HAPPY JACK

BY

THORNTON W. BURGESS

_With Illustrations by HARRISON CADY_

This book, while produced under wartime conditions, in full compliancewith government regulations for the conservation of paper and otheressential materials, is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED. 

_1918, _

TO

DR. WILLIAM T. HORNADAY

TO WHOM POSTERITY WILL OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR HIS VALIANT FIGHT TOPRESERVE AMERICAN WILD LIFE, WHO HAS BEEN A LIFELONG CHAMPION OF HAPPYJACK SQUIRREL, AND TO WHOM THE AUTHOR IS DEEPLY INDEBTED FORENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED

CONTENTS

 I. HAPPY JACK DROPS A NUT

 II. THE QUARREL

 III. STRIPED CHIPMUNK Is KEPT VERY BUSY

 IV. HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH

 V. HAPPY JACK SUSPECTS STRIPED CHIPMUNK

 VI. HAPPY JACK SPIES ON STRIPED CHIPMUNK

 VII. STRIPED CHIPMUNK HAS FUN WITH HAPPY JACK

 VIII. HAPPY JACK TURNS BURGLAR

 IX. HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL'S SAD MISTAKE

 X. STRIPED CHIPMUNK'S HAPPY THOUGHT

 XI. STRIPED CHIPMUNK'S THANKSGIVING DINNER

 XII. HAPPY JACK DOES SOME THINKING

 XIII. HAPPY JACK GETS A WARNING

 XIV. HAPPY JACK'S RUN FOR LIFE

 XV. WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?

 XVI. HAPPY JACK MISSES FARMER BROWN'S BOY

 XVII. TOMMY TIT BRINGS NEWS

 XVIII. HAPPY JACK DECIDES TO MAKE A CALL

 XIX. TOMMY TIT AND HAPPY JACK PAY A VISIT

 XX. WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH FARMER BROWN'S BOY?

 XXI. HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL GROWS VERY BOLD

 XXII. HAPPY JACK DARES TOMMY TIT

 XXIII. SAMMY JAY IS QUITE UPSET

 XXIV. A DREAM COMES TRUE

 XXV. HAPPY JACK HAS A HAPPY THOUGHT

 XXVI. FARMER BROWN'S BOY WAKES WITH A START

 XXVII. HAPPY JACK IS AFRAID TO GO HOME

 XXVIII. HAPPY JACK FINDS A NEW HOME

 XXIX. FARMER BROWN'S BOY TAKES A PRISONER

 XXX. A PRISONER WITHOUT FEAR

 XXXI. WHAT FARMER BROWN'S BOY DID WITH SHADOW

 XXXII. HAPPY JACK IS PERFECTLY HAPPY

 XXXIII. SAMMY JAY UPSETS HAPPY JACK

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Peter Rabbit, who happened along just then, put his hands over his ears

Happy Jack tried every trick he knew to get away from Shadow the Weasel

"Did you find out anything?" asked Happy Jack eagerly

It wasn't long before Shadow began to receive many visitors

HAPPY JACK

CHAPTER I

HAPPY JACK DROPS A NUT

 Save a little every day, And for the future put away. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack Squirrel sat on the tip of one of the highest branches of abig hickory tree. Happy Jack was up very early that morning. In fact, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was still in his bed behind the Purple Hillswhen Happy Jack hopped briskly out of bed. He washed himself thoroughlyand was ready for business by the time Mr. Sun began his climb up inthe blue, blue sky. 

You see, Happy Jack had found that big hickory tree just loaded withnuts all ripe and ready to gather. He was quite sure that no one elsehad found that special tree, and he wanted to get all the nuts beforeany one else found out about them. So he was all ready and off he racedto the big tree just as soon as it was light enough to see. 

 "The nuts that grow in the hickory tree-- They're all for me! They're all for me!"

Happy Jack was humming that little song as he rested for a few minutes'way up in the top of the tree and wondered if his storehouse would holdall these big, fat nuts. Just then he heard a great scolding a littleway over in the Green Forest. Happy Jack stopped humming and listened. He knew that voice. It was his cousin's voice--the voice of Chattererthe Red Squirrel. Happy Jack frowned. "I hope he won't come over thisway, " muttered Happy Jack. He does not love his cousin Chatterer anyway, and then there was the big tree full of hickory nuts! He didn't wantChatterer to find that. 

I am afraid that Happy Jack was selfish. There were more nuts than hecould possibly eat in one winter, and yet he wasn't willing that hiscousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, should have a single one. NowChatterer is short-tempered and a great scold. Some one or somethinghad upset him this morning, and he was scolding as fast as his tonguecould go, as he came running right towards the tree in which Happy Jackwas sitting. Happy Jack sat perfectly still and watched. He didn't moveso much as the tip of his big gray tail. Would Chatterer go past and notsee that big tree full of nuts? It looked very much as if he would, forhe was so busy scolding that he wasn't paying much attention to otherthings. 

Happy Jack smiled as Chatterer came running under the tree without oncelooking up. He was so tickled that he started to hug himself and didn'tremember that he was holding a big, fat nut in his hands. Of course hedropped it. Where do you think it went? Well, Sir, it fell straightdown, from the top of that tall tree, and it landed right on the head ofChatterer the Red Squirrel!

"My stars!" cried Chatterer, stopping his scolding and his runningtogether, and rubbing his head where the nut had hit him. Then he lookedup to see where it had come from. Of course, he looked straight up atHappy Jack. 

"You did that purposely!" screamed Chatterer, his short temper flaringup. 

"I didn't!" snapped Happy Jack. 

"You did!"

"I didn't!"

Oh, dear, oh, dear, such a sight! two little Squirrels, one in a graysuit and one in a red suit, contradicting each other and calling names!It was such a sad, sad sight, for you know they were cousins. 

CHAPTER II

THE QUARREL

 It's up to you and up to me To see how thrifty we can be. To do our bit like soldiers true It's up to me and up to you. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Two angry little people were making a dreadful noise in the GreenForest. It was a beautiful morning, a very beautiful fall morning, butall the beauty of it was being spoiled by the dreadful noise these twolittle people. You see they were quarreling. Yes, Sir, they werequarreling, and it wasn't at all nice to see or nice to hear. 

You know who they were. One was Happy Jack Squirrel, who wears a coatof gray, and the other was Chatterer the Red Squirrel, who always wearsa red coat with vest of white. When Happy Jack had dropped that nut fromthe tiptop of the tall hickory tree and it had landed right on top ofChatterer's head it really had been an accident. All the time Happy Jackhad been sitting as still as still could be, hoping that his cousinChatterer would pass by without looking up and so seeing the big fatnuts in the top of that tree. You see Happy Jack was greedy and wantedall of them himself. Now Chatterer the Red Squirrel has a sharp temper, and also he has sharp eyes. All the time he was scolding Happy Jack andcalling him names Chatterer's bright eyes were taking note of all thosebig, fat hickory-nuts and his mouth began to water. Without wasting anymore time he started up the tree to get some. 

Happy Jack grew very angry, very angry indeed. He hurried down to meetChatterer the Red Squirrel and to prevent him climbing the tree. 

"You keep out of this tree; it's mine!" he shrieked. 

"No such thing! You don't own the tree and I've got just as much righthere as you have!" screamed Chatterer, dodging around to the other sideof the tree. 

"'Tis, too, mine! I found it first!" shouted Happy Jack. "You're athief, so there!"

"I'm not!"

"You are!"

"You're a pig, Happy Jack! You're just a great big pig!"

"I'm not a pig! I found these nuts first and I tell you they're mine!"shrieked Happy Jack, so angry that every time he spoke he jerked histail. And all the time he was chasing round and round the trunk of thetree trying to prevent Chatterer getting up. 

Now Happy Jack is ever so much bigger than his cousin Chatterer but heisn't as spry. So in spite of him Chatterer got past, and like a littlered flash was up in the top of the tree where the big, fat nuts were. But he didn't have time to pick even one, for after him came Happy Jackso angry that Chatterer knew that he would fare badly if Happy Jackshould catch him. Round and round, over and across, this way and thatway, in the top of the tall hickory tree raced Chatterer the RedSquirrel with his cousin, Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel, right at hisheels, and calling him everything bad to be thought of. Yes, indeed itwas truly dreadful, and Peter Rabbit, who happened along just then, puthis hands over his ears so as not to hear such a dreadful quarrel. 

