HAPPY JACK DECIDES TO MAKE A CALL
You'll find when all is said and done
Two heads are better far than one.
_Happy Jack._
Happy Jack Squirrel hadn't slept very well. He had had bad dreams. Ever
so many times in the night he had waked up, a very unusual thing for
Happy Jack. The fact is, he had something on his mind. Yes, Sir, Happy
Jack had something on his mind, and that something was Farmer Brown's
boy. He often had had Farmer Brown's boy on his mind before, but in a
very different way. Then it had been in the days when Farmer Brown's boy
hunted through the Green Forest and over the Green Meadows with his
terrible gun. Then everybody had Farmer Brown's boy on their minds most
of the time. Happy Jack had hated him then, hated him because he had
feared him. You know fear almost always leads to hate. But now it was
different. Farmer Brown's boy had put away his terrible gun. Happy Jack
no longer feared him. Love had taken the place of hate in his heart, for
had not Farmer Brown's boy saved him from Shadow the Weasel, and brought
him nuts and corn when food was scarce? And now Tommy Tit had brought
word that some thing was the matter with Farmer Brown's boy. It was this
that was on Happy Jack's mind and had given him such a bad night.
As soon as it was daylight, Happy Jack scrambled out of bed to look for
Tommy Tit. He didn't have long to wait, for Tommy is quite as early a
riser as Happy Jack.
"Dee, dee, chickadee!
I hope you feel as well as me!"
sang Tommy merrily, as he flitted over to where Happy Jack was looking
for his breakfast. The very sound of Tommy's voice made Happy Jack feel
better. One must feel very badly indeed not to be a little more cheerful
when Tommy Tit is about. The fact is, Tommy Tit packs about so much
good cheer in that small person of his, that no one can be downhearted
when he is about.
"Hello, Tommy," said Happy Jack. "If I could make other people feel as
good as you do, do you know what I would do?"
"What?" asked Tommy.
"I'd go straight up to Farmer Brown's house and try to cheer up Farmer
Brown's boy," replied Happy Jack.
"That's the very thing I have in mind," chuckled Tommy. "I've come over
here to see if you won't come along with me. I've been up to his house
so often that he won't think half so much of a visit from me as he will
from you. Will you do it?"
Happy Jack looked a little startled. You see, he never had been over to
Farmer Brown's house, and somehow he couldn't get over the idea that it
would be a very dangerous thing to do. "I--I--do you really suppose I
could?" he asked.
"I'm sure of it," replied Tommy Tit. "There's no one to be afraid of but
Black Pussy and Bowser the Hound, and it's easy enough to keep out of
their way. You can hide in the old stone wall until the way is clear and
then run across to the big maple tree close to the house. Then you can
look right in and see Farmer Brown's boy, and he can look out and see
you. Will you do it?"
Happy Jack thought very hard for a few minutes. Then he made up his
mind. "I'll do it!" said he in a very decided tone of voice. "Let's
start right away."
"Good for you! Dee, dee, good for you!" cried Tommy Tit, and started to
lead the way.