Mother West Wind 'Why' Stories

ght them down from the Purple Hills. They always beg him to stop and play with them, but often he refuses. But he does it in such a merry way and with such a twinkle in his eyes that t

on't play is because he has work to do,

e is work

tarted, soon

skers and give him last tag and race down to the Smiling Pool to see Grandfather Frog and beg him for a story. Now Grandfather Frog is very old and v

l on his big green lily-pad, and they knew by the way he folded his hands a

that Striped Chipmunk has such beautiful stripes on

of honor," replied Grandfather

ll us about it! Please do!" b

times removed of Striped Chipmunk, lived very much as Striped Chipmunk does now. He was always very busy, very busy, indeed, and it was always about his own aff

k says now," broke in one

just a little, plain brown coat. It didn't worry him a bit, not a bit, that his coat was just plain brown. It kept him just as warm as if it were a beautiful red, l

ow Mouse. He was strolling along as if there was nothing in the world to fear. Way back behind him in the same little path, walking very fast but very quietly, was big Mr. Bob Cat. His eyes wer

ple's affairs, and this is none of m

ut realizing what he was doing, little Mr. Chipmunk began to shout at big Mr. Bob Cat and to call him names. Of course big Mr. Bob Cat looked up right away and saw little Mr. Chipmunk sitting on the old stump. His eyes grew yellower

anywhere else. Big Mr. Bob Cat found the hole in the stump right away. He snarled when he saw it. You see it was too small, very much too small, for him to get into himself. But he could get one hand and arm in, and he did, feelin

re, Mr. Chipmunk, or I'll pull

ipmunk's hair fairly stood up. Yes, Sir, it stood right up on end, he was so scared. When it did that, it tickled the claws of Mr. Bob Cat. Mr. Bob Cat grinned. It was an ugly grin to see. Then h

would surely have pulled him out. After a long time, Mr. Bob Cat gave up and went off, growling and snarling. When he thought it was safe, little

er folks!' said little Mr. Chipmunk bitterly. 'If I'd j

h his children. He didn't know a thing about what his neighbor, little Mr. Chipmunk, had done for him, for y

I did it, and I'm glad that Neighbor Meadow Mouse doe

eed's most

ought, and s

glad that n

ut on a new coat, to have Old Mother Nature hand him out a beautiful striped coat instead o

b Cat the day you saved Mr. Meadow Mouse. They are honor stripes, and hereafte

by his striped coat, and why he is so proud of it, and