[Illustration: PETER RABBIT, WHO HAPPENED ALONG JUST THEN, PUT HIS HANDSOVER HIS EARS. ]

CHAPTER III

STRIPED CHIPMUNK IS KEPT VERY BUSY

I prefer big acorns but I never refuse little ones. They fit in between. 

_Happy Jack. _

Striped Chipmunk was sitting just inside a hollow log, studying abouthow he could fill up his new storehouse for the winter. Striped Chipmunkis very thrifty. He likes to play, and he is one of the merriest of allthe little people who live on the Green Meadows or in the Green Forest. He lives right on the edge of both and knows everybody, and everybodyknows him. Almost every morning the Merry Little Breezes of Old MotherWest Wind hurry over to have a frolic with him the very first thing. Butthough he dearly loves to play, he never lets play interfere with work. Whatever he does, be it play or work, he does with all his might. 

 "I love the sun; I love the rain; I love to work; I love to play. Whatever it may bring to me I love each minute of each day. "

So said Striped Chipmunk, as he sat in the hollow log and studied how hecould fill that splendid big new storehouse. Pretty soon he pricked uphis funny little ears. What was all that noise over in the GreenForest? Striped Chipmunk peeped out of the hollow log. Over in the topof a tall hickory tree a terrible fuss was going on. Striped Chipmunklistened. He heard angry voices, such angry voices! They were the voicesof his big cousins, Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel and Chatterer the RedSquirrel. 

"Dear me! Dear me! How those two do quarrel! I must go over and see whatit is all about, " thought Striped Chipmunk. 

So, with a flirt of his funny, little tail, he scampered out of thehollow log and over to the tall hickory tree. He knew all about thattree. Many, many times he had looked up at the big fat nuts in the topof it, watching them grow bigger and fatter, and hoping that when theygrew ripe, Old Mother West Wind would find time to shake them down tohim. You know Striped Chipmunk is not much of a climber, and so hecannot go up and pick the nuts as do his big cousins, Happy Jack andChatterer. 

When he reached the tall hickory tree, what do you think was happening?Why, those big, fat nuts were rattling down to the ground on every side, just as if Old Mother West Wind was shaking the tree as hard as shecould. But Old Mother West Wind wasn't there at all. No, Sir, therewasn't even one of the Merry Little Breezes up in the tree-tops. Thebig fat nuts were rattling down just on account of the dreadful quarrelof Striped Chipmunk's two foolish cousins, Happy Jack and Chatterer. 

It was all because Happy Jack was greedy. Chatterer had climbed thetree, and now Happy Jack, who is bigger but not so spry, was chasingChatterer round and round and over the tree-top, and both were so angrythat they didn't once notice that they were knocking down the very nutsover which they were quarreling. 

Striped Chipmunk didn't stop to listen to the quarrel. No, Sir-ee! Hestuffed a big fat nut in each pocket in his cheeks and scampered backto his splendid new storehouse as fast as his little legs would takehim. Back and forth, back and forth, scampered Striped Chipmunk, and allthe time he was laughing inside and hoping his big cousins would keepright on quarreling. 

CHAPTER IV

HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH

 If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any. Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack and Chatterer were out of breath. Happy Jack was puffing andblowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to raceabout in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer. So Happy Jack was the first to stop. He sat on a branch 'wayup in the top of the tall hickory tree and glared across at Chatterer, who sat on a branch on the other side of the tall tree. 

"Couldn't catch me, could you, smarty?" taunted Chatterer. 

"You just wait until I do! I'll make you sorry you ever came near myhickory tree, " snapped Happy Jack. 

"I'm waiting. Besides, it isn't your tree any more than it's mine, "replied Chatterer, and made a face at Happy Jack. 

Happy Jack hopped up as if he meant to begin the chase again, but he hada pain in his side from running so hard and so long, and so he sat downagain. Right down in his heart Happy Jack knew that Chatterer wasright, that the tree didn't belong to him any more than to his cousin. But when he thought of all those big, fat nuts with which the tallhickory tree had been loaded, greedy thoughts chased out all thoughts ofright and he said to himself again, as he had said when he first saw hiscousin, that Chatterer shouldn't have _one_ of them. He stopped scoldinglong enough to steal a look at them, and then--what do you think HappyJack did? Why, he gave such a jump of surprise that he nearly lost hisbalance. Not a nut was to be seen! Happy Jack blinked. Then, he rubbedhis eyes and looked again. He couldn't see a nut anywhere!

There were the husks in which the nuts had grown big and fat until theywere ripe, but now every husk was empty. Chatterer saw the queer look onHappy Jack's face, and he looked too. Now Chatterer the Red Squirrel hadvery quick wits, and he guessed right away what had happened. He knewthat while they had been quarreling and racing over the top of the tallhickory tree, they must have knocked down all the nuts, which were justready to fall anyway. Like a little red flash, Chatterer started downthe tree. Then Happy Jack guessed too, and down he started as fast as hecould go, crying, "Stop, thief!" all the way. 

When he reached the ground, there was Chatterer scurrying around andpoking under the fallen leaves, but he hadn't found a single nut. HappyJack couldn't stop to quarrel any more, because you see he was afraidthat Chatterer would find the biggest and fattest nuts, so he began toscurry around and hunt too. It was queer, very queer, how those nutscould have hidden so! They hunted and hunted, but no nuts were to befound. Then they stopped and stared up at the top of the tall hickorytree. Not a nut could they see. Then they stared at each other, andgradually a foolish, a very foolish look crept over each face. 

"Where--where do you suppose they have gone?" asked Happy Jack in aqueer-sounding voice. 

Just then they heard some one laughing fit to kill himself. It was PeterRabbit. 

"Did you take our hickory nuts?" they both shouted angrily. 

"No, " replied Peter, "no, I didn't take them, though they were notyours, anyway!" And then he went off into another fit of laughter, forPeter had seen Striped Chipmunk very hard at work taking away those verynuts while his two big cousins had been quarreling in the tree-top. 

CHAPTER V

HAPPY JACK SUSPECTS STRIPED CHIPMUNK

Thrift is one test of true loyalty to your country. 

_Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack didn't look happy a bit. Indeed, Happy Jack looked veryunhappy. You see, he looked just as he felt. He had set his heart onhaving all the big, fat nuts that he had found in the top of that tallhickory tree, and now, instead of having all of them, he hadn't any ofthem. Worse still, he knew right down in his heart that it was his ownfault. He had been too greedy. But what _had_ become of those nuts?

Happy Jack was studying about this as he sat with his back against abig chestnut tree. He remembered how hard Peter Rabbit had laughed whenHappy Jack and his cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, had been sosurprised because they could not find the nuts they had knocked down. Peter hadn't taken them, for Peter has no use for them, but he must knowwhat had become of them, for he was still laughing as he had gone offdown the Lone Little Path. While he was thinking of all this, HappyJack's bright eyes had been wide open, as they usually are, so that nodanger should come near. Suddenly they saw something moving among thebrown-and-yellow leaves on the ground. Happy Jack looked sharply, andthen a sudden thought popped into his head. 

"Hi, there, Cousin Chipmunk!" he shouted. 

"Hi, there, your own self!" replied Striped Chipmunk, for it was he. 

"What are you doing down there?" asked Happy Jack. 

"Looking for hickory nuts, " replied Striped Chipmunk, and his eyestwinkled as he said it, for there wasn't a hickory tree near. 

Happy Jack looked hard at Striped Chipmunk, for that sudden thoughtwhich had popped into his head when he first saw Striped Chipmunk wasgrowing into a strong, a very strong, suspicion that Striped Chipmunkknew something about those lost hickory nuts. But Striped Chipmunklooked back at him so innocently that Happy Jack didn't know just whatto think. 

"Have you begun to fill your storehouse for winter yet?" inquired HappyJack. 

"Of course I have. I don't mean to let Jack Frost catch me with an emptystorehouse, " replied Striped Chipmunk. 

