What news?" asked Johnny Chuck.
"The news about old Mother Chuck," replied the Merry Little Breezes.
Johnny shook his head.
"No," said he. "What is it?"
The Merry Little Breezes grew very, very sober.
"It is bad news," they replied.
"What is it? Tell me quick!" begged Johnny.
Just then Reddy Fox came hopping and skipping down the Lone Little Path.
"Hi, Johnny Chuck, have you heard the news?"
"No," said Johnny Chuck, "do tell me quick!"
Reddy Fox grinned maliciously, for Reddy likes to torment others. "It's
about old Mrs. Chuck," said Reddy.
"I know that already," replied Johnny, "but, please, what is it?"
"Farmer Brown's boy has caught old Mrs. Chuck, and now I wouldn't wonder
but what he will come up here and catch you," replied Reddy, turning a
somersault.
Johnny Chuck grew pale. He had not seen Mother Chuck to speak to since
he ran away from home. Now he was glad that he had run away, and yet
sorry, oh, so sorry that anything had happened to Mrs. Chuck. Two big
tears came into his eyes and ran down his funny little black nose. The
Merry Little Breezes saw this, and one of them hurried over and
whispered in Johnny Chuck's ear.
"Don't cry, Johnny Chuck," whispered the Merry Little Breeze. "Old
Mother Chuck got away, and Farmer Brown's boy is still wondering how she
did it."
Johnny's heart gave a great throb of relief. "I don't believe that
Farmer Brown's boy will catch me," said Johnny Chuck, "for my house has
two back doors."
Johnny Chuck awoke very early the next morning. He stretched and yawned
and then just lay quietly enjoying himself for a few minutes. His
bedchamber, way down underground, was snug and warm and very, very
comfortable. By and by, Johnny Chuck heard a noise up by his front door.
"I wonder what is going on out there," said Johnny Chuck to himself, and
jumping up, he tiptoed softly up the long hall until he had almost
reached his doorway. Then he heard a voice which he had heard before,
and it made little shivers run all over him. It was the voice of Granny
Fox.
"So this is where that fat little Chuck has made his home," said Granny
Fox.
"Yes," replied another voice, "this is where Johnny Chuck lives, for I
saw him here yesterday."
Johnny pricked up his ears, for that was the voice of Reddy Fox.
"Do you think he is in here now?" inquired Granny Fox.
"I am sure of it," replied Reddy, "for I have been watching ever since
jolly, round, red Mr. Sun threw his nightcap off this morning, and
Johnny Chuck has not put his nose out yet."
"Good," said Granny Fox, "I think fat Chuck will taste good for
breakfast."
Johnny felt the cold shivers run over him again as he heard Granny Fox
and Reddy Fox smack their lips. Then Granny Fox spoke again:
"You lie down behind that bunch of grass over there, Reddy, and I will
lie down behind the old apple-tree. When he comes out, you just jump
into his doorway and I will catch him before he can say Jack Robinson."
Johnny waited and listened and listened, but all was as still as still
could be. Then Johnny Chuck tiptoed back along the hall to his bedroom
and sat down to think. He felt sure that Granny Fox and Reddy were
waiting for him, just as he had heard them plan.
"However am I going to know when they leave?" said Johnny Chuck to
himself. Then he remembered the back doors which he had taken such care
to make, and which Peter Rabbit had laughed at him for taking the
trouble to make. He had hidden one so cunningly in the long grass and
had so carefully removed all sand from around it that he felt quite sure
that no one had found it.
Very softly Johnny Chuck crept along the back passageway. Very, very
cautiously he stuck his little black nose out the doorway and sniffed.
Yes, he could smell foxes, but he knew that they were not at his back
door. Little by little he crept out until he could peep through the
grass. There lay Reddy Fox behind a big clump of grass, his eyes fixed
on Johnny Chuck's front door, and there behind the apple-tree lay Granny
Fox taking her ease, but all ready to jump when Reddy should give the
word. Johnny Chuck almost giggled out loud as he saw how eagerly Reddy
Fox was watching for him. Then Johnny Chuck had an idea that made him
giggle harder. His black eyes snapped and he chuckled to himself.
