htful. "You can't do it," said he. "You
simply can't do it. It is such a long way for a little fellow like
you that it wouldn't be safe to try. If you went at night, Hooty the
Owl might catch you again. If you tried in daylight, old Roughleg
the Hawk would be almost sure to see you. And night or day old
Granny Fox or Reddy Fox might come snooping around, and if they did,
they would be sure to catch you. I tell you what, you stay right
here! The dear Old Briar-patch is the safest place in the world.
Why, just think, here you can come out in broad daylight and laugh
at Granny and Reddy Fox and at old Roughleg the Hawk, because the
good old brambles will keep them out, if they try to get you. You
can make just as good tunnels under the snow here as you had there,
and there are lots and lots of seeds on the ground to eat. You know
I don't care for them myself. I'm lonesome sometimes, living here
all alone. You stay here, and we'll have the Old Briar-patch to
ourselves."

Danny Meadow Mouse looked at Peter gratefully. "I will, and thank
you ever so much, Peter Rabbit," he said.

And this is how the dear Old Briar-patch happened to have another
tenant.

CHAPTER XIII

_Peter Rabbit Visits the Peach Orchard_

"Don't go, Peter Rabbit! Don't go!" begged Danny Meadow Mouse.

Peter hopped to the edge of the Old Briar-patch and looked over the
moonlit, snow-covered meadows to the hill back of Farmer Brown's
house. On that hill was the young peach orchard of which Tommy Tit
the Chickadee had told him, and ever since Peter's mouth had watered
and watered every time he thought of those young peach trees and the
tender bark on them.

"I think I will, Danny, just this once," said Peter. "It's a long
way, and I've never been there before; but I guess it's just as safe
as the Meadows or the Green Forest.

"Oh I'm as bold as bold can be!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!
I'll hie me forth the world to see!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!
My ears are long,
My legs are strong,
So now good day;
I'll hie away!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!"

And with that, Peter Rabbit left the dear safe Old Briar-patch, and
away he went lipperty-lipperty-lip, across the Green Meadows towards
the hill and the young orchard back of Farmer Brown's house.

Danny Meadow Mouse watched him go and shook his head in disapproval.
"Foolish, foolish, foolish!" he said over and over to himself. "Why
can't Peter b