Mother West Wind 'Why' Stories

est to keep out of the way. But he didn't. No, Sir, Peter Rabbit didn't do anything of the kind. He pretended that one of his long hind-legs was lame so that he had to run on three l

would say that he didn't mean to, and to make u

ke, it would have been different. But from little Mr. Greensnake there was nothing to fear, and sometimes, just for fun, Peter would jump right over him. When he did that, Peter always winked good-naturedly. But Mr. Greensnake neve

ply, save to run ou

He had never thought of it before, but now that he had noticed it, he couldn't remember that he ever had see

y. "I never have seen any of them wink,

Mr. Greensnake

ensnake lay, but to all their questions he would make no reply sa

sk Grandfather Frog. He'll be sure to know, and perhaps,

, and Peter knew by the look in his great, goggly eyes that Grandfather Frog had a good breakfast of foolish green flies tuc

ing," said

and knew that Grandfather Frog was feeling

why doesn't Mr. Greensnake wink at

e he can't," replie

er Rabbit and John

nd no more can Mr. Blacksnake, or Mr. Rattlesnake, or Mr

ter and Johnny, all

you will sit still until I finish, I'll tell you; but if you move or ask any foolish questions,

es comfortable, Grandfather Frog cleared his throat as if to begin, but for a long time he didn't say a wor

throat once more, and with a far-away

e wasn't old then. He was young and spry and smart, was Mr. Snake. Now there is such a thing as being too smart. That was the trouble with Mr. Snake. Yes, Sir, that was the trouble with Mr. Snake. He

ce suspected that they were being cheated. Mr. Snake would go about all day cheating everybody he met. At night he would go home and chuckle over his smartness. It w

favors for his neighbors. In fact, Mr. Snake was very well liked and much respected. When any one had been robbed, he was always the first to offer sympathy and join in the hunt for the thief. He was so spry and slim, and could slip through the tall grass so fast, that he could go al

e did? Why, cheating had become such a habit with him that he actually tried to cheat himself-to cheat his conscience! When he was telling a lie, he would wink one eye. 'That,' said he to himself, 'means that it isn't true, and i

aints that she hardly knew where to begin to straighten matters out. She had all the little people come before her in turn and tell their troubles. When it came Mr. Snake's turn, he had no complaint to make. He seemed to be the only one who h

all the trouble. She let him finish, then called all the others about her and told them who had made all the trouble. Mr. Snake was very bold. He held his head very high in the air and pretended not to care. When Old Mother Nature turned her

wink again, for you and your children and your children's children forever will have no eyelids, that all

e cannot wink at you; he hasn't any eyelid

ou ever so much, Grandfather Frog," he said. "Will you t

eplied Grand