Pretty soon along came Bumble the Bee, looking for honey. He came
bustling and humming through the tall grass and settled on a dandelion
right on the doorstep of Johnny Chuck's back door.
"Good morning," grumbled Bumble the Bee.
Johnny put a hand on his lips and beckoned Bumble to come inside.
Now Bumble the Bee is a gruff and rough fellow, but he is a good fellow,
too, when you know him. Johnny Chuck had many times told him of places
where the flowers grew thick and sweet, so when Johnny beckoned to him,
Bumble came at once.
"Will you do something for me, Bumble?" whispered Johnny Chuck.
"Of course, I will," replied Bumble, in his gruff voice. "What is it?"
Then Johnny Chuck told Bumble the Bee how Granny and Reddy Fox were
waiting for him to come out for his breakfast and how they had planned
to gobble him up for their own breakfast. Bumble the Bee grew very
indignant.
"What do you want me to do, Johnny Chuck?" he asked. "If I can help you,
just tell me how."
Johnny whispered something to Bumble the Bee, and Bumble laughed right
out loud. Then he buzzed up out of the doorway, and Johnny crept up to
watch. Straight over to where Reddy Fox was squatting behind the clump
of grass flew Bumble the Bee, so swiftly that Johnny could hardly see
him. Suddenly Reddy gave a yelp and sprang into the air. Johnny Chuck
clapped both hands over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud, for
you see Bumble the Bee had stuck his sharp little lance into one of the
ears of Reddy Fox.
Granny Fox looked up and scowled. "Keep still," she whispered.
Just then Reddy yelped louder than before, for Bumble had stung him in
the other ear.
"What's the matter?" snapped Granny Fox.
"I don't know," cried Reddy Fox, hanging on to both ears.
"You are--" began Granny Fox, but Johnny Chuck never knew what she was
going to say Reddy Fox was, for you see just then Bumble the Bee thrust
his sharp little lance into one of her ears, and before she could turn
around he had done the same thing to the other ear.
Granny Fox didn't wait for any more. She started off as fast as she
could go, with Reddy Fox after her, and every few steps they rubbed
their ears and shook their heads as if they thought they could shake out
the pain.
X
BILLY MINK GOES DINNERLESS
Down the Laughing Brook came Billy Mink. He was feeling very good that
morning, was Billy Mink, pleased with the world in general and with
himself in particular. When he reached the Smiling Pool he swam out to
the Big Rock. Little Joe Otter was already there, and not far away,
lazily floating, with his head and back out of water, was Jerry Muskrat.
"Hello, Billy Mink," cried Little Joe Otter.
"Hello yourself," replied Billy Mink, with a grin.
"Where are you going?" asked Little Joe Otter.
"Nowhere in particular," replied Billy Mink.
"Let's go fishing down to the Big River," said Little Joe Otter.
"Let's!" cried Billy, diving from the highest point on the Big Rock.
So off they started across the Green Meadows towards the Big River. Half
way there they met Reddy Fox.
"Hello, Reddy! Come on with us to the Big River, fishing," called Billy
Mink.
[Illustration: "Come on with us to the Big River, fishing," called Billy
Mink.]
Now Reddy Fox is no fisherman, though he likes fish to eat well enough.
He remembered the last time he went fishing and how Billy Mink had
laughed at him when he fell into the Smiling Pool. He was just about to
say "no" when he changed his mind.
"All right, I'll go," said Reddy Fox.
So the three of them raced merrily across the Green Meadows until
they came to the Big River. Now Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter are
famous fishermen and can swim even faster than the fish themselves. But
Reddy Fox is a poor swimmer and must depend upon his wits. When they
reached the bank of the Big River they very carefully crawled down to a
sandy beach. There, just a little way out from shore, a school of little
striped perch were at play. Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter prepared to
dive in and each grab a fish, but Reddy Fox knew that he could not swim
well enough for that.