 "When leaves turn yellow, brown, and red, And nuts come pitter, patter down; When days are short and swiftly sped, And Autumn wears her colored gown, I'm up before old Mr. Sun His nightcap has a chance to doff, And have my day's work well begun When others kick their bedclothes off. "

"What are you filling your storehouse with?" asked Happy Jack, tryingnot to show too much interest. 

"Corn, nice ripe yellow corn, and seeds and acorns and chestnuts, "answered Striped Chipmunk. "And now I'm looking for some big, fathickory nuts, " he added, and his bright eyes twinkled. "Have you seenany, Happy Jack?"

Happy Jack said that he hadn't seen any, and Striped Chipmunk remarkedthat he couldn't waste any more time talking, and scurried away. HappyJack watched him go, a puzzled little frown puckering up his brows. 

"I believe he knows something about those nuts. I think I'll follow himand have a peep into his storehouse, " he muttered. 

CHAPTER VI

HAPPY JACK SPIES ON STRIPED CHIPMUNK

It's more important to mind your own affairs than to know what yourneighbors are doing, but not nearly so interesting. 

_Happy Jack. _

Striped Chipmunk was whisking about among the brown-and-yellow leavesthat covered the ground on the edge of the Green Forest. He is such alittle fellow that he looked almost like a brown leaf himself, and whenone of Old Mother West Wind's Merry Little Breezes whirled the brownleaves in a mad little dance around him, it was the hardest work in theworld to see Striped Chipmunk at all. Anyway, Happy Jack Squirrel foundit so. 

You see, Happy Jack was spying on Striped Chipmunk. Yes, Sir, Happy Jackwas spying. Spying, you know, is secretly watching other people andtrying to find out what they are doing. It isn't a nice thing to do, nota bit nice. Happy Jack knew it, and all the time he was doing it, he wasfeeling very much ashamed of himself. But he said to himself that hejust _had_ to know where Striped Chipmunk's storehouse was, because hejust _had_ to peep inside and find out if it held any of the big, fathickory nuts that had disappeared from under the tall hickory treewhile he was quarreling up in the top of it with his cousin, Chattererthe Red Squirrel. 

But spying on Striped Chipmunk isn't the easiest thing in the world. Happy Jack was finding it the hardest work he had ever undertaken. Striped Chipmunk is so spry, and whisks about so, that you need eyes allaround your head to keep track of him. Happy Jack found that his twoeyes, bright and quick as they are, couldn't keep that little elf of acousin of his always in sight. Every few minutes he would disappear andthen bob up again in the most unexpected place and most provoking way. 

 "Now I'm here, and now I'm there! Now I am not anywhere! Watch me now, for here I go Out of sight! I told you so!"

With the last words, Striped Chipmunk was nowhere to be seen. It seemedas if the earth must have opened and swallowed him. But it hadn't, fortwo minutes later Happy Jack saw him flirting his funny little tail inthe sauciest way as he scampered along an old log. 

Happy Jack began to suspect that Striped Chipmunk was just having funwith him. What else could he mean by saying such things? And yet HappyJack was sure that Striped Chipmunk hadn't seen him, for, all the timehe was watching, Happy Jack had taken the greatest care to keep hiddenhimself. No, it couldn't be, it just couldn't be that Striped Chipmunkknew that he was anywhere about. He would just be patient a littlelonger, and he would surely see that smart little cousin of his go tohis storehouse. So Happy Jack waited and watched. 

CHAPTER VII

STRIPED CHIPMUNK HAS FUN WITH HAPPY JACK

Thrift is the meat in the nut of success. 

_Happy Jack. _

Striped Chipmunk would shout in his shrillest voice:

 "Hipperty, hopperty, one, two, three! What do you think becomes of me?"

Then he would vanish from sight all in the wink of an eye. You couldn'ttell where he went to. At least Happy Jack couldn't, and his eyes aresharper than yours or mine. Happy Jack was spying, you remember. He waswatching Striped Chipmunk without letting Striped Chipmunk know it. Atleast he thought he was. But really he wasn't. Those sharp twinklingeyes of Striped Chipmunk see everything. You know, he is such a verylittle fellow that he has to be very wide-awake to keep out of danger. 

And he _is_ wide-awake. Oh, my, yes, indeed! When he is awake, and thatis every minute of the daytime, he is the most wide-awake little fellowyou ever did see. He had seen Happy Jack the very first thing, and hehad guessed right away that Happy Jack was spying on him so as to findout if he had any of the big, fat hickory nuts. Now Striped Chipmunk had_all_ of those fat hickory nuts safely hidden in his splendid newstorehouse, but he didn't intend to let Happy Jack know it. So he justpretended not to see Happy Jack, or to know that he was anywhere near, but acted as if he was just going about his own business. Really he wasjust having the best time ever fooling Happy Jack. 

 "The corn is ripe; the nuts do fall; Acorns are sweet and plump. I soon will have my storehouse full Inside the hollow stump. "

Striped Chipmunk sang this just as if no one was anywhere near, and hewas singing just for joy. Of course Happy Jack heard it and he grinned. 

"So your storehouse is in a hollow stump, my smart little cousin!" saidHappy Jack to himself. "If that's the case, I'll soon find it. "

Striped Chipmunk scurried along, and now he took pains to always keep insight. Happy Jack followed, hiding behind the trees. Pretty soon StripedChipmunk picked up a plump acorn and put it in the pocket of his rightcheek. Then he picked up another and put that in the pocket in his leftcheek. Then he crowded another into each; and his face was swelled sothat you would hardly have guessed that it was Striped Chipmunk if youhad chanced to meet him. My, my, he was a funny sight! Happy Jackgrinned again as he watched, partly because Striped Chipmunk looked sofunny, and partly because he knew that if Striped Chipmunk was going toeat the acorns right away, he wouldn't stuff them into the pockets inhis cheeks. But he had done this very thing, and so he must be going totake them to his storehouse. 

Off scampered Striped Chipmunk, and after him stole Happy Jack, his eyesshining with excitement. Pretty soon he saw an old stump which looked asif it must be hollow. Happy Jack grinned more than ever as he carefullyhid himself and watched. Striped Chipmunk scrambled up on the old stump, looked this way and that way, as if to be sure that no one was watchinghim, then with a flirt of his funny little tail he darted into a littleround doorway. He was gone a long time, but by and by out he popped, looked this way and that way, and then scampered off in the directionfrom which he had come. Happy Jack didn't try to follow him. He waiteduntil he was sure that Striped Chipmunk was out of sight and hearing, and then he walked over to the old stump. 

"It's his storehouse fast enough, " said Happy Jack. 

CHAPTER VIII

HAPPY JACK TURNS BURGLAR

 As trees from little acorns, so Great sums from little pennies grow. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack Squirrel stood in front of the old stump into which he hadseen Striped Chipmunk go with the pockets in his cheeks full of acorns, and out of which he had come with the pockets of his cheeks quite empty. 

"It certainly is his storehouse, and now I'll find out if he is the onewho got all those big, fat hickory nuts, " muttered Happy Jack. 

First he looked this way, and then he looked that way, to be sure thatno one saw him, for what he was planning to do was a very dreadfulthing, and he knew it. Happy Jack was going to turn burglar. A burglar, you know, is one who breaks into another's house or barn to steal, whichis a very, very dreadful thing to do. Yet this is just what Happy JackSquirrel was planning to do. He was going to get into that old stump, and if those big, fat hickory nuts were there, as he was sure they were, he was going to take them. He tried very hard to make himself believethat it wouldn't be stealing. He had watched those nuts in the top ofthe tall hickory tree so long that he had grown to think that theybelonged to him. Of course they didn't, but he had made himself thinkthey did. 

Happy Jack walked all around the old stump, and then he climbed up ontop of it. There was only one doorway, and that was the little roundhole through which Striped Chipmunk had entered and then come out. Itwas too small for Happy Jack to even get his head through, though hiscousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, who is much smaller, could haveslipped in easily. Happy Jack sniffed and sniffed. He could smell nutsand corn and other good things. My, how good they did smell! His eyesshone greedily. 

Happy Jack took one more hasty look around to see that no one waswatching, then with his long sharp teeth he began to make the doorwaylarger. The wood was tough, but Happy Jack worked with might and main, for he wanted to get those nuts and get away before Striped Chipmunkshould return, or any one else should happen along and see him. Soon thehole was big enough for him to get his head inside. It was a storehouse, sure enough. Happy Jack worked harder than ever, and soon the hole waslarge enough for him to get wholly inside. 

