Mother West Wind Why Stories | Page 7

by Mr. Possum, and
that as they were all very hungry, they would like to know when the
feast would be ready. Right away Old King Bear knew that old Mr.
Possum had been up to some of his tricks, and he told his visitors that
they were the victims of a practical joke.
[Illustration: "As they were all very hungry, they would like to know
when the feast would be ready."]
"My, my, my, how angry everybody grew! With Old King Bear at their
head, they started out to hunt for old Mr. Possum. When he saw them
coming, he realized that what he had thought was a joke had become no
longer a laughing matter for him. He was too frightened to run, so he
scrambled up a tree. He quite forgot that Mr. Panther and Mr. Lynx
could climb just as fast as he. Up the tree after him they scrambled, and
he crept as far out as he could get on one of the branches. Mr. Panther
didn't dare go out there, so he just shook the branch. He shook and
shook and shook and shook, and the first thing old Mr. Possum knew,
he was flying through the air down to where the others were all ready
to pounce on him.
"Old Mr. Possum was frightened almost to death. He shut his eyes, and
then he landed with a thump that knocked all the wind from his body.
When he got his breath again, he still kept his eyes closed, for he
couldn't bear the thought of looking at the cruel teeth and claws of Old
King Bear and the others. Presently, while he was wondering why they
didn't jump on him and tear him to pieces, Old King Bear spoke:
"'I guess Mr. Possum won't play any more jokes, Mr. Panther,' said he.
'You just knocked the life out of him when you shook him off that
branch.'
"Mr. Panther came over and sniffed at Mr. Possum and turned him over
with one paw. All the time Mr. Possum lay just as if he were dead,
because he was too frightened to move. 'I didn't mean to kill him,' said
Mr. Panther. 'We certainly will miss him. What will we do with him?'
"'Leave him here as a warning to others,' growled Old King Bear.
"Each in turn came up and sniffed of Mr. Possum, and then they all
went about their business. He waited long enough to make sure that
they were out of sight, and then took the shortest way home. When he
got there and thought it all over, he thought that the best joke of all was

the way he had made everybody think that he was dead. And then a
bright idea struck him: he would try the same trick whenever he was
caught. So the next time he got in trouble, instead of running away, he
tried playing dead. It was such a success that he taught his children how
to do it, and they taught their children, and so on down to Unc' Billy,
whom you know. Unc' Billy says it is a lot easier than running away,
and safer, too. Besides, it is always such a joke. Now, don't bother me
any more, for I want to take a nap," concluded Grandfather Frog.
"Thank you!" cried Peter Rabbit and Johnny Chuck and Striped
Chipmunk, and started off to hunt up Unc' Billy Possum.

IV
WHY REDDY FOX WEARS RED
Peter Rabbit sat in the middle of the dear Old Briar-patch making faces
and laughing at Reddy Fox. Of course that wasn't a nice thing to do, not
a bit nice. But Peter had just had a narrow escape, a very narrow escape,
for Reddy Fox had sprung out from behind a bush as Peter came down
the Lone Little Path, and had so nearly caught Peter that he had actually
pulled some fur out of Peter's coat. Now Peter was safe in the dear Old
Briar-patch. He was a little out of breath, because he had had to use his
long legs as fast as he knew how, but he was safe. You see, Reddy Fox
wouldn't run the risk of tearing his handsome red coat on the brambles.
Besides, they scratched terribly.
"Never mind, Peter Rabbit, I'll get you yet!" snarled Reddy, as he gave
up and started back for the Green Forest.
"Reddy Fox is very sly! Reddy Fox is very spry! But sly and spry, 'tis
vain to try To be as sly and spry as I."
When Peter Rabbit shouted this, Reddy looked back and showed all his
teeth, but Peter only laughed, and Reddy trotted on. Peter watched him
out of sight.
"My! I wish I had such a handsome coat,"