The Adventures of Johnny Chuck

by Thornton W. Burgess

  "It's a fine day," said Jimmy Skunk.

  Johnny Chuck just sniffed.

  "You're looking very fine," said Jimmy.

  Johnny just scowled.

  "I think you've got the best place on the Green Meadows for a house,"said Jimmy, pretending to admire the view.

  Johnny scowled harder than ever.

  "And such a splendid house!" said Jimmy. "I wish I had one like it."

  "I'm glad you like it! You can have the old thing!" snapped JohnnyChuck.

  "What's that?" demanded Jimmy Skunk, opening his eyes very wide.

  "I said that you can have it. I'm going to move," replied Johnny Chuck.

  Now he really hadn't thought of moving until that very minute. And hedidn't know why he had said it. But he had said it, and because he is anobstinate little fellow he stuck to it.

  "When can I move in?" asked Jimmy Skunk, his eyes twinkling.

  "Right away, if you want to," replied Johnny Chuck, and swaggered offdown the Lone Little Path, leaving Jimmy Skunk to stare after him as ifhe thought Johnny Chuck had suddenly gone crazy, as indeed he did.

  VI. JOHNNY CHUCK TURNS TRAMP

  Johnny Chuck had turned tramp. Yes, Sir, Johnny Chuck had turned tramp.It was a funny thing to do, but he had done it. He didn't know why hehad done it, excepting that he had become dissatisfied and discontentedand unhappy in his old home. And then, almost without thinking what hewas doing, he had told Jimmy Skunk that he could have the house he hadworked so hard to build the summer before and of which he had been soproud. Then Johnny Chuck had swaggered away down the Lone Little Pathwithout once looking back at the home he was leaving.

  Where was he going? Well, to tell the truth, Johnny didn't know. He wasgoing to see the world, and perhaps when he had seen the world, he wouldbuild him a new house. So as long as he was in sight of Jimmy Skunk, heswaggered along quite as if he was used to traveling about, without anysnug house to go to at night. But right down in his heart Johnny Chuckdidn't feel half so bold as he pretended.

  You see, not since he was a little Chuck and had run away from oldMother Chuck with Peter Rabbit, had he ever been very far from his owndoor-step. He had always been content to grow fat and roly-poly rightnear his own home, and listen to the tales of the great world from JimmySkunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Unc' Billy Possum, all of whomare great travelers.

  But now, here he was, actually setting forth, and without a home to comeback to! You see, he had made up his mind that no matter what happened,he wouldn't come back, after having given his house to Jimmy Skunk.

  When he had reached a place where he thought Jimmy Skunk couldn't seehim, Johnny Chuck turned and looked back, and a queer little feelingseemed to make a lump that filled his throat and choked him. The factis, Johnny Chuck already began to feel homesick. But he swallowed veryhard and tried to make himself think that he was having a splendid time.He stopped looking back and started on, and as he tramped along, hetried to sing a song he had once heard Jimmy Skunk sing:

  "The world may stretch full far and wide-- What matters that to me? I'll tramp it up; I'll tramp it down! For I am bold and free."

  It was a very brave little song, but Johnny Chuck didn't feel half sobrave and bold as he tried to think he did. Already he was beginning towonder where he should spend the night. Then he thought of old Whitetailthe Marshhawk, who had given him such a fright and had so nearly caughthim when he was a little fellow. The thought made him look aroundhastily, and there was old Whitetail himself, sailing back and forthhungrily just ahead of him. A great fear took possession of JohnnyChuck, and he made himself as flat as possible in the grass, for therewas no place to hide. He made up his mind that anyway he would fight.

  Nearer and nearer came old Whitetail! Finally he passed right overJohnny Chuck. But he didn't offer to touch him. Indeed, it seemed toJohnny that old Whitetail actually grinned and winked at him. And rightthen all his fear left him.

  "Pooh!" said Johnny Chuck scornfully. "Who's afraid of him!" He suddenlyrealized that he was no longer a helpless little Chuck who couldn't takecare of himself, but big and strong, with sharp teeth with which his oldenemy had no mind to make a closer acquaintance, when there were miceand snakes to be caught without fighting. So he puffed out his chest andwent on, and actually began to enjoy himself, and almost wished for achance to show how big and strong he was.

