 CHAPTER ONE OF MOTHER WESTWIND'S CHILDREN This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recorded by Laurie Ann Walden MOTHER WESTWIND'S CHILDREN by Thornton W. Burgess To all the little friends of Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox, and to all who love the green meadows and the smiling pool, the laughing book, and the merry little breezes, this little book is dedicated. CHAPTER ONE Danny Meadowmouse learns why his tail is short. Danny Meadowmouse sat in his doorway and looked down the lone little path across the green meadows. Way, way over near the smiling pool he could see Old Mother Westwind's children, the merry little breezes at play. Sammy Jay was sitting on a fence post. He pretended to be taking a sun bath, but really he was planning mischief. You never see Sammy Jay that he isn't in mischief or planning it. Reddy Fox had tried to pass an hour before in a great hurry. Upon the hill Danny Meadowmouse could just see Jimmy Skunk pulling over every old stick and stone he could find, no matter whose house it might be, and excusing himself because he was hungry and was looking for beetles. Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was playing at hide-and-seek in some fleecy-white clouds. All the birds were singing and singing and the world was happy. All but Danny Meadowmouse. No, Danny Meadowmouse was not happy. Indeed he was very far from happy and all because his tail was short. By and by up came Old Mr. Toad. It was a warm day and Mr. Toad was very hot and very, very thirsty. He stopped to rest beside the house of Danny Meadowmouse. Good morning, Danny Meadowmouse, said Old Mr. Toad. It's a fine morning. Morning, said Danny Meadowmouse grumpily. I hope your health is good this morning, continued Old Mr. Toad, just as if he hadn't noticed how short and cross Danny Meadowmouse had answered. Now Old Mr. Toad is very ugly to look upon, but the ugliness is all in his looks. He has the sunniest of hearts and always he is looking for a chance to help someone. Danny Meadowmouse, said Old Mr. Toad, you make me think of your grandfather a thousand times removed. You do indeed. You look just as he did when he lost the half of his tail and realized that he never, never could get it back again. Danny Meadowmouse sat up suddenly. What are you talking about, Old Mr. Toad? What are you talking about? he asked. Did my grandfather a thousand times removed lose the half of his tail and was it shorter then than mine is now? Was it, Old Mr. Toad? And how did he come to lose the half of it? Old Mr. Toad laughed a funny, silent laugh. It's a long story, said Old Mr. Toad, and I'm afraid I can't tell it. Go down to the smiling pool and ask great-grandfather Frog, who is my first cousin, how it happened your grandfather a thousand times removed lost the half of his tail. But before you go catch three fat, foolish green flies and take them with you as a present to grandfather Frog. Danny Meadowmouse could hardly wait for Old Mr. Toad to stop speaking. In fact, he was in such a hurry that he almost forgot his manners. Not quite, however, for he shouted, Thank you, Mr. Toad, thank you, over his shoulder as he rushed off down the lone little path. You see, his short tail had always been a matter of mortification to Danny Meadowmouse. All his cousins in the mouse family and the rat family have long, smooth, tapering tails, and they have always been a source of envy to Danny Meadowmouse. He had felt his queer short tail to be a sort of disgrace. So when he would meet one of his cousins dancing down the lone little path with his long, slim, tapering tail behind him, Danny Meadowmouse would slip out of sight under the long grass. He was so ashamed of his own little tail. It looked so mean and small. He had wondered and wondered if the Meadowmouse had always had short tails. He used to ask everyone who came his way if they had ever seen a Meadowmouse with a long tail, but he had never found anyone who had. Perhaps thought Danny Meadowmouse as he hurried down the lone little path. Perhaps grandfather Frog, who is very wise, will know why my tail is short. So he hurried this way and he hurried that way over the green meadows in search of fat, foolish green flies. And when he had caught three, he caught one more for good measure. Then he started for the smiling pool as fast as his short legs would take him. When finally he reached the edge of the smiling pool he was quite out of breath. There sat great grandfather Frog on his big green lily pad. He was blinking his great goggle eyes at jolly round red Mr. Sun. Oh, grandfather Frog, said Danny Meadowmouse, in a very small voice, for you know he was quite out of breath with running. Oh, grandfather Frog, I've brought you four fat, foolish green flies. Grandfather Frog put a hand behind an ear and listened. Did I hear someone say foolish green flies? Asked grandfather Frog. Yes, grandfather Frog, here they are. Said Danny Meadowmouse, still in a very small voice. Then he gave grandfather Frog the four fat, foolish green flies. What is it that you want me to do for you, Danny Meadowmouse? Asked grandfather Frog as he smacked his lips. For he knew that Danny Meadowmouse must want something to bring him four fat, foolish green flies. If you please, said Danny Meadowmouse very politely. If you please, grandfather Frog, old Mr. Toad told me that you could tell me how grandfather Meadowmouse, a thousand times removed, lost half of his tail. Will you, grandfather Frog? Will you? Chug rum, said grandfather Frog. My cousin, Mr. Toad, talks too much. But he settled himself comfortably on the big lily pad, and this is what he told Danny Meadowmouse. Once upon a time, when the world was young, Mr. Meadowmouse, your grandfather a thousand times removed, was a very fine gentleman. He took a great deal of pride in his appearance, did Mr. Meadowmouse. And they used to say on the green meadows that he spent an hour, a full hour, every day, coming his whiskers and brushing his coat. Anyway, he was very fine to look upon, was Mr. Meadowmouse. And not the least attractive thing about him was his beautiful, long, slim tail, of which he was very proud. Now about this time there was a great deal of trouble on the green meadows and in the green forest, for someone was stealing. Yes, stealing. Mr. Rabbit complained first. To be sure Mr. Rabbit was lazy, and his cabbage patch had grown little more than weeds while he had been minding other folk's affairs, rather than his own. But then that was no reason why he should lose half of the little which he did raise. And that is just what he said had happened. No one really believed what Mr. Rabbit said, for he had such a bad name for telling things which were not so, that when he did tell the truth no one could be quite sure of it. So no one paid much heed to what Mr. Rabbit said until Happy Jack Squirrel one day went to his snug little hollow in the big chestnut tree where he stores his nuts, and discovered half had been stolen. Then Striped Chipmunk lost the greater part of his winter store of corn. A fat trout was stolen from Billy Meink. It was a terrible time, for everyone suspected everyone else, and no one on the green meadows was happy. One evening Mr. Meadow Mouse went for a stroll along the quick and little path up the hill. It was dark, very dark indeed. But just as he passed Striped Chipmunk's granary, the place where he stores his supply of corn and acorns for the winter, Mr. Meadow Mouse met his cousin, Mr. Horfrat. Now Mr. Horfrat was very big and strong, and Mr. Meadow Mouse had for a long time looked up to and admired him. Good evening, cousin Meadow Mouse, said Mr. Horfrat, swinging a bag down from his shoulder. Will you do a favour for me? Now Mr. Meadow Mouse felt very much flattered, and as he was a very obliging fellow anyway, he promptly said he would. All right, said Mr. Horfrat, I'm going to get you to tote this bag down the quick and little path to the hollow chestnut tree. I've got an errand back on top of the hill. So Mr. Meadow Mouse picked up the bag, which was very heavy, and swung it over his shoulder. Then he started down the quick and little path. Halfway down he met Striped Chipmunk. Good evening, Mr. Meadow Mouse, said Striped Chipmunk. What are you toting in the bag across your shoulder? Now of course Mr. Meadow Mouse didn't know what was in the bag, and he didn't like to admit that he was working for another, for he was very proud was Mr. Meadow Mouse. So he said, Just a planting of potatoes I begged from Jimmy Skunk. Just a planting of potatoes Striped Chipmunk. Now no one had ever suspected Mr. Meadow Mouse of stealing. No indeed. Striped Chipmunk would have gone his way and thought no more about it. Had it not happened that there was a hole in the bag, and from it something dropped at his feet. Striped Chipmunk picked it up, and it wasn't a potato. It was a fat acorn. Striped Chipmunk said nothing, but slipped it into his pocket. Good night, said Mr. Meadow Mouse, once more shouldering the bag. Good night, said Striped Chipmunk. No sooner had Mr. Meadow Mouse disappeared in the darkness down the crooked little path than Striped Chipmunk hurried to his granary. Someone had been there and stolen all his acorns. Then Striped Chipmunk ran to the house of his cousin, Happy Jack Squirrel, and told him how the acorns had been stolen from his granary, and how he had met Mr. Meadow Mouse with a bag over his shoulder, and how Mr. Meadow Mouse had said that he was toting home a planting of potatoes he had begged from Jimmy Skunk. And this, said Striped Chipmunk, holding out the fat acorn, is what fell out of the bag. Then Striped Chipmunk and Happy Jack Squirrel hurried over to Jimmy Skunk's house, and just as they expected, they found that Mr. Meadow Mouse had not begged a planting of potatoes of Jimmy Skunk. So Striped Chipmunk and Happy Jack Squirrel and Jimmy Skunk hurried over to Mr. Rabbits, and told him all about Mr. Meadow Mouse and the bag of potatoes that dropped acorns. Mr. Rabbits looked very grave, very grave indeed. Then Striped Chipmunk and Happy Jack Squirrel and Jimmy Skunk and Mr. Rabbits started to tell Mr. Coon, who was cousin to Old King Bear. On the way they met Hoodie the Owl, and because he could fly softly and quickly, they sent Hoodie the Owl to tell all the Meadow people who were awake to come to the hollow chestnut tree. So Hoodie the Owl flew away to tell all the little Meadow people who were awake to meet at the hollow chestnut tree. When they reached the hollow chestnut tree, whom should they find there but Mr. Meadow Mouse fast asleep beside the bag he had brought for Mr. Horfret, who had wisely stayed away? Very softly Striped Chipmunk stole up and opened the bag. Out fell his store of fat acorns. Then they waked Mr. Meadow Mouse and marched him off to Old Mother Nature, where they charged him with being a thief. Old Mother Nature listened to all they had to say. She saw the bag of acorns, and she heard how Mr. Meadow Mouse had said that he had a planting of potatoes. Then she asked him if he had stolen the acorns. Yes, sir, she asked him right out if he had stolen the acorns. Of course Mr. Meadow Mouse said that he had not stolen the acorns. Then where did you get the bag of acorns? Asked Old Mother Nature. When she asked this, Mr. Horfret, who was sitting in the crowd of Meadow people, got up and softly tipped out away when he thought no one was looking. But Old Mother Nature saw him. You can't fool Old Mother Nature. No, sir, you can't fool Old Mother Nature, and it's of no use to try. Mr. Meadow Mouse didn't know what to say. He knew now that Mr. Horfret must be the thief, but Mr. Horfret was his cousin, and he had always looked up to him as a very fine gentleman. He couldn't tell the world that Mr. Horfret was a thief, so Mr. Meadow Mouse said nothing. Three times Old Mother Nature asked Mr. Meadow Mouse where he got the bag of acorns, and each time Mr. Meadow Mouse said nothing. Mr. Meadow Mouse said Old Mother Nature, and her voice was very stern. I know that you did not steal the acorns of Stripe Chipmunk. I know that you did not even guess that you were stolen