Old Mother West Wind

by Thornton W. Burgess

  Half way up the Lone Little Path they met Old Mother West Wind going toher home behind the hill. "Did you find the Best Thing in the World?"asked Old Mother West Wind.

  "NO!" shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and JimmySkunk and Reddy Fox all together.

  "Johnny Chuck has it," said Old Mother West Wind. "It is being happywith the things you have and not wanting things which some one else has.And it is called Con-tent-ment."

  CHAPTER XIV LITTLE JOE OTTER'S SLIPPERY SLIDE

  Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink had been playing together around theSmiling Pool all one sunshiny morning. They had been fishing and hadtaken home a fine dinner of Trout for old Grandfather Mink and blind oldGranny Otter. They had played tag with the Merry Little Breezes. Theyhad been in all kinds of mischief and now they just didn't know what todo.

  They were sitting side by side on the Big Rock trying to push each otheroff into the Smiling Pool. Round, smiling red Mr. Sun made the GreenMeadows very warm indeed, and Reddy Fox, over in the tall grass, heardthem splashing and shouting and having such a good time that he wishedhe liked the nice cool water and could swim, too.

  "I've thought of something!" cried Little Joe Otter.

  "What is it?" asked Billy Mink.

  Little Joe Otter just looked wise and said nothing.

  "Something to eat?" asked Billy Mink.

  "No," said Little Joe Otter.

  "I don't believe you've a thought of anything at all," said Billy Mink.

  "I have too!" said Little Joe Otter. "It's something to do."

  "What?" demanded Billy Mink.

  Just then Little Joe Otter spied Jerry Muskrat. "Hi, Jerry Muskrat! Comeover here!" he called.

  Jerry Muskrat swam across to the Big Rock and climbed up beside BillyMink and Little Joe Otter.

  "What are you fellows doing?" asked Jerry Muskrat.

  "Having some fun," said Billy Mink. "Little Joe Otter has thought ofsomething to do, but I don't know what it is."

  "Let's make a slide," cried Little Joe Otter.

  "You show us how," said Billy Mink.

  So Little Joe Otter found a nice smooth place on the bank, and BillyMink and Jerry Muskrat brought mud and helped him pat it down smoothuntil they had the loveliest slippery slide in the world. Then LittleJoe Otter climbed up the bank to the top of the slippery slide and laydown flat on his stomach. Billy Mink gave a push and away he wentdown, down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. Then JerryMuskrat tried it and after him Billy Mink. Then all did it over again.Sometimes they went down the slippery slide on their backs, sometimesflat on their stomachs, sometimes head first, sometimes feet first. Ohsuch fun as they did have! Even Grandfather Frog came over and tried theslippery slide.

  Johnny Chuck, over in the Green Meadows, heard the noise and stole downthe Lone Little Path to see. Jimmy Skunk, looking for beetles up on thehill, heard the noise and forgot that he hadn't had his breakfast. ReddyFox, taking a nap, woke up and hurried over to watch the fun. Last ofall came Peter Rabbit.

  Little Joe Otter saw him coming. "Hello, Peter Rabbit!" he shouted."Come and try the slippery slide."

  Now Peter Rabbit couldn't swim, but he pretended that he didn't want to.

  "I've left my bathing suit at home," said Peter Rabbit.

  "Never mind," said Billy Mink. "Mr. Sun will dry you off."

  "And we'll help," said all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother WestWind.

  But Peter Rabbit shook his head and said, "No."

  Faster and faster went Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskratand old Grandfather Frog down the slippery slide into the Smiling Pool.

  Peter Rabbit kept coming nearer and nearer until finally he stood rightat the top of the slippery slide. Billy Mink crept up behind him verysoftly and gave him a push. Peter Rabbit's long legs flew out from underhim and down he sat with a thump on the slippery slide. "Oh," criedPeter Rabbit, and tried to stop himself. But he couldn't do it and soaway he went down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool.

  "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Billy Mink.

  "Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Little Joe Otter.

  "He! he! he!" laughed Jerry Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog andSammy Jay and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox and Blacky the Crow and Mr.Kingfisher, for you know Peter Rabbit was forever playing jokes on them.

