第3章 JUST FOR FUN

16

The Rabbit Who Wanted Wings

Once a little white rabbit lived in a warm hole under an old tree.He had everything a little rabbit could need,but he was always wishing for something more.

One day when Bobby Squirrel went by,Little Rabbit said,"Oh,I wish I had a fine big tail like Bobby's!"

When he saw Mr.Woodpecker flying past,he said,"Oh,I wish I had pretty feathers like Mr.Woodpecker's!"

When Mrs.Duck went past,he said,"Oh,I wish I had feet like Mrs.Duck's!"

Little Rabbit's mother grew very tired of hearing him wish for things.

One afternoon Mr.Ground Hog came past and heard Little Rabbit saying,"I wish,I wish,I wish."

"Why don't you go down to the Wishing Pond?"asked old Mr.Ground Hog."If you look at yourself in the water and then turn around three times,you will get what you wish for."

Little Rabbit did not even stop to ask his mother.Away he hopped to the Wishing Pond as fast as he could go.

There he saw a small bird taking a drink of water.The bird had beautiful red wings.

As soon as Little Rabbit saw the bird,he began to wish again.

"Oh,I wish I had red wings!"he said to himself.

Just then he looked in the Wishing Pond and saw himself in the water.He turned around three times,and then a strange thing happened.Two red wings grew out on his back.

How proud he was!At once he started for home to show his red wings to his mother.But when he got home,it was almost dark,and the door was shut.

He knocked and knocked at the door.His mother peeped out,but she would not let him come in.

She had never before seen a rabbit with red wings,and she didn't know that this strange animal was her own little rabbit.So he had to look for some other place to sleep.

He went to many animal holes,but he could not get in anywhere.Everyone was afraid of such a strange-looking animal.

At last he went to see Mr.Ground Hog.The wise old ground hog knew him,and let him come in.But Little Rabbit had to sleep on a hard bed of sticks.It was not at all like his own soft bed.

In the morning old Mr.Ground Hog asked,"Don't you like your red wings,Little Rabbit?"

"No,no,no!"cried the rabbit.

"Well,"said wise old Mr.Ground Hog,"why don't you go to the Wishing Pond and wish them off again?"

Away went the rabbit to the Wishing Pond as fast as he could hop.He made his wish,and looked at himself in the water.Then he turned around three times,and off went his red wings.

How happy he was,as he hurried to his home under the tree!His mother knew him at once,and quickly let him in.

Little Rabbit was very glad to be like other rabbits once more.Never again did he wish for things he did not need.

17

Mrs.Goose's Party

"I think I will have a party,"said Mrs.Goose to herself.

"Yes,I will have a party this afternoon at three o'clock."

"I will ask Mrs.Squirrel,Mrs.Rabbit,and the three Ducks."

So Mrs.Goose began to get ready for the party.She quickly swept and dusted her house.

Then she began to think about what she would have to eat.

"I believe I will have sweet cookies and some cocoa,"thought Mrs.Goose."It is a hot day,and I will make some ice cream,too."

She flew into her tiny kitchen,and soon she was as busy as a bee,making the cookies and cocoa.Then she made the ice cream.

For two hours Mrs.Goose worked in her clean little kitchen.She stopped to fan herself now and then,for it was very hot in the tiny room.

When everything was done,Mrs.Goose saw that it was only two o'clock.

"Oh,"she said,"it is just two o'clock.The house is clean,and everything is ready for the party.I shall have time to sit down and rest for almost an hour before I dress for the party."

Mrs.Goose took her fan and sat down to rest in a nice,soft chair.She was so tired that she soon fell asleep.

Mrs.Goose slept until almost three o'clock.When she woke up,she jumped from her chair.

"Oh,dear me!"she said."Did I fall asleep?Now I must hurry and dress.Mrs.Squirrel,Mrs.Rabbit,and the Ducks may come at any minute.

"I'll fly upstairs and put on my new blue dress.I don't want to be late at my own party."

Mrs.Goose rubbed her feathers with her yellow bill until they were smooth.Then she took off her apron and put on her new party dress.

She turned this way and that way in front of the looking-glass and thought she looked very fine.

It was now past three o'clock.

