BODY SHOUTED "HAW! HAW! HAW!"

HE WAS SO SURPRISED HE FORGOT TO CLOSE IT

MOTHER WEST WIND'S CHILDREN

I

DANNY MEADOW MOUSE LEARNS WHY HIS TAIL IS SHORT

Danny Meadow Mouse sat in his doorway and looked down the Lone Little
Path across the Green Meadows. Way, way over near the Smiling Pool he
could see Old Mother West Wind's Children, the Merry Little Breezes, at
play. Sammy Jay was sitting on a fence post. He pretended to be
taking a sun bath, but really he was planning mischief. You never see
Sammy Jay that he isn't in mischief or planning it.

Reddy Fox had trotted past an hour before in a great hurry. Up on the
hill Danny Meadow Mouse could just see Jimmy Skunk pulling over every
old stick and stone he could find, no matter whose house it might be,
and excusing himself because he was hungry and was looking for beetles.

Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was playing at hide and seek behind some
fleecy white clouds. All the birds were singing and singing, and the
world was happy--all but Danny Meadow Mouse.

No, Danny Meadow Mouse was not happy. Indeed, he was very far from
happy, and all because his tail was short.

By and by up came old Mr. Toad. It was a warm day and Mr. Toad was
very hot and very, very thirsty. He stopped to rest beside the house
of Danny Meadow Mouse.

"Good morning, Danny Meadow Mouse," said old Mr. Toad, "it's a fine
morning."

"Morning," said Danny Meadow Mouse, grumpily.

"I hope your health is good this morning," continued old Mr. Toad, just
as if he hadn't noticed how short and cross Danny Meadow Mouse had
answered.

Now old Mr. Toad is very ugly to look upon, but the ugliness is all in
his looks. He has the sunniest of hearts and always he is looking for
a chance to help someone.

"Danny Meadow Mouse," said old Mr. Toad, "you make me think of your
grandfather a thousand times removed. You do indeed. You look just as
he did when he lost the half of his tail and realized that he never,
never could get it back again."

Danny Meadow Mouse sat up suddenly.

"What are you talking about, old Mr. Toad? What are you talking
about?" he asked. "Did my grandfather a thousand times removed lose
the half of his tail, and was it shorter then than mine is now? Was
it, old Mr. Toad? And how did he come to lose the half of it?"

Old Mr. Toad laughed a funny silent laugh. "It's a long story," said
old Mr. Toad, "and I'm afraid I can't tell it. Go down to the Smil