Mother West Wind's Children

. His yellow brown coat fitted him so snugly that it seemed as if it must burst. Johnny Chuck was feeling very ha

ne Little Path, for he loved the merry-hearted little fellow, as do all the little meadow people-all but Reddy F

hnny Chuck. By and by he came to the old butternut tree down by the Smiling Pool. He could see it a long time before he

, and began to waddle faster. He looked so very queer when he tr

the Lone Little Path. He could see the Merry Little Breezes dancing and racing under the old butternut tree and having such a good time! And h

ck!" he shouted, and

as so warm that he wished just for a minute, a single little minute, that he could swim like Billy M

Chuck!" shout

see how you like it!"

lf!" said P

d. It is a good thing to feel foolishly happy on a beaut

ery good indeed, was Jimmy Skunk, for he had

Reddy Fox never misses a chance to show off. He was wearing his very newest red coat and his whitest waistcoat. He had brushed his tail till it looked very handsome

eter Rabbit. "I can jump

dy but Reddy Fox. Even Johnny Chuck jumped, and because he was so rolly-poly he t

and meant for jumping Peter Rabbit

ed with Bobby Coon and Billy Mink after him, for though Billy Mink is a famous swimmer and can run swiftly, he can also cl

hands and everybody shouted for Happy

an anybody here," sho

Grandfather Frog watching from his big green lily pad. They belonged to Little Joe Otter, Billy Mink and Jer

Joe Otter!" shout

ted "Hurrah!" Ever

" asked Peter Rabbit, dancing

unk yawn

erfume farther than anybod

Breezes as everybody tumbled heels over head away f

my Skun

brushing his handsome red coat which had beco

an any one else? He couldn't jump and he couldn't climb and he couldn't swim. He couldn't even run fast, because he was so fat and r

dy could jump if their legs were made for jumping. And what's the good of climbing trees anyway? Now I can

father Frog. "You can't

rass, they were so tickled, for every one remembered ho

ing to do, for it is hard to find again. He swelled himself out until every hair stood on end

living thing on the Green M

andfather Frog. "Do I

ously looked over the Green Meadows. Then everybody shouted again and rolled over and over

y Fox, everybody but Johnny Chuck. He just sat stil

aughing at?" de

y Chuck, "that though you can run

a minute, he was so mad. Then h

w you!" h

flash Johnny Chuck disappeared head first in the hole. Now the hole was too small for Reddy Fox to enter, but he was so angry th

he heard Reddy Fox digging and knew that he was really coming, Johnny Chuck began to d

tle forepaws flew so fast that if you had been there you could hardly have seen them at al

ey were very anxious, very anxious indeed. Would Reddy Fox catch Johnny Chuck? And what would he do to him

st like a jack-in-the-box, came Johnny Chuck! He looked very warm and a little tired, b

e. Could it be Reddy Fox? Where were his white waistcoat and beautifu

he began to spit sand out of his mouth and blow it out of his nose and try to wipe it out of his eyes. The

w!" shouted B

their sides once more; everybody but Reddy Fox. When he could get his breath he didn

y shouted "Ha

ck waddled back up the Lone Little Path chuckling to himself, for that little feeling of discontent was all gone. He had found that af