Happy Jack

by Thornton W. Burgess

  Farmer Brown's boy laughed, and putting the rest of the nuts outside,he closed the window. Happy Jack ate his fill and then scampered back tothe Green Forest. He felt all puffed up with pride. He felt that he hadbeen very, very bold, and he was anxious to tell Tommy Tit theChickadee, who had not been with him that morning, how bold he had been.

  "Pooh, that's nothing!" replied Tommy, when he had heard about it. "I'vedone that often."

  CHAPTER XXII

  HAPPY JACK DARES TOMMY TIT

  A wise philosopher is he Who takes things as they chance to be, And in them sees that which is best While trying to forget the rest.

  _Happy Jack._

  Somehow Happy Jack's day had been spoiled. He knew that he had nobusiness to allow it to be spoiled, but it was, just the same. You see,he had been all puffed up with pride because he thought himself a verybold fellow because he had really been inside Farmer Brown's house. Hecouldn't help feeling quite puffed up about it. But when he told TommyTit the Chickadee about it, Tommy had said, "Pooh! I've done thatoften."

  That was what had spoiled the day for Happy Jack. He knew that if TommyTit said that he had done a thing, he had, for Tommy always tells thetruth and nothing but the truth. So Happy Jack hadn't been so dreadfullybold, after all, and had nothing to brag about. It made him feel quiteput out. He actually tried to make himself feel that it was all thefault of Tommy Tit, and that he wanted to get even with him. He thoughtabout it all the rest of the day, and just before he fell asleep thatnight an idea came to him.

  "I know what I'll do! I'll dare Tommy to go as far inside FarmerBrown's house as I do!" he exclaimed, and went to sleep to dream that hewas the boldest, bravest squirrel that ever lived.

  The next morning when he reached the tree close by Farmer Brown's house,he found Tommy Tit already there, flitting about impatiently and callinghis loudest, which wasn't very loud, for you know Tommy is a very littlefellow, and his voice is not very loud. But he was doing his best tocall Farmer Brown's boy. You see, there wasn't a single nut on thewindow-sill, and the window was closed. Pretty soon Farmer Brown's boycame to the window and opened it. But he didn't put out any nuts. TommyTit at once flew over to the sill, and to show that he was just asbold, Happy Jack followed. Looking inside, they saw Farmer Brown's boystanding in the middle of the room, holding out a dish of nuts andsmiling at them. This was the chance Happy Jack wanted to try the planhe had thought of the night before.

  "I dare you to go way in there and get a nut," said he to Tommy Tit. Hehoped that Tommy would be afraid.

  But Tommy wasn't anything of the kind. "Dee, dee, dee! Come on!" hecried, and flitted over and helped himself to a cracked nut and was backwith it before Happy Jack could make up his mind to jump down inside.Of course now that he had dared Tommy Tit, and Tommy had taken the dare,he just had to do it too. It looked a long way in to where FarmerBrown's boy was standing. Twice he started and turned back. Then heheard Tommy Tit chuckle. That was too much. He wouldn't be laughed at.He just wouldn't. He scampered across, grabbed a nut, and rushed back tothe window-sill, where he ate the nut. It was easier to go after thesecond nut, and when he went for the third, he had made up his mind thatit was perfectly safe in there, and so he sat up on a chair and ate it.Presently he felt quite at home, and when he had eaten all the nuts hewanted, he ran all around the room, examining all the strange thingsthere.

  This was a little more than Tommy Tit could make up his mind to do. Hewasn't afraid to fly in for a nut and then fly out again, but hecouldn't feel easy inside a house like that. Of course, this made HappyJack feel good all over. You see, he felt that now he really did havesomething to boast about. No one else in all the Green Forest or on theGreen Meadows could say that they had been all over Farmer Brown's boy'sroom as he had. Happy Jack swelled himself out at the thought. Noweverybody would say, "What a bold fellow!"

  CHAPTER XXIII

  SAMMY JAY IS QUITE UPSET

  I know of nothing sweeter than Success to Squirrel or to man.

  _Happy Jack._

  Very few people can be all puffed up with pride without showing it.Happy Jack Squirrel couldn't. Just to have looked at him you would haveknown that he was feeling very, very good about something. When hethought no one was looking, he would actually strut. And it was allbecause he considered himself a very bold fellow. That was a new feelingfor Happy Jack. He knew that all his neighbors considered him rathertimid, and many a time he had envied, actually envied Jimmy Skunk andReddy Fox and Unc' Billy Possum and even Sammy Jay because they did suchbold things and had dared to visit Farmer Brown's dooryard and henhousein spite of Bowser the Hound.

