Mother West Wind 'Why' Stories

f sitting with his hands folded that way. A little way from him sat Peter Rabbit. Peter was

ands the way I do, Peter R

ant to," sta

can't!" jeer

towards the dear Old Briar-patch, lipperty-lipperty-lip. Happy Jac

d his hands," said Happy Jack

of his family can,

nd Old Mr. Toad sitting

" asked H

s," replied Old Mr. Toad, and

d this story to the little meadow and forest people

old Mr. Rabbit was always getting into trouble. Seemed like he wouldn't be happy if he couldn't get into trouble. It was all because he was so dreadfully

le all the little troubles and fusses between them, and to find out who were and who were not obeying the orders she had given them when she had visited them last. My, my, my,

their suits and making them look as fine and handsome as they could. Even Old Mr. Toad put on a new suit under his old one, and planned to pull the old one off and throw

iness that he didn't have time to attend to his own. So his brown and gray coat always was rumpled and tumbled and dirty. His house was a tumble-down affair in which no one but Mr. Rabbit would ever have thought of living, and

g, his heart sank way, way down, for he knew just how angry she

shall I do?' wailed Mr. R

advised Mr. Woodchuck, h

e looking just as fine as he could make it. He brought up some clean yellow s

h my own work in time,' shouted

n and Mr. Mink and Mr. Squirrel and Mr. Chipmunk, and all the rest of his neighbors, telling them of his trouble and asking them to help. Now, in spite of the trouble Mr. Rabbit was forever making for other people by hi

at with his arms folded, watching the one he was calling on work. Mr. Rabbit was very fond of sitting w

etter get things started yourself,' said old Mr.

bbit, starting along briskly, just as if he was going

ome of Mr. Chipmunk, there sat Mr. Rabbit with his arms folded

ich almost hid the little old house, 'I never, never can clear away all this! It will be a lot easier to work when all my friends are here to help,' So he sighed once more and folded his arms,

she chose this very day to make her promised visit. She was greatly pleased

as she saw the tumble-down house almost hidden by the brambles

e spied old Mr. Rabbit sitting on his broken-dow

ting there, dreaming in the warm sunshine, her anger began to melt away. The fact is, Old Mother Nature was like all the rest of Mr. Rabbit's neighbor

then his eyes suddenly flew wide open with fright. He had discovered Old Mo

single b

for work and

is arms wit

imself and s

children's children will never again be able to sit wi

arms and still lives in a tumble-down house am