  Poor Peter Rabbit! The water got in his eyes and up his nose and intohis mouth and made him choke and splutter, and then he couldn't get backon the bank, for you know Peter Rabbit couldn't swim.

  When Little Joe Otter saw what a dreadful time Peter Rabbit was havinghe dove into the Smiling Pool and took hold of one of Peter Rabbit'slong ears. Billy Mink swam out and took hold of the other long ear.Jerry Muskrat swam right under Peter Rabbit and took him on his back.Then with old Grandfather Frog swimming ahead they took Peter Rabbitright across the Smiling Pool and pulled him out on the grassy bank,where it was nice and warm. All the Merry Little Breezes of Old MotherWest Wind came over and helped Mr. Sun dry Peter Rabbit off.

  Then they all sat down together and watched Little Joe Otter turn asomersault down the slippery slide.

  CHAPTER XV THE TAIL OF TOMMY TROUT WHO DID NOT MIND

  In the Laughing Brook, which rippled and sings all day long, lived Mr.Trout and Mrs. Trout, and a whole lot of little Trouts. There were somany little Trouts that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout were kept very busyindeed getting breakfast and dinner and supper for them, and watchingout for them and teaching them how to swim and how to catch foolishlittle flies that sometimes fell on the water and how to keep out ofthe way of big hungry fish and sharp eyed Mr. Kingfisher and big men andlittle boys who came fishing with hooks and lines.

  Now all the little Trouts were very, very good and minded just what Mrs.Trout told them--all but Tommy Trout, for Tommy Trout--oh, dear, dear!Tommy Trout never could mind right away. He always had to wait a littleinstead of minding when he was spoken to.

  Tommy Trout didn't mean to be bad. Oh dear, no! He just wanted to havehis own way, and because Tommy Trout had his own way and didn't mindMrs. Trout there isn't any Tommy Trout now. No sir, there isn't as muchas one little blue spot of his beautiful little coat left because--why,just because Tommy Trout didn't mind.

  One day when round, red Mr. Sun was shining and the Laughing Brook wassinging on its way to join the Big River, Mrs. Trout started to get somenice plump flies for dinner. All the little Trouts were playing in theirdear little pool, safe behind the Big Rock. Before she started Mrs.Trout called all the little Trouts around her and told them not toleave their little pool while she was gone, "For," said she, "somethingdreadful might happen to you."

  All the little Trouts, except Tommy Trout, promised that they wouldsurely, surely stay inside their dear little pool. Then they all beganto jump and chase each other and play as happy as could be, all butTommy Trout.

  As soon as Mrs. Trout had started, Tommy Trout swam off by himself tothe edge of the pool. "I wonder what is on the other side of the BigRock," said Tommy Trout. "The sun is shining and the brook is laughingand nothing could happen if I go just a little speck of a ways."

  So, when no one was looking, Tommy Trout slipped out of the safe littlepool where all the other little Trouts were playing. He swam just alittle speck of a ways farther still. Now he could see almost aroundthe Big Rock. Then he swam just a little speck of a ways farther and--ohdear, dear! he looked right into the mouth of a great big, big fishcalled Mr. Pickerel, who is very fond of little Trouts and would like toeat one for breakfast every day.

  "Ah ha!" said Mr. Pickerel, opening his big, big mouth very, very wide.

  Tommy Trout turned to run back to the dear, dear safe little pool whereall the other little Trouts were playing so happily, but he was toolate. Into that great big, big mouth he went instead, and Mr. Pickerelswallowed him whole.

  "Ah ha," said Mr. Pickerel, "I like little Trouts."

  And nothing more was ever heard of Tommy Trout, who didn't mind.

  CHAPTER XVI SPOTTY
THE TURTLE WINS A RACE

  All the little people who live on the Green Meadows and in the SmilingPool and along the Laughing Brook were to have a holiday. The MerryLittle Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had been very busy, oh very busyindeed, in sending word to all the little meadow folks. You see, PeterRabbit had been boasting of how fast he could run. Reddy Fox was quitesure that he could run faster than Peter Rabbit. Billy Mink, who canmove so quickly you hardly can see him, was quite sure that neitherPeter Rabbit nor Reddy Fox could run as fast as he. They all met oneday beside the Smiling Pool and agreed that old Grandfather Frog shoulddecide who was the swiftest.

