elegantly dressed, but the most
imposing thing about him was his long, slim, beautiful tail. Danny
had at once become conscious of his own stubby little tail, and he
had hardly had pride enough to hold his head up as became an honest
Meadow Mouse. Ever since he had been thinking and thinking, and
wondering how his family came to have such short tails. Then he grew
envious and began to wish and wish and wish that he could have a
long tail like his cousin Whitefoot.

He was so busy wishing that he had a long tail that he quite forgot
to take care of the tail he did have, and he pretty nearly lost it
and his life with it. Old Whitetail the Marsh Hawk spied Danny
sitting there moping on his doorstep, and came sailing over the tops
of the meadow grasses so softly that he all but caught Danny. If it
hadn't been for one of the Merry Little Breezes, Danny would have
been caught. And all because he was envious. It's a bad, bad habit.

CHAPTER II

_Danny Meadow Mouse and His Short Tail_

All Danny Meadow Mouse could think about was his short tail. He was
so ashamed of it that whenever anyone passed, he crawled out of
sight so that they should not see how short his tail was. Instead of
playing in the sunshine as he used to do, he sat and sulked. Pretty
soon his friends began to pass without stopping. Finally one day old
Mr. Toad sat down in front of Danny and began to ask questions.

"What's the matter?" asked old Mr. Toad.

"Nothing," replied Danny Meadow Mouse.

"I don't suppose there really is anything the matter, but what do
you think is the matter?" said old Mr. Toad.

Danny fidgeted, and old Mr. Toad looked up at jolly, round, red Mr.
Sun and winked. "Sun is just as bright as ever, isn't it?" he
inquired.

"Yes," said Danny.

"Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't you?" continued Mr. Toad.

"Yes," said Danny.

"Seems to me that that is a pretty good-looking suit of clothes
you're wearing," said Mr. Toad, eyeing Danny critically. "Sunny
weather, plenty to eat and drink, and good clothes--must be you
don't know when you're well off, Danny Meadow Mouse."

Danny hung his head. Finally he looked up and caught a kindly
twinkle in old Mr. Toad's eyes. "Mr. Toad, how can I get a long tail
like my cousin Whitefoot of the Green Forest?" he asked.

"So that's what's the matter! Ha! ha! ha! Danny Meadow Mouse, I'm
ashamed of you! I certainly am ashamed of you!" said Mr. Toad. "What
good would a long tail do you