"I'm glad they didn't come at three,"said Mrs.Goose."Now I can sit down again,but I must stay awake this time."

Soon Mrs.Goose went to the window.She did not see Mrs.Rabbit,Mrs.Squirrel,or the three Ducks.She kept looking to see what time it was.And she wondered why her friends did not come.

At last she went to the front door and looked down the road.

"Oh,my!"she said."How late they are!I hope they won't forget."

Just then she saw the three Ducks going down the road toward the pond.

Mrs.Goose hurried after them.

"Hello!"she called."Aren't you coming?"

The Ducks stopped and looked at her.

"Coming where?"they asked.

"To my house!To my party!"

"To your house?To your party?"said the three Ducks in great surprise."We didn't know that you were going to have a party."

"Didn't I ask you?"said Mrs.Goose.

"No,"answered the Ducks,shaking their heads."You didn't ask us."

"Oh,dear!"said Mrs.Goose."Then I didn't ask Mrs.Rabbit or Mrs.Squirrel.I was so busy making cookies,cocoa,and ice cream to eat that I forgot to ask anyone to come to the party."

She began to cry."Oh,dear!Oh,dear!"she said."All those good things to eat,and no party!Oh,dear!Oh,dear!"

"That's too bad,"said the three Ducks."Can't we come now?"

"Yes,yes!"answered Mrs.Goose."And please go and get the others.Don't stop to dress up.Come just as you are."

Off ran the Ducks.In a few minutes they came back with Mrs.Squirrel and Mrs.Rabbit.

At four o'clock they were all eating the cookies and the cocoa and the ice cream.

Mrs.Goose laughed with joy."This is a real surprise party,"she said.

18

The Apple Tree

I stood beneath the apple tree.

The apples were so good to see—

Very high above my head

I saw them shining,round and red.

A robin sang a tiny song,

And after I had waited long,

A fairy in the apple tree

Threw an apple down to me.

19

Little Mouse Sees the World

Squeaky was a little gray mouse,who lived with his mother in a dark hole in a cellar.

One day he came running to his mother.He was so frightened that his tail shook.

"Oh,Squeaky,"said his mother,"what has happened?Why do you shake so?"

"Mother,"answered Squeaky,"I have been out to see the world.

"I was tired of staying in our little dark home.So I went to the barnyard.There I saw a beautiful animal which looks a little like me."

"Looks like you!"said Mother Mouse."No,no,Squeaky.There is no animal in the barnyard that looks like you."

"Yes,Mother,"said Squeaky."It really does.It has a smooth gray coat like mine,but it is much bigger than I am."

Mother Mouse began to be frightened,too."Go on,Squeaky,"she said."Tell me more about this animal."

Squeaky went on."It was sitting in the sun and singing a little song.It looked so kind that I wanted to talk to it.I thought it would like little mice."

"Oh,oh!My dear little Squeaky!"cried Mother Mouse."That is the terrible cat.She does like little mice.She likes to eat them.I hope you didn't talk to her?"

"No,Mother,"said Squeaky."I did not have time,for just then I saw another animal.How it frightened me!"

"Tell me about this strange beast,"said Mother Mouse.

Squeaky said,"He has a long,sharp nose and a queer red chin that shakes when he walks.He looked very fierce.

"Oh,my!How he frightened me!"

Mother Mouse thought and thought.What animal could that be?It must be some terrible beast that she had never seen.But Squeaky went on talking.

"He has something red on top of his head,and he has only two legs.He made a terrible noise.Cock-a-doodle-do!"

"I ran away!"

Then Mother Mouse laughed so hard that she almost cried.

"Oh,oh!"she said."What a funny little mouse you are!That is only the rooster.He would not hurt a poor little mouse.oh,oh!How very funny!"

Squeaky did not think it was funny.

"But,Mother,"he said,"the cat looked so kind,and the rooster looked so very fierce.How could I tell which one would hurt me?"

Mother Mouse stopped laughing and said,"Remember,Squeaky,it is never safe to talk to strange animals.You can't tell by their looks which ones are kind."

20

The Camel and the Pig

Once a camel and a pig were talking to each other.