  Now Grandfather Frog was accounted very wise. You see he had lived along time, oh, very much longer than any of the others, and therefore,because of the wisdom of age, Grandfather Frog was always called on todecide all disputes. He sat on his green lily-pad while Billy Mink saton the Big Rock, and Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox sat on the bank. Eachin turn told why he thought he was the fastest. Old Grandfather Froglistened and listened and said never a word until they were all through.When they had finished, he stopped to catch a foolish green fly and thenhe said: "The best way to decide who is the swiftest is to have a race."

  So it was agreed that Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink shouldstart together from the old butternut tree on one edge of the GreenMeadows, race away across the Green Meadows to the little hill on theother side and each bring back a nut from the big hickory which grewthere. The one who first reached the old butternut tree with a hickorynut would be declared the winner. The Merry Little Breezes flew aboutover the Green Meadows telling everyone about the race and everyoneplanned to be there.

  It was a beautiful summer day. Mr. Sun smiled and smiled, and themore he smiled the warmer it grew. Everyone was there to see therace--Striped Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow,Hooty the Owl and Bobby Coon all sat up in the old butternut tree whereit was cool and shady. Johnny Chuck, Jerry Muskrat, Jimmy Skunk, LittleJoe Otter, Grandfather Frog and even old Mr. Toad, were there. Last ofall came Spotty the Turtle. Now Spotty the Turtle is a very slow walker,and he cannot run at all. When Peter Rabbit saw him coming up towardsthe old butternut tree he shouted: "Come, Spotty, don't you want to racewith us?"

  Everybody laughed because you know Spotty is so very, very slow butSpotty didn't laugh and he didn't get cross because everyone elselaughed.

  "There is a wise old saying, Peter Rabbit," said Spotty the Turtle,"which shows that those who run fastest do not always reach a placefirst. I think I WILL enter this race."

  Every one thought that that was the best joke they had heard for a longtime, and all laughed harder than ever. They all agreed that Spotty theTurtle should start in the race too.

  So they all stood in a row, Peter Rabbit first, the Billy Mink, thenReddy Fox, and right side of Reddy Fox Spotty the Turtle.

  "Are you ready?" asked Grandfather Frog. "Go!"

  Away went Peter Rabbit with great big jumps. After him went Billy Minkso fast that was just a little brown streak going through the tallgrass, and side by side with him ran Reddy Fox. Now just as they startedSpotty the Turtle reached up and grabbed the long hair on the end ofReddy's big tail. Of course Reddy couldn't have stopped to shake himoff, because Peter Rabbit and Billy Mink were running so fast that hehad to run his very best to keep up with them. But he didn't even knowthat Spotty the Turtle was there. You see Spotty is not very heavy andReddy Fox was so excited that he did not notice that his big tail washeavier than usual.

  The Merry Little Breezes flew along, too, to see that the race was fair.Peter Rabbit went with great big jumps. Whenever he came to a littlebush he jumped right over it, for Peter Rabbit's legs are long and meantfor jumping. Billy Mink is so slim that he slipped between the bushesand through the long grass like a little brown streak. Reddy Fox, who isbigger than either Peter Rabbit or Billy Mink, had no trouble in keepingup with them. Not one of them noticed that Spotty the Turtle was hangingfast to the end of Reddy's tail.

  Now just at the foot of the little hill on which the big hickory treegrew was a little pond. It wasn't very wide but it was quite long. BillyMink remembered this pond and he chuckled to himself as he raced along,for he knew that Peter Rabbit couldn't swim and he knew that Reddy Foxdoes not like the water, so therefore both would have to run around it.He himself can swim even faster than he can run. The more he thought ofthis, the more foolish it seemed that he should hurry so on such a warmday. "For," said Billy Mink to himself, "even if they reach the pondfirst, they will have to run around it, while I can swim across it andcool off while I am swimming. I will surely get there first." So BillyMink ran slower and slower, and pretty soon he had dropped behind.

  Mr. Sun, round and red, looking down, smiled and smiled to see the race.The more he smiled the warmer it grew. Now, Peter Rabbit had a thickgray coat and Reddy Fox had a thick red coat, and they both began to getvery, very warm. Peter Rabbit did not make such long jumps as when hefirst started. Reddy Fox began to feel very thirsty, and his tongue hungout. Now that Billy Mink was behind them they thought they did not needto hurry so.