  VII. JOHNNY'S FIRST ADVENTURE

  After old Whitetail the Marshhawk passed Johnny Chuck without offeringto touch him, Johnny began to feel very brave and bold and important. Hestrutted and swaggered along as much as his short legs would let him.He held his head very high. Already he felt that he had had an adventureand he longed for more. He forgot the terrible lonesome feeling of alittle while before. He forgot that he had given away the only home hehad. He didn't know just why, but right down deep inside he had a suddenfeeling that he really didn't care a thing about that old home. In fact,he felt as if he wouldn't care if he never had another home. Yes, Sir,that is the way that Johnny Chuck felt. Do you know why? Just because hehad just begun to realize how big and strong he really was.

  Now it is a splendid thing to feel big and strong and brave, a verysplendid thing! But it is a bad thing to let that feeling turn to pride,foolish pride. Of course old Whitetail hadn't really been afraid ofJohnny Chuck. He had simply passed Johnny with a wink, because therewas plenty to eat without the trouble of fighting, and Whitetail doesn'tfight just for the fun of it.

  But foolish Johnny Chuck really thought that old Whitetail was afraid ofhim. The more he thought about it, the more tickled he felt and the morepuffed up he felt. He began to talk to himself and to brag. Yes, Sir,Johnny Chuck began to brag:

  "I'm not afraid of any one; They're all afraid of me! I only have to show my teeth To make them turn and flee!"

  "Pooh!" said a voice. "Pooh! It would take two like you to make me runaway!"

  Johnny Chuck gave a startled jump. There was a strange Chuck glaring athim from behind a little bunch of grass. He was a big, gray old Chuckwhom Johnny never had seen on the Green Meadows before, and he didn'tlook the least bit afraid. No, Sir, he didn't look the teeniest,weeniest bit afraid! Somehow, Johnny Chuck didn't feel half so big andstrong and brave as he had a few minutes before. But it wouldn't do tolet this stranger know it. Of course not! So, though he felt very smallinside, Johnny made all his hair bristle up and tried to look veryfierce.

  "Who are you and what are you doing on my Green Meadows?" he demanded.

  "Your Green Meadows! Your Green Meadows! Ho, ho, ho! Your GreenMeadows!" The stranger laughed an unpleasant laugh. "How long since youowned the Green Meadows? I have just come down on to them from the OldPasture, and I like the looks of them so well that I think I will stay.So run along, little boaster! There isn't room for both of us here, andthe sooner you trot along the better." The stranger suddenly showed allhis teeth and gritted them unpleasantly.

  Now when Johnny Chuck heard this, great anger filled his heart. Astranger had ordered him to leave the Green Meadows where he had beenborn and always lived! He could hardly believe his own ears. He, JohnnyChuck, would show this stranger who was master here!

  With a squeal of rage, Johnny sprang at the gray old Chuck. Then begansuch a fight as the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Windhad never seen before. They danced around excitedly and cried: "Howdreadful!" and hoped that Johnny Chuck would win, for you know theyloved him very much.

  Over and over the two little fighters rolled, biting and scratching andtearing and growling and snarling. Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun hidhis face behind a cloud, so as not to see such a dreadful sight. Thestranger had been in many fights and he was very crafty. For a whileJohnny felt that he was getting the worst of it, and he began to wonderif he really would have to leave the Green Meadows. The very thoughtfilled him with new rage and he fought harder than ever.

  Now the stranger was old and his teeth were worn, while Johnny was youngand his teeth were very sharp. Aft
er a long, long time, Johnny felt thestranger growing weaker. Johnny fought harder than ever. At last thestranger cried "Enough!" and when he could break away, started backtowards the Old Pasture. Johnny Chuck had won!

  VIII. JOHNNY HAS ANOTHER ADVENTURE

  Johnny Chuck lay stretched out on the cool, soft grass of the GreenMeadows, panting for breath. He was very tired and very sore. Hisface was scratched and bitten. His clothes were torn, and he smarteddreadfully in a dozen places. But still Johnny Chuck was happy. Whenhe raised his head to look, he could see a gray old Chuck limping offtowards the Old Pasture. Once in a while the gray old Chuck wouldturn his head and show his teeth, but he kept right on towards the OldPasture. Johnny Chuck smiled.

