The Adventures of Peter Cottontail

by Thornton W. Burgess

  "It must be hard work to see with only one eye," said Peter Rabbit.

  "It is," replied Reddy, with a great sigh. "It is very hard work,indeed."

  "I don't see how you manage to get enough to eat," continued Peter, inhis most sympathetic voice.

  Reddy sighed again. "I don't, Peter Rabbit. I don't get enough to eat,and I'm nearly starved this very minute." When he said this such a noteof longing crept into his voice that Peter instantly grew suspicious.While he was sorry for Reddy, he had no desire to make Reddy feel betterby furnishing himself for a meal. Peter hopped around to the blind sideof Reddy and turned his back to him, as he inquired for the health ofold Granny Fox.

  Now, you know that Peter's eyes are so placed in his head that he cansee behind him without turning his head. Reddy Fox did not know this, orif he did he had forgotten it. Very slowly and craftily the closed eyeopened a wee bit, and in that line of yellow was a hungry look. PeterRabbit saw it and with a great jump landed behind a friendly bramblebush in the Old Briar-patch.

  "Ha! ha!" shouted Peter, "I'd rather talk with you, Reddy Fox, when youhaven't got a closed eye with such a hungry look in it. Ta, ta!"

  Reddy Fox just shook his fist at Peter Rabbit, and started off home,pulling the bandage from his head as he went.

  XVIII. JOHNNY CHUCK PREPARES FOR WINTER

  |THERE was something in the air that Peter Rabbit couldn't understand.It made him feel frisky and happy and ready to run a race or have afrolic with any one who might happen along. He couldn't understand whyit didn't make all his friends and neighbors on the Green Meadows and inthe Green Forest feel the same way. But it didn't. No, Sir, it didn't.Some of those with whom he best liked to play wouldn't play at all, noteven for a few minutes; said they hadn't time. Peter was puzzling overit as he scampered down the Lone Little Path, kicking his heels andtrying to jump over his own shadow. Just ahead of him, sitting on hisown door-step, sat Johnny Chuck.

  "My goodness, how fat Johnny Chuck is getting!" thought Peter Rabbit.Then he shouted: "Come on and play hide and seek, Johnny Chuck!"

  But Johnny Chuck shook his head. "Can't!" said he. "I've got to getready for winter."

  Peter Rabbit sat down and looked at Johnny Chuck curiously. He couldn'tunderstand why anybody should take the trouble to get ready for winter.He didn't, excepting that he put on a warmer coat. So he couldn'timagine why Johnny Chuck should have to get ready for winter.

  "How do you do it?" he asked.

  "Do what?" Johnny Chuck looked up in surprise.

  "Why, get ready for winter, of course," Peter replied, just a wee bitimpatiently.

  Johnny Chuck looked at Peter as if he thought Peter very stupid indeed.

  "Why, I eat, of course," said he shortly, and began to stuff himself asif he hadn't had anything to eat for a week, when all the time he was sofat and roly-poly that he could hardly waddle.

  Peter's eyes twinkled. "I should think you did!" he exclaimed. "Iwouldn't mind getting ready for winter that way myself." You know Peterthinks a very great deal of his stomach. Then he added: "I should thinkyou were trying to eat enough to last you all winter."

  Johnny Chuck yawned sleepily and then once more began to eat. "I am," hesaid briefly, talking with his mouth full.

  "What's that?" cried Peter Rabbit, his big eyes popping out.

  "I said I'm trying to eat enough to last me all winter! That's the way Iget ready for winter," replied Johnny Chuck, just a wee bit crossly. "Ithink I've got enough now," he added. "How cool it is getting! I thinkI'll go down and go to sleep. I'll see you in the spring, Peter Rabbit."

  "Wha--what's that?" exclaimed

  Peter Rabbit, looking as if he thought he hadn't heard aright. ButJohnny Chuck had disappeared inside his house.

  XIX. PETER RABBIT GETS ANOTHER SURPRISE

  |PETER RABBIT sat on Johnny Chuck's door-step for five long minutes,scratching his head first with one hand, then with the other.

  "Now, what did Johnny Chuck mean by saying that he would see me in thespring?" said Peter Rabbit to himself. "Here it isn't winter yet, and itwill be a long, long time before spring, yet Johnny Chuck spoke just asif he didn't expect to see me until winter has passed. Is he going awaysomewhere? If he isn't, why won't I see him all winter, just as I haveall summer?"

