y were not going to the party.

Old Mr. Crow carried the news far and wide. It was he that told Billy
Woodchuck, in Farmer Green's clover patch. And Billy Woodchuck almost
choked over a clover top, he was so excited.

"Where's Jimmy Rabbit?" he asked Mr. Crow. "I want to ask him
something."

"I couldn't say where he is," said Mr. Crow. "I don't think he'd want me
to tell. But I'll find him for you and I'll ask him your question--if
you'll tell me what it is." That was Mr. Crow's way. He was so curious.

"Thank you!" said Billy Woodchuck. "I don't want to trouble you, Mr.
Crow."

And though Mr. Crow tried to learn what the question was, Billy
Woodchuck wouldn't tell him.

Later Billy was almost sorry he hadn't accepted Mr. Crow's help. For he
couldn't find Jimmy Rabbit anywhere. And then Billy happened to meet
Nimble Deer.

"I hear you're going to the party," Billy said to him. "How are you
going to keep out of the crowd?" That was the question he had wanted to
ask Jimmy Rabbit.

"Keep out of the crowd!" Nimble exclaimed. "I don't expect to keep out
of it. The crowd at a party is more than half the fun. Since I'm to help
Jimmy Rabbit I'll have to be where the people are."

"Oh!" said Billy Woodchuck. He had been a bit worried, for he didn't
want Nimble Deer to step on him at the party. Even though it might be an
accident, being stepped on by so big a chap as Nimble would be no joke.
Everybody knew that Nimble's hoofs were sharp.

But now Billy had learned something that set his fears at rest. Nimble
Deer was going to _help_ Jimmy at the party.

"Ah!" Billy Woodchuck murmured to himself. "That means that Jimmy
Rabbit has a plan. And it must be a good one; for his plans are always
fine."

"What are you going to do to help?" he asked Nimble.

"Jimmy Rabbit didn't tell me," Nimble replied. "Maybe I'm to entertain
the company by having a mock battle with somebody. How would you like to
have a mock battle with me?"

"I shouldn't care for it at all!"

"Well, I dare say _somebody_ would enjoy a sham fight," said Nimble. "I
must ask Jimmy Rabbit who it will be."

So the next time Nimble found Jimmy Rabbit he asked him that very
question.

But Jimmy Rabbit said there were to be no battles of any kind at his
party.

"Then how am I going to help you?"

"You're going to use your horns--but not to fight," Jimmy Rabbit
explained.

And he wouldn't say another word.

XXII

THE NEW HAT-RACK

The n