  But now he felt that he dared do a thing that not one of them dared do.He dared go right into Farmer Brown's house and make himself quite athome in the room of Farmer Brown's boy. He felt that he was atremendously brave fellow. You see, he quite forgot one thing. He forgotthat he had found out that love destroys fear, and that though it mightlook to others like a very bold thing to walk right into Farmer Brown'shouse, it really wasn't bold at all, because all the time he _knew_ thatno harm would come to him. It is never brave to do a thing that you arenot afraid to do. It had been brave of him to go in at that open windowthe first time, because then he had been afraid, but now he wasn'tafraid, and so it was no longer either brave or bold of him.

  Tommy Tit the Chickadee knew all this, and he used to chuckle to himselfas he saw how proud of himself Happy Jack was, but he said nothing toany one about it. Of course, it wasn't long before others began tonotice Happy Jack's pride. One of the first was Sammy Jay. There isvery little that escapes Sammy Jay's sharp eyes. Silently stealingthrough the Green Forest early one morning, he surprised Happy Jackstrutting.

  "Huh," said he, "what are you feeling so big about?"

  Like a flash the thought came to Happy Jack that here was a chance toshow what a bold fellow he had become. "Hello, Sammy!" he exclaimed."Are you feeling very brave this morning?"

  "Me feeling brave? What are you talking about? If I was as timid as youare, I wouldn't ever talk about bravery to other people. If there isanything you dare to do that I don't, I've never heard of it," retortedSammy Jay.

  "Come on!" cried Happy Jack. "I'm going to get my breakfast, and I dareyou to follow me!"

  Sammy Jay actually laughed right out. "Go ahead. Wherever you go, I'llgo," he declared.

  Happy Jack started right away for Farmer Brown's house, and Sammyfollowed. Through the Old Orchard, across the dooryard and into the bigmaple tree Happy Jack led the way, and Sammy followed, all the timewondering what was up. He had been there many times. In fact, he had hadmany a good meal of suet there during the cold weather, for FarmerBrown's boy had kept a big piece tied to a branch of the maple tree forthose who were hungry.

  Sammy was a little surprised when he saw Happy Jack jump over on to thewindow-sill. Still, he had been on that window-sill more than oncehimself, when he had made sure that no one was near, and had helpedhimself to the cracked nuts he had found there.

  "Come on!" called Happy Jack, his eyes twinkling.

  Sammy Jay chuckled. "He thinks I don't dare go over there," he thought."Well, I'll fool him."

  With a hasty look to see that no danger was near, he spread his wings tofollow Happy Jack on to the window-sill. Happy Jack waited to make surethat he really was coming and then slipped in at the open window andscampered over to a table on the farther side of the room and helpedhimself from a dish of nuts there.

  When Sammy saw Happy Jack disappear inside he gave a little gasp. Whenhe looked inside and saw Happy Jack making himself quite at home, hegasped again. And when he saw a door open and Farmer Brown's boy enter,and still Happy Jack did not run, he was too upset for words. He didn'tdare stay to see more, and for once in his life was quite speechless ashe flew back to the Green Forest.

  CHAPTER XXIV

  A DREAM COMES TRUE

  What are all our dreams made up of That they often are so queer? Wishes, hopes, and fond de
sires All mixed up with foolish fears.

  _Happy Jack._

  Which is worse, to have a very beautiful dream never come true, or tohave a bad dream really come true? Happy Jack Squirrel says the latteris worse, much worse. Dreams do come true once in a great while, youknow. One of Happy Jack's did. It came true, and it made a greatdifference in Happy Jack's life. You see, it was like this:

  Happy Jack had had so many things to think of that he had almostforgotten about Shadow the Weasel. Happy Jack hadn't seen or heardanything of him since Farmer Brown's boy had chased him into the GreenForest and so saved Happy Jack's life. Since then life had been too fullof pleasant things to think of anything so unpleasant as Shadow theWeasel. But one night Happy Jack had a bad dream. Yes, Sir, it was avery bad dream. He dreamed that once more Shadow the Weasel was afterhim, and this time there was no Farmer Brown's boy to run to for help.Shadow was right at his heels and in one more jump would have him.Happy Jack opened his mouth to scream, and--awoke.