  The more Peter thought about it, the more puzzled he became. At lasthe had a happy thought. "I'll just run down to the Smiling Pool and askGrandfather Frog. He is very old and very wise, and he will surely knowwhat Johnny Chuck meant."

  So, kicking up his heels, Peter Rabbit started down the Lone LittlePath, lip-perty-lipperty-lip, across the Green Meadows to the SmilingPool. There he found Grandfather Frog sitting as usual on his biglily-pad, but the lily-pad wasn't as green as it used to be, andGrandfather Frog didn't look as smart as usual. His big, goggly eyeslooked heavy and dull, just as if they didn't see much of anything atall. Grandfather Frog nodded sleepily and once nearly fell off the biglily-pad.

  "Good morning, Grandfather Frog!" shouted Peter Rabbit.

  "Eh? What?" said Grandfather Frog, blinking his eyes and putting onehand behind an ear, as if he was hard of hearing.

  "I said good morning, Grandfather Frog!" shouted Peter Rabbit, a littlelouder than before.

  "No," replied Grandfather Frog grumpily, "it isn't a good morning; it'stoo chilly." He shivered as he spoke.

  Peter Rabbit pretended not to notice how grumpy Grandfather Frog was. Inhis most polite way he asked: "Can you tell me, Grandfather Frog, whereJohnny Chuck spends the winter?"

  "Spends it at home, of course. Don't bother me with such foolishquestions!" snapped Grandfather Frog.

  "But if he is going to spend the winter at home, what did he mean bysaying that he would see me in the spring, just as if he didn't expectto see me before then?" persisted Peter Rabbit.

  Grandfather Frog yawned, shook himself, yawned again, and said:

  "Johnny Chuck probably meant just what he said, and I think I'll followhis example. It's getting too cold for an old fellow like me. I beginto feel it in my bones. I'm getting so sleepy that I guess the sooner Ihunt up my bed in the mud at the bottom of the Smiling Pool the better.Chugarum! Johnny Chuck is wise. I'll see you in the spring, PeterRabbit, and tell you all about it."

  And with that, Grandfather Frog dived with a great splash into theSmiling Pool.

  XX. PETER TRIES OL' MISTAH BUZZARD

  |PETER RABBIT sat on the edge of the Smiling Pool and stared at theplace where Grandfather Frog had disappeared with a great splash. Hewatched the tiny waves spread out in rings that grew bigger and biggerand then finally disappeared too. Now what did Grandfather Frog meanwhen he said: "I'll see you in the spring, Peter Rabbit?" Johnny Chuckhad said that very same thing as he had gone down the long hall of hissnug house, yet it would be a long, long time before spring, for it wasnot winter yet. Where did they expect to be all winter, and what didthey expect to do? The more Peter puzzled over it, the less he couldunderstand it.

  "My head is whirling round and round,

  So many funny things I've found;

  Folks say it grows too cold to stay,

  Yet do not seem to go away.

  They talk of meeting in the spring

  But don't explain a single thing.

  "They just go into their houses and say good-by. I don't understand itat all, at all," said Peter Rabbit, staring at the big lily-pad on whichGrandfather Frog had sat all summer, watching for foolish green flies tocome his way. Somehow that big lily-pad made Peter Rabbit feel terriblylonely. Then he had a happy thought.

  "I'll just run over and ask Ol' Mistah Buzzard what it all means;he'll be sure to know," said Peter Rabbit, and off he started,lipperty-lipperty-lip, for the Green Forest.

  When Peter got where he could see the tall dead tree that Ol' MistahBuzzard had made his favorite resting-place, he could see Ol' MistahBuzzard stretching his big wings, as if he was g
etting ready to fly.Peter hurried faster. He didn't want Mistah Buzzard to get away beforehe could ask him what Johnny Chuck and Grandfather Frog had meant. Petercouldn't shout, because he hasn't much of a voice, you know, and then hewas out of breath, anyway. So he just made those long legs of his go asfast as ever they could, which is very fast indeed.

  Just as Peter Rabbit almost reached the tall dead tree, Ol' MistahBuzzard jumped off the branch he had been sitting on, gave two or threeflaps with his great wings, and then, spreading them out wide, began tosail round and round and up and up, as only Ol' Mistah Buzzard can.

  "Wait! Wait! Please wait!" panted Peter Rabbit, but his voice was soweak that Ol' Mistah Buzzard didn't hear him. He saw Peter, however, butof course he didn't know that Peter wanted to talk with him. With a longswoop, Ol' Mistah Buzzard sailed off right over Peter's head.