  It had been a great fight, and more than once Johnny Chuck had thoughtthat he should have to give up. He thought of this now, and then hethought with shame of how he had bragged and boasted just before thefight. What if he had lost? He resolved that he would never again bragor boast. But he also made up his mind that if any one should pick aquarrel with him, he would show that he wasn't afraid.

  It was getting late in the afternoon when Johnny finally felt restedenough to go on. He had got to find a place to spend the night. Hehobbled along, for he was very stiff and sore, until he came to the edgeof the Green Meadows, where they meet the Green Forest.

  Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was almost ready to go down to his bed behindthe Purple Hills. Shadows were already beginning to creep through theGreen Forest. Somehow they gave Johnny Chuck that same lonesome feelingthat he had had when he first left his old home. You see he had alwayslived out in the Green Meadows and somehow he was afraid of the GreenForest in the night.

  So, instead of going into the Green Forest, he wandered along the edgeof it, looking for a place in which to spend the night. At last he cameto a hollow log lying just out on the edge of the Green Meadows. Verycarefully Johnny Chuck examined it, to be sure that no one else wasusing it.

  "It's just the place I'm looking for!" he said aloud.

  Just then there was a sharp hiss, a very fierce hiss. Johnny Chuck feltthe hair on his neck rise as it always did when he heard that hiss,and he wasn't at all surprised, when he turned his head, to find Mr.Blacksnake close by. Mr. Blacksnake glided swiftly up to the old log andcoiled himself in front of the opening. Then he raised his head and ranout his tongue in the most impudent way.

  "Run along, Johnny Chuck! I've decided to sleep here myself to-night!"he said sharply.

  Now when Johnny Chuck was a very little fellow, he had been in greatfear of Mr. Blacksnake, as he had had reason to be. And because hedidn't know any better, he had been afraid ever since. Mr. Blacksnakeknew this and so now he looked as ugly as he knew how. But you see hedidn't know about the great fight that Johnny Chuck had just won.

  Now to win an honest fight always makes one feel very strong and verysure of oneself. Johnny looked at Mr. Blacksnake and saw that Mr.Blacksnake didn't look half as big as Johnny had always thought he did.He made up his mind that as he had found the old log first, he had thebest right to it.

  "I found it first and I'm going to keep it!" snapped Johnny Chuck,and with every hair on end and gritting his teeth, he walked straighttowards Mr. Blacksnake.

  Now Mr. Blacksnake is a great bluffer, while at heart he is really acoward. With a fierce hiss he rushed right at Johnny Chuck, expectingto see him turn tail and run. But Johnny stood his ground and showed allhis sharp teeth. Instead of attacking Johnny, Mr. Blacksnake glided pasthim and sneaked away through the grass.

  Johnny Chuck chuckled as he crept into the hollow log.

  "Only a coward runs away without fighting," he murmured sleepily.

  IX. ANOTHER STRANGE CHUCK

  Johnny Chuck awoke just as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun pulled his ownnightcap off. At first Johnny couldn't think where he was. He blinkedand blinked. Then he rolled over. "Ouch!" cried Johnny Chuck. You see hewas so stiff and sore from his great fight the day before, that it hurtto roll over. But when he felt the smart of those wounds, he rememberedwhere he was. He was in the old hollow log that he had found on the edgeof the Green Meadows just before dark. It was the first time that Johnnyhad ever slept anywhere, excepting underground, and as he lay blinkinghis eyes, it seemed very strange and rather nice, too.

  "Well, well, well! What are you doing here?" cried a sharp voice.

  Johnny Chuck looked towards the open end of the old log. There, peepingin, was a little face as sharp as the voice.

  "Hello, Chatterer!" cried Johnny.

  "I say, what are you doing here?" persisted Chatterer the Red Squirrel,for it was he.

  "Just waking up," replied Johnny, with a grin.

  "It's time," replied Chatterer. "But that isn't telling me what you aredoing so far from home."

  "I haven't any home," said Johnny, his face growing just a wee bitwistful.

  "You haven't any home!" Chatterer's voice sounded as if he didn't thinkhe had heard aright. "What have you done with it?"

  "Given it to Jimmy Skunk," replied Johnny Chuck.

