Fox knew that he had been found out, and he sneaked away
with his tail between his legs. The first chance he got, he went to
Old Mother Nature and begged her to give him back his old coat. She
promised that she would when his heart changed, and he changed his
ways. But his heart never did change, and his children and his
children's children were just like him. They have always been the
smartest and the sliest and the most feared and disliked of all the
little people on the meadows or in the forest. And now you know why
Reddy Fox wears a red coat," concluded Grandfather Frog.

Peter Rabbit drew a long breath. "Thank you, thank you, Grandfather
Frog!" said he. "I--I think hereafter I'll be quite content with my
own suit, even if it isn't handsome. Jenny Wren was right. A good
heart and honest ways are better than fine clothes."

V

WHY JIMMY SKUNK NEVER HURRIES

The Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had just been
released from the big bag in which she carries them every night to
their home behind the Purple Hills and every morning brings them back
to the Green Meadows to romp and play all day. They romped and raced
and danced away, some one way, some another, to see whom they could
find to play with. Presently some of them spied Jimmy Skunk slowly
ambling down the Crooked Little Path, stopping every few steps to pull
over a loose stone or stick. They knew what he was doing that for.
They knew that he was looking for fat beetles for his breakfast. They
danced over to him and formed a ring around him while they sang:

"Who is it never, never hurries?
Who is it never, never worries?
Who is it does just what he pleases,
Just like us Merry Little Breezes?
Jimmy Skunk! Jimmy Skunk!"

Now not so far away but that he could hear them very plainly sat Peter
Rabbit, just finishing his breakfast in a sweet-clover patch. He sat
up very straight, so as to hear better. Of course some of the Merry
Little Breezes saw him right away. They left Jimmy to come over and
dance in a circle around Peter, for Peter is a great favorite with
them. And as they danced they sang:

"Who is it hops and skips and jumps?
Who is it sometimes loudly thumps?
Who is it dearly loves to play,
But when there's danger runs away?
Peter Rabbit! Peter Rabbit!"

Peter grinned good-naturedly. He is quite used to being laughed at for
always running away, and he doesn't mind it in the lea