re," cried the Merry Little
Breezes, "and ask her what to do."

So away flew the Merry Little Breezes to Old Dame Nature and told her
all the dreadful story. Old Dame Nature listened very attentively. Then
she sent the Merry Little Breezes to all the little meadow folks to tell
every one to be at the Great Pine that afternoon. Now whatever Old Dame
Nature commanded all the meadow folks were obliged to do. They did not
dare to disobey her. Promptly at four o'clock that afternoon all
the meadow folks were gathered around the foot of the Great Pine.
Broken-hearted little Mrs. Ruffed Grouse sat beside her empty nest, with
all the broken shells about her.

Reddy Fox, Peter Rabbit, Johnny Chuck, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter,
Jerry Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, Bobby Coon, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow,
Grandfather Frog, Mr. Toad, Spotty the Turtle, the Merry Little Breezes,
all were there. Last of all came Jimmy Skunk. Very handsome he looked in
his shining black coat and very sorry he appeared that such a dreadful
thing should have happened. He told Mrs. Grouse how badly he felt, and
he loudly demanded that the culprit should be found out and severely
punished.

Old Dame Nature has the most smiling face in the world, but this time it
was very, very grave indeed. First she asked little Mrs. Grouse to tell
her story all over again that all might hear. Then each in turn was
asked to tell where he had been the night before. Johnny Chuck, Happy
Jack Squirrel, Striped Chipmunk, Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow had gone
to bed when Mr. Sun went down behind the Purple Hills. Jerry Muskrat,
Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and Spotty the Turtle had
not left the Smiling Pool. Bobby Coon had been down in Farmer Brown's
cornfield. Hooty the Owl had been hunting in the lower end of the Green
Meadows. Peter Rabbit had been down in the berry patch. Mr. Toad had
been under the piece of bark which he called a house. Old Dame Nature
called on Jimmy Skunk last of all. Jimmy protested that he had been
very, very tired and had gone to bed very early indeed and had slept the
whole night through.

Then Old Dame Nature asked Peter Rabbit what he had found among the egg
shells that morning.

Peter Rabbit hopped out and laid three long black hairs before Old
Dame Nature. "These," said Peter Rabbit "are what I found among the egg
shells."

Then Old Dame Nature called Johnny Chuck. "Tell us, Johnny Chuck," said
she, "what you saw when you cal