r.
Red Squirrel had something on his mind.

"Then old Mother Nature told how she had ordered each squirrel to get
and store for her a thousand nuts. She told just how selfish Mr. Gray
Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel had been. She told just how hard Mr.
Chipmunk had worked and then she told how part of his precious store
had been stolen.

"'And there,' said old Mother Nature in a loud voice so that every one
should hear, 'there is the thief!'

"Then she commanded Mr. Red Squirrel to go to his store-house and bring
her half of the biggest and best nuts he had there!

"Mr. Red Squirrel sneaked off with his head hanging, and began to bring
the nuts. And as he tramped back and forth, back and forth, all the
little meadow people and all the little forest folks pointed their
fingers at him and cried 'Thief! Thief! Thief!'

"When all the nuts had been brought to her by Mr. Gray Squirrel and Mr.
Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel, old Mother Nature gathered them all
up and put them in the secret store-house of Mr. Chipmunk. Then she
set Mr. Chipmunk up on an old stump where all could see him and she
said:

"'Mr. Chipmunk, because you have been faithful, because you have been
cheerful, because you have done your best, henceforth you shall have
two pockets, one in each cheek, so that you can carry two nuts at once,
that you may not have to work so hard the next time I tell you to store
a thousand nuts.'

"And all the little meadow people and all the little forest folks
shouted 'Hurrah for Mr. Chipmunk!' All but his cousins, Mr. Gray
Squirrel and Mr. Fox Squirrel and Mr. Red Squirrel, who hid themselves
for shame.

"And ever since that time long ago, when the world was young, the
Chipmunks have had pockets in their cheeks.

"You can't fool old Mother Nature," concluded Great-Grandfather Frog.
"No, Sir, you can't fool old Mother Nature and it's no use to try."

"Thank you, thank you," cried the Merry Little Breezes, clapping their
hands. Then they all raced across the Green Meadows to shake down some
more nuts for Striped Chipmunk.

VI

REDDY FOX, THE BOASTER

Johnny Chuck waddled down the Lone Little Path across the Green
Meadows. Johnny Chuck was very fat and rolly-poly. His yellow brown
coat fitted him so snugly that it seemed as if it must burst. Johnny
Chuck was feeling very happy--very happy indeed, for you see Johnny
Chuck long ago found the best thing in the world, which is contentment.

Jol