What a sight! There was corn! and there were chestnuts and acorns! andthere were a few hickory nuts, though these did not look so big and fatas the ones Happy Jack was looking for! Happy Jack chuckled to himself, a wicked, greedy chuckle, as he looked. And then something happened. 

"Oh! Oh! Stop it! Leave me alone!" yelled Happy Jack. 

CHAPTER IX

HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL'S SAD MISTAKE

A Squirrel always is thrifty. Be as wise as a Squirrel. 

_Happy Jack. _

"Let me go! Let me go!" yelled Happy Jack, as he backed out of thehollow stump faster than he had gone in, a great deal faster. Can youguess why? I'll tell you. It was because he was being pulled out. Yes, Sir, Happy Jack Squirrel was being pulled out by his big, bushy tail. 

Happy Jack was more frightened than hurt. To be sure, it is not at allcomfortable to have one's tail pulled, but Happy Jack wouldn't haveminded this so much had it not been so unexpected, or if he could haveseen who was pulling it. And then, right inside Happy Jack didn't feel abit good. Why? Well, because he was doing a dreadful thing, and he_knew_ that it was a dreadful thing. He had broken into somebody'sstorehouse to steal. He was sure that it was Striped Chipmunk'sstorehouse, and he wouldn't admit to himself that he was going to steal, actually _steal_. But all the time, right down deep in his heart, heknew that if he took any of those hickory nuts it would be stealing. 

But Happy Jack had been careless. When he had made the doorway bigenough for him to crawl inside, he had left his tail hanging outside. Some one had very, very softly stolen up and grabbed it and begun topull. It was so sudden and unexpected that Happy Jack yelled withfright. When he could get his wits together, he thought of courseStriped Chipmunk had come back and was pulling his tail. When he thoughtthat, he got over his fright right away, for Striped Chipmunk is such alittle fellow that Happy Jack knew that he had nothing; to fear fromhim. 

So as fast as he could, Happy Jack backed out of the hole and whirledaround. Of course he expected to face a very angry little Chipmunk. Buthe didn't. No, Sir, he didn't. Instead, he looked right into the angryface of his other cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel. And Chatterer_was_ angry! Oh my, my, how angry Chatterer was! For a minute hecouldn't find his voice, because his anger fairly choked him. And whenhe did, how his tongue did fly!

"You thief! You robber! What are you doing in my storehouse?" heshrieked. 

Happy Jack backed away hurriedly, for though he is much bigger thanChatterer, he has a very wholesome respect for Chatterer's sharp teeth, and when he is very angry, Chatterer is a great fighter. 

"I--I didn't know it was your storehouse, " said Happy Jack, backingaway still further. 

"It doesn't make any difference if you didn't; you're a thief just thesame!" screamed Chatterer and rushed at Happy Jack. And what do youthink Happy Jack did? Why, he just turned tail and ran, Chatterer afterhim, crying "Thief! Robber! Coward!" at the top of his lungs, so thatevery one in the Green Forest could hear. 

CHAPTER X

STRIPED CHIPMUNK'S HAPPY THOUGHT

 Waste seems to me a dreadful sin; It works to lose and not to win. 

 Thrift will win; it cannot lose. Between them 'tis for you to choose. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Striped Chipmunk sat on a mossy old log, laughing until his sides ached. "Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!"laughed Striped Chipmunk, holding his sides. Over in the Green Forest hecould still hear Chatterer the Red Squirrel crying "Thief! Robber!" ashe chased his big cousin, Happy Jack, and every time he heard it, Striped Chipmunk laughed harder. 

You see, Striped Chipmunk had known all the time that Happy Jack wasspying on him, and he had had no end of fun fooling Happy Jack bysuddenly disappearing and then bobbing into view. He had known thatHappy Jack was following him so as to find out where his storehouse was. Then Striped Chipmunk had remembered the storehouse of Chatterer the RedSquirrel. He had filled the pockets in his cheeks with acorns and gonestraight over to Chatterer's storehouse and put them inside, knowingthat Happy Jack would follow him and would think that that was hisstorehouse. And that is just what happened. 

Then Striped Chipmunk had hidden himself where he could see all thathappened. He had seen Happy Jack look all around, to make sure that noone was near, and then tear open the little round doorway of Chatterer'sstorehouse until it was big enough for him to squeeze through. He hadseen Chatterer come up, fly into a rage, and pull Happy Jack out by thetail. Indeed, he had had to clap both hands over his mouth to keep fromlaughing out loud. Then Happy Jack had turned tail and run away withChatterer after him, shouting "Thief" and "Robber" at the top of hisvoice, and this had tickled Striped Chipmunk still more, for he knewthat Chatterer himself is one of the greatest thieves in the GreenForest. So he sat on the mossy old log and laughed and laughed andlaughed. 

Finally Striped Chipmunk wiped the tears from his eyes and jumped up. "My, my, this will never do!" said he. 

 "Idle hands and idle feet Never filled a storehouse yet; But instead, so I've heard say, Into mischief surely get. "

"Here it is almost Thanksgiving and--" Striped Chipmunk stopped andscratched his head, while a funny little pleased look crept into hisface. "I wonder if Happy Jack and Chatterer would come to aThanksgiving dinner, " he muttered. "I believe I'll ask them just forfun. "

Then Striped Chipmunk hurried home full of his new idea and chuckled ashe planned his Thanksgiving dinner. Of course he couldn't have it at hisown house. That wouldn't do at all. In the first place, the doorwaywould be altogether too small for Happy Jack. Anyway, his home was asecret, his very own secret, and he didn't propose to let Happy Jack andChatterer know where it was, even for a Thanksgiving dinner. Then hethought of the big, smooth, mossy log he had been sitting on that verymorning. 

"The very place!" cried Striped Chipmunk, and scurried away to findHappy Jack Squirrel and Chatterer the Red Squirrel to invite them to hisThanksgiving dinner. 

CHAPTER XI

STRIPED CHIPMUNK'S THANKSGIVING DINNER

 There's nothing quite so sweet in life As making up and ending strife. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Striped Chipmunk jumped out of bed very early Thanksgiving morning. Itwas going to be a very busy day. He had invited Happy Jack the GraySquirrel, and Chatterer the Red Squirrel, to eat Thanksgiving dinnerwith him, and each had promised to be there. Striped Chipmunk chuckledas he thought how neither of his guests knew that the other was to bethere. He washed his face and hands, brushed his hair, and ate hisbreakfast. Then he scurried over to his splendid new storehouse, whichno one knew of but himself, and stuffed the pockets in his cheeks withgood things to eat. When he couldn't stuff another thing in, he scurriedover to the nice, mossy log on the edge of the Green Forest, and therehe emptied his pockets, for that was to be his dining table. 

Back and forth, back and forth between his secret storehouse and thesmooth, mossy log hurried Striped Chipmunk. He knew that Happy Jack andthe Chatterer have great appetites, and he wanted to be sure that therewas plenty of good things to eat. And as he scurried along, he sang alittle song. 

 "Thanksgiving comes but once a year, But when it comes it brings good cheer. For in my storehouse on this day Are piles of good things hid away. Each day I've worked from early morn To gather acorns, nuts, and corn, Till now I've plenty and to spare Without a worry or a care. So light of heart the whole day long, I'll sing a glad Thanksgiving song. "

Promptly at the dinner hour Happy Jack appeared coming from onedirection, and Chatterer the Red Squirrel coming from another direction. They didn't see each other until just as they reached Striped Chipmunk'ssmooth, mossy log. Then they stopped and scowled. Striped Chipmunkpretended not to notice anything wrong and bustled about, talking allthe time as if his guests were the best of friends. 

On the smooth, mossy log was a great pile of shining yellow corn. Therewas another pile of plump ripe acorns, and three little piles of daintylooking brown seeds. But the thing that Happy Jack couldn't keep hiseyes off was right in the middle. It was a huge pile of big, fat hickorynuts. Now who could remain ill-tempered and cross with such a lot ofgoodies spread before him? Certainly not Happy Jack or his cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel. They just had to smile in spite ofthemselves, and when Striped Chipmunk urged them to sit down and helpthemselves, they did. In three minutes they were so busy eating thatthey had forgotten all about their quarrel and were laughing andchatting like the best of friends. 