  "Good-by, Brer Rabbit; Ah'll see yo' in the spring!" said Ol' MistahBuzzard, and before Peter could say a word, he was out of hearing up inthe sky.

  Peter watched him go up and up until he was just a speck in the blue,blue sky.

  "Now what did he mean by that? Is he going to stay up in the sky untilspring?" asked Peter Rabbit of himself. But not knowing, of course hecouldn't answer.

  XI. HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL IS TO BUSY TO TALK

  |PETER RABBIT sat with his mouth wide open staring up into the blue,blue sky, where Ol' Mistah Buzzard was growing smaller and smaller.Finally he was just a teeny, weeny speck, and then Peter couldn't seehim at all. Peter hitched up his trousers and sat for a long time,looking very thoughtful. He was troubled in his mind, was Peter Rabbit.First Johnny Chuck had said: "I'll see you in the spring," and haddisappeared underground; then Grandfather Frog had said: "I'll see youin the spring," and had disappeared in the Smiling Pool; now Ol' MistahBuzzard had said: "Ah'll see yo' in the spring," and had disappeared upin the blue, blue sky.

  "And they all spoke just as if they meant it," said Peter to himself. "Ibelieve I'll go over and see Happy Jack Squirrel. Perhaps he can tell mewhat it all means."

  So off started Peter Rabbit, lipperty-lipperty-lip, through the GreenForest, looking for Happy Jack Squirrel. Pretty soon he caught a glimpseof Happy Jack's gray coat.

  "Hi, Happy Jack!" called Peter, hurrying as fast as he could.

  "Hello, Peter Rabbit! Don't bother me this morning. I've got too much todo to be bothered," said Happy Jack, digging a little hole in the groundwhile he talked.

  Peter grew curious at once, so curious that he forgot all about what hewas going to ask Happy Jack. He sat down and watched Happy Jack put anut in the hole and cover it up. Then Happy Jack hurried to dig anotherhole and do the same thing over again.

  "What are you doing that for?" asked Peter Rabbit.

  "Doing it for? Why, I'm getting ready for winter, of course, stupid!"said Happy Jack, as he paused for breath.

  "But I thought you stored your nuts and corn in a hollow tree!"exclaimed Peter Rabbit.

  "So I do," replied Happy Jack, "but I would be foolish to put all mysupplies in one place, so I bury some of them."

  "But how do you remember where you bury them?" persisted Peter.

  "I don't always, but when I forget, my nose helps me out. Then I justdig down and get them," said Happy Jack. "Now I can't stop to talk anymore, for I am late this year, and the first thing I know winter will behere."

  Then Peter remembered what he had come for. "Oh, Happy Jack, what didJohnny Chuck and Grandfather Frog and Ol' Mistah Buzzard mean by sayingthat they would see me in the spring?" he cried.

  "Can't stop to tell you now!" replied Happy Jack, running this way andthat way, and pulling over the fallen leaves to hunt for another nut."Winter's coming, and I've got to be ready for it. Can't stop to talk."

  And that was all Peter Rabbit could get out of him, although he followedHappy Jack about and bothered him with questions until Happy Jack quitelost his temper. Peter sighed. He saw Chatterer the Red Squirrel andStriped Chipmunk both quite as busy as Happy Jack.

  "It's of no use to ask them, for they are doing the same thing thatHappy Jack is," thought Peter. "I don't see the use of all this fussabout winter, anyway. I don't have to get ready for it. I believe I'llgo down to the Smiling Pool again and see if maybe Grandfather Frog hascome up."

  XXII. UNC' BILLY POSSUM EXPLAINS THINGS

  |PETER RABBIT had sat still all day long in his safe hiding-place in themiddle of the dear Old Briar-patch. Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had goneto bed behind the Purple Hills, and the black shadows had raced outacross the Green Meadows and into the Green Forest. Now the moonlightwas driving them back a little way. Peter hopped out of the OldBriar-patch into the moonlight and stretched first one leg and thenanother. Then he jumped up and down three or four times to get the kinksout of his long hind legs, and finally started off up the Lone LittlePath, lipperty-lipperty-lip.

  Half way up the Lone Little Path Peter almost ran headlong into Unc'Billy Possum.

  "Mah goodness, Brer Rabbit, yo'all done give me a powerful start!"exclaimed Unc' Billy. "What yo'all in such a right smart hurry fo'?"