  He was all ashake with fright. It was a great relief to find that it wasonly a dream, but even then he couldn't get over it right away. He wasglad that it was almost morning, and just as soon as it was light enoughto see, he crept out. It was too early to go over to Farmer Brown'shouse; Farmer Brown's boy wouldn't be up yet. So Happy Jack ran over toone of his favorite lookouts, a tall chestnut tree, and there, with hisback against the trunk, high above the ground, he watched the GreenForest wake as the first Sunbeams stole through it. But all the time hekept thinking of that dreadful dream.

  A little spot of black moving against the white snow caught his sharpeyes. What was it? He leaned forward and held his breath, as he tried tomake sure. Ah, now he could see! Just ahead of that black thing was along, slim fellow all in white, and that black spot was his tail. If ithadn't been for that, Happy Jack very likely wouldn't have seen him atall. It was Shadow the Weasel! He was running swiftly, first to one sideand then to the other, with his nose to the snow. He was hunting. Therewas no doubt about that. He was hunting for his breakfast.

  Happy Jack's eyes grew wide with fear. Would Shadow find his tracks? Itlooked very much as if Shadow was heading for Happy Jack's house, andHappy Jack was glad, very glad, that that bad dream had waked him andmade him so uneasy that he had come out. Otherwise he might have beencaught right in his own bed. Shadow was almost at Happy Jack's housewhen he stopped abruptly with his nose to the snow and sniffed eagerly.Then he turned, and with his nose to the snow, started straight towardthe tree where Happy Jack was. Happy Jack waited to see no more. He knewnow that Shadow had found his trail and that it was to be a case of runfor his life.

  "My dream has come true!" he sobbed as he ran. "My dream has come true,and I don't know what to do!" But all the time he kept on running asfast as ever he could, which really was the only thing to do.

  CHAPTER XXV

  HAPPY JACK HAS A HAPPY THOUGHT

  Who runs when danger comes his way Will live to run some other day.

  _Happy Jack._

  Frightened and breathless, running with all his might from Shadow theWeasel, Happy Jack Squirrel was in despair. He didn't know what to do orwhere to go. The last time he had run from Shadow he had run to FarmerBrown's boy, who had just happened to be near, and Farmer Brown's boyhad chased Shadow the Weasel away. But now it was too early in themorning for him to expect to meet Farmer Brown's boy. In fact, jolly,round, red Mr. Sun had hardly kicked his bedclothes off yet, and HappyJack was very sure that Farmer Brown's boy was still asleep.

  Now most of us are creatures of habit. We do the thing that we have beenin the habit of doing, and do it without thinking anything about it.That is why good habits are such a blessing. Happy Jack Squirrel is justlike the rest of us. He has habits, both good and bad. Of late, he hadbeen in the habit of getting his breakfast at Farmer Brown's house everymorning, so now when he began to run from Shadow the Weasel he justnaturally ran in the direction of Farmer Brown's house from force ofhabit. In fact, he was halfway there before he realized in whichdirection he was running.

  Right then a thought came to him. It gave him a wee bit of hope, andseemed to help him run just a little faster. If the window of FarmerBrown's boy's room was open, he would run in there, and perhaps Shadowthe Weasel wouldn't dare follow! How he did hope that that window wouldbe open! He knew that it was his only chance. He wasn't quite sure thatit really was a chance, for Shadow was such a bold fellow that he mightnot be afraid to follow him right in, but it was worth trying.

  Along the stone wall beside the Old Orchard raced Happy Jack to thedooryard of Farmer Brown, and after him ran Shadow the Weasel, andShadow looked as if he was enjoying himself. No doubt he was. He knewjust as well as Happy Jack did that there was small chance of meetingFarmer Brown's boy so early in the morning, so he felt very sure howthat chase was going to end, and that when it did end he would breakfaston Squirrel.

  By the time Happy Jack reached the dooryard, Shadow was only a few jumpsbehind him, and Happy Jack was pretty well out of breath. He didn't stopto look to see if the way was clear. There wasn't time for that.Besides, there could be no greater danger in front than was almost athis heels, and so, without looking one way or another, he scamperedacross the dooryard and up the big maple tree close to the house. Shadowthe Weasel was surprised. He had not dreamed that Happy Jack would comeover here. But Shadow is a bold fellow, and it made little difference tohim where Happy Jack went. At least, that is what he thought.

