DANNY MEADOW MOUSE sat on his door-step with his chin in his hands, and
it was very plain to see that Danny had something on his mind. He had
only a nod for Jimmy Skunk, and even Peter Rabbit could get no more
than a grumpy “good morning.” It wasn’t that he had been caught napping
the day before by Reddy Fox and nearly made an end of. No, it wasn’t
that. Danny had learned his lesson, and Reddy would never catch him
again. It wasn’t that he was all alone with no one to play with. Danny
was rather glad that he was alone. The fact is, Danny Meadow Mouse was
worried.
Now worry is one of the worst things in the world, and it didn’t seem
as if there was anything that Danny Meadow Mouse need worry about. But
you know it is the easiest thing in the world to find something to
worry over and make yourself uncomfortable about. And when you make
yourself uncomfortable, you are almost sure to make every one around
you equally uncomfortable. It was so with Danny Meadow Mouse. Striped
Chipmunk had twice called him “Cross Patch” that morning, and Johnny
Chuck, who had fought Reddy Fox for him the day before, had called him
“Grumpy.” And what do you think was the matter with Danny Meadow Mouse?
Why, he was worrying because his tail is short. Yes, Sir, that is all
that ailed Danny Meadow Mouse that bright morning.
You know some people let their looks make them miserable. They worry
because they are homely or freckled, or short or tall, or thin or
stout, all of which is very foolish. And Danny Meadow Mouse was just as
foolish in worrying because his tail is short.
It is short! It certainly is all of that! Danny never had realized how
short until he chanced to meet his cousin Whitefoot, who lives in the
Green Forest. He was very elegantly dressed, but the most imposing
thing about him was his long, slim, beautiful tail. Danny had at once
become conscious of his own stubby little tail, and he had hardly had
pride enough to hold his head up as became an honest Meadow Mouse.
Ever since he had been thinking and thinking, and wondering how his
family came to have such short tails. Then he grew envious and began to
wish and wish and wish that he could have a long tail like his cousin
Whitefoot.
He was so busy wishing that he had a long tail that he quite forgot to
take care of the tail he did have, and he pretty nearly lost it and his
life with it. Old Whitetail the Marsh Hawk, spied Danny sitting there
moping on his door-step, and came sailing over the tops of the meadow
grasses so softly that he all but caught Danny. If it hadn’t been for
one of the Merry Little Breezes, Danny would have been caught. And all
because he was envious. It’s a bad, bad habit.