"Wait a minute," whispered Reddy. "Billy Mink, you go up the river a
little way and swim out beyond where the fish are at play. Little Joe
Otter, you go down the river a little way and swim out to join Billy
Mink. Then both together rush in as fast as you can swim. The fish will
be so frightened they will rush in where the water is shallow. Of course
you will each catch one, anyway, and perhaps I may be so lucky as to
catch one in the shallow water."
Billy Mink and little Joe Otter agreed, and did just as Reddy Fox had
told them to. When they were between the playing fish and deep water
they started in with a rush. The little striped perch were young and
foolish. When they saw Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter they rushed madly
away from them without looking to see where they were going to. As Reddy
Fox had foreseen would be the case, a lot of them became stranded where
the water was too shallow for swimming, and there they jumped and
flapped helplessly.
Reddy was waiting for them and in a twinkling his little black paw had
scooped half a dozen fish high and dry on the beach. Billy Mink and
Little Joe Otter were too busy watching the fish to see what Reddy was
doing. He had caught six fish and these he hid under a log. When Billy
Mink and Little Joe Otter swam ashore, Reddy was the picture of
disappointment, for he had nothing to show, while the others each had a
plump little fish.
"Never mind," said Little Joe Otter, "I'll give you the next one I
catch."
But Billy Mink jeered at Reddy Fox. "Pooh! you're no fisherman, Reddy
Fox! If I couldn't catch fish when they are chased right into my hands
I'd never go fishing."
Reddy Fox pretended to be indignant. "I tell you what, Billy Mink," said
he, "if I don't catch more fish than you do to-day I'll bring you the
plumpest chicken in Farmer Brown's dooryard, but if I do catch more fish
than you do you will give me the biggest one you catch. Do you agree?"
Now Billy Mink is very fond of plump chicken and here was a chance to
get one without danger of meeting Bowser the Hound, who guards Farmer
Brown's chickens. So Billy Mink agreed to give Reddy Fox the biggest
fish he caught that day if Reddy could show more fish than he could at
the end of the day. All the time he chuckled to himself, for you know
Billy Mink is a famous fisherman, and he knew that Reddy Fox is a poor
swimmer and does not like the water.
By and by they came to another sandy beach like the first one. They
could see another school of foolish young fish at play. As before, Reddy
Fox remained on shore while the others swam out and drove the fish in.
As before Reddy caught half a dozen, while Billy Mink and Little Joe
Otter each caught one this time. Reddy hid five and then pretended to be
so tickled over catching one, the smallest of the lot, that Billy Mink
didn't once suspect a trick.
Two or three times more Reddy Fox repeated this. Then he discovered a
big pickerel sunning himself beside an old log floating in deep water.
Reddy couldn't catch Mr. Pickerel, for the water was deep. What should
he do? Reddy sat down to think. Finally he thought of a plan. Very
cautiously he backed away so as not to scare the big fish. Then he
called Billy Mink. When Billy saw the big pickerel, his mouth watered,
too, and his little black eyes sparkled.
Very quietly Billy slipped into the water back of the old log. There was
not so much as a ripple to warn the big pickerel. Drawing a long breath,
Billy dived under the log, and coming up under the big pickerel, seized
it by the middle. There was a tremendous thrashing and splashing, and
then Billy Mink swam ashore and proudly laid the big fish on the bank.
"Don't you wish it was yours?" asked Billy Mink.
"It ought to be mine, for I saw it first," said Reddy Fox.
"But you didn't catch it and I did," retorted Billy Mink. "I'm going to
have it for my dinner. My, but I do like fat pickerel!" Billy smacked
his lips.
Reddy Fox said nothing, but tried his best to look disappointed and
dejected. All the time he was chuckling inwardly.
For the rest of the day the fishing was poor. Just as Old Mother West
Wind started for the Green Meadows to take her children, the Merry
Little Breezes, to their home behind the Purple Hills, the three little
fishermen started to count up their catch. Then Reddy brought out all
the fish that he had hidden. When they saw the pile of fish Reddy Fox
had, Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter were so surprised that their eyes
popped out and their jaws dropped. Very foolish they looked, very
foolish indeed, for Reddy had four times as many as either of them.
