twinkle in his
big, goggly eyes.

"I see," said he, "that you _will_ have a story, and I suppose that
the sooner I tell it to you, the sooner you will leave me in peace.
Unc' Billy Possum's grandfather a thousand times removed was--"

"Was this way back in the days when the world was young?" interrupted
Peter.

Grandfather Frog scowled at Peter. "If I have any more interruptions,
there will be no story to-day" said he severely.

Peter looked ashamed and promised that he would hold his tongue right
between his teeth until Grandfather Frog was through. Grandfather Frog
cleared his throat and began again.

"Unc' Billy Possum's grandfather a thousand times removed was very
much as Unc' Billy is now, only he was a little more spry and knew
better than to stuff himself so full that he couldn't run. He was
always very sly, and he played a great many tricks on his neighbors,
and sometimes he got them into trouble. But when he did, he always
managed to keep out of their way until they had forgotten all about
their anger.

"One morning the very imp of mischief seemed to get into old Mr.
Possum's head. Yes, Sir, it certainly did seem that way. And when you
see Mischief trotting along the Lone Little Path, if you look sharp
enough, you'll see Trouble following at his heels like a shadow. I
never knew it to fail. It's just as sure as a stomach-ache is to
follow overeating."

Just here Grandfather Frog paused and looked very hard at Peter
Rabbit. But Peter pretended not to notice, and after slowly winking
one of his big, goggly eyes at Johnny Chuck, Grandfather Frog
continued:

"Anyway, as I said before, the imp of mischief seemed to be in old Mr.
Possum's head that morning, for he began to play tricks on his
neighbors as soon as they were out of bed. He hid Old King Bear's
breakfast, while the latter had his head turned, and then pretended
that he had just come along. He was very polite and offered to help
Old King Bear hunt for his lost breakfast. Then, whenever Old King
Bear came near the place where it was hidden, old Mr. Possum would
hide it somewhere else. Old King Bear was hungry, and he worked
himself up into a terrible rage, for he was in a hurry for his
breakfast. Old Mr. Possum was very sympathetic and seemed to be doing
his very best to find the lost meal. At last Old King Bear turned his
head suddenly and caught sight of old Mr. Possum hiding that
breakfast in a new place. My, my, but his temper did boil ove