In the woods near the foot of Blue Mountain news travels fast. Soon
everybody knew that Jimmy Rabbit had become an artist. And many of the
woods-people put on their best clothes and hurried to Jimmy's house, to
have their pictures painted.
They were disappointed when Jimmy told them all that they would have to
wait.
"But after I've made a picture of Mr. Crow you shall each have your
turn," he promised.
Some of them grumbled. And Mr. Fox, especially, was very disagreeable.
"I was the first one here," he said. "I don't see why I should have to
wait for old Mr. Crow."
But Jimmy Rabbit would not listen to him. He felt quite important.
"I shall have to ask you all to go away now," he said. "Painting
pictures is very difficult work. It would make me nervous to have so
many people watching me."
So his callers left him--all but Mr. Fox.
"I'm going to stay right here," Mr. Fox said. "And as soon as you finish
with Mr. Crow, you can begin my picture." And he looked so surly that
Jimmy Rabbit didn't dare object.
At last Mr. Crow arrived.
"I'd have been here before," he said, "but I stopped to get a new hat."
"That's too bad!" Jimmy told him. "You know, gentlemen never wear hats
when they're having their portraits painted. But I'll tell you what you
can do," he added, for he saw that Mr. Crow was disappointed. "You can
hold your hat in your hand."
That seemed to make Mr. Crow feel better. But Mr. Fox almost spoiled
everything by saying, "Then he'll have to stand on one leg."
Jimmy Rabbit hadn't thought of that. And Mr. Crow only made it harder
for him. For he said in a loud voice, "No hat, no picture!"
Jimmy Rabbit thought very hard. And pretty soon he smiled all over his
face.
"It's all right!" he said. "I know how to fix it, Mr. Crow. You can hold
your hat, just as I said."
So everybody was happy again--except Mr. Fox, who had hoped that old Mr.
Crow would go away.
Jimmy Rabbit showed Mr. Crow where to stand. And then he began to
paint. And while he worked, Mr. Fox looked over his shoulder.
It was not long before something seemed to please Mr. Fox, for he smiled
broadly.
Mr. Crow noticed that grin.
"What's he laughing at?" he asked. "_I_ don't see anything to laugh at."
Jimmy Rabbit looked around. But Mr. Fox was as solemn as an owl.
"He isn't laughing," said Jimmy.
"Certainly not!" said Mr. Fox. "Your eyes must be bad, Mr. Crow."
"Well, I didn't bring my spectacles," Mr. Crow answered. "I thought I'd
look better without them."
After that Mr. Fox managed to keep a sober face. But _inside_ he was
laughing as hard as could be.
"What makes him shake so?" Mr. Crow asked, a few minutes later.
"I must have caught cold," Mr. Fox replied. "I've been chilly all the
morning."
"You'd better go home," Jimmy Rabbit advised him. But Mr. Fox wouldn't
have left for anything.
"Now he's choking!" Mr. Crow said. "I declare, I can't have my picture
painted with such goings-on." And he started to fly away.
But Jimmy Rabbit begged him to stand still just a little longer.
"The picture is almost done," he said. "There!" he added, a bit later.
"It's finished. And I know you'll be pleased."
It was clear that Mr. Fox was pleased, for he was actually beaming.
Jimmy thought he had never seen him look so pleasant. Mr. Crow had to
ask him to stand aside, so _he_ could have a look.
"I should think I might gaze on my own picture," he grumbled.
At first Mr. Crow was delighted. Then he seemed somewhat puzzled.
"The face is good," he said. "And no one could ask for a better picture
of a hat. But there's something that doesn't look quite right." And all
at once Mr. Crow saw what was the matter. And he flew at the picture and
ran his bill through it in a dozen places. "The idea!" he said. "I've
never been so insulted in all my life!" And without another word he flew
out of sight.
It was no wonder that he was angry. For in the picture Jimmy Rabbit had
painted him with four legs!
"Well," said Jimmy, "he needn't be so cross about it. It was his own
fault. He wanted to hold his hat. And I just _had_ to give him more than
one leg to stand on."
[Illustration: 14 Boy Lost!]
14
Boy Lost!
Poor Mrs. Rabbit didn't know what to do. Her son Jimmy had not been home
since early morning; and she was sure he was lost. She hurried through
the woods, looking for him everywhere. But not a trace of him could she
find. No one had seen him.
At last Mrs. Rabbit happened to meet Jasper Jay.
"Have you seen Jimmy?" she asked.
"Yes!" he said. "Right after breakfast I saw him hurrying along the road
by the river. The gypsies have a camp there. And I wouldn't be a bit
surprised if they had stolen him," he added very cheerfully.
When Mrs. Rabbit heard that she was terribly upset.
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" she cried. "Whatever shall I do?"
"The usual thing," Jasper Jay told her, "is to offer a reward."
"Is that so?" said Mrs. Rabbit. "I've never done anything like that.
Will you help me?"
"Why, certainly!" said Jasper. And he set to work and painted a big
sign, which looked like this: