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<h2> CHAPTER IX PETER RABBIT PLAYS A JOKE </h2>
<p>One morning when big round Mr. Sun was climbing up in the sky and Old
Mother West Wind had sent all her Merry Little Breezes to play in the
Green Meadows, Johnny Chuck started out for a walk. First he sat up very
straight and looked and looked all around to see if Reddy Fox was anywhere
about, for you know Reddy Fox liked to tease Johnny Chuck.</p>
<p>But Reddy Fox was nowhere to be seen, so Johnny Chuck trotted down the
Lone Little Path to the wood. Mr. Sun was shining as brightly as ever he
could and Johnny Chuck, who was very, very fat, grew very, very warm. By
and by he sat down on the end of a log under a big tree to rest.</p>
<p>Thump! Something hit Johnny Chuck right on the top of his round little
head. It made Johnny Chuck jump.</p>
<p>"Hello, Johnny Chuck!" said a voice that seemed to come right out of the
sky. Johnny Chuck tipped his head way, way back and looked up. He was just
in time to see Happy Jack Squirrel drop a nut. Down it came and hit Johnny
Chuck right on the tip of his funny, black, little nose.</p>
<p>"Oh!" said Johnny Chuck, and tumbled right over back off the log. But
Johnny Chuck was so round and so fat and so roly-poly that it didn't hurt
him a bit.</p>
<p>"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Happy Jack up in the tree.</p>
<p>"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Johnny Chuck, picking himself up. Then they both
laughed together. It was such a good joke.</p>
<p>"What are you laughing at?" asked a voice so close to Johnny Chuck that he
rolled over three times he was so surprised. It was Peter Rabbit.</p>
<p>"What are you doing in my wood?" asked Peter Rabbit.</p>
<p>"I'm taking a walk," said Johnny Chuck.</p>
<p>"Good," said Peter Rabbit, "I'll come along too."</p>
<p>So Johnny Chuck and Peter Rabbit set out along the Lone Little Path
through the wood. Peter Rabbit hopped along with great big jumps, for
Peter's legs are long and meant for jumping, but Johnny Chuck couldn't
keep up though he tried very hard, for Johnny's legs are short. Pretty
soon Peter Rabbit came back, walking very softly. He whispered in Johnny
Chuck's ear.</p>
<p>"I've found something," said Peter Rabbit.</p>
<p>"What is it?" asked Johnny Chuck.</p>
<p>"I'll show you," said Peter Rabbit, "but you must be very, very still, and
not make the least little bit of noise."</p>
<p>Johnny Chuck promised to be very, very still for he wanted very much to
see what Peter Rabbit had found. Peter Rabbit tip-toed down the Lone
Little Path through the wood, his funny long ears pointing right up to the
sky. And behind him tip-toed Johnny Chuck, wondering and wondering what it
could be that Peter Rabbit had found.</p>
<p>Pretty soon they came to a nice mossy green log right across the Lone
Little Path. Peter Rabbit stopped and sat up very straight. He looked this
way and looked that way. Johnny Chuck stopped too and he sat up very
straight and looked this way and looked that way, but all he could see was
the mossy green log across the Lone Little Path.</p>
<p>"What is it, Peter Rabbit?" whispered Johnny Chuck.</p>
<p>"You can't see it yet," whispered Peter Rabbit, "for first we have to jump
over that mossy green log. Now I'll jump first, and then you jump just the
way I do, and then you'll see what it is I've found," said Peter Rabbit.</p>
<p>So Peter Rabbit jumped first, and because his legs are long and meant for
jumping, he jumped way, way over the mossy green log. Then he turned
around and sat up to see Johnny Chuck jump over the mossy green log, too.</p>
<p>Johnny Chuck tried to jump very high and very far, just as he had seen
Peter Rabbit jump, but Johnny Chuck's legs are very short and not meant
for jumping. Besides, Johnny Chuck was very, very fat. So though he tried
very hard indeed to jump just like Peter Rabbit, he stubbed his toes on
the top of the mossy green log and over he tumbled, head first, and landed
with a great big thump right on Reddy Fox, who was lying fast asleep on
the other side of the mossy green log.</p>
<p>Peter Rabbit laughed and laughed until he had to hold his sides.</p>
<p>My, how frightened Johnny Chuck was when he saw what he had done! Before
he could get on his feet he had rolled right over behind a little bush,
and there he lay very, very still.</p>
<p>Reddy Fox awoke with a grunt when Johnny Chuck fell on him so hard, and
the first thing he saw was Peter Rabbit laughing so that he had to hold
his sides. Reddy Fox didn't stop to look around. He thought that Peter
Rabbit had jumped on him. Up jumped Reddy Fox and away ran Peter Rabbit.
Away went Reddy Fox after Peter Rabbit. Peter dodged behind the trees, and
jumped over the bushes, and ran this way and ran that way, just as hard as
ever he could, for Peter Rabbit was very much afraid of Reddy Fox. And
Reddy Fox followed Peter Rabbit behind the trees and over the bushes this
way and that way, but he couldn't catch Peter Rabbit. Pretty soon Peter
Rabbit came to the house of Jimmy Skunk. He knew that Jimmy Skunk was over
in the pasture, so he popped right in and then he was safe, for the door
of Jimmy Skunk's house was too small for Reddy Fox to squeeze in. Reddy
Fox sat down and waited, but Peter Rabbit didn't come out. By and by Reddy
Fox gave it up and trotted off home where old Mother Fox was waiting for
him.</p>
<p>All this time Johnny Chuck had sat very still, watching Reddy Fox try to
catch Peter Rabbit. And when he saw Peter Rabbit pop into the house of
Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox trot away home, Johnny Chuck stood up and
brushed his little coat very clean and then he trotted back up the Lone
Little Path through the wood to his own dear little path through the Green
Meadows where the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were still
playing, till he was safe in his own snug little house once more.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER X HOW SAMMY JAY WAS FOUND OUT </h2>
<p>Sammy Jay was very busy, very busy indeed. When anyone happened that way
Sammy Jay pretended to be doing nothing at all, for Sammy Jay thought
himself a very fine gentleman. He was very proud of his handsome blue coat
with white trimmings and his high cap, and he would sit on a fence post
and make fun of Johnny Chuck working at a new door for his snug little
home in the Green Meadows, and of Striped Chipmunk storing up heaps of
corn and nuts for the winter, for most of the time Sammy Jay was an idle
fellow. And when Sammy Jay WAS busy, he was pretty sure to be doing
something that he ought not to do, for idle people almost always get into
mischief.</p>
<p>Sammy Jay was in mischief now, and that is why he pretended to be doing
nothing when he thought any one was looking.</p>
<p>Old Mother West Wind had come down from her home behind the Purple Hills
very early that morning. Indeed, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had hardly
gotten out of bed when she crossed the Green Meadows on her way to help
the big ships across the ocean. Old Mother West Wind's eyes were sharp,
and she saw Sammy Jay before Sammy Jay saw her.</p>
<p>"Now what can Sammy Jay be so busy about, and why is he so very, very
quiet?" thought Old Mother West Wind. "He must be up to some mischief."</p>
<p>So when she opened her big bag and turned out all her Merry Little Breezes
to play on the Green Meadows she sent one of them to see what Sammy Jay
was doing in the old chestnut tree. The Merry Little Breeze danced along
over the tree tops just as if he hadn't a thought in the world but to wake
up all the little leaves and set them to dancing too, and Sammy Jay,
watching Old Mother West Wind and the other Merry Little Breezes, didn't
see this Merry Little Breeze at all.</p>
<p>Pretty soon it danced back to Old Mother West Wind and whispered in her
ear: "Sammy Jay is stealing the nuts Happy Jack Squirrel had hidden in the
hollow of the old chestnut tree, and is hiding them for himself in the
tumble down nest that Blacky the Crow built in the Great Pine last year."
"Aha!" said Old Mother West Wind. Then she went on across the Green
Meadows.</p>
<p>"Good morning, Old Mother West Wind," said Sammy Jay as she passed the
fence post where he was sitting.</p>
<p>"Good morning, Sammy Jay," said Old Mother West Wind. "What brings you out
so early in the morning?"</p>
<p>"I'm out for my health, Old Mother West Wind," said Sammy Jay politely.
"The doctor has ordered me to take a bath in the dew at sunrise every
morning."</p>
<p>Old Mother West Wind said nothing, but went on her way across the Green
Meadows to blow the ships across the ocean. When she had passed, Sammy Jay
hurried to take the last of Happy Jack's nuts to the old nest in the Great
Pine.</p>
<p>Poor Happy Jack! Soon he came dancing along with another nut to put in the
hollow of the old chestnut tree. When he peeped in and saw that all his
big store of nuts had disappeared, he couldn't believe his own eyes. He
put in one paw and felt all around but not a nut could he feel. Then he
climbed in and sure enough, the hollow was empty.</p>
<p>Poor Happy Jack! There were tears in his eyes when he crept out again. He
looked all around but no one was to be seen but handsome Sammy Jay, very
busy brushing his beautiful blue coat.</p>
<p>"Good morning, Sammy Jay, have you seen any one pass this way?" asked
Happy Jack. "Some one has stolen a store of nuts from the hollow in the
old chestnut tree."</p>
<p>Sammy Jay pretended to feel very badly indeed, and in his sweetest voice,
for his voice was very sweet in those days, he offered to help Happy Jack
try to catch the thief who had stolen the store of nuts from the hollow in
the old chestnut tree.</p>
<p>Together they went down cross the Green Meadows asking every one whom they
met if they had seen the thief who had stolen Happy Jack's store of nuts
from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. All the Merry Little Breezes
joined in the search, and soon every one who lived in the Green Meadows or
in the wood knew that some one had stolen all of Happy Jack Squirrel's
store of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. And because every
one liked Happy Jack, every one felt very sorry indeed for him.</p>
<p>The next morning all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were
turned out of the big bag into the Green Meadows very early indeed, for
they had a lot of errands to do. All over the Green Meadows they hurried,
all through the wood, up and down the Laughing Brook and all around the
Smiling Pool, inviting everybody to meet at the Great Pine on the hill at
nine o'clock to form a committee of the whole—to try to find the
thief who stole Happy Jack's nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut
tree.</p>
<p>And because every one liked Happy Jack every one went to the Great Pine on
the hill—Reddy Fox, Bobby Coon, Jimmy Skunk Striped Chipmunk, who is
Happy Jack's cousin you know, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Jerry Muskrat,
Hooty the Owl, who was almost too sleepy to keep his eyes open, Blacky the
Crow, Johnny Chuck, Peter Rabbit, even old Grandfather Frog. Of course
Sammy Jay was there, looking his handsomest.</p>
<p>When they had all gathered around the Great Pine, Old Mother West Wind
pointed to the old nest way up in the top of it. "Is that your nest?" she
asked Blacky the Crow.</p>
<p>"It was, but I gave it to my cousin, Sammy Jay," said Blacky the Crow.</p>
<p>"Is that your nest, and may I have a stick out of it?" asked Old Mother
West Wind of Sammy Jay.</p>
<p>"It is," said Sammy Jay, with his politest bow, "And you are welcome to a
stick out of it." To himself he thought, "She will only take one from the
top and that won't matter."</p>
<p>Old Mother West Wind suddenly puffed out her cheeks and blew so hard that
she blew a big stick right out of the bottom of the old nest. Down it fell
bumpity-bump on the branches of the Great Pine. After it fell—what
do you think? Why, hickory nuts and chestnuts and acorns and hazel nuts,
such a lot of them!</p>
<p>"Why! Why—e—e!" cried Happy Jack. "There are all my stolen
nuts!"</p>
<p>Everybody turned to look at Sammy Jay, but he was flying off through the
wood as fast as he could go. "Stop thief!" cried Old Mother West Wind.