  So he followed Happy Jack across the dooryard and up the maple tree. Hetook his time about it, for he knew by the way Happy Jack had run thathe was pretty nearly at the end of his strength. "He never'll get out ofthis tree," thought Shadow, as he started to climb it. He fullyexpected to find Happy Jack huddled in a miserable little heap somewherenear the top. Just imagine how surprised he was when he discovered thatHappy Jack wasn't to be seen. He rubbed his angry little red eyes, andthey grew angrier and redder than before.

  "Must be a hollow up here somewhere," he muttered. "I'll just follow thescent of his feet, and that will lead me to him."

  But when that scent led him out on a branch the tip of which brushedagainst Farmer Brown's house Shadow got another surprise. There was nosign of Happy Jack. He couldn't have reached the roof. There was noplace he could have gone unless--. Shadow stared across at a window openabout two inches.

  "He couldn't have!" muttered Shadow. "He wouldn't dare. He couldn'thave!"

  But Happy Jack had. He had gone inside that window.

  CHAPTER XXVI

  FARMER BROWN'S BOY WAKES WITH A START

  Never think another crazy just because it happens you Never've heard of just the thing that they have started out to do.

  _Happy Jack._

  Isn't it queer how hard it seems to be for some boys to go to bed at theproper time and how much harder it is for them to get up in the morning?It was just so with Farmer Brown's boy. I suppose he wouldn't have beena real boy if it hadn't been so. Of course, while he was sick with themumps, he didn't have to get up, and while he was getting over themumps his mother let him sleep as long as he wanted to in the morning.That was very nice, but it made it all the harder to get up when heshould after he was well again. In summer it wasn't so bad getting upearly, but in winter--well, that was the one thing about winter thatFarmer Brown's boy didn't like.

  On this particular morning Farmer Brown had called him, and he hadreplied with a sleepy "All right." and then had rolled over and promptlygone to sleep again. In two minutes he was dreaming just as if therewere no such things as duties to be done. For a while they were verypleasant dreams, very pleasant indeed. But suddenly they changed. Aterrible monster was chasing him. It had great red eyes as big assaucers, and sparks of fire flew from its mouth. It had great claws asbig as ice tongs, and it roared like a lion. In his dream Farmer Brown'sboy was running with all his might. Then he tripped and fell, andsomehow he couldn't get up again. The terrible monster came nearer andnearer. Farmer Brown's boy tried to
scream and couldn't. He was sofrightened that he had lost his voice. The terrible monster was rightover him now and reached out one of his huge paws with the great claws.One of them touched him on the cheek, and it burned like fire.

  With a yell, a real, genuine yell, Farmer Brown's boy awoke and sprangout of bed. For a minute he couldn't think where he was. Then with asigh of relief he realized that he was safe in his own snug little roomwith the first Jolly Little Sunbeam creeping in at the window to wishhim good morning and chide him for being such a lazy fellow. A thump anda scurry of little feet caught his attention, and he turned to see aGray Squirrel running for the open window. It jumped up on the sill,looked out, then jumped down inside again, and ran over to a corner ofthe room, where he crouched as if in great fear. It was clear that hehad been badly frightened by the yell of Farmer Brown's boy, and that hewas still more frightened by something he had seen when he looked out ofthe window.

  A great light broke over Farmer Brown's boy. "Happy Jack, you littlerascal, I believe you are the terrible monster that scared me so!" heexclaimed. "I believe you were on my bed, and that it was your clawsthat I felt on my face. But what ails you? You look frightened almost todeath."

  He went over to the window and looked out. A movement in the big mapletree just outside caught his attention. He saw a long, slim white formdart down the tree and disappear. He knew who it was. It was Shadow theWeasel.

  "So that pesky Weasel has been after you again, and you came to me forhelp," said he gently, as he coaxed Happy Jack to come to him. "This isthe place to come to every time. Poor little chap, you're all of atremble. I guess I know how you feel when a Weasel is after you. I guessyou feel just as I felt when I dreamed that that monster was after me.My, but you certainly did give me a scare when you touched my face!" Hegently stroked Happy Jack as he talked, and Happy Jack let him.