The Adventures of Johnny Chuck | Page 5

it was a

very nice home indeed.
But now, all of a sudden, Johnny Chuck became dissatisfied with his
home. It was too near the Lone Little Path. Too many people knew
where it was. It wasn't big enough. The front door ought to face the
other way. Dear me, what a surprising lot of faults a discontented heart
can find with things that have always been just right! It was so with
Johnny Chuck. That house in which he had spent so many happy days,
which had protected him from all harm, of which he had been so proud
when he first built it, was now the meanest house in the world. If other
people had new houses, why shouldn't he? The more he thought about
it, the more dissatisfied and discontented he became and of course the
more unhappy. You know one cannot be dissatisfied and discontented
and happy at the same time.
Now dissatisfied and discontented people are not at all pleasant to have
around. Johnny Chuck had always been one of the best natured of all
the little meadow people, and everybody liked him. So Jimmy Skunk
didn't know quite what to make of it, when he came down the Lone
Little Path and found Johnny Chuck so out of sorts that he wouldn't
even answer when spoken to.
Jimmy Skunk was feeling very good-natured himself. He had just had a
fine breakfast of fat beetles and he was at peace with all the world. So
he sat down beside Johnny Chuck and began to talk, just as if Johnny
Chuck was his usual good-natured self.
"It's a fine day," said Jimmy Skunk.
Johnny Chuck just sniffed.
"You're looking very fine," said Jimmy.
Johnny just scowled.
"I think you've got the best place on the Green Meadows for a house,"
said Jimmy, pretending to admire the view.
Johnny scowled harder than ever.
"And such a splendid house!" said Jimmy. "I wish I had one like it."
"I'm glad you like it! You can have the old thing!" snapped Johnny
Chuck.
"What's that?" demanded Jimmy Skunk, opening his eyes very wide.
"I said that you can have it. I'm going to move," replied Johnny Chuck.
Now he really hadn't thought of moving until that very minute. And he
didn't know why he had said it. But he had said it, and because he is an

obstinate little fellow he stuck to it.
"When can I move in?" asked Jimmy Skunk, his eyes twinkling.
"Right away, if you want to," replied Johnny Chuck, and swaggered off
down the Lone Little Path, leaving Jimmy Skunk to stare after him as if
he thought Johnny Chuck had suddenly gone crazy, as indeed he did.

VI
JOHNNY CHUCK TURNS TRAMP
Johnny Chuck had turned tramp. Yes, Sir, Johnny Chuck had turned
tramp. It was a funny thing to do, but he had done it. He didn't know
why he had done it, excepting that he had become dissatisfied and
discontented and unhappy in his old home. And then, almost without
thinking what he was doing, he had told Jimmy Skunk that he could
have the house he had worked so hard to build the summer before and
of which he had been so proud. Then Johnny Chuck had swaggered
away down the Lone Little Path without once looking back at the home
he was leaving.
Where was he going? Well, to tell the truth, Johnny didn't know. He
was going to see the world, and perhaps when he had seen the world,
he would build him a new house. So as long as he was in sight of
Jimmy Skunk, he swaggered along quite as if he was used to traveling
about, without any snug house to go to at night. But right down in his
heart Johnny Chuck didn't feel half so bold as he pretended.
You see, not since he was a little Chuck and had run away from old
Mother Chuck with Peter Rabbit, had he ever been very far from his
own door-step. He had always been content to grow fat and roly-poly
right near his own home, and listen to the tales of the great world from
Jimmy Skunk and Peter Rabbit and Bobby Coon and Unc' Billy
Possum, all of whom are great travelers.
But now, here he was, actually setting forth, and without a home to
come back to! You see, he had made up his mind that no matter what
happened, he wouldn't come back, after having given his house to
Jimmy Skunk.
When he had reached a place where he thought Jimmy Skunk couldn't
see him, Johnny Chuck turned and looked back, and a queer little
feeling seemed to make a lump that filled his throat and choked him.
The fact is, Johnny