acorns in that bag. Everyone else thinks that you were the thief who caused so much trouble on the green meadows and in the green forest. But I know who the real thief is, and he is stealing away as fast as he can go down the lone little path this very minute. All of the little meadow people and forest folks turned to look down the lone little path, but it was so dark none could see, none but Hoodie the Owl whose eyes are made to see in the dark. I see him, cried Hoodie the Owl. It's Mr. Wharfrat. Yes, said Old Mother Nature. It's Mr. Wharfrat. He is the thief, and this shall be his punishment. Always hereafter he will be driven out wherever he is found. He shall no longer live in the green meadows or the green forest. Everyone will turn their backs upon him. He will live on what others throw away. He will live in filth, and there will be no one to say a good word for him. He will become an outcast instead of a fine gentleman. And you, Mr. Meadow Mouse, in order that you may remember always to avoid bad company and that while it is a splendid thing to be loyal to your friends and not to tell tales, it is also a very very wrong thing to shield those who have done wrong when by so doing you simply help them to keep on doing wrong. You shall no longer have the splendid long tale of which you are so proud, but it shall be short and stubby. Even while Old Mother Nature was speaking, Mr. Meadow Mouse felt his tale grow shorter and shorter, and when she had finished he had just a little mean stub of a tale. Of course he felt terribly. And while Stripe Chipmunk hurried to tell him how sorry he felt, and while all the other little Meadow people also hurried to tell him how sorry they felt, he could not be comforted. So he slipped away as quickly as he could, and because he was so ashamed he crept along underneath the long grass that no one should see his short tale. And ever since that long ago time when the world was young concluded Grandfather Frog, the Meadow Mice have had short tales and have always scurried along under cover of the long grass where no one will see them. And the whorefrets have never again lived in the green meadows or in the green forest, but have lived on filth and garbage around the homes of men with every man's hand against them. Thank you, Grandfather Frog, said Danny Meadow Mouse, very soberly. Now I understand why my tale is short and I shall not forget. But it isn't your fault at all, Danny Meadow Mouse, cried the merry little breezes who had been listening. Then they played tag with him all the way up the lone little path to his house till Danny Meadow Mouse quite forgot that he had wished that his tale was long. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of Mother West Wind's Children This lubricant recording is in the public domain. Recorded by Larry Ann Walden. Mother West Wind's Children by Thornton W. Burgess. Chapter 2. Why Ready Fox Has No Friends Mother Meadow's lay peaceful and still. Mother Moon, sailing high overhead, looked down upon them and smiled and smiled, flooding them with her silvery light. All day long the merry little breezes of Old Mother West Wind had romped there among the asters in Goldenrod. They had played tag through the cat rushes around the smiling pool. For very mischief they had rubbed the fur of the field mice babies the wrong way and had blown Frog's mouth just as his lips came together with a smack. Now they were safely tucked in bed behind the purple hills, and so they missed the midnight feast at the foot of the lone pine. But Ready Fox was there. You can always count on Ready Fox to be about when mischief or good times are afoot, especially after Mr. Sun has pulled his nightcap on. Jimmy Skunk was there. If there is any mischief you cannot think of, Jimmy Skunk will be sure to discover it. Billy Mink was there. Yes indeed Billy Mink was there. Billy Mink is another mischief maker. When Ready Fox and Jimmy Skunk are playing pranks or in trouble of any kind you are certain to find Billy Mink close by. That is, you are certain to find him if you look sharp enough. But Billy Mink is so slim he moves so quickly and his wits is not seen half so often as the others. With Billy Mink came his cousin, Shadow the Weasel, who is sly and cruel. No one likes Shadow the Weasel. Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muscratt came. They were late for the legs of Little Joe Otter are so short that he is a slow traveler on land, while Jerry Muscratt feels much more at home in the water than on the dry ground. Of course Peter Rabbit was there. Without him no party on the green meadows would be complete, and Peter likes to be abroad at night even better than by day. With Peter came his cousin, Jumper the Hare, who had come down from the pine forest for a visit. Boomer the Nighthawk and Hoody the Owl completed the party, though Hoody had not been invited and no one knew that he was there. Each was to contribute something to the feast, the thing that he liked best. Such an array as Mother Moon looked down upon. Ready Fox had brought a plump, tender chicken, stolen from Farmer Brown's door-yard. Very quietly, like a thin brown Shadow, Billy Mink had slipped up to the duck pond and, alas, now Mother Quack had won less in her pretty little flock than when, as jolly round red Mr. Son went to bed behind the purple hills, she had counted her babies and wrapped their heads under their wings. Little Joe Otter had been fishing and he brought a great fat brother of the lamented Tommy Trout who didn't mind. Jerry Muscratt brought up from the mud of the river bottom some fine freshwater clams of which he is very fond. Jimmy Skunk stole three big eggs from the nest of old gray goose. Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare rolled up a great, tender, fresh cabbage. Boomer the Nighthawk said that he was very sorry, but he was on a diet of insects which he must swallow one at a time, so to save trouble he had swallowed them as he caught them. Now Hoody the Owl is a glutton and is lazy. Ready Fox and Jimmy Skunk and Billy Mink are sure to bring something I like, so what is the use of spending my time hunting for what someone else will get for me? So Hoody the Owl went very early to the lone pine and hid among the thick branches where no one could see him. Shadow the Weasel is sly and a thief and lives by his wits, so because he had rather steel than be honest he too went to the midnight spread with nothing but his appetite. Now Ready Fox is also a glutton and very, very crafty. When he saw the plump duck by Billy Mink his mouth watered for Ready Fox is very, very fond of young spring ducks. So straight way he began to plan how he could get possession of Billy Mink's duck. And when Billy Mink saw the fat trout Little Joe Otter had brought his eyes danced and his heart swelled with envy for Billy Mink is very, very fond of fish. At once he began to plan how he could secure that particular fat trout Little Joe Otter guarded him. Jimmy Skunk was quite contented with the eggs he had stolen from Old Grey Goose. That is he was until he saw the plump chicken Ready Fox had brought from Farmer Brown's dooryard. Then suddenly his stomach became very empty, very empty indeed for chicken. And Jimmy Skunk began to think of a way to add the chicken of Ready Fox to his own stolen eggs. Because Ready Fox is the largest he was given place of honor at the head of the table under the lone pine. On his right sat Little Joe Otter and on his left Jerry Muscratt. Shadow the Weasel was next to Little Joe Otter while right across from him was Jimmy Skunk. Peter Rabbit was next sitting opposite his cousin Jumper the Hare. At the extreme end Facing Ready Fox sat Billy Mink with the plump duck right under his sharp little nose. Boomer the Nighthawk excused himself on the plea that he needed exercise to aid digestion and as he had brought nothing to the feast his excuse was politely accepted. Ready Fox is very, very cunning and his crafty brain had been busily working out a plan to get all these good things for himself. Little Brothers of the Green Meadows began Ready Fox. We have met here tonight for a feast of brotherly love. Ready Fox Ready Fox paused a moment to look hungrily at Billy Mink's duck. Billy Mink cast a longing eye at Little Joe Otter's trout while Jimmy Skunk stole an envious glance at Ready Fox's chicken. But there is one missing to make our joy complete continued Ready Fox. Who has seen Bobby Coon? No one had seen Bobby Coon. Somehow happy-go-lucky Bobby Coon had been overlooked when the invitations were brought. I move continued Ready Fox that because Billy Mink runs swiftly and because he knows where Bobby Coon usually is to be found he be appointed a committee of one to find Bobby Coon and bring him to the feast. Now nothing could have been less to the liking of Billy Mink but there was nothing for him to do but to yield as gracefully as he could and go in search of Bobby Coon. No sooner had Billy Mink run the lone little path than Ready Fox recalled a nest of grouse eggs he had seen that day under a big hemlock and he proposed that in as much as Jimmy Skunk already wore stripes for having stolen a nest of eggs from Mrs. Grouse he was just the one to go steal these eggs and bring them to the feast. Of course there was nothing for Jimmy Skunk to do but yield as gracefully as he could and go in search of the nest of eggs under the big hemlock. No sooner had Jimmy Skunk started off than Ready Fox remembered a big shining sucker former Brown's boy had caught that afternoon and tossed among the rushes beside the smiling pool. Little Joe Otter listened and his mouth watered and watered until he could sit still no longer. If you please, said Little Joe Otter I'll run down to the smiling pool and get that sucker to add to the feast. No sooner was Little Joe Otter out of sight than Ready Fox was reminded of a field of carrots on the other side of the Green Meadows. Now Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare are very fond of tender young carrots and they volunteered to bring a supply for the feast so away they hurried with big jumps down the lone little path and out across the Green Meadows. No sooner were Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare fairly started than Ready Fox began to tell of some luscious sweet apples he had noticed under a wild apple tree a little way back on the hill. Now Jerry Musgrat is quite as fond of luscious sweet apples as of freshwater clams so quietly slipping away he sat out in quest of the wild apple tree a little way back on the hill. No sooner was Jerry Musgrat lost in the black shadows than Ready Fox turned to speak to Shadow the Weasel but Shadow the Weasel believes that a feast in the stomach was untasted. So while the others had been talking he had quietly sucked dry the three big eggs stolen by Jimmy Skunk from Old Grey Goose and then because he is so slim and so quick and so sly he slipped away without anyone seeing him. So when Ready Fox turned to speak to Shadow the Weasel he found himself alone at least he thought himself alone and he smiled a wicked selfish smile as he walked over to Billy Minx duck. He was thinking how smart he had been to get rid of all the others and of how he would enjoy the feast all by himself. As Ready Fox stooped to pick up Billy Minx duck a great Shadow dropped softly oh so softly out of the lone pine down onto the plump chicken. Then without the teeniest weeniest bit of noise it floated back into the lone pine and with it went the plump chicken. Ready Fox still with his wicked selfish smile trotted back with Billy Minx duck but he dropped it in sheer surprise when he discovered that his plump chicken had disappeared. Now Ready Fox is very suspicious as people who are not honest themselves are very apt to be so he left Billy Minx duck where he had dropped it and trotted very very softly up the lone little path to try to catch the thief who had stolen his plump chicken. No sooner was his back turned than down out of the lone pine floated the great Shadow and when a minute later Ready Fox returned Billy Minx duck had also disappeared. Ready Fox could hardly believe his eyes he didn't smile now he was too angry and too frightened yes Ready Fox was frightened he walked in a big circle round and round the place where the plump chicken and the duck had been and the more he walked the more suspicious he became he wrinkled and wrinkled his little black nose in an effort to smell the intruder but not a whiff could he get all was as still and peaceful as could be Little Joe Otter's trout lay shining in the moonlight the big head of cabbage lay just where Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare had left it Ready Fox rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not dreaming and that the plump chicken and the duck were not there too just then Bowser the Hound over at Farmer Brown's Bade at the Moon Ready Fox always is nervous and by this time he was so fidgety that he couldn't stand still when Bowser the Hound Bade at the Moon Ready Fox jumped a foot off the ground and whirled about in the direction of Farmer Brown's house then he remembered that Bowser the Hound is always chained up at night so that he had nothing to fear from him after listening and looking a moment Ready Fox decided that all was safe well said he to himself I'll have that fat trout anyway and turn to get it but the fat trout he had seen a minute before shining in the moonlight had also disappeared Ready Fox looked and looked until his eyes nearly popped out of his head then he did what all cowards do ran home as fast as his legs could carry him now of course Billy Mink didn't find Bobby Coon and when he came back up the lone little path he was very tired, very hungry and very cross and of course Jimmy Skunk failed to find the nest of Mrs. Grouse and little Joe Otter could find no trace of the shining big sucker among the rushes beside the smiling pool they also were very tired very hungry and very cross when the three returned to the lone pine nothing there but the big head of cabbage which none of them liked the empty eggshells of old Grey Goose and Jerry Musgrat's clams they straight way fell to accusing each other of having stolen the duck and the fat trout and the eggs and began to quarrel dreadfully pretty soon up came Peter Rabbit in Jumper the Hare who had failed to find the tender young carrots and up came Jerry Musgrat who had found no luscious sweet apples where is Reddy Fox? asked Peter Rabbit sure enough where was Reddy Fox? Billy Mink and little Joe Otter and Jimmy Skunk stopped quarreling and looked at each other Reddy Fox is the thief they cried altogether Peter Rabbit in Jumper the Hare and Jerry Musgrat agreed that Reddy Fox must be the thief and had sent them all away on false errands that he might have the feast all to himself so because there was nothing else to do Billy Mink and little Joe Otter tired and hungry and angry started for their homes beside the laughing brook and Jimmy Skunk also tired and hungry and angry started off up the crooked little path to look for some beetles but Peter Rabbit in Jumper the Hare sat down to enjoy the big head of cabbage while close beside them sat Jerry Musgrat smacking his lips over his clams so good Mother Moon looked down and smiled and smiled for she knew that each had a clear conscience for they had done no harm to anyone and up in the thick top of the great pine Hootie the Owl nodded sleepily for his stomach was very full of chicken and duck and trout although he had not been invited to the party and this is why Reddy Fox has no true friends on the green meadows End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 of Mother Westwind's Children this looper box recording is in the public domain recorded by Laurie Ann Walden Mother Westwind's Children by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 3 why Peter Rabbit's ears are long the merry little breezes of old Mother Westwind were tired ever since she had turned them out of her big bag onto the green meadows early that morning she jumped and played tag and chased butterflies while Old Mother Westwind herself went to hunt for a rain cloud which had wandered away before it had watered the thirsty little plants who were bravely trying to keep the green meadows lovely and truly green jolly, round, red Mr. Sun or his broadest smile and the more he smiled the warmer it grew Mr. Sun is never thirsty himself never the least little bit or perhaps he would have helped Old Mother Westwind find the wandering rain cloud the merry little breezes threw themselves down on the edge of the smiling pool where the rushes grow tall and there they took turns rocking the cradle which held Mrs. Redwing's four babies pretty soon one of the merry little breezes peeping through the rushes spied Peter Rabbit sitting up very straight on the edge of the green meadows his long ears were pointed straight up his big eyes were very wide open and he seemed to be looking and listening with a great deal of curiosity I wonder why it is that Peter Rabbit has such long ears said the merry little breeze drug a rum replied a great deep voice right behind him all the merry little breezes jumped up and ran through the rushes to the very edge of the smiling pool there on a great green lily pad great grandfather frog his hands folded across his white and yellow wesket and his green coat shining spic and span chug a rum said grandfather frog oh grandfather frog cried the merry little breezes altogether do tell us why it is that Peter Rabbit has such long ears grandfather frog cleared his throat he looked to the east and cleared his throat again then he looked to the west and cleared his throat he looked north and he looked south and each time he cleared his throat but said nothing finally he folded his hands once more over his white and yellow wesket and looking straight up at jolly round red Mr. Sun he remarked in his very deepest voice and to no one in particular if I had four fat foolish green flies it is just possible that I might remember how it happens that Peter Rabbit has such long ears then up jumped all the merry little breezes and away they raced some of them went east some of them went west some of them went north some of them went south all looking for fat foolish green flies for grandfather frog by and by they came skipping back one by one to the edge of the smiling pool with a fat foolish green fly and each stopping to give Mrs. Redwing's cradle a gentle push when grandfather frog had swallowed all the fat foolish green flies brought by the merry little breezes he settled himself comfortably on his big lily pad once more and began once upon a time very long ago when the world was young Mr. Rabbit not our Peter Rabbit but his grandfather a thousand times removed his short ears like all the other Meadow people and also his four legs were all of the same length just exactly the same length now Mr. Rabbit had a great deal of curiosity a very great deal indeed he was forever pushing his prying little nose into other people's affairs which you know is a most unpleasant habit in fact Mr. Rabbit had become a nuisance whenever Billy Mink stopped to pass the time of day with Jerry Muscratt they were sure to find Mr. Rabbit standing close by listening to all they said if Johnny Chuck's mother ran over to have a few minutes chat with Jimmy Skunk's mother the first thing they knew Mr. Rabbit would be squatting down in the grass right behind them the older he grew the worse Mr. Rabbit became he would spend his evenings going from house to house tiptoeing softly up to the windows to listen to what the folks inside were saying and the more he heard the more Mr. Rabbit's curiosity grew now like most people who meddle in other folks affairs Mr. Rabbit had no time to tend to his own business his cabbage patch grew up to weeds his house leaked his fences fell to pieces and all together his was the worst looking place on the Green Meadows worse still Mr. Rabbit was a troublemaker he just couldn't keep his tongue still and like most gossips he never could tell the exact truth Dear me Dear me said grandfather frog shaking his head solemnly things had come to a dreadful pass on the Green Meadows Reddy Fox and Bobby Coon never met without fighting Jimmy Skunk and Johnny Chuck turned their backs on each other Jerry Muscratt, Little Joe Otter Kink called each other bad names all because Mr. Rabbit had told so many stories that were not true now when Old Mother Nature visited the Green Meadows she soon saw what a dreadful state all the Meadow people were in and she began to inquire how it all came about it's all because of Mr. Rabbit said Reddy Fox no one is to blame but Mr. Rabbit said Striped Chipmunk everywhere Old Mother Nature inquired it was the same Mr. Rabbit Mr. Rabbit so then Old Mother Nature sent for blustering great Mr. North Wind who was very strong and she sent for Mr. Rabbit Mr. Rabbit trembled in his shoes when he got Old Mother Nature's message he would have liked to run away and hide but he did not dare do that for he knew that there was nowhere he could hide that Mother Nature sooner or later and besides his curiosity would give him no peace he just had to know what Old Mother Nature wanted so Peter Rabbit put on his best suit which was very shabby and set out for the lone pine to see what Old Mother Nature wanted when he got there he found all the little people of the Green Meadows and all the little folks of the Green Forest there before him there were Reddy Fox, Johnny Chuck Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel Mr. Black Snake, Old Mr. Crow Sammy J, Billy Mink Little Joe Otter Jerry Muscratt, Spotty the Turtle Old King Bear his cousin Mr. Coon and all the other little people when he saw all who had gathered under the lone pine and how they all looked crossly at him Mr. Rabbit was so frightened that his heart went pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat and he wanted more than ever to run away but he didn't dare to no sir, he didn't dare to and then he was so curious to know what it all meant that he wouldn't have run if he had dared Old Mother Nature made Mr. Rabbit sit up on an old log where all could see him then in turn she asked each present who was the cause of all the trouble on the Green Meadows and each in turn answered Mr. Rabbit Mr. Rabbit said Old Mother Nature you are lazy for your cabbage patch has all gone to weeds you are shiftless for your house leaks you are a sneak for you creep up where you are not wanted and listen to things which do not concern you you are a thief for you steal the secrets of others you are a pervericator for you tell things which are not so Mr. Rabbit a lazy shiftless sneak thief and pervericator it was dreadful Mother Nature paused and Mr. Rabbit felt oh so ashamed he did not look up but he felt he just felt all the eyes of all the little meadow people and forest folk burning right into him so he hung his head and two great tears fell splash right at his feet you see Mr. Rabbit wasn't altogether bad it was just this dreadful curiosity Old Mother Nature knew this and down in her heart she loved Mr. Rabbit and was oh so sorry for him Mr. Rabbit continued Old Mother Nature because your curiosity is so great your ears shall be made long that everyone who sees you may know that it is not safe to talk when you are near because you are a sneak little unseen your hind legs shall be made long so that whenever you sit up straight you will be tall and everyone can see you and whenever you run you will go with great jumps and everyone will know who it is running away and because you are shiftless in your house leaks you will hear after live in a hole in the ground then Old Mother Nature took Mr. Rabbit by his two ears and big strong Mr. and took Peter Rabbit by his hind legs and they both pulled and when they put him down Peter Rabbit's ears and his hind legs were long many times longer than they used to be when he tried to run away to hide his shame he found that the only way he could go was with great jumps and you may be sure he jumped as fast as he could and ever since that long ago time when the world was young long ears and long hind legs all because of the curiosity of their grandfather a thousand times removed and now you know why Peter Rabbit's ears are long and why he is always sitting up and listening concluded great grandfather frog thank you thank you grandfather frog shouted all the merry little breezes and raced away to help Old Mother West when drive up the wandering rain cloud which she had found at last End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of Mother Westwind's Children This Librivox recording is in the public domain recorded by Laurie Ann Walden Mother Westwind's Children by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 4 Ready Fox Disobeys On the brow of the hill by the lone pine sat Ready Fox every few moments he pointed his little black nose up at the round yellow moon and barked way over across the broad white meadows which in summer time are green you know in the door yard of Farmer Brown's house Bowser the Hound sat and barked at the moon too yep yep yep barked Ready Fox as loud as he could bow wow wow said Bowser the Hound in his deepest voice then both would listen and watch the million little stars twinkle and twinkle in the frosty sky not just why Ready Fox should bark at the moon he did not know he just had to every night for a week he had sat at the foot of the lone pine and barked and barked until his throat was sore every night Old Mother Fox had warned him that noisy children would come to know good end and every night Ready had promised that he would bark no more but every night when the first silver flood of witching light crept over the hill and cast strange shadows from the naked branches of the trees Ready forgot all about his promise deep down under his little red coat was a strange feeling which he could not explain he simply must bark so up to the lone pine he would go and yep and yep and yep until all the little meadow people who were not asleep knew just where Ready Fox was Bowser the Hound knew too and he made up his mind that if Ready Fox was making fun of him now Bowser did not like to be made fun of any more than little boys and girls do and he made up his mind that if ever he could break his chain or that if ever Farmer Brown forgot to chain him up he would teach Ready Fox a lesson that Ready would never forget yep yep yep barked Ready Fox and then listened to hear Bowser's deep voice reply but this time there was no reply listened and listened and then tried it again way off on a distant hill he could hear Hooty the Owl close by him Jack Frost was busy snapping sticks down on the white meadows he could see Jimmy Skunk prowling about once he heard a rooster crow sleepily in Farmer Brown's in-house but he thought of Bowser the Hound and though his mouth watered he did not dare risk a closer acquaintance with the big dog he barked and pretty soon he forgot all else but the moon and the sound of his own voice now Bowser the Hound had managed to slip his collar aha thought Bowser now I'll teach Ready Fox to make fun of me and like a shadow he slipped through the fence and across the white meadows towards the lone pine Ready Fox had just barked for the hundredth time when he heard just back of him it had a different sound from the noisy crack of Jack Frost and Ready stopped a yap right in the middle and whirled about to see what it might be there was Bowser the Hound almost upon him his eyes flashing fire his great red jaws wide open and every hair on his back bristling with rage Ready Fox didn't wait to say good evening or to see more oh no he turned a back somersault in a way he sped over the hard snowy crust as fast as his legs could carry him Bowser baying at the moon he liked to hear but Bowser baying at his heels was another matter and Ready ran as he had never run before down across the white meadows he sped Bowser frightening all the echoes with the roar of his big voice as he followed in full cry how Ready did wish he had minded Mother Fox how safe and snug and warm was his home under the roots of the old hickory tree and how he did wish that he was safely there but it would never do to go there now for that would tell Bowser where he lived and Bowser would take Farmer Brown there and that would be the end of Ready Fox and of Mother Fox and of all the brother and sister foxes so Ready twisted and turned and ran this way and ran that way and the longer he ran the shorter his breath grew it was coming in great pants now his bushy tail of which he was so proud had become very heavy how Ready Fox did wish and wish that he had minded Mother Fox he twisted and turned and doubled this way and that way and all the time Bowser the Hound got closer and closer now way off on the hill behind the white meadows Mother Fox had been hunting for her supper she had heard the yap yap yap of Ready Fox as he barked at the moon and she had heard Bowser banging over in the barnyard of Farmer Brown then she had heard the yap of Ready Fox cut short in the middle and the roar of Bowser's big voice as he started to chase Ready Fox she knew that Ready could run fast but she also knew that Bowser the Hound had a wonderful nose and that Bowser would never give up so Mother Fox patterned down a crooked little path onto the white meadows where she could see the chase when she got near enough she barked twice to tell Ready that she would help him now Ready Fox was so tired that he was almost in despair when he heard Mother Fox bark but he knew that Mother Fox was so wise and she had so often fooled Bowser the Hound that if he could hold out just a little longer she would help him so for a few minutes he ran faster than ever to stay on Bowser the Hound as he passed a shock of corn that had been left standing on the white meadows Mother Fox stepped out from behind it go home Ready Fox said she sharply go home and stay there until I come then she deliberately sat down in front of the shock of corn to wait until Bowser the Hound should come in sight now Bowser the Hound kept his eyes and nose on the track of Ready Fox looking up only once in a while as he was going so he did not see Ready Fox slip behind the corn shock and when he did look up he saw only Mother Fox sitting there waiting for him now Bowser the Hound thinks slowly when he saw Old Mother Fox sitting there he did not stop to think that it was not Ready Fox whom he had been following or he would have known better than to waste his time following Old Mother Fox he would have just hunted around until he had found where Ready had gone to but Bowser the Hound thinks slowly when he saw Old Mother Fox sitting there he thought it was Ready Fox and that now he had him with a great roar of his big voice he sprang forward Mother Fox waited until he was almost upon her then springing to one side she trotted off a little way at once Bowser the Hound started after her she pretended to be very tired every time he rushed forward she managed to just slip out of his grasp little by little she led him across the white meadows back towards Farmer Brown's barnyard pretty soon Old Mother Fox began to run as fast as she could and that is very fast indeed she left Bowser the Hound a long long way behind when she came to a stone wall she jumped up on the stone wall and ran along it just like a squirrel every once in a while she would make a long jump a little way again she knew that stones do not carry the scent well and that Bowser the Hound would have hard work to smell her on the stone wall way down at the end of the pasture an old apple tree stretched a long limb out towards the stone wall when she got opposite to this she jumped onto this long limb and ran up into the tree there in the crotch close to the trunk she sat and watched Bowser the Hound making a tremendous noise followed her trail up to the stone wall then he was puzzled he sniffed this way and he sniffed that way but he could not tell where Mother Fox had disappeared to he looked up at Old Mother Moon and bade and bade but Old Mother Moon did not help him a bit then he jumped over the stone wall and looked and looked and smelled and smelled but no track of Mother Fox could he find then he ran up along the stone wall a little way and then down along the stone wall a little way but still he could not find a track of Mother Fox the longer he hunted the angrier he grew Old Mother Fox sitting in the apple tree watched him and laughed and laughed to herself then when she grew tired of watching him she made a long jump out into the field and trotted off home to punish Ready Fox for his disobedience when she got there she found Ready Fox very much ashamed very tired and very sorrowful and since that time Ready Fox has never barked at the Moon End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of Mother Westwind's Children This Lubrivox recording is in the public domain Recorded by Larry Ann Walden Mother Westwind's Children by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 5 Striped Chipmunks Pockets It was one of Striped Chipmunks Striped Chipmunks Busy Days Every day is a busy day with Striped Chipmunk at this season of the year for the sweet acorns are ripe and the hickory nuts rattle down whenever Old Mother Westwind shakes the trees while every night Jack Frost opens chestnut burs just to see the squirrel scamper for the plump brown nuts the next morning so Striped Chipmunk was very busy very busy indeed he whisked in and out of the old stone wall along one edge of the green meadows back and forth, back and forth sometimes to the old hickory tree sometimes to the hollow chestnut tree sometimes to the great oak on the edge of the green forest Striped Chipmunks scampered Old Mother Westwind coming down from the purple hills very early in the morning had found Striped Chipmunk up before her and hard at work later when Jolly Round Red Mr. Sun had climbed up into the sky the merry little breezes had spied Striped Chipmunk whisking along the old stone wall and had raced over to play with him for the merry little breezes are a very font of Striped Chipmunk they got there just in time to see him disappear under a great stone in the old wall in a minute he was out again and off as fast as he could go to the old hickory tree oh Striped Chipmunk come play with us shouted the merry little breezes running after him but Striped Chipmunk just flirted his funny little tail and winked with both his bright eyes at them busy busy busy said Striped Chipmunk hurrying along as fast as his short legs could take him the merry little breezes laughed and one of them dancing ahead pulled the funny little tail of Striped Chipmunk it's a beautiful day do come and play with us cried the merry little breeze but Striped Chipmunk flirted his tail over his back once more busy busy busy he shouted over his shoulder and ran faster than ever in a few minutes he was back again but such a queer looking fellow as he was his head was twice as big as it had been before and you would hardly have known that it was Striped Chipmunk but for the saucy way he twitched his funny little tail and the spry way he scampered along the old stone wall oh as Striped Chipmunk's got the mumps shouted the merry little breezes but Striped Chipmunk said never a word he couldn't he ran faster than ever until he disappeared under the big stone when he popped his head out again he was just his usual saucy little self say Striped Chipmunk cried the merry little breezes rushing over to him tell us how you happen to have pockets in your cheeks but Striped Chipmunk just snapped his bright eyes at them and said busy busy busy as he scuttled over to the hollow chestnut tree the merry little breezes saw that it was no use at all to try to tempt Striped Chipmunk to play with them or to answer questions I tell you what cried one let's go ask great grandfather frog how Striped Chipmunk happens to have pockets in his cheeks he'll know so away they started after they had raced over to the big hollow chestnut tree and sent a shower of brown nuts rattling down to Striped Chipmunk from the burrs that Jack Frost had opened the night before goodbye Striped Chipmunk they shouted as they romped across the green meadows and Striped Chipmunk stopped long enough to shout goodbye before he filled his pockets with the brown nuts old grandfather frog sat on his big green lily pad blinking in the sun it was very still very very still indeed suddenly out of the brown bulrushes burst the merry little breezes and surrounded old grandfather frog and every one of them had brought to him a fat, foolish green fly grandfather's big gogly eyes sparkled and he gave a funny little hop up into the air as he caught each foolish green fly when the last one was safely inside his white and yellow basket he settled himself comfortably on the big green lily pad and folded his hands over the foolish green flies chug a rom, said grandfather frog what is it you want this morning oh grandfather frog cried the merry little breezes tell us how it happens that Striped Chipmunk has pockets in his cheeks do tell us grandfather frog please do chug a rom, said grandfather frog how should I know but you do know grandfather frog you know you do please tell us cried the merry little breezes as they settled themselves among the rushes and presently grandfather frog began once upon a time a long long while ago when the world was young asked a mischievous little breeze grandfather frog pretended to be very much put out by the interruption and tried to look very severe but the merry little breezes were all giggling so that presently he had to smile too yes, said he it was when the world was young before old king bear became king Mr. Chipmunk, Striped Chipmunk's great great great grandfather a thousand times removed was the smallest of the squirrels just as Striped Chipmunk is now but he didn't mind that not the least little bit Mr. Gray Squirrel was four times as big and had a handsome tail Mr. Fox Squirrel was four times as big and he also had a handsome tail Mr. Red Squirrel was twice as big and he thought his tail was very good to see but Mr. Chipmunk didn't envy his big cousins their fine tails not he you see he had himself a beautiful striped coat of which he was very proud in which he thought much more to be desired than a big tail so Mr. Chipmunk went his way happy and contented and he was such a merry little fellow and so full of fun and cut such funny capers that everybody loved Mr. Chipmunk one day when the nights were cool and all the trees had put on their brilliant colors old mother nature sent word down across the green meadows that every squirrel should gather for her until she came a thousand nuts now the squirrels had grown fat and lazy through the long summer all but Mr. Chipmunk who frisked about so much that he had no chance to grow fat Mr. Gray Squirrel grumbled Mr. Fox Squirrel grumbled Mr. Red Squirrel grumbled but they didn't dare disobey old mother nature so they all set out each to gather a thousand nuts and Mr. Chipmunk alone was pleasant and cheerful when they reached the nut trees what do you suppose they discovered why that they had been so greedy that they had eaten most of the nuts and it was going to be hard work to find and store a thousand nuts for old mother nature then they began to hurry did Mr. Gray Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel each trying to make sure of his thousand nuts they quarreled and they fought over the nuts on the ground and even up in the trees and because they were so big and so strong they pushed Mr. Chipmunk this way and they pushed him that way and often just as he was going to pick up a fat nut one of them would knock him over and make off with the prize poor Mr. Chipmunk kept his temper and was as polite as ever but how he did work his cousins are great climbers and could get the nuts still left on the trees but Mr. Chipmunk is a poor climber so he had to be content with those on the ground of course he could carry only one nut at a time and his legs were so short that he had to run as fast as ever he could to store each nut in his secret storehouse and get back for another and while the others quarreled and fought he hurried back and forth back and forth from early morning until Jolly Red Mr. Sun pulled his nightcap on behind the purple hills hunting for nuts and putting them away in his secret storehouse but the nuts grew scarcer and scarcer on the ground and harder to find for the other squirrels were picking them up too and then they did not have so far to carry them sometimes one of his cousins up in the trees would drop a nut but Mr. Chipmunk never would take it not even when he was having hard work with me four said he to himself if my cousin drops a nut it is his nut just the same finally Mr. Gray Squirrel announced that he had got his thousand nuts then Mr. Fox Squirrel announced that he had got his thousand nuts the next day Mr. Red Squirrel stopped hunting because he had his thousand nuts but Mr. Chipmunk had hardly more than half as many yet he made a dreadful discovery someone had found his secret storehouse and had stolen some of his precious nuts it's of no use to cry over what can't be helped said Mr. Chipmunk and the next morning he bravely started out again he had worked so hard that he had grown thinner and thinner until now he was only a shadow of his old self but he was as cheerful as ever and kept right on hunting and hunting for stray nuts Mr. Gray Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel sat around and rested and made fun of him way up in the tops of the tallest trees a few nuts still clung but his cousins did not once offer to go up and shake them down for Mr. Chipmunk and then old mother nature came down across the green meadows first Mr. Gray Squirrel took her to his storehouse and she counted his thousand nuts then Mr. Fox Squirrel led her to his storehouse and she counted his thousand nuts then Mr. Red Squirrel showed her his storehouse and she counted his thousand nuts last of all Mr. Chipmunk led her to his secret storehouse and showed her the pile of nuts he had worked so hard to get old mother nature didn't need to count them to see that there were not a thousand there I've done the best I could Mr. Chipmunk bravely and he trembled all over he was so tired old mother nature said never a word but went out on the green meadows and sent the merry little breezes to call together all the little meadow people and all the little forest folks when they had all gathered before her she suddenly turned to Mr. Gray Squirrel go bring me a hundred nuts from your storehouse said she last of all she called Mr. Red Squirrel out where all could see him Mr. Red Squirrel crept out very slowly his teeth chattered and his tail of which he was so proud dragged on the ground for you see Mr. Red Squirrel had something on his mind then old mother nature told how she had ordered each squirrel to get and store for her a thousand nuts she told him that he had a thousand nuts and he said a thousand nuts she told just how selfish Mr. Gray Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel had been she told just how hard Mr. Chipmunk had worked and then she told how part of his precious store had been stolen and there said old mother nature and a loud voice so that everyone should hear there is the thief then she commanded Mr. Red Squirrel to go to his storehouse and bring her half of the earliest and best nuts he had there Mr. Red Squirrel sneaked off with his head hanging and began to bring the nuts and as he tramped back and forth back and forth all the little meadow people and all the little forest folks pointed their fingers at him and cried thief thief thief when all the nuts had been brought to her by Mr. Gray Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel old mother nature gathered them all up at Mr. Red Squirrel's storehouse of Mr. Chipmunk then she set Mr. Chipmunk up on an old stump where all could see him and she said Mr. Chipmunk because you have been faithful because you have been cheerful because you have done your best henceforth you shall have two pockets one in each cheek so that you can carry two nuts at once that you may not have to work so hard the next time I tell you to store a thousand nuts all the little meadow people and all the little forest folks shouted hurrah for Mr. Chipmunk all but his cousins Mr. Gray Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel who hid themselves for shame and ever since that time long ago when the world was young the Chipmunks have had pockets in their cheeks you can't fool old mother nature concluded great grandfather frog no sir you can't fool old mother nature and it's no use to try thank you, thank you cried the merry little breezes, clapping their hands then they all raced across the green meadows to shake down some more nuts for Striped Chipmunk End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 of Mother Westwind's Children This Lubri Fox recording is in the public domain recorded by Laurie Ann Walden Mother Westwind's Children by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 6, Ready Fox The Boaster Johnny Chuck waddled down the lone little path across the green meadows Johnny Chuck was very fat and roly-poly his yellow brown coat fitted him so snugly that it seemed as if it must burst Johnny Chuck was feeling very happy very happy indeed for you see Johnny Chuck long ago found the best thing in the world which is contentment Jolly round red Mr. Sun looking down from the sky smiled and smiled to see Johnny Chuck waddling down the lone little path for he loved the merry-hearted little fellow as do all the little meadow people all but Ready Fox for Ready Fox has not forgotten the surprise Johnny Chuck once gave him and how he called him a frayed cat once in a while Johnny Chuck stopped to brush his coat carefully for he is very particular about his appearance is Johnny 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 reached it and up in the top of it he could see blacky the crow flapping his wings and calling at the top of his voice there must be something going on said Johnny Chuck to himself and began to waddle faster he looked so very queer when he tried to hurry that Jolly round red Mr. Sun smiled more than ever when he was almost to the old butternut tree Johnny Chuck sat up very straight so that his head came just above the tall meadow grasses beside 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 he could see the long ears of Peter Rabbit standing up straight above the tall meadow grasses one of the merry little breezes spied Johnny Chuck hurry up Johnny Chuck he shouted and Johnny Chuck hurried when he reached the old butternut tree he was all out of breath he was puffing and blowing and he was so warm that he wished just for a minute a single little minute that he could swim like Billy Mink and Jerry Muscratt and little Joe Otter so that he could jump into the smiling pool and cool off hello Johnny Chuck shouted Peter Rabbit hello yourself then see how you like it replied Johnny Chuck said Peter Rabbit and then because it was so very foolish everybody laughed it is a good thing to feel foolishly happy on a beautiful sun-shiny day especially down on the green meadows Jimmy Skunk was there he was feeling very very good indeed was Jimmy Skunk for he had found some very fine beetles for his breakfast little Joe Otter was there and Billy Mink and Jerry Muscratt and of course Reddy Fox was there oh my yes of course Reddy Fox was there 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 and every few minutes he would turn and admire it Reddy Fox thought himself a very fine gentleman he admired himself and he wanted everyone else to admire him let's do stunts Peter Rabbit I can jump farther than anybody here then Peter Rabbit jumped a tremendously long jump then everybody jumped everybody but Reddy Fox even Johnny Chuck jumped and because he was so roly-poly he tumbled over and over and everybody laughed and Johnny Chuck left loudest of all and because his hind legs are long and meant for jumping Peter Rabbit had jumped farther than anyone else I can climb to the top of the old butternut tree quicker than anybody else cried Happy Jack Squirrel and away he started with Bobby Coon and Billy Mink after him for though Billy Mink is a famous swimmer and can run swiftly he can also climb when he has to but Happy Jack Squirrel was at the top of the old butternut tree almost before the others had started the merry little breezes clapped their hands and everybody shouted for Happy Jack Squirrel but Reddy Fox I can swim faster than anybody here shouted Little Joe Otter in a flash three little brown coats splashed into the smiling pool so suddenly that they almost upset great grandfather Frog watching from his big green lily pad they belonged to Little Joe Otter Billy Mink and Jerry Muscratt across the smiling pool and back again they raced and Little Joe Otter was first out on the bank Hurrah for Little Joe Otter shouted Blackie the Crow and everybody shouted Hurrah everybody but Reddy Fox what can you do Jimmy Skunk asked Peter Rabbit dancing up and down he was so excited Jimmy Skunk yawned lazily I can throw a wonderful perfume farther than anybody here said Jimmy Skunk we know it we know it shouted the merry little breezes as everybody tumbled heels overhead away from Jimmy Skunk even Reddy Fox but please don't and Jimmy Skunk didn't then they all came back Reddy Fox carefully brushing his handsome red coat which had become sadly must he had fled in such a hurry now for the first time in his life Johnny Chuck began to feel just a wee wee bit discontented what was there he could do better than anyone 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 round and roly-poly he quite forgot that he was so sunny-hearted and good-natured that everybody loved him everybody but Reddy Fox just then Reddy Fox began to boast for Reddy Fox is a great boaster poo said Reddy Fox poo anybody could jump if their legs were made for jumping and what's the good of climbing trees anyway now I can run faster than anybody here faster than anybody in the whole world said Reddy Fox puffing himself out chug a rum said grandfather frog you can't beat spotty the turtle then everyone shouted and rolled over and over in the grass they were so tickled for everyone remembered how spotty the turtle had once won a race from Reddy Fox for a minute Reddy Fox looked very foolish then he lost his temper which is a very unwise thing to do for it is hard to find again he swelled himself out until every hair stood on end and he looked twice as big as he did before he strutted up and down and glared at each intern and I'm not afraid of any living thing on the green meadows boasted Reddy Fox chug a rum said grandfather frog do I see Bowser the Hound every hair on Reddy Fox suddenly fell back into place he whirled about nervously and anxiously looked over the green meadows then everybody shouted again and rolled over and over in the grass and held on to their sides for you see Bowser the Hound wasn't there at all but everybody took good care to keep away from Reddy Fox everybody but Johnny Chuck he just sat still and chuckled and chuckled till his fat side shook what are you laughing at? demanded Reddy Fox I was just thinking, said Johnny Chuck that though you can run so fast you can't even catch me Reddy Fox just glared at him for a minute he was so mad then he sprang straight at Johnny Chuck I'll show you he snarled now Johnny Chuck had been sitting just beside a hole that grandfather Chuck had dug a long time before and which was empty in a 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 that he straight way began to dig it larger my how the sand did fly it poured out behind Reddy Fox in a stream of shining yellow Johnny Chuck ran down the long tunnel underground until he reached the end then when he heard Reddy Fox digging and knew that he was really coming Johnny Chuck began to dig too only instead of digging down he dug up towards the sunshine and the blue sky my how his short legs did fly and his stout little claws dug into the soft earth his little four paws flew so fast that if you had been there you could hardly have seen them at all and with his strong hind legs he kicked the sand right back into the face of Reddy Fox all the little meadow people gathered around the hole where Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox had disappeared they were very anxious very anxious indeed would Reddy Fox catch Johnny Chuck and what would he do to him was all their fun to end in something terrible to sunny hearted Mary Johnny Chuck whom everybody loved all of a sudden pop right out of the solid earth among the daisies and butter cups like a jack in the box came Johnny Chuck he looked very warm and a little tired but he was still chuckling as he scampered across to another hole of Grandfather Chuck's by and by something else crawled out of the hole Johnny Chuck had made could it be Reddy Fox where were his white waistcoat in beautiful red coat and was that thing dragging behind him his splendid tail he crept out of the hole for breath he was almost too tired to move then 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 long hair of his fine coat was filled full of sand and no one would ever have guessed that this was Reddy Fox hall hall hall shouted blacky the crow then everybody shouted hall hall hall and began to roll in the grass and hold on to their sides once more everybody but Reddy Fox when he could get his breath he didn't look this way or that way but just sneaked off to his home under the big hickory and when Old Mother Westwin came with her big bag to take the merry little breezes to their home behind the purple hills Johnny Chuck waddled back up the lone little path chuckling to himself for that little feeling of discontent was all gone he had found that after all he could do something better than anybody else for in his heart he knew that none could dig so fast as he End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of Mother Westwin's Children this Lubrivoch recording is in the public domain recorded by Laurie Ann Walden Mother Westwin's Children by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 7 Johnny Chuck's Secret Johnny Chuck pushed up the last bit of gravel from the hole he had dug between the roots of the old apple tree of the green meadows he smoothed it down on the big yellow mound he had made in front of his door then he sat up very straight on top of the mound, brushed his coat shook the sand from his trousers and carefully cleaned his hands after he had rested a bit he turned around and looked at his new home for that is what it was although he had not come there to live yet and no one knew of it no one but Jolly round red Mr. Son who peeping between the branches of the old apple tree had called Johnny Chuck at work but he wouldn't tell not Jolly Mr. Son looking down from the blue sky every day he sees all sorts of queer things and he learns all kinds of secrets does Mr. Son but he never never tells no sir Mr. Son never tells one of them not even to Old Mother Westwin when at night they go down together behind the purple hills so Jolly round red Mr. Son just smiled and smiled when he discovered Johnny Chuck's secret for that is just what the new home under the apple tree was a secret not even the merry little breezes who find out almost everything had discovered it Johnny Chuck chuckled to himself as he planned a back door a beautiful back door hidden behind a tall clump of meadow grass where no one would think to look for a door when he had satisfied himself just where he would put it he once more sat up very straight on his nice new mound and looked this way and looked that way to be sure that no one was near then he started for his old home along a secret little path he had made for himself pretty soon he came to the lone little path that went past his own home he danced and he skipped along the lone little path and because he was so happy he tried to turn a somersault Johnny Chuck was so round and fat and roly-poly that he just tumbled over in a heap well well well what's the matter with you? said a voice close beside him before he could pick himself up it was Jimmy Skunk who was out looking for some beetles for his dinner Johnny Chuck scrambled to his feet and looked foolish, very foolish indeed there's nothing the matter with me Jimmy Skunk said Johnny there's nothing the matter with me it's just because I've got a secret a secret? cried Jimmy Skunk what is it? yes a secret, a really truly secret said Johnny Chuck and looked very important tell me Johnny Chuck come on tell just me and then we'll have the secret together begged Jimmy Skunk now Johnny Chuck was so tickled with his secret that it seemed as if he must share it with someone he just couldn't keep it to himself any longer you won't tell anyone? said Johnny Chuck Jimmy Skunk promised that he wouldn't tell us all cross your heart commanded Johnny Chuck Jimmy Skunk crossed his heart then Johnny Chuck looked this way and looked that way to be sure that no one was listening finally he whispered in Jimmy Skunk's ear I've got a new home under the old apple tree the owner of the green meadows said Johnny Chuck of course Jimmy Skunk was very much surprised and very much interested so Johnny Chuck told him all about it now remember it's a secret said Johnny Chuck as Jimmy Skunk started off down the lone little path across the green meadows to look for some beetles I'll remember said Jimmy Skunk and don't tell called Johnny Chuck Jimmy Skunk promised that he wouldn't tell then Johnny Chuck started off up the lone little path whistling and Jimmy Skunk trotted down the lone little path onto the green meadows Jimmy Skunk was thinking so much about Johnny Chuck's new home that he quite forgot to look for beetles and he almost ran into Peter Rabbit hello Jimmy Skunk said Peter Rabbit can't you see where you are going it must be you have something on your mind what is it I was thinking of Johnny Chuck's new home said Jimmy Skunk Johnny Chuck's new home exclaimed Peter Rabbit has Johnny Chuck got a new home where is it under the roots of the old apple tree in a corner of the green meadows said Jimmy Skunk and then he clapped both hands over his mouth you see he hadn't really meant to tell it just slipped out oh but it's a secret cried Jimmy Skunk it's a secret and you mustn't tell I guess Johnny Chuck won't mind if you know Peter Rabbit but you mustn't tell anyone else Peter Rabbit promised he wouldn't now Peter Rabbit is very inquisitive very inquisitive indeed so as soon as he had parted from Jimmy Skunk he made up his mind that he must see the new home of Johnny Chuck so off he started as fast as he could go towards the old apple tree in a corner of the green meadows halfway there he met Ready Fox hello Peter Rabbit where are you going in such a hurry asked Ready Fox over to the old apple tree to see Johnny Chuck's new home replied Peter Rabbit as he tried to dodge past Ready Fox then of a sudden he remembered and clapped both hands over his mouth oh but it's a secret Ready Fox it's a secret and you mustn't tell cried Peter Rabbit but Ready Fox wouldn't promise that he wouldn't tell for in spite of his handsome coat and fine manners Ready Fox is a scamp and besides he has no love for Johnny Chuck for he has not forgotten how Johnny Chuck once made him run and called him a frayed cat so when Ready Fox left Peter Rabbit he grinned a wicked grin and hurried off to find Bobby Coon he met him on his way to the laughing book Ready Fox told Bobby Coon all about Johnny Chuck's secret and then hurried away after Peter Rabbit for Ready Fox also is very inquisitive Bobby Coon went on down to the laughing book there he met Billy Meek and told him about the new home Johnny Chuck had made under the old apple tree in a corner of the green meadows pretty soon Billy Meek met Little Joe Otter and told him Jerry Muscratt and told him Jerry Muscratt saw Blackie the Crow and told him and great-grandfather Frog heard him Blackie the Crow met his first cousin Sammy Jay and told him Sammy Jay met Happy Jack Squirrel and told him Happy Jack met his cousin Stripe Chipmunk and told him Stripe Chipmunk passed the house of old Mr. Toad and told him The next morning very early when had come down from the Purple Hills Johnny Chuck stole over to his new home to begin work on his new back door he had hardly begun to dig when he heard someone cough right behind him he whirled around and there sat Peter Rabbit looking as innocent and surprised as if he had really just discovered the new home for the first time What a splendid new home you have Johnny Chuck said Peter Rabbit Yes said Johnny Chuck slowly It's a secret he added suddenly You won't tell will you Peter Rabbit Peter Rabbit promised that he wouldn't tell then Johnny Chuck felt better and went back to work as soon as Peter Rabbit left He had hardly begun however when someone just above him said Good morning Johnny Chuck Johnny Chuck looked up and there in the old apple tree sat Blackie the Crow and his cousin Sammy Jay Just then there was a rustle in the grass and out popped Billy Mink and little Joe Otter and Jerry Muscret and Happy Jack Squirrel and Stripe Chipmunk and Bobby Coon When Johnny Chuck had recovered from his surprise and looked over to the doorway of his new home there sat Ready Fox on Johnny Chuck's precious new mound It seemed as if all the little Meadow people were there all but Jimmy Skunk who wisely stayed away Your new home said Stripe Chipmunk and we think it's the nicest home we've seen for a long time It's so nicely hidden away it's really quite secret said Ready Fox, grinning wickedly Just then up raced the merry little breezes and one of them had a message for Johnny Chuck from great-grandfather Frog It was this Whisper a secret to a friend and you shout it in the ear of the whole world After everyone had admired the new home they said goodbye and scattered over the green meadows Then Johnny Chuck began to dig again but this time he wasn't making his new back door No indeed, Johnny Chuck was digging at that new mound of yellow gravel of which he had been so proud Jolly round red Mr. Son blinked to be sure that he saw a right for Johnny Chuck was filling up his new home between the roots of the old apple tree When he got through there wasn't any new home Then Johnny Chuck brushed his coat carefully shook the sand out of his trousers wiped his hands and started off for his old home and this time he didn't take his special hidden path for Johnny Chuck didn't care who saw him go Late that afternoon Johnny Chuck sat on his old doorstep with his chin in his hands watching Old Mother Westwind into the big bag in which she carries them to her home behind the purple hills Whisper a secret to a friend and you shout it in the ear of the whole world Now what did grandfather frog mean by that thought Johnny Chuck Now I didn't tell anybody but Jimmy Skunk and Jimmy Skunk didn't tell anyone but Peter Rabbit and and Then Johnny Chuck began to chuckle and finally to laugh Whisper a secret to a friend and you shout it in the ear of the whole world My gracious what a loud voice I must have had and didn't know it said Johnny Chuck wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes and the next day Johnny Chuck started to make a new home Where? Oh that's Johnny Chuck's secret and no one but Jolly round red Mr. Son has found it out yet End of chapter 7 Chapter 8 of Mother Westwind's Children This Lubrewox recording is in the public domain Recorded by Laurie Ann Walden Mother Westwind's Children by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 8 Johnny Chuck's Great Fight Johnny Chuck sat on the doorstep of his new home looking away across the green meadows Johnny Chuck felt very well satisfied with himself and with all the world He yawned lazily and stretched and stretched and then settled himself comfortably to watch the merry little breezes playing down by the smiling pool By and by he saw Peter Rabbit go bobbing along down the lone little path Liberty, Liberty, Lip went Peter Rabbit and every other jump he looked behind him Now what is Peter Rabbit up to? said Johnny Chuck to himself and what does he keep looking behind him for? Johnny Chuck sat up a little straighter to watch Peter Rabbit hop down the lone little path Then, of a sudden, he caught sight of something that made him sit up straighter than ever and open his eyes very wide Something was following Peter Rabbit Yes, sir Something was bobbing along right at Peter Rabbit's heels Johnny Chuck forgot the merry little breezes He forgot how warm it was and how lazy he felt He forgot everything else in his curiosity to learn what it could be so closely at Peter Rabbit's heels Presently, Peter Rabbit stopped and sat up very straight and then Johnny Chuck nearly tumbled over in sheer surprise He rubbed his eyes to make sure that he saw a right for there were two Peter Rabbits Yes, sir, there were two Peter Rabbits Only one was very small very small indeed Oh, said Johnny Chuck That must be Peter Rabbit's baby brother Then he began to chuckle till his fat sod shook There sat Peter Rabbit with his funny long ears standing straight up and there right behind him dressed exactly 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 wiggled his right ear When Peter Rabbit scratched his left ear his baby brother scratched his left ear Whatever Peter Rabbit did his baby brother did too Presently, Peter Rabbit started on down the lone little path liberty, liberty, lip and right at his heels went his baby brother, liberty, liberty, lip Johnny Chuck watched them out of sight and then he settled himself on his doorstep once more to enjoy a sun bath Every once in a while he chuckled to himself as he remembered how funny his brother had looked Presently, Johnny Chuck fell asleep Jolly, round red Mr. Sun had climbed quite high in the sky when Johnny Chuck awoke He yawned and stretched and stretched and yawned and then he sat up to look over the green meadows Then he became wide awake very wide awake indeed Way down on the green meadows he caught a glimpse of something red jumping about in the long meadow grass That must be Ready Fox thought Johnny Chuck Yes, it surely is Ready Fox Now I wonder what mischief he is up to Then he saw all the merry little breezes racing towards Ready Fox as fast as they could go and there was Sammy J screaming at the top of his voice and his cousin Blackie the Crow Happy Jack Squirrel was dancing up and down excitedly to a close by Johnny Chuck waited to see no more but started down the lone little path to find out what it all was about Halfway down the lone little path he met Peter Rabbit running as hard as he could His long ears were laid flat back His big eyes seemed to pop right out of his head and he was running as Johnny Chuck had never seen him run before What are you running so for Peter Rabbit? asked Johnny Chuck To get Bowser the Hound shouted Peter Rabbit over his shoulder as he tried to run faster Now what can be the matter said Johnny Chuck to himself to send Peter Rabbit after Bowser the Hound He knew that like all the other little meadow people there was nothing of which Peter Rabbit was so afraid as Farmer Brown's great dog Bowser the Hound Johnny Chuck hurried down the lone little path as fast as his short legs could take his fat, roly-poly self Presently he came out onto the green meadows and there he saw a sight that set every nerve in his round little body a tingle with rage Ready Fox had found Peter Rabbit's baby brother and was doing his best to frighten him to death I'm going to eat you now shouted Ready Fox and then he sprang on Peter Rabbit's baby brother and gave him a cuff that sent him heels overhead sprawling in the grass Coward, coward Ready Fox shrieked Sammy J Shame, shame shouted the merry little breezes You're nothing but a great big bully yelled Blackie the Crow But no one did anything to help Peter Rabbit's baby brother for Ready Fox is so much bigger than any of the rest of them except Bobby Coon and all the people are afraid of him But Ready Fox just laughed at them and nipped the long ears of Peter Rabbit's little brother so hard that he cried with the pain Now all were so intent watching Ready Fox torment the baby brother of Peter Rabbit that no one had seen Johnny Chuck coming down the lone little path And for a few minutes no one recognized the furious little yellow brown bundle that suddenly knocked Ready Fox over You see it didn't look a bit like Johnny Chuck Every hair was standing on end he was so mad and this made him appear twice as big as they had ever seen him before Coward, coward, coward shrieked Johnny Chuck as he shook Ready Fox by the throat and then began the greatest fight that the Green Meadows had ever seen Now Johnny Chuck is not naturally a fighter he is so good-natured and so sunny-hearted that he seldom quarrels with anyone But when he has to fight there isn't a cowardly hair on him not the teeniest weeniest one No one ever has a chance to cry frayed cat cry baby after Johnny Chuck So though like all the other little Meadow people he was usually just a little afraid of Ready Fox because Ready is so much bigger He forgot all about it instead of Ready Fox tormenting Peter Rabbit's little brother He didn't stop to think of what might happen to himself He just gritted his teeth and in a flash had Ready Fox on his back Such a fight was never seen before on the Green Meadows Ready Fox is a bully and a coward for he never fights with anyone of his own size if he can help it But when he has to fight he only had to fight now Bully hissed Johnny Chuck as with his stout little hind feet he ripped the bright red pod of Ready Fox You great big bully Over and over they rolled Johnny Chuck on top then Ready Fox on top then Johnny Chuck up again clawing and snarling It seemed as if news of the fight had gone over all the Green Meadows for the little Meadow people running from every direction Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter Jerry Muscratt, Stripe Chipmunk Jimmy Skunk, Old Mr. Toad Even Great Grandfather Frog who left his big lily pad and came hurrying with great jumps across the Green Meadows They formed a ring around Ready Fox and Johnny Chuck and danced with excitement and all wanted Johnny Chuck to win Peter Rabbit's poor little brother so sore and lame from the knocking about from Ready Fox and so frightened that he hardly dared breathe lay flat on the ground under a little bush 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 little brother did hope that Johnny Chuck would win His great big round soft eyes were wide with terror as he thought of what might happen to him and ready Fox should whip Johnny Chuck But Ready Fox wasn't whipping Johnny Chuck Try as he would he could not get a good hold on that round fat little body and Johnny Chuck's stout claws were ripping his red coat and white vest and Johnny Chuck's sharp teeth were gripping him so that they could not be shaken loose Pretty soon Ready Fox began to think of nothing but getting away Everyone was shouting for Johnny Chuck Every time Ready Fox was underneath he would hear a great shout from all the little meadow people and he knew that they were glad Now Johnny Chuck was round and fat and roly-poly and when one is round and fat and roly-poly one's breath is apt to be short So it was with Johnny Chuck He had fought so hard that his breath was nearly gone Finally he loosed his hold on Ready Fox for just a second to draw in a good breath Ready Fox saw his chance and with a quick pull and spring he broke away How all the little meadow people did scatter You see they were very brave very brave indeed so long as Johnny Chuck had Ready Fox down But now that Ready Fox was free each one was suddenly afraid and thought only of himself Jimmy Skunk knocked Jerry Muscratt flat in his hurry to get away The unique trod on Great Grandfather Frog's big feet and didn't even say excuse me Striped chipmunk ran head first into a big thistle and squealed as much from fear as pain But Ready Fox paid no attention to any of them He just wanted to get away and off he started limping as fast as he could go up the lone little path Such a looking sight his beautiful red coat was in tatters his face was scratched he hobbled as he ran and just as he broke away Johnny Chuck made a grab and pulled a great mouthful of hair out of the splendid tail Ready Fox was so proud of When the little meadow people saw that Ready Fox was actually running away they stopped running themselves and all began to shout Ready Fox is a coward and a bully Coward, coward Then they crowded around Johnny Chuck and all began talking at once about his great fight Just then they heard a