g along the barrel of his dreadful
gun straight at her, and only such a short distance, such a very short
distance away! It wasn't the least bit of use to run. Granny knew that.
That dreadful gun would go "bang!" and that would be the end of her.

For a few seconds she stared at Farmer Brown's boy, too frightened
to move or even think. Then she began to wonder why that dreadful gun
didn't go off. What was Farmer Brown's boy waiting for? She got to
her feet. She was sure that the first step would be her last, yet she
couldn't stay there.

How could Fanner Brown's boy do such a dreadful thing? Somehow, his
freckled face didn't look cruel. He was even beginning to grin. That
must be because he had caught her napping and knew that this time she
couldn't possibly get away from him as she had so many times before.
"Oh!" sobbed Old Granny Fox under her breath.

And right at that very instant Farmer Brown's boy did something. What do
you think it was? No, he didn't shoot her. He didn't fire his dreadful
gun. What do you think he did do? Why, he threw a snowball at Old Granny
Fox and shouted "Boo!" That is what he did and all he did, except to
laugh as Granny gave a great leap and then made those black legs of hers
fly as never before.

Every instant Granny expected to hear that dreadful gun, and it seemed
as if her heart would burst with fright as she ran, thinking each jump
would be the last one. But the dreadful gun didn't bang, and after a
little, when she felt she was safe, she turned to look back over her
shoulder. Farmer Brown's boy was standing right where she had last seen
him, and he was laughing harder than ever. Yes, Sir, he was laughing,
and though Old Granny Fox didn't think so at the time, his laugh was
good to hear, for it was good-natured and merry and all that an honest
laugh should be.

"Go it, Granny! Go it!" shouted Farmer Brown's boy. "And the next time
you are tempted to steal my chickens, just remember that I caught you
napping and let you off when I might have shot you. Just remember that
and leave my chickens alone."

Now it happened that Tommy Tit the Chickadee had seen all that
had happened, and he fairly bubbled over with joy. "Dee, dee, dee,
Chickadee! It is just as I have always said--Farmer Brown's boy isn't
bad. He'd be friends with every one if every one would let him," he
cried.

"Maybe, maybe," grumbled Sammy Jay, who also had seen all that had
happened. "But he's altogether too smart