"It's quite a family party, isn't it?" said Striped Chipmunk, for youknow they are all cousins. 

Whitefoot the Wood Mouse happened along, and Striped Chipmunk insistedthat he should join the party. Later Sammy Jay came along, and nothingwould excuse him from sharing in the feast, too. When everybody hadeaten and eaten until they couldn't hold another thing, and it was timeto think of going home, Striped Chipmunk insisted that Happy Jack andChatterer should divide between them the big, fat hickory nuts that wereleft, and they did without once quarreling about it. 

 "Thanksgiving comes but once a year, And when it comes it brings good cheer, "

said Striped Chipmunk to himself as he watched his guests depart. 

CHAPTER XII

HAPPY JACK DOES SOME THINKING

To call another a thief doesn't make him one. 

_Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack sat up in a chestnut tree, and his face was very sober. Thefact is, Happy Jack was doing some very hard thinking. This is so veryunusual for him that Sammy Jay stopped to ask if he was sick. You see heis naturally a happy-go-lucky little scamp, and that is one reason thathe is called Happy Jack. But this morning he was thinking and thinkinghard, so hard, in fact, that he almost lost his temper when Sammy Jayinterrupted his thoughts with such a foolish question. 

What was he thinking about? Can you not guess? Why, he was thinkingabout those big, fat hickory nuts that Striped Chipmunk had had for hisThanksgiving dinner, and how Striped Chipmunk had given him some of themto bring home. He was very sure that they were the very same nuts thathe had watched grow big and fat in the top of the tall hickory tree andthen had knocked down while chasing his cousin, Chatterer. When they hadreached the ground and found the nuts gone, Happy Jack had at oncesuspected that Striped Chipmunk had taken them, and now he felt sureabout it. 

But all at once things looked very different to Happy Jack, and the morehe thought about how he had acted, the more ashamed of himself he grew. 

"There certainly must have been enough of those nuts for all of us, andif I hadn't been so greedy we might all have had a share. As it is, I'vegot only those that Striped Chipmunk gave me, and Chatterer has onlythose that Striped Chipmunk gave him. It must be that that sharp littlecousin of mine with the striped coat has got the rest, and I guess hedeserves them. "

Then all of a sudden Happy Jack realized how Striped Chipmunk hadfooled him into thinking that the storehouse of Chatterer was hisstorehouse, and Happy Jack began to laugh. The more he thought of it, the harder he laughed. 

"The joke certainly is on me!" he exclaimed. "The joke certainly is onme, and it served me right. Hereafter I'll mind my own business. If Ihad spent half as much time looking for hickory nuts as I did lookingfor Striped Chipmunk's storehouse, I would be ready for winter now, andChatterer couldn't call me a thief. "

Then he laughed again as he thought how Striped Chipmunk must haveenjoyed seeing him pulled out of Chatterer's storehouse by the tail. 

"What's the joke?" asked Bobby Coon, who happened along just then. 

"I've just learned a lesson, " replied Happy Jack. 

"What is it?" asked Bobby. 

Happy Jack grinned as he answered:

 "I've found that greed will never, never pay. It makes one cross and ugly, and it drives one's friends away. And being always selfish and always wanting more, One's very apt to lose the things that one has had before. "

"Pooh!" said Bobby Coon. "Have you just found that out? I learned that along time ago. "

CHAPTER XIII

HAPPY JACK GETS A WARNING

 It matters not how smart you are, So be it you are heedless too. It isn't what you know that counts So much as what it is to you. 

 _Happy Jack. _

A fat Gray Squirrel is very tempting to a number of people in the GreenForest, particularly in winter, when getting a living is hard work. Almost every day Reddy and Granny Fox stole softly through that part ofthe Green Forest where Happy Jack Squirrel lived, hoping to surprise andcatch him on the ground. But they never did. Roughleg the Hawk andHooty the Owl wasted a great deal of time, sitting around near HappyJack's home, hoping to catch him when he was not watching, but theynever did. 

Happy Jack knew all about these big hungry neighbors, and he was alwayson the watch for them. He knew their ways and just where they would belikely to hide. He took the greatest care to look into every such hidingplace near at hand before he ventured down out of the trees, and becausethese hungry neighbors are so big, he never had any trouble in seeingthem if they happened to be around. So Happy Jack didn't do muchworrying about them. The fact is, Happy Jack wasn't afraid of them atall, for the simple reason that he knew they couldn't follow him intohis hollow tree. 

Having nuts stored away, he would have been perfectly happy but for onething. Yes, Sir, there was only one thing to spoil Happy Jack's completehappiness, and that was the fear that Shadow the Weasel might take itinto his head to pay him a visit. Shadow can go through a smaller holethan Happy Jack can, and so Happy Jack knew that while he was whollysafe from his other enemies, he wasn't safe at all from Shadow theWeasel. And this worried him. Yes, Sir, it worried Happy Jack. He hadn'tseen or heard of Shadow for a long time, but he had a feeling that hewas likely to turn up almost any time, especially now that everythingwas covered with snow and ice, and food was scarce and hard to get. Hesometimes actually wished that he wasn't as fat as he was. Then he wouldbe less tempting to his hungry neighbors. 

But no good comes of worrying. No, Sir, not a bit of good comes ofworrying, and Happy Jack knows it. 

"All I can do is to watch out and not be careless, " said he, and droppedthe shell of a nut on the head of Reddy Fox, who happened to be passingunder the tree in which Happy Jack was sitting. Reddy looked up andshowed his teeth angrily. Happy Jack laughed and scampered away throughthe tree-tops to another part of the Green Forest where he had some verysecret stores of nuts. 

He was gone most of the day, and when he started back home he was in thebest of spirits, for his stores had not been found by any one else. Hewas in such good spirits that for once he quite forgot Shadow theWeasel. He was just going to pop into his doorway without first lookinginside, a very foolish thing to do, when he heard some one calling him. He turned to see Tommy Tit the Chickadee hurrying towards him, and itwas very clear that Tommy was greatly excited. 

"Hello, Tommy Tit! What ails you?" exclaimed Happy Jack. 

"Don't go in there, Happy Jack!" cried Tommy Tit. "Shadow the Weasel isin there waiting for you!"

Happy Jack turned quite pale. "Are you sure?" he gasped. 

Tommy Tit nodded as if he would nod his head off. "I saw him go in, andhe hasn't come out, for I've kept watch, " said he. "You better get awayfrom here before he knows you are about. "

That was good advice, but it was too late. Even as Tommy Tit spoke, asharp face with red, angry eyes was thrust out of Happy Jack's doorway. It was the face of Shadow the Weasel. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

HAPPY JACK'S RUN FOR LIFE

 A coward he who runs away When he should stay and fight, But wise is he who knows when he Should run with all his might. 

 _Happy Jack. _

It isn't cowardly to run away when it is quite useless to stay andfight. So it wasn't so cowardly of Happy Jack Squirrel to turn tail andrun the instant he caught sight of Shadow the Weasel. No, Sir, it wasn'tcowardly at all, although it might have looked so to you had you beenthere to see, for Happy Jack is bigger than Shadow. But when it comes toa fight, Happy Jack is no match at all for Shadow the Weasel, and heknows it. Shadow is too quick for him, and though Happy Jack were everso brave, he would have no chance at all in a fight with Shadow. 

And so the very instant he saw the cruel face of Shadow with its fiercered eyes glaring at him from his own doorway, Happy Jack turned tail andran. Yes, Sir, that is just what he did, and it was the wisest thing hecould have done. He hoped with a mighty hope that Shadow would notfollow him, but he hoped in vain. Shadow had made up his mind to dine onSquirrel, and he didn't propose to see his dinner run away withouttrying to catch it. So the instant Happy Jack started, Shadow startedafter him, stopping only long enough to snarl an ugly threat at TommyTit the Chickadee, because Tommy had warned Happy Jack that Shadow waswaiting for him. 

