hed his tail till it looked very handsome, and
every few minutes he would turn and admire it. Reddy Fox thought
himself a very fine gentleman. He admired himself and he wanted every
one else to admire him.

"Let's do stunts," said Peter Rabbit. "I can jump farther than anybody
here!"

Then Peter Rabbit jumped a tremendously long jump. Then everybody
jumped, everybody but Reddy Fox. Even Johnny Chuck jumped, and because
he was so rolly-poly he tumbled over and over and everybody laughed and
Johnny Chuck laughed loudest of all.

And because his hind legs are long and meant for jumping Peter Rabbit
had jumped farther than any one else.

"I can climb to the top of the old butternut tree quicker than anybody
else," cried Happy Jack Squirrel, and away he started with Bobby Coon
and Billy Mink after him, for though Billy Mink is a famous swimmer and
can run swiftly, he can also climb when he has to. But Happy Jack
Squirrel was at the top of the old butternut tree almost before the
others had started.

The Merry Little Breezes clapped their hands and everybody shouted for
Happy Jack Squirrel, everybody but Reddy Fox.

"I can swim faster than anybody here," shouted Little Joe Otter.

In a flash three little brown coats splashed into the Smiling Pool so
suddenly that they almost upset Great-Grandfather Frog watching from
his big green lily pad. They belonged to Little Joe Otter, Billy Mink
and Jerry Muskrat. Across the Smiling Pool and back again they raced
and Little Joe Otter was first out on the bank.

"Hurrah for Little Joe Otter!" shouted Blacky the Crow.

And everybody shouted "Hurrah!" Everybody but Reddy Fox.

"What can you do, Jimmy Skunk?" asked Peter Rabbit, dancing up and
down, he was so excited.

Jimmy Skunk yawned lazily.

"I can throw a wonderful perfume farther than anybody here," said Jimmy
Skunk.

"We know it! We know it!" shouted the Merry Little Breezes as
everybody tumbled heels over head away from Jimmy Skunk, even Reddy
Fox. "But please don't!"

And Jimmy Skunk didn't.

Then they all came back, Reddy Fox carefully brushing his handsome red
coat which had become sadly mussed, he had fled in such a hurry.

Now for the first time in his life Johnny Chuck began to feel just a
wee, wee bit discontented. What was there he could do better than any
one else? He couldn't jump and he couldn't climb and he couldn't swim.
He couldn't even run fast, because he was so fat and round and