that Danny had something on
his mind. He had only a nod for Jimmy Skunk, and even Peter
Rabbit could get no more than a grumpy "Good morning." It wasn't
that he had been caught napping the day before by Reddy Fox and
nearly made an end of. No, it wasn't that. Danny had learned his
lesson, and Reddy would never catch him again. It wasn't that he
was all alone with no one to play with. Danny was rather glad
that he was alone. The fact is, Danny Meadow Mouse was worried.

Now worry is one of the worst things in the world, and it didn't
seem as if there was anything that Danny Meadow Mouse need worry
about. But you know it is the easiest thing in the world to find
something to worry over and make yourself uncomfortable about.
And when you make yourself uncomfortable, you are almost sure to
make everyone around you equally uncomfortable. It was so with
Danny Meadow Mouse. Striped Chipmunk had twice called him "Cross
Patch" that morning, and Johnny Chuck, who had fought Reddy Fox
for him the day before, had called him "Grumpy." And what do you
think was the matter with Danny Meadow Mouse? Why, he was
worrying because his tail was short. Yes, Sir, that is all that
ailed Danny Meadow Mouse that bright morning.

You know, some people let their looks make them miserable. They
worry because they are homely or freckled, or short or tall, or
thin or stout, all of which is very foolish. And Danny Meadow
Mouse was just as foolish in worrying because his tail was short.

It is short! It certainly is all of that! Danny never had
realized how short until he chanced to meet his cousin Whitefoot,
who lives in the Green Forest. He was very 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 had