Old Mother West Wind | Page 9

thirsty folks and
grind corn for hungry folks; she had blown away all the smoke from
tall chimneys and engines and steamboats. Yes, indeed, Old Mother
West Wind had been very, very busy.
Now she was coming across the Green Meadows on her way to her
home behind the Purple Hills, and as she came she opened the big bag
she carried and called to her children, the Merry Little Breezes, who
had been playing hard on the Green Meadows all the long day. One by
one they crept into the big bag, for they were tired, too, and ready to go

to their home behind the Purple Hills.
Pretty soon all were in the bag but one, a willful little Breeze, who was
not quite ready to go home; he wanted to play just a little longer. He
danced ahead of Old Mother West Wind. He kissed the sleepy daisies.
He shook the nodding buttercups. He set all the little poplar leaves a
dancing, too, and he wouldn't come into the big bag. So Old Mother
West Wind closed the big bag and slung it over her shoulder. Then she
started on towards her home behind the Purple Hills.
When she had gone, the willful little Breeze left behind suddenly felt
very lonely--very lonely indeed! The sleepy daisies didn't want to play.
The nodding buttercups were cross. Great round bright Mr. Sun, who
had been shining and shining all day long, went to bed and put on his
night cap of golden clouds. Black shadows came creeping, creeping out
into the Green Meadows.
The willful little Breeze began to wish that he was safe in Old Mother
West Wind's big bag with all the other Merry Little Breezes.
So he started across the Green Meadows to find the Purple Hills. But
all the hills were black now and he could not tell which he should look
behind to find his home with Old Mother West Wind and the Merry
Little Breezes. How he did wish that he had minded Old Mother West
Wind.
By and by he curled up under a bayberry bush and tried to go to sleep,
but he was lonely, oh, so lonely! And he couldn't go to sleep. Old
Mother Moon came up and flooded all the Green Meadows with light,
but it wasn't like the bright light of jolly round Mr. Sun, for it was cold
and white and it made many black shadows.
Pretty soon the willful little Breeze heard Hooty the Owl out hunting
for a meadow mouse for his dinner. Then down the Lone Little Path
which ran close to the bayberry bush trotted Reddy Fox. He was
trotting very softly and every minute or so he turned his head and
looked behind him to see if he was followed. It was plain to see that
Reddy Fox was bent on mischief.
When he reached the bayberry bush Reddy Fox sat down and barked
twice. Hooty the Owl answered him at once and flew over to join him.
They didn't see the willful little Breeze curled up under the bayberry
bush, so intent were these two rogues in plotting mischief. They were
planning to steal down across the Green Meadows to the edge of the

Brown Pasture where Mr. Bob White and pretty Mrs. Bob White and a
dozen little Bob Whites had their home.
"When they run along the ground I'll catch 'em, and when they fly up in
the air you'll catch 'em, and we'll gobble 'em all up," said Reddy Fox to
Hooty the Owl. Then he licked his chops and Hooty the Owl snapped
his bill, just as if they were tasting tender little Bob Whites that very
minute. It made the willful little Breeze shiver to see them. Pretty soon
they started on towards the Brown Pasture.
When they were out of sight the willful little Breeze jumped up and
shook himself. Then away he sped across the Green Meadows to the
Brown Pasture. And because he could go faster and because he went a
shorter way he got there first. He had to hunt and hunt to find Mrs. and
Mr. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites, but finally he did find
them, all with their heads tucked under their wings fast asleep.
The willful little Breeze shook Mr. Bob White very gently. In an instant
he was wide awake.
"Sh-h-h," said the willful little Breeze. "Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl
are coming to the Brown Pasture to gobble up you and Mrs. Bob White
and all the little Bob Whites."
"Thank you, little Breeze," said Mr. Bob White, "I think I'll move my
family."
Then he woke Mrs. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites. With Mr.
Bob White in the lead