  Peter Rabbit grinned as he stopped running. "I didn't mean to frightenyou, Uncle Billy. The fact is, I was on my way up to your house tosee how you and old Mrs. Possum and all the children do this fine fallweather," said Peter Rabbit.

  Unc' Billy Possum looked at Peter Rabbit sharply. "Seems to me thatyo'all have taken a powerful sudden interest in we-alls. Ah don'remember seeing yo' up our way fo' a long time, Brer Rabbit," said he.

  Peter looked a little foolish, for it was true that he hadn't been nearUnc' Billy's hollow tree for a long time. "You see, I've been very busygetting ready for winter," said Peter, by way of an excuse.

  Unc' Billy began to chuckle and then to laugh. He rested both hands onhis knees and laughed and laughed.

  Peter Rabbit couldn't see anything to laugh at and he began to get justa wee bit provoked.

  "What's the joke?" he demanded.

  "The very idea of Brer Rabbit getting ready for winter or of being busyabout anything but other people's affairs!" cried Unc' Billy, wiping hiseyes.

  Peter tried to feel and to look very angry, but he couldn't. No, Sir, hecouldn't. The very twinkle in Unc' Billy Possum's eyes made Peter wantto laugh, too. In fact Peter just had to laugh. Finally both stoppedlaughing, and Peter told Unc' Billy all about the things that hadtroubled him.

  "Johnny Chuck disappeared down in his house and said he would see me inthe spring; what did he mean by that?" asked Peter.

  "Just what he said," replied Unc' Billy. "He done gone down to his bedand gone to sleep, and he's gwine to stay asleep until next spring."

  Peter's eyes looked as if they would pop right out of his head. "AndGrandfather Frog, what has become of him?" he asked.

  "Oh, Grandfather Frog, he done gone to sleep, too, down in the mud atthe bottom of the Smiling Pool. Ah reckon yo' will see Grandfather Frogcome up right pert in the spring," said Unc' Billy.

  "And Ol' Mistah Buzzard--he shouted down from the blue, blue sky that hewould see me in the spring; has he gone to sleep up there?" asked Peter.

  Unc' Billy Possum threw back his head and laughed fit to kill himself.

  "Bless yo' long ears, no, Brer Rabbit! No indeed! Oh my, no! BrerBuzzard done fly away down Souf to ol' Virginny to stay through thecold winter. And Ah most wish Ah was right along with him," added Unc'Billy, suddenly growing sober.

  Then Peter Rabbit had a sudden thought. "You aren't going away to sleepall winter, are you, Uncle Billy?" he asked anxiously.

  The grin came back to Unc' Billy's face. "No, Brer Rabbit. Ah reckonsyo'all can find me right in mah hollow tree most any time this winter,if yo' knock loud enough. But Ah don' reckon on going out much, and Ahdo reckon Ah'm going to have a right smart lot of sleep," replied Unc'Billy.

  XXIII. PETER RABBIT HAS A BRIGHT IDEA

  |PETER RABBIT had a bright idea. At least Peter thought it was, and hechuckled over it a great deal. The more he thought about it, the betterit seemed. What
was it? Why, to follow the plan of Johnny Chuck andGrandfather Frog to avoid the cold, stormy weather by sleeping allwinter. Yes, Sir, that was Peter Rabbit's bright idea.

  "If Johnny Chuck can sleep and sleep

  The whole long, stormy winter through,

  It ought to be, it seems to me,

  The very thing for me to do."

  Peter Rabbit said this to himself, as he sat in the middle of the OldBriar-patch, chewing the end of a straw. If Johnny Chuck could do it, ofcourse he could do it. All he would have to do would be to find a snug,warm house which nobody else was using, fix himself a comfortable bed,curl up, and go to sleep. Peter tried to picture himself sleeping awaywhile the snow lay deep all over the Green Meadows and the Smiling Poolcould smile no more because the ice, the hard, black ice, would not letit.

  Finally Peter could sit still no longer. He just had to tell some oneabout his bright idea and--and--well, he wasn't quite sure of just theway to go to sleep and sleep so long, for never in his life had PeterRabbit slept more than a very, very short time without waking to seethat no danger was near.

  "I'll just run up and see Uncle Billy Possum!" said Peter.

  Unc' Billy Possum was sitting in his doorway in his big, hollow tree inthe Green Forest when Peter Rabbit came hurrying up,lipperty-lipperty-lip. Peter hardly waited to say good morning before hebegan to tell Unc' Billy all about his bright idea. Unc' Billy listenedgravely, although there was a twinkle in his eyes.