Mother West Wind's Children

lt very well satisfied with himself and with all the world. He yawned lazily and stretched and stretched

he Lone Little Path. Lipperty, lipperty, lip, went Pe

d Johnny Chuck to himself, "and what

dden he caught sight of something that made him sit up straighter than ever and open his eyes very wide.

as and how lazy he felt. He forgot everything else in his curiosity t

er in sheer surprise! He rubbed his eyes to make sure that he saw aright, for there were two Pe

k, "that must be Peter

actly like him, sat Peter Rabbit's baby brother with his funny little long ears standing straight up. When Peter Rabbit wiggled his right ear, his baby brother

lipperty, lip. Johnny Chuck watched them out of sight, and then he settled himself on his doorstep once more to enjoy a sun bath. Every on

tretched and yawned, and then he sat up to look over the Green Meadows. Then he became wide awake, very wide awake

y Chuck. "Yes, it surely is Reddy Fox.

And there was Sammy Jay screaming at the top of his voice, and his cousin, Blacky the Crow

way down the Lone Little Path he met Peter Rabbit running as hard as he could. His long ears were laid flat back,

so for, Peter Rabbit

ted Peter Rabbit over his shoul

Bowser the Hound?" He knew that, like all the other little meadow people, there was no

ittle Path as fast as his short legs

and there he saw a sight that set every nerv

's baby brother and was doing hi

he sprang on Peter Rabbit's baby brother and gave him a

Reddy Fox!" shr

shouted the Merr

great big bully!" ye

Reddy Fox is so much bigger than any of the rest of them, excep

ped the long ears of Peter Rabbit's little

for a few minutes no one recognized the furious little yellow-brown bundle that suddenly knocked Reddy Fox over and seized him by the throat. You see it

e shook Reddy Fox by the throat. And then began the

t he seldom quarrels with any one. But when he has to fight, there isn't a cowardly hair on him, not t

r, he forgot all about it as soon as he caught sight of Reddy Fox tormenting Peter Rabbit's little brother. He didn't stop to think

and a coward, for he never fights with any one of his own size if he can help

out little hind feet he ripped the bright r

on top, then Reddy Fox on top, then John

Joe Otter, Jerry Muskrat, Striped Chipmunk, Jimmy Skunk, old Mr. Toad. Even Great-Grandfather Frog, who left his big lily pad, and came hurrying with g

sh and was forgotten by all but the Merry Little Breezes, who covered him up with some dead grass, and kissed him and whispered to him not to be afraid now. How Peter Rabbit's littl

coat and white vest and Johnny Chuck's sharp teeth were gripping him so that they could not be shaken loose. Pretty soon Reddy Fox began to think of nothing but getting away

hort. So it was with Johnny Chuck. He had fought so hard that his breath was nearly gone. Finally he loosed his hold on Redd

Fox was free, each one was suddenly afraid and thought only of himself. Jimmy Skunk knocked Jerry Muskrat flat in his hurry to get away. Billy Mink trod on

e Lone Little Path. Such a looking sight! His beautiful red coat was in tatters. His face was scratched. He hobbled as he ran. And j

ning themselves, and all began to shout: "Reddy Fox is a coward and a bully! Coward! Coward!

Lone Little Path, and he was using his legs just as well as he knew how. Right behind him

to Farmer Brown's and had jumped right under the nose of Bowser the Hound. Now that is something that Bowser the Hound never can stand. So off he had started after Peter Rabbit. And Peter Rabbit had star

ing off home, and, when Bowser the Hound saw him, he straightway forgot

up the Lone Little Path for home, the Merry Little Breezes dancing ahead and Peter Rabbit coming lipperty, lipperty, lip be

little brother tried to tell him how thankful they were to him, but Johnn

Chuck slipped away to his new home, which is his secret, you know

warm sand by his doorway, for he was very tired, "I hope," said Johnny Ch

ddy Fo