The Burgess Animal Book for Children

poked his black nose in the hole between the roots of the Big Hickory-tree which grows close to

tickled Reddy's back as Peter plunged frantically through the root-bound entrance to that hole. It had been the narrowest escape Peter had had for a long, long time. You see, Reddy Fox had surprised Peter nibbling sweet clover on the bank of the Smiling Pond, and it had been a

g him what he, Reddy, would do to him when he did catch him, Reddy trotted off across the Green Meadows. Peter remained where he was for a long time. When he was quite sure that it was safe to do so, he cre

Sunny South where she had spent the winter. "Tut, tut, tut, tut, tut!" exclaimed Jenny as soon as she saw Peter. "I

ly caught me that it is a wonder that my hair is not snow white from fright." Then he told Jenny all about his narrow

t you learn to swim, Peter, like your cousin down in the Sunny South?" she demanded. "If he had

none of the Rabbit family swim unless it is to cross the Laughing Brook when there is no other way of getting to the other side, or when actually driven into the water by an enemy from whom there

been so curious about the ways of his feathered neighbors, you know very little about your own family. If I were in your p

promptly, "my big cou

ing and provoking laugh. Finally Peter began to lose patience. "What are you laughing at?

aughed harde

a cousin who is more closely related to you than Jumper the Hare. And what is more, he is almost as fond of the water as

mming for the fun of it. I belong to the Cottontail branch of the Hare family, and it is a fine family if I do say so. My cousin Jumper is a true Hare, and the only difference between us is that he

South who spends half his time in the water. What is more, I suspect that you and Jumper have other relatives of whom you've never heard. Such ignorance would be laughable if it were not to be pitied. This is what co

s of the other little people of Old Orchard, but it was useless. That little doubt kept growing and growing. Could it be possible that Jenny Wren had spoken the truth? Could it be that he r

oo much for him and he started for the Green Forest to look for Old Mother Nature. It didn't take long to find her. S

id Peter timidly but very politely, "I

ll right, Peter," she replied. "I guess I can talk an

bers of the Rabbit and the Hare family besides my big cous

eral other members. You ought to know that. But then, I suppose you don't because you never have trave

. "Is-is-is it true that way down in the Sunny South I have a c

s called the Marsh Rabbit, and he is more nearly your size

t is what Jenny Wren said, but I didn't believe her," replied Peter meekl

n the water as on land, if anything a little more so. He is one member the family who takes

Old Mother Nature kindly. "There is nothing in the Great World equal to

Nature, I would like to learn all about my f

ho really want to learn. We'll have a lesson here every morning just at sun-up. I can't be bothered any more to-day, because it is late. Run along home to the dear Old Briar-patch and think up some questions to ask

, if he wants to come?" asked Peter, as

else who wants to learn," rep

pperty-lipperty-lip, to the dear Old Briar-patch. There he spent the remainder of the day thin