The camel was very proud because he was tall."Just look at me,"he said."See how tall I am.Don't you wish you were tall like me?"

"Oh,no,"said the pig."I think it is much better to be short like me."

"Both of us can't be right,"said the camel."But if I am not right,I will give up my hump."

"And I will give up my snout if I am not right,"said the pig.

"Then come with me,"said the camel.

"I will show you that I am right."

So the tall camel and the short pig went down the road together.

Soon they came to a garden.Around this garden was a high brick wall.

There was no door in the wall.But the camel was so tall that he could see right over the top of the wall.He could see the fine ripe fruit in the garden.

The camel stuck his head over the wall and ate all the fruit he wanted.

The poor pig was so short that he could not reach over the wall.He could not get inside the garden,because there was no door.So he got no fruit.

"Ha,ha!"laughed the camel."Now,isn't it better to be tall like me than to be short like you?"

The pig didn't say a word.They went on a little farther and came to another garden.The wall around this garden was so high that even the camel could not reach over it.

There was a small door in this wall.The pig pushed the door open with his snout and went in.

This garden was full of ripe fruit,too,and the pig ate all he wanted.

But the poor camel was so tall that he could not get through the door,and so he did not get any of the fruit.

"Ha,ha,ha!"laughed the pig."Now,isn't it better to be short like me than to be tall like you?"

The camel didn't say anything for a long time.At last he said,

"Sometimes it's better to be small.

Sometimes it's better to be tall."

So the camel kept his hump,and the pig kept his snout.

21

The Fairy Shoemaker

Tom Looks for the Pot of Gold

Many,many years ago a boy said to his mother,"I am going to catch the Fairy Shoemaker,so that we will be rich.

"People say that he knows where there is a pot of gold in the woods.He will tell where it is if you catch him."

"I have heard of the Fairy Shoemaker,Tom,"said his mother."People often try to catch him.But they can't keep their eyes on him,and he always gets away."

Tom said,"If I find him,he will tell me where the gold is.Then we shall be rich."

"I hope you can catch him,"said Tom's mother."But I think you will get rich sooner if you work for your gold."

Every day Tom went to look for the Fairy Shoemaker.He looked in the woods and meadows,but he did not see the elf anywhere.

One day when he was walking in the woods,Tom heard a queer little noise.

"That must be the Fairy Shoemaker's hammer,"he said to himself.He ran as quickly as he could toward the noise,but he did not see anyone.

Another day when Tom was walking in the woods,he grew very tired and lay down to rest.All at once he heard,

"Tick-tack,tick-tack,

Tick-tack,tick-tack."

It was the little hammer of the Fairy Shoemaker!

Tom listened and heard a tiny voice singing very softly,

"This way,that way,

So we make a shoe.

Tack a toe,tack a heel,

Tick-a-tack-too."

Tom went creeping toward the tiny voice,taking care not to make a sound.All at once he saw a wee man sitting beneath a tree,just a few steps away.

The queer little fellow was hard at work,making a tiny shoe.

"Tick-tack,tick-tack,

Tick-a-tack-too,"

went the little hammer.Yes,it was the Fairy Shoemaker!

How glad Tom was.He would keep his eyes on the sly little elf every minute until he found the pot of gold.

"Good morning,"said Tom.The Fairy Shoemaker didn't say a word.

Tom went very close to him and asked,"Aren't you the Fairy Shoemaker?"

The elf did not answer him.

Tom went closer still."Where is the pot of gold?"he cried."Show it to me!"

"Wait a minute,"said the tiny elf."I just dropped a tack on the ground.Help me find my tack,and then I will see what I can do for you."

"He is trying to make me look away,"thought Tom."But I will keep my eyes on this sly fellow."

He got down on the ground with the Fairy Shoemaker as if to help him look for the tack.Puff!The sly elf blew dust into Tom's eyes,nose,and mouth.

"Ker-choo!"went Tom."KER-CHOO!"

He had to shut his eyes,and when he opened them,the elf was gone.

When Tom got home,his mother said,"What did I tell you?See how red your eyes are!The Fairy Shoemaker knows many sly tricks.

"You had better work for your money instead of hunting for a pot of gold."

