Mother West Wind Where Stories | Page 8

rain would not wash
it down in. Then, although the water stood all around, it no longer ran
down in his house. In fair weather that mound was a splendid place on
which to sit and watch for danger. So once more Yap-Yap was happy
and care-free, all because he had used his wits.
"And from that day to this the Prairie Dogs have made their houses in
just that way, and no one that I know cares to try to dig one out,"
concluded Old Man Coyote.

IV
WHERE YELLOW-WING GOT HIS LIKING FOR THE GROUND
Peter Rabbit was hopping along on the edge of the Green Meadows,
looking for a new patch of sweet clover. It was very beautiful that
morning, and Peter was in the best of spirits. It was good just to be
alive. Every once in a while Peter would jump up and kick his long
heels together just from pure happiness. He was so happy that he didn't
pay particular attention to where he was going or what was about him.
The result was that Peter got a fright. Right from under his very nose
something sprang out of the grass so suddenly and so wholly
unexpectedly that Peter very nearly tumbled over backward. He made
two long jumps off to one side and then turned to see what had startled
him so. But all he saw was an old feathered acquaintance headed
towards the Old Orchard. He seemed to bound along through the air
much as Peter bounds along over the ground when he is in a hurry. It
was Yellow-Wing the Flicker.
Peter grinned and looked a little foolish. He felt a little foolish. You
know it always makes you feel foolish to be frightened when there is
nothing to be afraid of. Peter watched Yellow-Wing until he
disappeared among the trees of the Old Orchard, from which presently
his voice sounded clear and loud, and in it there was a mocking note as
if Yellow-Wing were laughing at him. Peter suspected that he was. But
Peter was feeling too happy to mind being laughed at. In fact, he
chuckled himself. It was something of a joke to be frightened by one
who was so wholly harmless. Peter recalled how many times he had
frightened other people and thought it the best of jokes.
Peter went on until he found a new patch of sweet clover. Then he
forgot all about Yellow-Wing. He was too busy filling that big stomach
of his to think of anything else. When he couldn't find room for another
leaf of clover he went home to the dear Old Briar-patch, and there in
his favorite spot he settled himself to rest and think or dream as the
case might be. Presently his thoughts returned to Yellow-Wing, and he
chuckled again at the memory of his fright that morning. And then for
the first time it struck Peter as queer that Yellow-Wing should have

been out there on the Green Meadows on the ground. He often had seen
Yellow-Wing on the ground, but until that moment there never had
seemed anything queer about that. Now, however, it suddenly came to
Peter that Yellow-Wing belonged in trees, not on the ground.
Peter scratched his long left ear with his long left hind foot, which was
a sign that he was thinking of something that puzzled him. "He belongs
to the Woodpecker family," thought Peter, "and never have I seen any
of his relatives on the ground. They get all their food in the trees. Now
why is Yellow-Wing so different from his relatives?"
The more Peter thought about it, the queerer it seemed that a
Woodpecker should spend so much time on the ground, or visit the
ground at all, for that matter. But just wondering about it didn't get him
anywhere, and at last Peter decided that the only way to find out would
be to ask questions. So Peter made up his mind to watch for
Yellow-Wing and ask him all about it the first chance he got.
The chance came the very next day in the very same place where Peter
had been so startled. This time he was on the watch and saw
Yellow-Wing very busy about something. Peter stole up within
speaking distance.
"Good morning, Yellow-Wing," said he. "I wonder if you will tell me
something."
It was Yellow-Wing's turn to be startled, for he had not seen Peter
approaching. He half lifted his wings to fly, but when he saw who it
was, he changed his mind.
"It all depends on what it is you want me to tell you," he replied rather
shortly.
"It is just this," replied Peter. "Why do you spend so much time on the
ground?"
"That's easily answered," laughed Fellow-Wing.