Reddy walked over to the big pickerel and picking it up, carried it over
to his pile. "What are you doing with my fish?" shouted Billy Mink
angrily.
"It isn't yours, it's mine!" retorted Reddy Fox.
Billy Mink fairly danced up and down he was so angry. "It's not yours!"
he shrieked. "It's mine, for I caught it!"
"And you agreed that your biggest fish should be mine if I caught more
fish than you did. I've caught four times as many, so the pickerel is
mine," retorted Reddy, winking at Little Joe Otter.
Then Billy Mink did a very foolish thing; he lost his temper completely.
He called Reddy Fox bad names. But he did not dare try to take the big
pickerel away from Reddy, for Reddy is much bigger than he. Finally he
worked himself into such a rage that he ran off home leaving his pile of
fish behind.
Reddy Fox and Little Joe Otter took care not to touch Billy Mink's fish,
but Reddy divided his big pile with Little Joe Otter. Then they, too,
started for home, Reddy carrying the big pickerel.
Late that night, when he had recovered his temper, Billy Mink began to
grow hungry. The more he thought of his fish the hungrier he grew.
Finally he could stand it no longer and started for the Big River to
see what had become of his fish. He reached the strip of beach where he
had so foolishly left them just in time to see the last striped perch
disappear down the long throat of Mr. Night Heron.
And this is how it happened that Billy Mink went dinnerless to bed. But
he had learned three things, had Billy, and he never forgot them--that
wit is often better than skill; that it is not only mean but is very
foolish to sneer at another; and that to lose one's temper is the most
foolish thing in the world.
XI
GRANDFATHER FROG'S JOURNEY
Grandfather Frog sat on his big green lily-pad in the Smiling Pool
and--Grandfather Frog was asleep! There was no doubt about it,
Grandfather Frog was really and truly asleep. His hands were folded
across his white and yellow waistcoat and his eyes were closed. Three
times the Merry Little Breezes blew a foolish green fly right past his
nose;--Grandfather Frog didn't so much as blink.
Presently Billy Mink discovered that Grandfather Frog was asleep.
Billy's little black eyes twinkled with mischief as he hurried over to
the slippery slide in search of Little Joe Otter. Then the two scamps
hunted up Jerry Muskrat. They found him very busy storing away a supply
of food in his new house. At first Jerry refused to listen to what they
had to say, but the more they talked the more Jerry became interested.
"We won't hurt Grandfather Frog, not the least little bit," protested
Billy Mink. "It will be just the best joke and the greatest fun ever,
and no harm done."
The more Jerry thought over Billy Mink's plan, the funnier the joke
seemed. Finally Jerry agreed to join Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter.
Then the three put their heads together and with a lot of giggling and
chuckling they planned their joke on Grandfather Frog.
Now Jerry Muskrat can stay a very long time under water, and his teeth
are long and sharp in order to cut the roots on which he depends for
much of his food. So Jerry swam out to the big green lily-pad on which
sat Grandfather Frog fast asleep. Diving way to the bottom of the
Smiling Pool, Jerry cut off the stem of the big green lily-pad close to
its root way down in the mud.
While Jerry was at work doing this, Billy Mink sent the Merry Little
Breezes hurrying over the Green Meadows to call all the little meadow
people to the Smiling Pool. Then, when Jerry Muskrat came up for a
breath of air, Billy Mink dived down and, getting hold of the end of the
lily-pad stem, he began to swim, towing the big green lily-pad after him
very slowly and gently so as not to waken Grandfather Frog. When Billy
had to come up for air, Little Joe Otter took his place. Then Jerry
Muskrat took his turn.
Across the Smiling Pool, past the Big Rock, they towed the big green
lily-pad, while Grandfather Frog slept peacefully, his hands folded
over his white and yellow waistcoat. Past the bulrushes and Jerry
Muskrat's new house, past Little Joe Otter's slippery slide sailed
Grandfather Frog, and still he slept and dreamed of the days when the
world was young.