Tom Tries Again

But Tom would not give up.He went on hunting for the Fairy Shoemaker.He still hoped to find the pot of gold.

"I found the Fairy Shoemaker once,"he said,"and I will find him again."

So every day Tom looked for him on the hill,in the meadow,and in the woods.And one day he heard the elf again,near the pond in the meadow.

"Tick-tack,tick-tack,

Tick-a-tack-too."

The boy listened.Yes!It was the Fairy Shoemaker's hammer.

As Tom listened,he could hear a little voice singing,

"This way,that way,

So we make a shoe.

Tack a toe,tack a heel,

Tick-a-tack-too."

Tom walked quietly to the pond.The wee elf was sitting on a stone.He was holding a little shoe and hammering tacks into it.His tiny hammer went,

"Tick-tack,tick-tack,

Tick-a-tack-too."

Tom crept up softly.He was very,very close before the Fairy Shoemaker saw him.

"That's a fine shoe,"said the boy.The queer little fellow looked up in surprise.

"Thank you,sir,"he answered.

"How very small it is!"said Tom."It's for a fairy,isn't it?"

"That's a secret,"said the elf.

Tom crept closer and closer,keeping his eyes on the elf."Why do you work so hard?"he asked.

"We should all work,"answered the elf."You should do a little work yourself.Look,look!The cows have broken down the fence.They are in the cornfield!"

Tom had not seen any cows,and was so surprised that he almost turned to look.Then he thought,"That's another trick to make me look away!"So he kept his eyes on the wee man.

He went closer,and then,JUMP!Tom caught the tiny elf in his hand.

Another Trick

"Now I have you,"said Tom."Where is the pot of gold?I won't let you go until you show me where it is."

"Come on,then,"said the elf."It is in the woods.I will show you."

Tom started for the woods,holding the elf in his hand.After they had gone a short way among the trees,the wee man cried,"Stop!Do you see that large tree?"

"Yes,"answered Tom."But where is the pot of gold?"

"It is under that tree,"said the Fairy Shoemaker."You must dig for it."

"Well,"said Tom,"I shall have to run home for a spade.But first I'll put my tie around this tree.Then I'll remember where to dig when I come back."

He held the elf under his arm while he put his yellow tie around the tree.

"Now aren't you going to let me go?"asked the Fairy Shoemaker.

"I will let you go,"said Tom."But you must promise not to take my tie off the tree while I am gone for the spade."

"I promise,"said the Fairy Shoemaker."I will not touch it while you are away.Now put me down."

Tom put the elf down."All right,"he said."Thank you for the pot of gold."

"Good-by!"said the Fairy Shoemaker."Much good may the pot of gold do you when you get it."And suddenly he was gone.

Tom hurried home as fast as he could run.He found the spade and carried it back into the woods where he had left his tie.

When he got there,what do you think he saw?

Every tree in the woods had a yellow tie around it!

The elf had kept his promise.He had not touched the boy's tie!But where was the pot of gold?

There were so many,many trees in the woods that Tom could not dig under every one of them.

He was so surprised that he dropped his spade.He rubbed his eyes.For a long time he stood looking at the trees with their yellow ties.Then he picked up his spade and walked slowly home.

The Fairy Shoemaker had been too sly for him a second time.

"Mother is right,"thought Tom."The Fairy Shoemaker knows too many tricks.

"I shall get rich sooner if I work for my gold instead of trying to get it from that sly old elf."

22

The Three Pigs

The Little Pigs Leave Home

Long,long ago there were three little pigs who lived with their mother.

The first pig was white,the second was black,and the third was spotted.

One day they said,"Mother dear,isn't it time for us to go out into the world and build our own homes?"

"Yes,"said Mother Pig."But look out for the wolf."

So the three pigs started out.The first little pig met a man with some straw.

"Please,sir,give me some straw,"said the little pig to the man."I need straw to build a house."

"Take all you want,"said the man.

"Thank you,"said the little white pig.

Soon the pig had a house of straw.

Along came the wolf.He knocked at the door,and the little pig opened the window to peep out.

"Little pig,little pig,let me come in!"said the wolf in a loud voice.

