apples.

"Where is Reddy Fox?" asked Peter Rabbit.

Sure enough, where was Reddy Fox? Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and
Jimmy Skunk stopped quarreling and looked at each other.

"Reddy Fox is the thief!" they cried all together.

Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare and Jerry Muskrat agreed that Reddy
Fox must be the thief, and had sent them all away on false errands that
he might have the feast all to himself.

So because there was nothing else to do, Billy Mink and Little Joe
Otter, tired and hungry and angry, started for their homes beside the
Laughing Brook. And Jimmy Skunk, also tired and hungry and angry,
started off up the Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles.

But Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare sat down to enjoy the big head of
cabbage, while close beside them sat Jerry Muskrat smacking his lips
over his clams, they tasted so good. Mother Moon looked down and
smiled and smiled, for she knew that each had a clear conscience, for
they had done no harm to anyone.

And up in the thick top of the great pine Hooty the Owl nodded
sleepily, for his stomach was very full of chicken and duck and trout,
although he had not been invited to the party.

And this is why Reddy Fox has no true friends on the Green Meadows.

III

WHY PETER RABBIT'S EARS ARE LONG

The Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were tired. Ever
since she had turned them out of her big bag onto the Green Meadows
early that morning they had romped and played tag and chased
butterflies while Old Mother West Wind herself went to hunt for a
raincloud which had wandered away before it had watered the thirsty
little plants who were bravely trying to keep the Green Meadows lovely
and truly green. Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun wore his broadest smile and
the more he smiled the warmer it grew. Mr. Sun is never thirsty
himself, never the least little bit, or perhaps he would have helped
Old Mother West Wind find the wandering raincloud.

The Merry Little Breezes threw themselves down on the edge of the
Smiling Pool, where the rushes grow tall, and there they took turns
rocking the cradle which held Mrs. Redwing's four babies.

Pretty soon one of the Merry Little Breezes, peeping through the
rushes, spied Peter Rabbit sitting up very straight on the edge of the
Green Meadows. His long ears were pointed straight up, his big eyes
were very wide open and he seemed to be looking and listening with a
great deal of curiosity.

"I