; he'll know," said Sammy to himself.

He found Johnny sitting on his doorstep, watching the world go by.

"Good morning, Johnny Chuck," said Sammy, with a low bow.

"Good morning," replied Johnny Chuck, who always is polite.

"Isn't that a fine secret of Peter Rabbit's?" exclaimed Sammy, just as
if he knew all about it.

Johnny Chuck raised his eyebrows and put on the most surprised look.

"Do tell me what it is!" he begged.

"Oh, if you don't know, I won't tell, for that wouldn't be fair,"
replied Sammy, and tried to look very honest and innocent, and then he
flew over to the Green Forest. And as he flew, he said to himself:
"Johnny Chuck can't fool me; he does know Peter Rabbit's secret."

Over in the Green Forest he found Drummer the Woodpecker making a
great racket on the hollow limb of an old chestnut. Sammy sat down
near by and listened. "My, that's fine! I wish I could do that. You
must be practising," said Sammy at the end of a long rat-a-tat-tat.

Drummer the Woodpecker felt very much flattered. "I am," said he. "I'm
practising for Peter Rabbit's party."

"I thought so," replied Sammy Jay. Of course he hadn't thought
anything of the kind.

"Won't Unc' Billy Possum be surprised?" remarked Drummer the
Woodpecker, as he sat down to rest.

"He surely will," replied Sammy Jay, and then he flattered and
flattered Drummer the Woodpecker until finally Drummer told all about
Peter's plan for a surprise party for Unc' Billy Possum.

By and by, as he flew home, Sammy Jay chuckled and said:

"You've got to rise 'fore break of day
If you want to fool old Mr. Jay."

VII

FOUR LITTLE SCAMPS PLAN MISCHIEF

"Some folks think they're mighty smart--
Oh, la me! Oh, la me!
Like the knave who stole the tart--
Oh, la me! Oh, la me!
Some folks will waken up some day--
And find they can't fool Mr. Jay!"

Sammy Jay was mightily pleased with himself. He had found out all
about Peter Rabbit's plan to give Unc' Billy Possum a surprise party
when his family came up from "Ol' Virginny." He had found out that all
the little forest and meadow people but himself and his cousin, Blacky
the Crow, and Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel had been invited, and
that each was to bring something good to eat. Sammy Jay smacked his
lips as he thought of this. Then he looked up at jolly, round, red Mr.
Sun and winked.

Now on all the Green Meadows and in all the Green Forest, there l