But Tommy didn't mind that threat. Oh, my, no! Tommy didn't mind it atall. He can fly, and so he had no fear of Shadow the Weasel. But he wasterribly afraid for Happy Jack. He knew, just as Happy Jack knew, thatthere wasn't a single place where Happy Jack could hide into whichShadow could not follow him. So Tommy flitted from tree to tree behindHappy Jack, hoping that in some way he might be able to help him. 

From tree to tree raced Happy Jack, making desperately long leaps. Shadow the Weasel followed, and though he ran swiftly, he didn't appearto be hurrying, and he took no chances on those long leaps. If the leapwas too long to take safely, Shadow simply ran back down the tree, across to the next one and up that. It didn't worry him at all thatHappy Jack was so far ahead that he was out of sight. He knew that hecould trust his nose to follow the scent of Happy Jack. In fact, itrather pleased him to have Happy Jack race away in such fright, for inthat way he would soon tire himself out. 

And this is just what Happy Jack did do. He ran and jumped and jumpedand ran as fast as he could until he was so out of breath that he justhad to stop for a rest. But he couldn't rest much. He was too terriblyfrightened. He shivered and shook while he got his breath, and never fora second did he take his eyes from his back trail. Presently he saw aslim white form darting along the snow straight towards the tree inwhich he was resting. Once more Happy Jack ran, and somehow he feltterribly helpless and hopeless. 

He had to rest oftener now, and each rest was shorter than the onebefore, because, you know, Shadow was a less and less distance behind. Poor Happy Jack! He had tried every trick he knew, and not one of themhad fooled Shadow the Weasel. Now he was too tired to run much farther. The last little bit of hope left Happy Jack's heart. He blinked his eyesvery fast to keep back the tears, as he thought that this was probablythe last time he would ever look at the beautiful Green Forest he lovedso. Then he gritted his teeth and made up his mind that anyway he wouldfight his best, even if it was hopeless. It was just at that very minutethat he heard the voice of Tommy Tit the Chickadee calling to him ingreat excitement, and somehow, he didn't know why, a wee bit of hopesprang up in his heart. 

CHAPTER XV

WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?

 Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear. 

 _Happy Jack. _

It never has been fully decided among the little people of the GreenForest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy JackSquirrel. Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait. Let me tell you just what happened, andthen perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack. 

You see, it was this way: Happy Jack had run and run and run and triedevery trick he knew to get away from Shadow the Weasel, but all in vain. At last he was so out of breath and so tired that he felt that hecouldn't run any more. He had just made up his mind that he would waitright where he was for Shadow and then put up the best fight he could, even if it was hopeless, when he heard Tommy Tit calling to him in greatexcitement. 

[Illustration: HAPPY JACK TRIED EVERY TRICK HE KNEW TO GET AWAY FROMSHADOW THE WEASEL. ]

"Dee, dee, chickadee! Come here quick, Happy Jack! Come here quick!"called Tommy Tit. 

A wee bit of hope sprang up in Happy Jack's heart. He couldn't imaginewhat possible help Tommy Tit could be, but he would go see. So takinga long breath he started on as fast as he could in the direction ofTommy's voice. He couldn't run very fast, because, you know, he was sotired, but he did the best he could. Presently he saw Tommy just aheadof him flying about in great excitement. 

"Dee, dee, dee, there he is! Go to him! Go to him, Happy Jack! Hurry!Hurry! Dee, dee, dee, oh, do hurry!" cried Tommy Tit. 

For just a second Happy Jack didn't know what he meant. Then he sawFarmer Brown's boy watching Tommy Tit as if he didn't know what to makeof the little fellow's excitement. 

"Go to him! Go to him!" called Tommy. "He won't hurt you, and he won'tlet Shadow the Weasel hurt you! See me! See me! Dee, dee, see me!" Andwith that Tommy Tit flew right down on Farmer Brown's boy's hand, foryou know he and Farmer Brown's boy are great friends. 

Happy Jack hesitated. He knew that Farmer Brown's boy had tried to makefriends with him, and every day since the ice and snow had come had putout nuts and corn for him, but he couldn't quite forget the old fear ofhim. He couldn't quite trust him. So now he hesitated. Then he lookedback. Shadow the Weasel was only a few jumps behind him, and his littleeyes glowed red and savage. Farmer Brown's boy might not hurt him, butShadow certainly would. Shadow would kill him. Happy Jack made up hismind, and with a little gasp raced madly across the snow straight toFarmer Brown's boy and ran right up to his shoulder. 

Shadow the Weasel had been so intent on catching Happy Jack that hehadn't noticed Farmer Brown's boy at all. Now he saw him for the firsttime and stopped short, snarling and spitting. Whatever else you may sayof Shadow the Weasel, he is no coward. For a minute it looked as if hereally meant to follow Happy Jack and get him in spite of Farmer Brown'sboy, and Happy Jack trembled as he looked down into those angry littlered eyes. But Shadow knows when he is well off, and now he knew betterthan to come a step nearer. So he snarled and spit, and then, as FarmerBrown's boy took a step forward, leaped to one side and disappeared inthe old stone wall. 

Very gently and softly Farmer Brown's boy talked to Happy Jack as hetook him to the nearest tree. Then, when Happy Jack was safely up in thetree, he went over to the stone wall and tried to drive Shadow theWeasel out. He pulled over the stones until at last Shadow jumped out, and then Farmer Brown's boy chased him clear into the Green Forest. 

"Dee, dee, dee, what did I tell you?" cried Tommy Tit happily, as heflew over to where Happy Jack was sitting. 

Now who really saved Happy Jack--Tommy Tit or Farmer Brown's boy?

CHAPTER XVI

HAPPY JACK MISSES FARMER BROWN'S BOY

 One and one are always two, And two and two are four. And just as true it is you'll find That love and love make more. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Go ask Happy Jack Squirrel. He knows. He knows because he has proved it. It began when Farmer Brown's boy saved him from Shadow the Weasel. Perhaps I should say when Farmer Brown's boy and Tommy Tit saved him, for if it hadn't been for Tommy, it never would have entered HappyJack's head to run to Farmer Brown's boy. After that, of course, HappyJack and Farmer Brown's boy became great friends. Farmer Brown's boycame over to the Green Forest every day to see Happy Jack, and always hehad the most delicious nuts in his pockets. At first Happy Jack had beena wee bit shy. He couldn't quite get over that old fear he had had solong. Then he would remember how Farmer Brown's boy had saved him, andthat would make him ashamed, and he would walk right up and take thenuts. 

Farmer Brown's boy would talk to him in the nicest way and tell him thathe loved him, and that there wasn't the least thing in the world to beafraid of. Pretty soon Happy Jack began to love Farmer Brown's boy alittle. He couldn't help it. He just had to love any one who was so kindand gentle to him. Now as soon as he began to love a little, and feltsure in his own heart that Farmer Brown's boy loved him a little, hefound that love and love make more love, and it wasn't any time at allbefore he had become very fond of Farmer Brown's boy, so fond of himthat he was almost jealous of Tommy Tit, who had been a friend of FarmerBrown's boy for a long time. It got so that Happy Jack looked forwardeach day to the visit of Farmer Brown's boy, and as soon as he heard hiswhistle, he would hasten to meet him. Some folks were unkind enough tosay that it was just because of the nuts and corn he was sure to find inFarmer Brown's boy's pockets, but that wasn't so at all. 

At last there came a day when he missed that cheery whistle. He waitedand waited. At last he went clear to the edge of the Green Forest, butthere was no whistle and no sign of Farmer Brown's boy. It was the sameway the next day and the next. Happy Jack forgot to frisk about the wayhe usually does. He lost his appetite. He just sat around and moped. 

When Tommy Tit the Chickadee came to call, as he did every day, HappyJack found that Tommy was anxious too. Tommy had been up to FarmerBrown's dooryard several times, and he hadn't seen anything of FarmerBrown's boy. 

"I think he must have gone away, " said Tommy. 

"He would have come down here first and said good-by, " replied HappyJack. 

"You--you don't suppose something has happened to him, do you?" askedTommy. 

