it.

That same thing happened in a good many families. Most of the gentlemen
said that Peter's idea was a good one, but they thought they would wait
till another time. And their wives generally persuaded them to let Peter
Mink check something, just to help him along.

But Uncle Jerry Chuck refused to leave a single thing with Peter. He
said he had had his hat for a great many years.

The music was not so good as usual that night. And when the
fife-and-drum corps played "Pop! Goes the Weasel!"--which was their
favorite tune, and the first they had ever learned--they had to stop in
the middle of it three times, and begin again, because there were so
many interruptions. People kept standing up in their seats and looking
around to see if Peter Mink was still there. And almost everybody except
Uncle Jerry Chuck seemed worried.

But Uncle Jerry had a fine time. You see, whenever the fifers and
drummers had to stop, and begin again, Uncle Jerry felt he was getting
more music. And he enjoyed it especially because he had found his ticket
in the woods and didn't have to pay for it. And on account of what
happened when the concert was over, Uncle Jerry was even happier the
next day.

UNCLE JERRY HELPS

The concert given by the Grouse boys and the Woodchuck brothers came to
an end early. Billy Woodchuck, who was one of the fifers--because he was
such a good whistler--made a short speech.

"We shall have to stop now," he said, "because so many people keep
bobbing up and looking around that they make us nervous. Maybe the piece
we just played didn't sound quite right. So I want to explain that each
of us was playing a different tune, we were so upset. And, of course, we
can't keep on." Then he made a low bow.

All at once there was a great rush toward the place where Peter Mink was
waiting, with the hats and sticks, umbrellas and spectacles, coats and
rubbers, and other things that he had checked for the people who came to
the concert.

When Peter Mink saw everybody hurrying up all at the same time the smile
faded from his face.

"Don't crowd!" he begged them. "There's something here for everybody."
He took the half oak leaf that Mr. Rabbit handed to him and hunted
around until he found another half that seemed to match it. And since
that other half was stuck in an old umbrella, he gave the umbrella to
Mr. Rabbit.

"But I didn't leave an umbrella with you. I left a hat!" Mr. Rabbit
cried.

Peter Mink shook h