  Peter Rabbit reached the little pond first. He had not thought of thatpond when he agreed to enter the race. He stopped right on the edgeof it and sat up on his hind legs. Right across he could see the bighickory tree, so near and yet so far, for he knew that he must runaround the pond then back again, and it was a long, long way. In justa moment Reddy Fox ran out of the bushes and Reddy felt much asPeter Rabbit did. Way, way behind them was Billy Mink, trotting alongcomfortably and chuckling to himself. Peter Rabbit looked at Reddy Foxin dismay, and Reddy Fox looked at Peter Rabbit in dismay. Then theyboth looked at Billy Mink and remembered that Billy Mink could swimright across.

  Then off Peter Rabbit started as fast as he could go around the pond oneway, and Reddy Fox started around the pond the other way. They wereso excited that neither noticed a little splash in the pond. That wasSpotty the Turtle who had let go of Reddy's tail and now was swimmingacross the pond, for you know that Spotty is a splendid swimmer. Onlyonce or twice he stuck his little black nose up to get some air. Therest of the time he swam under water and no one but the Merry LittleBreezes saw him. Right across he swam, and climbed up the bank rightunder the big hickory tree.

  Now there were just three nuts left under the hickory trees. Two ofthese Spotty took down to the edge of the pond and buried in the mud.The other he took in his mouth and started back across the pond. Just ashe reached the other shore up trotted Billy Mink, but Billy Mink didn'tsee Spotty. He was too intent watching Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit, whowere now half way around the pond. In he jumped with a splash. My! Howgood that cool water did feel! He didn't have to hurry now, because hefelt sure that the race was his. So he swam round and round and chasedsome fish and had a beautiful time in the water. By and by he looked upand saw that Peter Rabbit was almost around the pond one way and ReddyFox was almost around the pond the other way. They both looked tired andhot and discouraged.

  Then Billy Mink swam slowly across and climbed out on the bank under thebig hickory tree. But where were the nuts? Look as he would, he couldnot see a nut anywhere, yet the Merry Little Breezes had said there werethree nuts lying under the hickory tree. Billy Mink ran this way andran that way. He was still running around, poking over the leaves andlooking under the twigs and pieces of bark when Peter Rabbit and ReddyFox came up.

  Then they, too, began to look under the leaves and under the bark. Theypawed around in the grass, they hunted in every nook and cranny, butnot a nut could they find. They were tired and cross and hot andthey accused Billy Mink of having hidden the nuts. Billy Mink stoutlyinsisted that he had not hidden the nuts, that he had not found thenuts, and when they saw how hard he was hunting they believed him.

  All the afternoon they hunted and hunted and hunted, and all theafternoon Spotty the Turtle, with the nut in his mouth, was slowly, oh,so slowly, crawling straight back across the Green Meadows towards theold butternut tree. Round, red Mr. Sun was
getting very close to thePurple Hills, where he goes to bed every night, and all the littlemeadow folks were getting ready to go to their homes. They werewondering and wondering what could have happened to the racers, whenSammy Jay spied the Merry Little Breezes dancing across the GreenMeadows.

  "Here come the Merry Little Breezes; they'll tell us who wins the race,"cried Sammy Jay.

  When the Merry Little Breezes reached the old butternut tree, all thelittle meadow folks crowded around them, but the Merry Little Breezesjust laughed and laughed and wouldn't say a word. Then all of a sudden,out of the tall meadow grass crept Spotty the Turtle and laid thehickory nut at the feet of old Grandfather Frog. Old Grandfather Frogwas so surprised that he actually let a great green fly buzz right pasthis nose.

  "Where did you get that hickory nut?" asked Grandfather Frog.

  "Under the big hickory tree on the hill on the other side of the GreenMeadows," said Spotty.

  Then all the Merry Little Breezes clapped their hands and shouted: "Hedid! He did! Spotty wins the race!"

  Then they told how Spotty reached the pond by clinging to the tip ofReddy Fox's tail, and had hidden the other two nuts, and then how he hadpatiently crawled home while Billy Mink and Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbitwere hunting and hunting and hunting for the nuts they could not find.