great noise up on the hill They saw Ready Fox coming back down the lone little path and he was using his legs just as well as he knew how Right behind him his great mouth open and waking all the echoes with his big voice was Bowser the Hound You see, although Peter Rabbit he isn't altogether a coward Indeed, he had been very brave very brave indeed He had gone up to Farmer Browns and had jumped right under the nose of Bowser the Hound Now, that is something that Bowser the Hound never can stand So all he had started after Peter Rabbit and Peter Rabbit had started back for the green meadows as fast as his long legs could take him for he knew that if once Bowser the Hound caught sight of Ready Fox he would forget all about such a little thing as a saucy rabbit Sure enough, halfway down the lone little path they met Ready Fox sneaking off home and when Bowser the Hound saw him he straight way forgot all about Peter Rabbit and with a great roar started after Ready Fox When Johnny Chuck had carefully brushed his coat and all the little meadow people had wished him good luck he started off up the lone little path with the merry little breezes dancing ahead and Peter Rabbit coming liberty, liberty, lip behind and right between them hopped Peter Rabbit's little brother who thought Johnny Chuck the greatest hero in the world When they reached Johnny Chuck's old home Peter Rabbit and Peter Rabbit's little brother tried to tell him how thankful they were to him but Johnny Chuck just laughed and said it was nothing at all, just nothing at all When at last all had gone, even the merry little breezes Johnny Chuck slipped away to his new home which is his secret you know, which no one knows but jolly round red Mr. Son who won't tell I hope, said Johnny Chuck as he stretched himself out on the mound of warm sand by his doorway for he was very tired I hope, said Johnny Chuck sighing contentedly that Ready Fox got away from Bowser the Hound and Ready Fox did End of Chapter 8 Chapter 9 of Mother Westwin's Children This Liber Fox recording is in the public domain recorded by Laurie Ann Walden Mother Westwin's Children by Thornton W. Burgess Chapter 9 Mr. Toad's Old Suit Peter Rabbit was tired and very sleepy as he hopped along the crooked little path down the hill he could see Old Mother Westwin with his merry little breezes out of her big bag onto the green meadows to play all the bright summer day Peter Rabbit yawned and yawned again as he watched them dance over to the smiling pool then he hopped on down the crooked little path towards home Sammy Jay sitting on a fence post saw him coming Peter Rabbit out all night oh my goodness what a sight Peter Rabbit reprobate no good end will be your fate he shouted Sammy Jay Peter Rabbit ran out his tongue at Sammy Jay who stole Happy Jack's nuts thief thief thief shouted Peter Rabbit at Sammy Jay and kept on down the crooked little path it was true Peter Rabbit had been out all night playing in the moonlight stealing a midnight feast in Farmer Brown's Cabbage Patch and getting into mischief with Bobbie Coon now when most of the little meadow people were just waking up Peter Rabbit was thinking of bed presently he came to a big piece of bark which is the roof of Mr. Toad's house Mr. Toad was sitting in his doorway blinking at jolly round red Mr. Sun who had just begun to climb up the sky good morning Mr. Toad said Peter Rabbit good morning said Mr. Toad you're looking very fine this morning Mr. Toad said Peter Rabbit I'm feeling very fine this morning said Mr. Toad why my gracious you have on a new suit Mr. Toad exclaimed Peter Rabbit well what if I have Peter Rabbit demanded Mr. Toad oh nothing nothing nothing at all Mr. Toad nothing at all said Peter Rabbit hastily only I didn't know you ever had a new suit what have you done with your old suit Mr. Toad swallowed it said Mr. Toad shortly turning his back on Peter Rabbit and that was all Peter Rabbit could get out of Mr. Toad so he started on down the quick little path now Peter Rabbit has a great deal of curiosity and is forever poking into other people's affairs the more he thought about it the more he wondered what Mr. Toad had done with his old suit of course he hadn't swallowed it who ever heard of such a thing the more he thought of it the more Peter Rabbit felt that he must know what Mr. Toad had done with his old suit by this time he had forgotten that he had been out all night he had forgotten that he was sleepy he had got to find out about Mr. Toad's old suit I'll just run over to the smiling pool and ask grandfather frog will surely know what Mr. Toad does with his old suits said Peter Rabbit and began to hop faster when he reached the smiling pool there sat great grandfather frog on his big green lily pad as usual there was a hungry look in his big gogly eyes for it was so early that no foolish green flies had come his way yet but Peter Rabbit was too full of curiosity in Mr. Toad's affairs to notice this good morning grandfather frog said Peter Rabbit good morning replied grandfather frog a wee bit gruffly you're looking very fine this morning grandfather frog said Peter Rabbit not so fine as I'd feel if I had a few fat foolish green flies said grandfather frog I've just met your cousin Mr. Toad and he has on a new suit said Peter Rabbit indeed grandfather frog well I think it's high time what does Mr. Toad do with his old suit grandfather frog asked Peter Rabbit chug a rum it's none of my business maybe he swallows it replied grandfather frog crossly and turned his back on Peter Rabbit Peter Rabbit saw that his curiosity must remain unsatisfied he suddenly remembered that he had been out all night and was very very sleepy so he started off home across the green meadows now the merry little breezes had heard all that Peter Rabbit and grandfather frog had said and they made up their minds that they would find out from grandfather frog what Mr. Toad really did do with his old suit first of all they scattered over the green meadows presently back they all came each blowing ahead of him a fat foolish green fly right over to the big green lily pad they blew the green flies chug a rum chug a rum said grandfather frog as each fat foolish green fly disappeared inside his white and yellow esket when the last one was out of sight all but a leg which was left sticking out of a corner of grandfather frog's big mouth one of the merry little breezes ventured to ask him what became of Mr. Toad's old suit grandfather frog settled himself comfortably on the big green lily pad and folded his hands across his white and yellow esket chug a rum began grandfather frog once upon a time the merry little breezes clapped their hands and settled themselves among the butter cups and daisies for they knew that soon they would know what Mr. Toad did with his old suit once upon a time began grandfather frog again when the world was young old king bear received word that old mother nature would visit the green meadows and the green forest of course old king bear wanted his kingdom and his subjects to look their very best so he issued a royal order that every one of the little meadow people and every one of the little forest folk should wear a new suit on the day that old mother nature was to pay for visit now like old king bear everyone wanted to appear his very best before old mother nature but as no one knew the exact day she was to come everyone began at once to wear his best suit and to take the greatest care of it old king bear appeared every day in a suit of glossy black lightfoot the deer threw away his dingy gray suit and put on a coat of beautiful red and fawn Mr. Mink Mr. Otter Mr. Luskrat Mr. Rabbit Mr. Woodchuck Mr. Coon Mr. Gray squirrel Mr. Fox squirrel Mr. Red squirrel all put on brand new suits Mr. Skunk changed his black and white stripes for a suit of all black very handsome very handsome indeed Mr. Chipmunk took care to see that his new suit had the most beautiful stripes to be obtained Mr. Jay who was something of a dandy had a wonderful new coat that looked for all the world as if it had been cut from the bluest patch of sky and trimmed with edging taken from the whitest clouds even Mr. Crow and Mr. Owl took paints to look their very best but Mr. Toad couldn't see the need of such a fuss he thought his neighbors spent all together too much time and thought on dress for sure he was anxious to look his best when old mother nature came so he got a new suit already but Mr. Toad couldn't afford to sit around in idleness admiring his new clothes no indeed Mr. Toad had too much to do he was altogether too busy he had a large garden to take care of had Mr. Toad and work in a garden is very hard on clothes so Mr. Toad just wore his old suit a new one and went on about his business by and by the great day came when old mother nature arrived to inspect the kingdom of old king bear all the little meadow people and all the little forest folk hastened to pay their respects to old mother nature and to strut about in their fine clothes all but Mr. Toad he was so busy that he didn't even know that old mother nature had arrived late in the afternoon Mr. Toad stopped to rest he had just cleared his cabbage patch of the slugs which threatened to eat up his crop and he was very tired presently he happened to look up the road and who should he see but old mother nature herself coming to visit his garden and to find out why Mr. Toad had not been to pay her his respects suddenly Mr. Toad remembered that he had on his working clothes which were very old, very dirty and very ragged for just a minute he didn't know what to do then he dived under a cabbage leaf and began to pull off his old suit but the old suit stuck he was in such a hurry and so excited that he couldn't find the buttons finally he got his trousers off then he reached over and got hold of the back of his coat and tugged and hauled until finally he pulled his old coat off right over his head just as if it were a shirt Mr. Toad gave a great sigh of relief as he stepped out in his new suit for you remember that he had been wearing that new suit underneath the old one all the time Mr. Toad was very well pleased with himself until he thought how terribly untidy that ragged old suit looked lying on the ground what should he do with it he couldn't hide it in the garden for old mother nature's eyes are so sharp that she would be sure to see it what should he do then Mr. Toad had a happy thought everyone made fun of his big mouth but what was a big mouth for if not to use he would swallow his old suit in a flash Mr. Toad dived under the cabbage leaf and crammed his old suit into his mouth when old mother nature came into the garden Mr. Toad was waiting in the path to receiver very fine he looked in his new suit and you would have thought he had been waiting all day to receive old mother nature but for one thing swallow as much and as hard as he would he couldn't get down quite all of his old suit and a leg of his trousers hung out of a corner of his big mouth of course old mother nature saw it right away and how she did laugh and of course Mr. Toad felt very much mortified but mother nature was so pleased with Mr. Toad's garden and with Mr. Toad's industry that she quite overlooked the ragged trousers leg hanging from the corner of Mr. Toad's mouth fine clothes are not to be compared with fine work said old mother nature I herewith appoint you my chief gardener Mr. Toad and as a sign that all may know that this is so hereafter you shall always swallow your old suit whenever you change your clothes and from that day to this the Toads have been the very best of gardeners and in memory of their great great great grandfather a thousand times removed they have always swallowed their old suits now you know what my cousin old Mr. Toad did with his old suit just before Peter Rabbit passed his house this morning concluded great grandfather frog oh! cried the merry little breezes thank you, thank you grandfather frog then they raced away across the green meadows and up the crooked little path to see if old Mr. Toad was gardening and Peter Rabbit still wonders what old Mr. Toad did with his old suit end of chapter 9