So away they started, after they had raced over to the big hollow
chestnut tree and sent a shower of brown nuts rattling down to Striped
Chipmunk from the burrs that Jack Frost had opened the night before.

"Good-bye, Striped Chipmunk," they shouted as they romped across the
Green Meadows. And Striped Chipmunk stopped long enough to shout
"Good-bye" before he filled his pockets with the brown nuts.

Old Grandfather Frog sat on his big green lily pad blinking in the sun.
It was very still, very, very still indeed. Suddenly out of the brown
bulrushes burst the Merry Little Breezes and surrounded old Grandfather
Frog. And every one of them had brought to him a fat, foolish, green
fly.

Grandfather's big goggly eyes sparkled and he gave a funny little hop
up into the air as he caught each foolish green fly. When the last one
was safely inside his white and yellow waistcoat he settled himself
comfortably on the big green lily pad and folded his hands over the
foolish green flies.

"Chug-a-rum!" said Grandfather Frog. "What is it you want this
morning?"

"Oh, Grandfather Frog," cried the Merry Little Breezes, "tell us how it
happens that Striped Chipmunk has pockets in his cheeks. Do tell us,
Grandfather Frog. Please do!"

"Chug-a-rum," said Grandfather Frog. "How should I know?"

"But you do know, Grandfather Frog, you know you do. Please tell us!"
cried the Merry Little Breezes as they settled themselves among the
rushes.

And presently Grandfather Frog began:

"Once upon a time--a long, long while ago--"

"When the world was young?" asked a mischievous little Breeze.

Grandfather Frog pretended to be very much put out by the interruption,
and tried to look very severe. But the Merry Little Breezes were all
giggling, so that presently he had to smile too.

"Yes," said he, "it was when the world was young, before old
King Bear became king. Mr. Chipmunk, Striped Chipmunk's
great-great-great-grandfather a thousand times removed, was the
smallest of the squirrels, just as Striped Chipmunk is now. But he
didn't mind that, not the least little bit. Mr. Gray Squirrel was four
times as big and had a handsome tail, Mr. Fox Squirrel was four times
as big and he also had a handsome tail, Mr. Red Squirrel was twice as
big and he thought his tail was very good to see. But Mr. Chipmunk
didn't envy his big cousins their fine tails; not he! You see he had
himself a beautiful striped coat of which he was