ould
start together from the old butternut tree on one edge of the Green
Meadows, race away across the Green Meadows to the little hill on the
other side and each bring back a nut from the big hickory which grew
there. The one who first reached the old butternut tree with a hickory
nut would be declared the winner. The Merry Little Breezes flew about
over the Green Meadows telling everyone about the race and everyone
planned to be there.

It was a beautiful summer day. Mr. Sun smiled and smiled, and the
more he smiled the warmer it grew. Everyone was there to see the
race--Striped Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow,
Hooty the Owl and Bobby Coon all sat up in the old butternut tree where
it was cool and shady. Johnny Chuck, Jerry Muskrat, Jimmy Skunk, Little
Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and even old Mr. Toad, were there. Last of
all came Spotty the Turtle. Now Spotty the Turtle is a very slow walker,
and he cannot run at all. When Peter Rabbit saw him coming up towards
the old butternut tree he shouted: "Come, Spotty, don't you want to race
with us?"

Everybody laughed because you know Spotty is so very, very slow but
Spotty didn't laugh and he didn't get cross because everyone else
laughed.

"There is a wise old saying, Peter Rabbit," said Spotty the Turtle,
"which shows that those who run fastest do not always reach a place
first. I think I WILL enter this race."

Every one thought that that was the best joke they had heard for a long
time, and all laughed harder than ever. They all agreed that Spotty the
Turtle should start in the race too.

So they all stood in a row, Peter Rabbit first, the Billy Mink, then
Reddy Fox, and right side of Reddy Fox Spotty the Turtle.

"Are you ready?" asked Grandfather Frog. "Go!"

Away went Peter Rabbit with great big jumps. After him went Billy Mink
so fast that was just a little brown streak going through the tall
grass, and side by side with him ran Reddy Fox. Now just as they started
Spotty the Turtle reached up and grabbed the long hair on the end of
Reddy's big tail. Of course Reddy couldn't have stopped to shake him
off, because Peter Rabbit and Billy Mink were running so fast that he
had to run his very best to keep up with them. But he didn't even know
that Spotty the Turtle was there. You see Spotty is not very heavy and
Reddy Fox was so excited that he did not notice that his big tail was
heavier than usual.

The Merry Little Breezes flew al