  Now Chatterer never gives anything to anybody, and how any one couldgive away his home was more than he could understand. He stared atJohnny as if he thought Johnny had gone crazy. Finally he found histongue. "I don't believe it!" he snapped. "If Jimmy Skunk has got yourold home, it's because he put you out of it."

  "No such thing! I'd like to see Jimmy Skunk or anybody else put me outof my home!" Johnny Chuck spoke scornfully. "I gave it to him becauseI didn't want it any longer. I'm going to see the world, and then I'mgoing to build me a new home. Everybody else seems to be building newhomes this spring; why shouldn't I?"

  "I'm not!" retorted Chatterer. "I know enough to know when I am welloff.

  "Who has a discontented heart Is sure to play a sorry part."

  Johnny Chuck crawled out of the old log and stretched himself somewhatpainfully. "That may be, but there are different kinds of discontent.

  Who never looks for better things Will live his life in little rings.

  Well, I must be moving along, if I am to see the world." So Johnny Chuckbade Chatterer good-by and started on. It was very delightful to wanderover the Green Meadows on such a beautiful spring morning. The violetsand the wind-flowers nodded to him, and the dandelions smiled up at him.Johnny almost forgot his torn clothes and the bites and scratches of hisgreat fight with the gray old Chuck the day before. It was fun to justgo where he pleased and not have a care in the world.

  He was thinking of this, as he sat up to look over the Green Meadows.His heart gave a great throb. What was that over near the lone elm-tree?It was--yes, it certainly was another Chuck! Could it be the old grayChuck come back for another fight? A great anger filled the heart ofJohnny Chuck, and he whistled sharply. The strange Chuck didn't answer.Johnny ground his teeth and started for the lone elm-tree. He would showthis other Chuck who was master of the Green Meadows!

  X. WHY JOHNNY CHUCK DIDN'T FIGHT

  Anger is an awful thing; It never stops to reason. It boils right over all at once, No matter what the season.

  It was so with Johnny Chuck. The minute he caught sight of the strangeChuck over by the lone elm-tree, anger filled his heart and fairlyboiled over, until he was in a terrible rage. Of course it was foolish,very foolish indeed. The strange Chuck hadn't said or done anything tomake Johnny Chuck angry, not the least thing in the world, excepting tocome down on to the Green Meadows. Now the Green Meadows are very broad,and there is room for many Chucks. It was pure selfishness on the partof Johnny Chuck to want to drive away every other Chuck.

  But anger never stops to reason. It didn't now. Johnny Chuck hurried asfast as his short legs could take him towards the lone elm-tree, and inhis mind was just one thought--to drive that strange Chuck off the GreenMeadows and to punish him so that he never, never would dare even thinkof coming back. So great was Johnny's anger that every hair stood onend, and as he ran he chattered and scolded.

  "I'll fix him! These are my Gree
n Meadows, and no one else has anybusiness here unless I say so! I'll fix him! I'll fix him!"

  Then Johnny would grind his teeth, and in his eyes was the ugliest look.He wasn't nice to see, not a bit nice. The Merry Little Breezes of OldMother West Wind didn't know what to make of him. Could this be theJohnny Chuck they had known so long, the good-natured, happy JohnnyChuck whom everybody loved? They drew away from him, for they didn'twant anything to do with any one in such a frightful temper. But JohnnyChuck didn't even notice, and if he had he wouldn't have cared. Thatis the trouble with anger. It crowds out everything else, when it oncefills the heart.

  When Johnny had first seen the stranger, he had thought right away thatit was the old gray Chuck with whom he had had such a terrible fight theday before and whom he whipped. Perhaps that was one reason for JohnnyChuck's terrible anger now, for the old gray Chuck had tried to driveJohnny Chuck off the Green Meadows.

  But when he had to stop for breath and sat up to look again, he saw thatit wasn't the old gray Chuck at all. It was a younger Chuck and muchsmaller than the old gray Chuck. It was smaller than Johnny himself.

  "He'll be all the easier to whip," muttered Johnny, as he started onagain, never once thinking of how unfair it would be to fight with onesmaller than himself. That was because he was so angry. Anger never isfair.

  Pretty soon he reached the lone elm-tree. The stranger wasn't to beseen! No, Sir, the stranger wasn't anywhere in sight. Johnny Chuck satup and looked this way and looked that way, but the stranger was nowherein sight.