Out of the Smiling Pool and into the Laughing Brook, where the brown
water flows smoothly, the three little swimmers towed the big green
lily-pad. It floated along of itself now, and all they had to do was to
steer it clear of rocks and old logs. Once it almost got away from them,
on the edge of a tiny waterfall, but all three pulling together towed it
out of danger. At last, in a dear little pool with a mossy green bank,
they anchored the big green lily-pad.
Then Billy Mink hurried back to the Smiling Pool to tell the little
meadow people where to find Grandfather Frog. Little Joe Otter climbed
out on the mossy green bank and Jerry Muskrat joined him there to rest
and dry off. One by one the little meadow people came hurrying up. Reddy
Fox was the first. Then came Johnny Chuck and Striped Chipmunk. Of
course Peter Rabbit was on hand. You can always count Peter in, when
there is anything going on among the little meadow people. Danny Meadow
Mouse and Happy Jack Squirrel arrived quite out of breath. Sammy Jay and
Blacky the Crow were not far behind. Last of all came Jimmy Skunk, who
never hurries.
Each in turn peeped over the edge of the mossy green bank to see
Grandfather Frog still sleeping peacefully on his big green lily-pad in
the dear little pool. Then all hid where they could see him when he
awoke, but where he could not see them.
Presently Billy Mink reached out with a long straw and tickled
Grandfather Frog on the end of his nose. Grandfather Frog opened his
eyes and yawned sleepily. Right over his head he saw jolly, round, red
Mr. Sun smiling down on him just as he last saw him before falling
asleep. He yawned again and then looked to see if Billy Mink was sitting
on the Big Rock.
Where was the Big Rock? Grandfather Frog sat up very suddenly and rubbed
his eyes. There wasn't any Big Rock! Grandfather Frog pinched himself to
make sure that he was awake. Then he rubbed his eyes again and looked
down at the big green lily-pad. Yes, that was his, the very same
lily-pad on which he sat every day.
Grandfather Frog was more perplexed than ever. Slowly he looked around.
Where were the slippery slide and Jerry Muskrat's new house? Where were
the bulrushes and where--where was the _Smiling Pool_? Grandfather
Frog's jaw dropped as he looked about him. His own big green lily-pad
was the only lily-pad in sight. Had the world turned topsy-turvy while
he slept?
"Chug-a-rum!" said Grandfather Frog. "This is very strange, very
strange, indeed!"
Then he turned around three times and pinched himself again. "Very
strange, very strange, indeed," muttered Grandfather Frog over and over
again. He scratched his head first with one hand and then with the
other, and the more he scratched the stranger it all seemed.
Just then he heard a giggle up on the mossy green bank. Grandfather Frog
whirled around. "Chug-a-rum!" he exclaimed. "Billy Mink, come out from
behind that tall grass and tell me where I am and what this means! I
might have known that you were at the bottom of it."
Then out jumped all the little meadow people and the Merry Little
Breezes to shout and laugh and dance and roll over and over on the mossy
green bank. Grandfather Frog looked at one and then at another and
gradually he began to smile. Pretty soon he was laughing as hard as any
of them, as Billy Mink told how they had towed him down to the dear
little pool.
"And now, Grandfather Frog, we'll take you home again," concluded Billy
Mink.
So, as before, Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat took
turns towing the big green lily-pad, while in the middle of it sat
Grandfather Frog, catching foolish green flies which the Merry Little
Breezes blew over to him.
Reddy Fox, Johnny Chuck, Peter Rabbit, Danny Meadow Mouse, Striped
Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel and Jimmy Skunk raced and capered along
the bank and shouted encouragement to the three little swimmers, while
over-head flew Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow. And, never once losing his
balance, Grandfather Frog sat on the big green lily-pad, enjoying his
strange ride and smacking his lips over the foolish green flies.
And so they came once more to the Smiling Pool, past the slippery slide,
past the bulrushes and Jerry Muskrat's new house and the Big Rock, until
Grandfather Frog and his queer craft were once more anchored safe and
sound in the old familiar place.
"Chug-a-rum!" said Grandfather Frog. "I think I'd like to go again."
XII