"I don't know. I don't know what to think, " replied Happy Jack, soberly. "Do you know, Tommy, I've grown very fond of Farmer Brown's boy. "

"Of course. Dee, dee, dee, of course. Everybody who really knows him isfond of him. I've said all along that he is the best friend we've got, but no one seemed to believe me. I'm glad you've found it out foryourself. I tell you what, I'll go up to his house and have another lookaround. " And without waiting for a reply, Tommy was off as fast as hislittle wings could take him. 

"I hope, I do hope, that nothing has happened to him, " mumbled HappyJack, as he pretended to hunt for buried nuts while he waited for TommyTit to come back, and by "him" he meant Farmer Brown's boy. 

CHAPTER XVII

TOMMY TIT BRINGS NEWS

No one knows too much, but many know too little. 

_Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack very plainly was not happy. His name was the only happy thingabout him. He fussed about on the edge of the Green Forest. He justcouldn't keep still. When he thought anybody was looking, he pretendedto hunt for some of the nuts he had buried in the fall, and dug holesdown through the snow. But as soon as he thought that no one waswatching, he would scamper up a tree where he could look over to FarmerBrown's house and look and look. It was very clear that Happy Jack waswatching for some one and that he was anxious, very anxious, indeed. 

It was getting late in the afternoon, and soon the Black Shadows wouldbegin to creep out from the Purple Hills, behind which jolly, round, redMr. Sun would go to bed. It would be bedtime for Happy Jack then, foryou know he goes to bed very early, just as soon as it begins to getdark. The later it got, the more anxious and uneasy Happy Jack grew. Hehad just made up his mind that in a few minutes he would have to give upand go to bed when there was a flit of tiny wings, and Tommy Tit theChickadee dropped into the tree beside him. 

"Did you find out anything?" asked Happy Jack eagerly, before Tommy hada chance to say a word. 

[Illustration: "DID YOU FIND OUT ANYTHING?" ASKED HAPPY JACK EAGERLY. ]

Tommy nodded. "He's there!" he panted, for he was quite out of breathfrom hurrying so. 

"Where?" Happy Jack fairly shouted the question. 

"Over there in the house, " replied Tommy Tit. 

"Then he hasn't gone away! It's just as I said, he hasn't gone away!"cried Happy Jack, and he was so relieved that he jumped up and down andas a result nearly tumbled out of the tree. 

"No, " replied Tommy, "he hasn't gone away, but I think there issomething the matter with him. "

Happy Jack grew very sober. "What makes you think so?" he demanded. 

"If you'll give me time to get my breath, I'll tell you all about it, "retorted Tommy Tit. 

"All right, only please hurry, " replied Happy Jack, and tried to lookpatient even if he wasn't. 

Tommy Tit smoothed out some rumpled feathers and was most provokinglyslow about it. "When I left here, " he began at last, "I flew straight upto Farmer Brown's house, as I said I would. I flew all around it, butall I saw was that horrid Black Pussy on the back doorsteps, and shelooked at me so hungrily that she made me dreadfully uncomfortable. Idon't see what Farmer Brown keeps her about for, anyway. "

"Never mind her; go on!" interrupted Happy Jack. 

"Then I flew all around the barn, but I didn't see any one there butthat ugly little upstart, Bully the English Sparrow, and he wanted topick a fight with me right away. " Tommy looked very indignant. 

"Never mind him, go on!" cried Happy Jack impatiently. 

"After that I flew back to the big maple tree close by the house, "continued Tommy. "You know Farmer Brown's boy has kept a piece of suettied in that tree all winter for me. I was hungry, and I thought Iwould get a bite to eat, but there wasn't any suet there. That pig of aSammy Jay had managed to get it untied and had carried it all away. Ofcourse that made me angry, and twice as hungry as before. I was tryingto make up my mind what to do next when I happened to look over on thewindow sill, and what do you think I saw there?"

"What?" demanded Happy Jack eagerly. 

"A lot of cracked hickory nuts!" declared Tommy. "I just knew that theywere meant for me, and when I was sure that the way was clear, I flewover there. They tasted so good that I almost forgot about FarmerBrown's boy, when I just happened to look in the window. You know thosewindows are made of some queer stuff that looks like ice and isn't, andthat you can see right through. "

Happy Jack didn't know, for he never had been near enough to see, but henodded, and Tommy Tit went on. 

"There were many queer things inside, and I was wondering what theycould be when all of a sudden I saw _him_. He was lying down, and therewas something the matter with him. I tapped on the window to him andthen I hurried back here. "

CHAPTER XVIII

HAPPY JACK DECIDES TO MAKE A CALL

 You'll find when all is said and done Two heads are better far than one. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack Squirrel hadn't slept very well. He had had bad dreams. Everso many times in the night he had waked up, a very unusual thing forHappy Jack. The fact is, he had something on his mind. Yes, Sir, HappyJack had something on his mind, and that something was Farmer Brown'sboy. He often had had Farmer Brown's boy on his mind before, but in avery different way. Then it had been in the days when Farmer Brown's boyhunted through the Green Forest and over the Green Meadows with histerrible gun. Then everybody had Farmer Brown's boy on their minds mostof the time. Happy Jack had hated him then, hated him because he hadfeared him. You know fear almost always leads to hate. But now it wasdifferent. Farmer Brown's boy had put away his terrible gun. Happy Jackno longer feared him. Love had taken the place of hate in his heart, forhad not Farmer Brown's boy saved him from Shadow the Weasel, and broughthim nuts and corn when food was scarce? And now Tommy Tit had broughtword that some thing was the matter with Farmer Brown's boy. It was thisthat was on Happy Jack's mind and had given him such a bad night. 

As soon as it was daylight, Happy Jack scrambled out of bed to look forTommy Tit. He didn't have long to wait, for Tommy is quite as early ariser as Happy Jack. 

 "Dee, dee, chickadee! I hope you feel as well as me!"

sang Tommy merrily, as he flitted over to where Happy Jack was lookingfor his breakfast. The very sound of Tommy's voice made Happy Jack feelbetter. One must feel very badly indeed not to be a little more cheerfulwhen Tommy Tit is about. The fact is, Tommy Tit packs about so muchgood cheer in that small person of his, that no one can be downheartedwhen he is about. 

"Hello, Tommy, " said Happy Jack. "If I could make other people feel asgood as you do, do you know what I would do?"

"What?" asked Tommy. 

"I'd go straight up to Farmer Brown's house and try to cheer up FarmerBrown's boy, " replied Happy Jack. 

"That's the very thing I have in mind, " chuckled Tommy. "I've come overhere to see if you won't come along with me. I've been up to his houseso often that he won't think half so much of a visit from me as he willfrom you. Will you do it?"

Happy Jack looked a little startled. You see, he never had been over toFarmer Brown's house, and somehow he couldn't get over the idea that itwould be a very dangerous thing to do. "I--I--do you really suppose Icould?" he asked. 

"I'm sure of it, " replied Tommy Tit. "There's no one to be afraid of butBlack Pussy and Bowser the Hound, and it's easy enough to keep out oftheir way. You can hide in the old stone wall until the way is clear andthen run across to the big maple tree close to the house. Then you canlook right in and see Farmer Brown's boy, and he can look out and seeyou. Will you do it?"

Happy Jack thought very hard for a few minutes. Then he made up hismind. "I'll do it!" said he in a very decided tone of voice. "Let'sstart right away. "

"Good for you! Dee, dee, good for you!" cried Tommy Tit, and started tolead the way. 

CHAPTER XIX

TOMMY TIT AND HAPPY JACK PAY A VISIT

 As grows the mighty elm tree, From just a tiny seed, So often great things happen From just a kindly deed. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Great things were happening to Happy Jack Squirrel. He was actually onhis way to Farmer Brown's house, and he had a feeling that other thingswere likely to happen when he got there. Now you may not think that itwas anything very great that Happy Jack should be on his way to FarmerBrown's house. Very likely you are saying, "Pooh! that's nothing!" Thismay be true, and then again it may not. Suppose you do a littlesupposing. Suppose you had all your life been terribly afraid of a greatgiant fifty times bigger than you. Suppose that great giant had stoppedhunting you and by little deeds of kindness had at last won your love. Suppose you learned that something was the matter with him, and you madeup your mind to visit him at his great castle where there were othergreat giants whom you did not know. Wouldn't you think that great thingswere happening to you?

