Books: Old Mother West Wind
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Thornton W. Burgess >> Old Mother West Wind
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
West Wind.
But Peter Rabbit shook his head and said, "No."
Faster and faster went Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry
Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog down the slippery slide into the
Smiling Pool.
Peter Rabbit kept coming nearer and nearer until finally he stood
right at the top of the slippery slide. Billy Mink crept up
behind him very softly and gave him a push. Peter Rabbit's long
legs flew out from under him and down he sat with a thump on the
slippery slide. "Oh," cried Peter Rabbit, and tried to stop
himself. But he couldn't do it and so away 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 and
Sammy 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
into his mouth and made him choke and splutter, and then he
couldn't get back on the bank, for you know Peter Rabbit couldn't
swim.
When Little Joe Otter saw what a dreadful time Peter Rabbit was
having he dove into the Smiling Pool and took hold of one of
Peter Rabbit's long 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 Rabbit right 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 Mother West Wind came over
and helped Mr. Sun dry Peter Rabbit off.
Then they all sat down together and watched Little Joe Otter turn
a somersault 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 so many little Trouts that Mr. Trout and Mrs. Trout
were kept very busy indeed getting breakfast and dinner and
supper for them, and watching out for them and teaching them how
to swim and how to catch foolish little flies that sometimes fell
on the water and how to keep out of the way of big hungry fish
and sharp eyed Mr. Kingfisher and big men and little 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 little instead of minding when he was spoken
to.
Tommy Trout didn't mean to be bad. Oh dear, no! He just wanted to
have his own way, and because Tommy Trout had his own way and
didn't mind Mrs. Trout there isn't any Tommy Trout now. No sir,
there isn't as much as 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 was singing on its way to join the Big River, Mrs. Trout
started to get some nice plump flies for dinner. All the little
Trouts were playing in their dear little pool, safe behind the
Big Rock. Before she started Mrs. Trout called all the little
Trouts around her and told them not to leave their little pool
while she was gone, "For," said she, "something dreadful might
happen to you."
All the little Trouts, except Tommy Trout, promised that they
would surely, surely stay inside their dear little pool. Then
they all began to jump and chase each other and play as happy as
could be, all but Tommy Trout.
As soon as Mrs. Trout had started, Tommy Trout swam off by
himself to the edge of the pool. "I wonder what is on the other
side of the Big Rock," said Tommy Trout. "The sun is shining and
the brook is laughing and 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
little pool where all the other little Trouts were playing. He
swam just a little speck of a ways farther still. Now he could
see almost around the Big Rock. Then he swam just a little speck
of a ways farther and--oh dear, dear! he looked right into the
mouth of a great big, big fish called Mr. Pickerel, who is very
fond of little Trouts and would like to eat 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
where all the other little Trouts were playing so happily, but he
was too late. Into that great big, big mouth he went instead, and
Mr. Pickerel swallowed 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
Smiling Pool and along the Laughing Brook were to have a holiday.
The Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had been very
busy, oh very busy indeed, in sending word to all the little
meadow folks. You see, Peter Rabbit had been boasting of how fast
he could run. Reddy Fox was quite sure that he could run faster
than Peter Rabbit. Billy Mink, who can move so quickly you hardly
can see him, was quite sure that neither Peter Rabbit nor Reddy
Fox could run as fast as he. They all met one day beside the
Smiling Pool and agreed that old Grandfather Frog should decide
who was the swiftest.
Now Grandfather Frog was accounted very wise. You see he had
lived a long time, oh, very much longer than any of the others,
and therefore, because of the wisdom of age, Grandfather Frog was
always called on to decide all disputes. He sat on his green
lily-pad while Billy Mink sat on the Big Rock, and Peter Rabbit
and Reddy Fox sat on the bank. Each in turn told why he thought
he was the fastest. Old Grandfather Frog listened 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 then he
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
should start together from the old butternut tree on one edge of
the Green Meadows, race away across the Green Meadows to the
little hill on the other side and each bring back a nut from the
big hickory which grew there. The one who first reached the old
butternut tree with a hickory nut would be declared the winner.
The Merry Little Breezes flew about over the Green Meadows
telling everyone about the race and everyone planned to be
there.
It was a beautiful summer day. Mr. Sun smiled and smiled, and the
more he smiled the warmer it grew. Everyone was there to see the
race--Striped Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Sammy Jay, Blacky the
Crow, Hooty the Owl and Bobby Coon all sat up in the old
butternut tree where it was cool and shady. Johnny Chuck, Jerry
Muskrat, Jimmy Skunk, Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and even
old Mr. Toad, were there. Last of all 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 towards the old butternut
tree he shouted: "Come, Spotty, don't you want to race with us?"
Everybody laughed because you know Spotty is so very, very slow
but Spotty didn't laugh and he didn't get cross because everyone
else laughed.
"There is a wise old saying, Peter Rabbit," said Spotty the
Turtle, "which shows that those who run fastest do not always
reach a place first. I think I WILL enter this race."
Every one thought that that was the best joke they had heard for
a long time, and all laughed harder than ever. They all agreed
that Spotty the Turtle should start in the race too.
