HAPPY JACK HAS A HAPPY THOUGHT
Who runs when danger comes his way
Will live to run some other day.
_Happy Jack._
Frightened and breathless, running with all his might from Shadow the
Weasel, Happy Jack Squirrel was in despair. He didn't know what to do or
where to go. The last time he had run from Shadow he had run to Farmer
Brown's boy, who had just happened to be near, and Farmer Brown's boy
had chased Shadow the Weasel away. But now it was too early in the
morning for him to expect to meet Farmer Brown's boy. In fact, jolly,
round, red Mr. Sun had hardly kicked his bedclothes off yet, and Happy
Jack was very sure that Farmer Brown's boy was still asleep.
Now most of us are creatures of habit. We do the thing that we have been
in the habit of doing, and do it without thinking anything about it.
That is why good habits are such a blessing. Happy Jack Squirrel is just
like the rest of us. He has habits, both good and bad. Of late, he had
been in the habit of getting his breakfast at Farmer Brown's house every
morning, so now when he began to run from Shadow the Weasel he just
naturally ran in the direction of Farmer Brown's house from force of
habit. In fact, he was halfway there before he realized in which
direction he was running.
Right then a thought came to him. It gave him a wee bit of hope, and
seemed to help him run just a little faster. If the window of Farmer
Brown's boy's room was open, he would run in there, and perhaps Shadow
the Weasel wouldn't dare follow! How he did hope that that window would
be open! He knew that it was his only chance. He wasn't quite sure that
it really was a chance, for Shadow was such a bold fellow that he might
not be afraid to follow him right in, but it was worth trying.
Along the stone wall beside the Old Orchard raced Happy Jack to the
dooryard of Farmer Brown, and after him ran Shadow the Weasel, and
Shadow looked as if he was enjoying himself. No doubt he was. He knew
just as well as Happy Jack did that there was small chance of meeting
Farmer Brown's boy so early in the morning, so he felt very sure how
that chase was going to end, and that when it did end he would breakfast
on Squirrel.
By the time Happy Jack reached the dooryard, Shadow was only a few jumps
behind him, and Happy Jack was pretty well out of breath. He didn't stop
to look to see if the way was clear. There wasn't time for that.
Besides, there could be no greater danger in front than was almost at
his heels, and so, without looking one way or another, he scampered
across the dooryard and up the big maple tree close to the house. Shadow
the Weasel was surprised. He had not dreamed that Happy Jack would come
over here. But Shadow is a bold fellow, and it made little difference to
him where Happy Jack went. At least, that is what he thought.
So he followed Happy Jack across the dooryard and up the maple tree. He
took his time about it, for he knew by the way Happy Jack had run that
he was pretty nearly at the end of his strength. "He never'll get out of
this tree," thought Shadow, as he started to climb it. He fully
expected to find Happy Jack huddled in a miserable little heap somewhere
near the top. Just imagine how surprised he was when he discovered that
Happy Jack wasn't to be seen. He rubbed his angry little red eyes, and
they grew angrier and redder than before.
"Must be a hollow up here somewhere," he muttered. "I'll just follow the
scent of his feet, and that will lead me to him."
But when that scent led him out on a branch the tip of which brushed
against Farmer Brown's house Shadow got another surprise. There was no
sign of Happy Jack. He couldn't have reached the roof. There was no
place he could have gone unless--. Shadow stared across at a window open
about two inches.
"He couldn't have!" muttered Shadow. "He wouldn't dare. He couldn't
have!"
But Happy Jack had. He had gone inside that window.