each night and they
heard his voice 'Whoo-too-whoo-hoo-hoo' they felt all the old fear of
him. If they were wise they did not stir, but if they were foolish and
so much as shivered Mr. Owl was sure to hear them and silently pounce
upon them.

"So once more Mr. Owl grew strong and fierce. But only at night had
anyone cause to fear him, and then only the foolish and timid.

"And now you know," concluded Grandfather Frog, "why it is that Hooty
the Owl never comes out to play with you on the Green Meadows, and why
his eyes are so big and his ears so large."

"Thank you, thank you, Grandfather Frog!" cried the Merry Little
Breezes, springing up from the white water lilies and stretching
themselves. "We'll bring you the first foolish green fly we can find."

Then away they rushed to hunt for it.

XV

DANNY MEADOW MOUSE LEARNS TO LAUGH

Danny Meadow Mouse sat on his doorstep and sulked. The Merry Little
Breezes of Old Mother West Wind ran past, one after another, and
pointing their fingers at him cried:

"Fie, Danny Meadow Mouse!
Better go inside the house!
Babies cry--oh my! oh my!
You're a baby--go and cry!"

Pretty soon along the Lone Little Path came Peter Rabbit. Peter Rabbit
looked at Danny Meadow Mouse. Then he pointed a finger at him and said:

"Cry, Danny, cry!
Mammy'll whip you by and by!
Then we'll all come 'round to see
How big a baby you can be.
Cry, Danny, cry!"

Danny Meadow Mouse began to snivel. He cried softly to himself as
Peter Rabbit hopped off down the Lone Little Path. Soon along came
Reddy Fox. He saw Danny Meadow Mouse sitting on his doorstep crying
all by himself. Reddy Fox crept up behind a tall bunch of grass. Then
suddenly he jumped out right in front of Danny Meadow Mouse.

"Boo!" cried Reddy Fox.

It frightened Danny Meadow Mouse. He jumped almost out of his skin,
and ran into the house crying at the top of his voice.

"Ha, ha, ha," laughed Reddy Fox

"Danny, Danny, crying Dan
Boo-hoo-hooed and off he ran!"

Then Reddy Fox chased his tail all the way down the Lone Little Path
onto the Green Meadows.

By and by Danny Meadow Mouse came out again and sat on his doorstep.
He had stopped crying, but he looked very unhappy and cross and sulky.
Hopping and skipping down the Lone Little Path came Striped Chipmunk.

"Come play with me," called Danny Meadow Mouse.

Striped Chipmunk kept right on hopping and skipping down the Lone