let him alone. He found that he no
longer had to run for a safe hiding-place when he met Mr. Wolf or Mr.
Lynx or Mr. Panther. They just snarled at him and passed without
offering to touch him. So Mr. Skunk grew very independent and went
where he pleased when he pleased. And, because he no longer had to run
from his enemies, he got out of the habit of running. Then he made a
discovery. He watched those of his neighbors who were forever hurrying
about looking for food, hurrying because all the time there was great
fear upon them that an enemy might be near, hurrying because each was
fearful that his neighbor would get more than he. It wasn't long
before Mr. Skunk saw that in their hurry they overlooked a great deal.
In fact, by just following after them slowly, he found all he wanted
to eat.

"So Mr. Skunk began to grow fat. His neighbors, who were having hard
work to make a living, grew envious, and said unkind things about him,
and hinted that he must be stealing, or he never could have so much to
eat. But Mr. Skunk didn't mind. He went right on about his business.
He never worried, because, you know, he feared nobody. And he never
hurried, because he found that it paid best to go slowly. In that way
he never missed any of the good things that his hurrying, worrying
neighbors did. So he grew fatter and fatter, while others grew
thinner. After a while he almost forgot how to run. Being fat and
never hurrying or worrying made him good-natured. He kept right on
minding his own affairs and never meddling in the affairs of others,
so that by and by his neighbors began to respect him.

"Of course he taught his children to do as he did, and they taught
their children. And so, ever since that long-ago day, when the world
was young, that little bag of perfume has been handed down in the
Skunk family, and none of them has ever been afraid. Now you know why
Jimmy Skunk, whom you all know, is so independent and never hurries."

"Thank you! Thank you, Grandfather Frog!" cried the Merry Little
Breezes. "When you want some more foolish green flies, just let us
know, and we'll get them for you."

"Chug-a-rum! What are you looking so wistful for, Peter Rabbit?"
demanded Grandfather Frog.

"I--I was just wishing that I had a--" began Peter. Then suddenly he
made a face. "No, I don't either!" he declared. "I guess I'd better be
getting home to the dear Old Briar-patch now. Mrs. Peter probably
thinks something has happened to me." An