Thornton W Burgess

Father Brown's son is stirring a commotion among all the denizens of the meadow -- for he sets an armload of traps all around Smiling Pool. Jerry Muskrat and Little Joe Otter, with the help of old Grandfather Frog, fix things up fine. But the traps are only the beginning of their troubles -- for then the Smiling Pool stops smiling, and the Laughing Brooks stops laughing Thornton Burgess (1874-1965) expressed his love of the outdoors in this delightful tale of woodland and meadow.

Father Brown's son is stirring a commotion among all the denizens of the meadow -- for he sets an armload of traps all around Smiling Pool. Jerry Muskrat and Little Joe Otter, with the help of old Grandfather Frog, fix things up fine. But the traps are only the beginning of their troubles -- for then the Smiling Pool stops smiling, and the Laughing Brooks stops laughing Thornton Burgess (1874-1965) expressed his love of the outdoors in this delightful tale of woodland and meadow.

"If you please, Mistah Buzzard, you can tell me if there is anybody way down South where you come from who can make his voice sound just like the voices of other people. Is there?" Bobby was using his very politest manner." Cert'nly Cert'nly " chuckled Ol' Mistah Buzzard. "It's Mistah Mockah the Mocking-bird. Why, that bird just likes to go around making trouble; he just naturally likes to.""He is right here in the Green Forest now," replied Bobby Coon." What's that yo' am a-saying, Brer Coon? What's that?" cried Ol' Mistah Buzzard, growing very excited.

Whitefoot the Woodmouse had been running and jumping all around the inside of the little sugar-house. He loves to run and jump, and he had been having just the best time ever. Finally Whitefoot ran along the old bench and jumped from the end of it for a box standing on end, which Farmer Brown's boy sometimes used to sit on. It wasn't a very long jump, but somehow Whitefoot misjudged it. He was heedless, and he didn't jump quite far enough. Right beside that box was a tin pail half filled with sap. Instead of landing on the box, Whitefoot landed with a splash in that pail of sap Whitefoot had been in many tight places. Yes, indeed, Whitefoot had been in many tight places. He had had narrow escapes of all kinds. But never had he felt so utterly hopeless as now. The moment he landed in that sap, Whitefoot began to swim frantically. The more he tried to climb out, the more frightened he became

When winter was over, Johnny Chuck woke from hibernation's slumber with a strange yearning in his heart. He gave up his old burrow and went off in search of a new home and a new adventure. And up on the meadow, he found an adventure as special as all creation: he found a sweet young girl chuck named Polly Chuck, and he knew he had to have her for his own. . . .

Granny Fox said, "Now, Reddy Fox, you run across the bridge and watch from the top of the little hill over there. Perhaps I can show you a trick that will teach you why I have made you learn to run across the bridge." Reddy trotted across the long bridge and up to the top of the hill, as Granny had told him to. Pretty soon Reddy heard another sound. It was a long, low rumble. Then there was a distant whistle. It was a train. Suddenly Granny Fox started across the bridge so fast that she looked like a little red streak. Bowser the Hound dog was close at her heels when she started and he was so eager to catch her that he didn't see either the bridge or the train. Oh, my, no When she had reached the other side, he wasn't halfway across, and right behind him, whistling for him to get out of the way, was the train. The hound gave one frightened yelp, and then he leaped down, down into the swift water below." Now you know why I wanted you to learn to cross a bridge; it's a very nice way of getting rid of dogs," said Granny Fox, as she climbed up beside Reddy.