"Stop thief!" cried all the Merry Little Breezes and Johnny Chuck and
Billy Mink and all the rest. But Sammy Jay didn't stop.</p>
<p>Then all began to pick up the nuts that had fallen from the old nest where
Sammy Jay had hidden them. By and by, with Happy Jack leading the way,
they all marched back to the old chestnut tree and there Happy Jack stored
all the nuts away in his snug little hollow once more.</p>
<p>And ever since that day, Sammy Jay, whenever he tries to call, just
screams: "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!"</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XI JERRY MUSKRAT'S PARTY </h2>
<p>All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were hurrying over
the Green Meadows. Some flew this way and some ran that way and some
danced the other way. You see, Jerry Muskrat had asked them to carry his
invitations to a party at the Big Rock in the Smiling Pool.</p>
<p>Of course every one said that they would be delighted to go to Jerry
Muskrat's party. Round Mr. Sun shone his very brightest. The sky was its
bluest and the little birds had promised to be there to sing for Jerry
Muskrat, so of course all the little folks in the Green Meadows and in the
wood wanted to go.</p>
<p>There were Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox and Jimmy Skunk and Bobby Coon and
Happy Jack Squirrel and Striped Chipmunk and Billy Mink and Little Joe
Otter and Grandfather Frog and old Mr. Toad and Mr. Blacksnake—all
going to Jerry Muskrat's party.</p>
<p>When they reached the Smiling Pool they found Jerry Muskrat all ready. His
brothers and his sister, his aunts and his uncles and his cousins were all
there. Such a merry, merry time as there was in the Smiling Pool! How the
water did splash! Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Grandfather Frog
jumped right in as soon as they got there. They played tag in the water
and hid behind the Big Rock. They turned somersaults down the slippery
slide and they had such a good time!</p>
<p>But Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Johnny Chuck and Jimmy
Skunk and Happy Jack and Striped Chipmunk couldn't swim, so of course they
couldn't play tag in the water or hide and seek or go down the slippery
slide; all they could do was sit around to look on and wish that they knew
how to swim, too. So of course they didn't have a good time. Soon they
began to wish that they hadn't come to Jerry Muskrat's party. When he
found that they were not having a good time, poor Jerry Muskrat felt very
badly indeed. You see he lives in the water so much that he had quite
forgotten that there was anyone who couldn't swim, or he never, never
would have invited all the little meadow folks who live on dry land.</p>
<p>"Let's go home," said Peter Rabbit to Johnny Chuck.</p>
<p>"We can have more fun up on the hill," said Jimmy Skunk.</p>
<p>Just then Little Joe Otter came pushing a great big log across the Smiling
Pool.</p>
<p>"Here's a ship, Bobby Coon. You get on one end and I'll give you a sail
across the Smiling Pool," shouted Little Joe Otter.</p>
<p>So Bobby Coon crawled out on the big log and held on very tight, while
little Joe Otter swam behind and pushed the big log. Across the Smiling
Pool they went and back again. Bobby Coon had such a good ride that he
wanted to go again, but Jimmy Skunk wanted a ride. So Bobby Coon hopped
off of the big log and Jimmy Skunk hopped on and away he went across the
Smiling Pool with little Joe Otter pushing behind.</p>
<p>Then Jerry Muskrat found another log and gave Peter Rabbit a ride. Jerry
Muskrat's brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins found logs
and took Reddy Fox and Johnny Chuck and even Mr. Toad back and forth
across the Smiling Pool.</p>
<p>Happy Jack Squirrel sat up very straight on the end of his log and spread
his great bushy tail for a sail. All the little Breezes blew and blew and
Happy Jack Squirrel sailed round and round the Smiling Pool.</p>
<p>Sometimes someone would fall off into the water and get wet, but Jerry
Muskrat or Billy Mink always pulled them out again, and no one cared the
tiniest bit for a wetting.</p>
<p>In the bushes around the Smiling Pool the little birds sang and sang.
Reddy Fox barked his loudest. Happy Jack Squirrel chattered and chir—r—r—ed.
All the muskrats squealed and squeaked, for Jerry Muskrat's party was such
fun!</p>
<p>By and by when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills to his home and
Old Mother West Wind with all her Merry Little Breezes went after him, and
the little stars came out to twinkle and twinkle, the Smiling Pool lay all
quiet and still, but smiling and smiling to think what a good time every
one had had at Jerry Muskrat's party.</p>
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