"No,by the hair of my chinny chin chin.You are the wolf,and you can't come in,"said the little pig.

"Then I'll huff and I'll puff,and I'll blow your house in,"said the wolf.

So he huffed and he puffed,and he blew the house in.Then he ate up the pig.

The second little pig met a man with some sticks."Please,sir give me a few of those sticks.I want to build a house."

The man gave him some sticks,and the pig built a little house.

Along came the wolf.He knocked at the door and said,"Little pig,little pig,let me come in!"

"No,by the hair of my chinny chin chin.You are the wolf,and you can't come in!"said the pig.

"Then I'll huff and I'll puff,and I'll blow your house in,"said the wolf.

So he huffed and he puffed,and he puffed and he huffed,and he blew the house in.Then he ate up the little pig.

The third little pig met a man with some bricks.

"Please,sir,give me some bricks,"said the pig."I want to build a house."

The man gave him some bricks,and the pig built a little brick house.

Along came the wolf and knocked at the door.

"Let me in,let me in,"he said.

"No,by the hair of my chinny chin chin.You are the wolf,and you can't come in,"said the pig.

"Then I'll huff and I'll puff,and I'll blow your house in,"said the wolf.

So the wolf huffed and puffed,and he puffed and he huffed,and he huffed and he puffed.But he could not blow the brick house in.

The Wolf Comes Back

Next day the wolf came back and said,"Little pig,do you want some turnips?"

"I like turnips very much,"said the little pig."Where can I get some?"

"Do you see that field?"said the wolf."It is full of nice,sweet turnips.I will come in the morning to show you the way,and we will get some of them."

"What time shall we go?"asked the pig.

"At six o'clock,"answered the wolf.Then off he went.

But the next morning the little pig was awake at five o'clock.He hurried to the field and soon came home with a basket full of turnips.

At six o'clock the wolf came along,but he did not see the pig.

"Little pig,aren't you going?"he called.

The pig came to the window.

"Oh,I went to the field an hour ago,"he answered."I have a pot of turnips on the fire.Don't you smell them?"

The wolf was angry,but he said,"Little pig,I know where there is an apple tree."

"Where?"asked the little pig.

"Do you see that field?"said the wolf."The apples are there,all red and ripe and ready to eat.I will come for you in the morning,and we will get some."

"What time will you come?"asked the little pig.

"At five o'clock,"answered the wolf.

But the little pig went to the field at four o'clock.He climbed the apple tree and soon had a basket of ripe apples.

Just then the hungry wolf came along.

"Now I have you,"he shouted.

The little pig was frightened,but he looked down and said,"Here is a nice ripe apple.Catch it,Mr.Wolf."

He threw the apple as far as he could.While the wolf was running to pick it up,the pig jumped out of the tree with his basket of apples and ran home.

In a few days the wolf came again.He said,"There is a Fair in town.Would you like to go there tomorrow?"

"Oh,yes,"said the little pig."I should really like to go to the Fair.I need a churn,and I can get one at the Fair.What time will you start?"

"At five o'clock,"said the wolf.

But the little pig got up at four o'clock.Off he went to the Fair and got a new churn.

"Now,I am ready to go home,"said the little pig to himself."And I must hurry along before the wolf comes."

When he got to the top of the hill,he saw the wolf coming up.

There was no time to run away,and so the little pig jumped into his churn.All you could see of him was his funny little snout.

The churn began to roll down the hill.Over and over and over it rolled.

When the wolf saw it coming,he said,"What strange beast is this?"

He was so frightened that he turned and ran away.The little pig was safe.

The next day the wolf came again.

"Did you go to the Fair,Mr.Wolf?"asked the little pig.

"No,"said the wolf."I was going to the Fair,but I met a big round thing.I do not know what it was,but it looked like some terrible beast.

"It rolled down the hill and frightened me so that I ran home."

Little pig laughed and laughed.

"Oh!I frightened you,did I?"he said."That round thing was my churn.When I saw you,I got into it and rolled down the hill."

The wolf was so angry that he said,"I will come down the chimney and eat you."

Quickly the little pig built a fire and put on a big pot of water.When the wolf came down the chimney,he fell into the pot.After that he never came to visit the little pig again.