Mother West Wind Why Stories | Page 2

him for a story. Now Grandfather
Frog is very old and very wise, and he knows all about the days when
the world was young. When he is feeling just right, he dearly loves to
tell about those long-ago days.
One morning the Merry Little Breezes found Grandfather Frog sitting
as usual on his big green lily-pad, and they knew by the way he folded
his hands across his white and yellow waistcoat that it was full of
foolish green flies.
"Oh, Grandfather Frog, please do tell us why it is that Striped
Chipmunk has such beautiful stripes on his coat," begged one of the
Merry Little Breezes.
"Chug-a-rum! They are stripes of honor," replied Grandfather Frog, in
his deep, gruff voice.
"Honor! Oh, how lovely! Do tell us about it! Please do!" begged the
Merry Little Breezes.
"Chug-a-rum!" began Grandfather Frog, his big, goggly eyes twinkling.
"Once upon a time, when the world was young, old Mr. Chipmunk, the
grandfather a thousand times removed of Striped Chipmunk, lived very
much as Striped Chipmunk does now. He was always very busy, very

busy, indeed, and it was always about his own affairs. 'By attending
strictly to my own business, I have no time to meddle with the affairs
of my neighbors, and so I keep out of trouble,' said old Mr. Chipmunk,"
"Just what Striped Chipmunk says now," broke in one of the Merry
Little Breezes.
"That shows that he is just as wise as was his grandfather a thousand
times removed, about whom I am telling you," replied Grandfather
Frog. "Old Mr. Chipmunk wore just a little, plain brown coat. It didn't
worry him a bit, not a bit, that his coat was just plain brown. It kept him
just as warm as if it were a beautiful red, like that of Mr. Fox, or
handsome black and white, like that of Mr. Skunk. He was perfectly
satisfied with his little plain brown coat and took the best of care of it.
"One day as he was hurrying home to dinner, he climbed up on an old
stump to look around and make sure that the way was clear. Over in a
little path in the meadow grass was walking old Mr. Meadow Mouse.
He was strolling along as if there was nothing in the world to fear. Way
back behind him in the same little path, walking very fast but very
quietly, was big Mr. Bob Cat. His eyes were yellow, and a hungry look
was in them. He didn't see Mr. Meadow Mouse, but he would in a few
minutes. Mr. Chipmunk saw that he would, and that there was no place
for Mr. Meadow Mouse to hide.
"'Humph! I never meddle in other people's affairs, and this is none of
my business,' said little Mr. Chipmunk.
"But old Mr. Meadow Mouse was a friend. He thought a great deal of
Mr. Meadow Mouse, did little Mr. Chipmunk. He couldn't bear to think
of what would happen to Mr. Meadow Mouse if big Mr. Bob Cat
should catch him. Then, almost without realizing what he was doing,
little Mr. Chipmunk began to shout at big Mr. Bob Cat and to call him
names. Of course big Mr. Bob Cat looked up right away and saw little
Mr. Chipmunk sitting on the old stump. His eyes grew yellower and
yellower, he drew his lips back from his long, sharp teeth in a very
angry way, and his little bob tail twitched and twitched. Then, with
great leaps, he came straight for the old stump on which little Mr.
Chipmunk was sitting.
"Little Mr. Chipmunk didn't wait for him to get there. Oh, my, no! He
took one good look at those fierce, hungry, yellow eyes and long, cruel
teeth, and then he whisked into a hole in the old stump. You see, there

wasn't time to go anywhere else. Big Mr. Bob Cat found the hole in the
stump right away. He snarled when he saw it. You see it was too small,
very much too small, for him to get into himself. But he could get one
hand and arm in, and he did, feeling all around inside for little Mr.
Chipmunk. Little Mr. Chipmunk was frightened almost to death. Yes,
Sir, he was frightened almost to death. He made himself just as flat as
he could on the bottom of the hollow and held his breath.
"'You'd better come out of there, Mr. Chipmunk, or I'll pull you out!'
snarled Mr. Bob Cat.
"Little Mr. Chipmunk just snuggled down flatter than ever and didn't
say a word. Mr. Bob Cat felt round and round inside the hollow stump
and raked his long claws on the sides until little Mr. Chipmunk's hair
fairly stood up. Yes, Sir, it stood