So they all stood in a row, Peter Rabbit first, the Billy Mink,
then Reddy 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
Mink so fast that was just a little brown streak going through
the tall grass, and side by side with him ran Reddy Fox. Now just
as they started Spotty the Turtle reached up and grabbed the long
hair on the end of Reddy's big tail. Of course Reddy couldn't
have stopped to shake him off, because Peter Rabbit and Billy
Mink were running so fast that he had to run his very best to
keep up with them. But he didn't even know that Spotty the Turtle
was there. You see Spotty is not very heavy and Reddy Fox was so
excited that he did not notice that his big tail was heavier 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 little bush he jumped right over it, for Peter Rabbit's
legs are long and meant for jumping. Billy Mink is so slim that
he slipped between the bushes and through the long grass like a
little brown streak. Reddy Fox, who is bigger than either Peter
Rabbit or Billy Mink, had no trouble in keeping up with them. Not
one of them noticed that Spotty the Turtle was hanging fast to
the end of Reddy's tail.
Now just at the foot of the little hill on which the big hickory
tree grew was a little pond. It wasn't very wide but it was quite
long. Billy Mink 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 Fox does 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 of this, the more foolish it
seemed that he should hurry so on such a warm day. "For," said
Billy Mink to himself, "even if they reach the pond first, they
will have to run around it, while I can swim across it and cool
off while I am swimming. I will surely get there first." So Billy
Mink 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 thick gray coat and Reddy Fox had a thick red coat, and
they both began to get very, very warm. Peter Rabbit did not make
such long jumps as when he first started. Reddy Fox began to feel
very thirsty, and his tongue hung out. Now that Billy Mink was
behind them they thought they did not need to hurry so.
Peter Rabbit reached the little pond first. He had not thought of
that pond when he agreed to enter the race. He stopped right on
the edge of it and sat up on his hind legs. Right across he could
see the big hickory tree, so near and yet so far, for he knew
that he must run around the pond then back again, and it was a
long, long way. In just a moment Reddy Fox ran out of the bushes
and Reddy felt much as Peter Rabbit did. Way, way behind them was
Billy Mink, trotting along comfortably and chuckling to himself.
Peter Rabbit looked at Reddy Fox in dismay, and Reddy Fox looked
at Peter Rabbit in dismay. Then they both looked at Billy Mink
and remembered that Billy Mink could swim right across.
Then off Peter Rabbit started as fast as he could go around the
pond one way, and Reddy Fox started around the pond the other
way. They were so excited that neither noticed a little splash in
the pond. That was Spotty the Turtle who had let go of Reddy's
tail and now was swimming across the pond, for you know that Spotty
is a splendid swimmer. Only once or twice he stuck his little
black nose up to get some air. The rest of the time he swam under
water and no one but the Merry Little Breezes saw him. Right
across he swam, and climbed up the bank right under the big
hickory tree.
Now there were just three nuts left under the hickory trees. Two
of these 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 as he reached the other shore up trotted Billy
Mink, but Billy Mink didn't see Spotty. He was too intent
watching Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit, who were now half way around
the pond. In he jumped with a splash. My! How good that cool
water did feel! He didn't have to hurry now, because he felt sure
that the race was his. So he swam round and round and chased some
fish and had a beautiful time in the water. By and by he looked
up and saw that Peter Rabbit was almost around the pond one way
and Reddy Fox was almost around the pond the other way. They both
looked tired and hot and discouraged.
Then Billy Mink swam slowly across and climbed out on the bank
under the big hickory tree. But where were the nuts? Look as he
would, he could not see a nut anywhere, yet the Merry Little
Breezes had said there were three nuts lying under the hickory
tree. Billy Mink ran this way and ran that way. He was still
running around, poking over the leaves and looking under the
twigs and pieces of bark when Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox came up.
Then they, too, began to look under the leaves and under the
bark. They pawed around in the grass, they hunted in every nook
and cranny, but not a nut could they find. They were tired and
cross and hot and they accused Billy Mink of having hidden the
nuts. Billy Mink stoutly insisted that he had not hidden the
nuts, that he had not found the nuts, and when they saw how hard
he was hunting they believed him.
All the afternoon they hunted and hunted and hunted, and all the
afternoon Spotty the Turtle, with the nut in his mouth, was
slowly, oh, so slowly, crawling straight back across the Green
Meadows towards the old butternut tree. Round, red Mr. Sun was
getting very close to the Purple Hills, where he goes to bed every
night, and all the little meadow folks were getting ready to go
to their homes. They were wondering and wondering what could have
happened to the racers, when Sammy Jay spied the Merry Little
Breezes dancing across the Green Meadows.
"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
the little meadow folks crowded around them, but the Merry Little
Breezes just 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 the hickory nut at the feet of old Grandfather
Frog. Old Grandfather Frog was so surprised that he actually let
a great green fly buzz right past his 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
Green Meadows," said Spotty.
Then all the Merry Little Breezes clapped their hands and
shouted: "He did! He did! Spotty wins the race!"
Then they told how Spotty reached the pond by clinging to the tip
of Reddy Fox's tail, and had hidden the other two nuts, and then
how he had patiently crawled home while Billy Mink and Reddy Fox
and Peter Rabbit were hunting and hunting and hunting for the
nuts they could not find.
And so Spotty the Turtle was awarded the race, and to this day
Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox and Billy Mink can't bear the sight of
a hickory nut.