Well, that is exactly the way it was with Happy Jack Squirrel, as heand Tommy Tit the Chickadee started to go over to Farmer Brown's houseto look for Farmer Brown's boy. Tommy Tit had been there often, so hedidn't think anything about it, but Happy Jack never had been there, andif the truth were known, his heart was going pitapat, pitapat, withexcitement and perhaps just a little fear. Through the Old Orchard theywent, Tommy Tit flitting ahead and keeping a sharp watch for danger. When they reached the old stone wall on the edge of Farmer Brown'sdooryard, Tommy told Happy Jack to hide there while he went to see ifthe way was clear. He was back in a few minutes. 

"Dee, dee, everything is all right, " said he. "Bowser the Hound iseating; his breakfast out back where he can't see you at all, and BlackPussy is nowhere about. All you have to do is to follow me over to thatbig tree close to the house, and I will show you where Farmer Brown'sboy is. "

"I--I'm afraid, " confessed Happy Jack. 

"Pooh! There's nothing to be afraid of, " asserted Tommy Tit in the mostpositive way. "Don't be a coward. Remember how Farmer Brown's boy savedyou from Shadow the Weasel. Come on! Dee, dee, dee, come on!" With thatTommy flew across to the tree close by the house. 

Happy Jack scrambled up on the old stone wall and looked this way andlooked that way. He couldn't see a thing to be afraid of. He jumped downand ran a few steps. Then his heart failed, and he scampered back to theold stone wall in a panic. After a few minutes he tried again, and oncemore a foolish fear sent him back. The third time he gritted his teeth, said to himself over and over, "I will! I will! I will!" and ran withall his might. In no time at all he was across the dooryard and up inthe big tree, his heart pounding with excitement. 

"Dee, dee, dee, " called Tommy Tit. 

Happy Jack looked over to the house, and there sat Tommy on awindow-sill, helping himself to the most delicious-looking cracked nuts. The sight of them made Happy Jack's mouth water. A long branch hung downover the window and almost touched the sill. Happy Jack ventured halfway and stopped. Somehow it seemed very dangerous to go so close to thatwindow. 

"Come on! Come on! What are you afraid of?" called Tommy. 

Something like shame that such a little fellow as Tommy Tit should dareto go where he did not, crept into Happy Jack's heart. With a quicklittle run and jump he was on the sill, and a second later he wasstaring in at all the strange things inside. At first he didn't seeanything of Farmer Brown's boy, but in a few minutes he made him out. Hewas lying down all covered over except his head. There _was_ somethingthe matter with him. Happy Jack didn't need to be told that, and a greatpity filled his heart. He wanted to do something for Farmer Brown's boy. 

CHAPTER XX

WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH FARMER BROWN'S BOY?

He who climbs the highest has the farthest to fall, but often it is worth the risk. 

_Happy Jack. _

All the way home from his visit to Farmer Brown's house Happy JackSquirrel puzzled and wondered over what he had seen. He had peeped in ata window and seen Farmer Brown's boy lying all covered up, with only hishead showing. Happy Jack couldn't see very well, but somehow that headdidn't look just right. One thing was sure, and that was there wassomething wrong with Farmer Brown's boy. He never would have been lyingstill like that if there hadn't been. 

Happy Jack had been so troubled by what he saw that he had hardly tastedthe nuts he had found on the window-sill. "I am going to make himanother call to-morrow, " said he when he and Tommy Tit were once moreback in the Green Forest. 

"Of course, " replied Tommy. "I expected you would. I will be around foryou at the same time. You're not afraid any more to go up there, areyou?"

"No-o, " replied Happy Jack, slowly. The truth is, he was still a littleafraid. It seemed to him a terribly venturesome thing to cross thatopen dooryard, but having done it once in safety, he knew that it wouldbe easier the next time. It was. The next morning he and Tommy Tit wentjust as before, and this time Happy Jack scampered across the dooryardthe very first time he tried. They found things just as they had beenthe day before. They saw Farmer Brown's boy, but he didn't see them. Tommy Tit was just going to tap on the window to let him know they werethere, when a door inside opened, and in walked Mrs. Brown. Itfrightened them so that Tommy Tit flew away without tasting a singlenut, and Happy Jack nearly fell as he scrambled back into the tree closeby the window. You see, they never had made her acquaintance, andhaving her walk in so suddenly frightened them terribly. They didn'tstop to think that there was nothing to fear because there was thewindow between. Somehow they couldn't understand that queer stuff thatthey could see through but which shut them out. If they had seen Mrs. Brown go to the window and put more cracked nuts on the sill, perhapsthey would have been less afraid. But they had been too badly frightenedto look back, and so they didn't know anything about that. 

The next morning Tommy Tit was on hand as usual, but he found HappyJack a little doubtful about paying another visit. He wasn't wholly overhis scare of the day before. It took him some time to make up his mindto go, but finally he did. This time when they reached the tree close bythe house, they found a great surprise awaiting them. Farmer Brown's boywas sitting just inside the window, looking out. At least, they thoughtit was Farmer Brown's boy, but when they got a little nearer, they grewdoubtful. It looked like Farmer Brown's boy, and yet it didn't. Hischeeks stuck way out just as Striped Chipmunk's do when he has themstuffed full of corn or nuts. 

Happy Jack stared at him very hard. "My goodness, I didn't know hecarried his food that way!" he exclaimed. "I should think it would bedreadfully uncomfortable. "

If Farmer Brown's boy could have heard that, he certainly would havetried to laugh, and if he had--well, it was bad enough when he tried tosmile at the sight of Tommy Tit and Happy Jack. He didn't smile at allbut made up an awful face instead and clapped both hands to his cheeks. Happy Jack and Tommy Tit didn't know what to make of it, and it was sometime before they made up their minds that it really was Farmer Brown'sboy, and that they had nothing to fear. But when they finally venturedon to the sill and, as they helped themselves to nuts, saw the smile inhis eyes, though he did not smile with his mouth at all, they knew thatit was he, and that he was glad that they had called. Then they wereglad too. 

But what was the matter with Farmer Brown's boy? Happy Jack puzzled overit all the rest of the day, and then gave it up. 

CHAPTER XXI

HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL GROWS VERY BOLD

 When you find a friend in trouble Pass along a word of cheer. Often it is very helpful Just to feel a friend is near. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Every day Happy Jack visited the window sill of Farmer Brown's house tocall on Farmer Brown's boy, who was always waiting for him just insidethe window. In fact Happy Jack had got into the habit of getting hisbreakfast there, for always there were fat, delicious nuts on thewindow-sill, and it was much easier and more comfortable to breakfastthere than to hunt up his own hidden supplies and perhaps have to digdown through the snow to get them. Most people are just like HappyJack--they do the easiest thing. 

Each day Farmer Brown's boy looked more and more like himself. Hischeeks stuck out less and less, and finally did not stick out at all. And now he smiled at Happy Jack with his mouth as well as with his eyes. You know when his cheeks had stuck out so, he couldn't smile at allexcept with his eyes. Happy Jack didn't know what had been the matterwith Farmer Brown's boy, but whatever it was, he was better now, andthat made Happy Jack feel better. 

One morning he got a surprise. When he ran out along the branch of thetree that led to the window-sill he suddenly discovered something wrong. There were no nuts on the sill! More than this there was something verysuspicious looking about the window. It didn't look just right. Thetruth is it was partly open, but Happy Jack didn't understand this, notthen, anyway. He stopped short and scolded, a way he has when thingsdon't suit him. Farmer Brown's boy came to the window and called to him. Then he thrust a hand out, and in it were some of the fattest nuts HappyJack ever had seen. His mouth watered right away. There might besomething wrong with the window, but certainly the sill was all right. It would do no harm to go that far. 

So Happy Jack nimbly jumped across to the window-sill. Farmer Brown'sboy's hand with the fat nuts was still there, and Happy Jack lost notime in getting one. Then he sat up on the sill to eat it. My, but itwas good! It was just as good as it had looked. Happy Jack's eyestwinkled as he ate. When he had finished that nut, he wanted another. But now Farmer Brown's boy had drawn his hand inside the window. He wasstill holding it out with the nuts in it, but to get them Happy Jackmust go inside, and he couldn't get it out of his head that that was avery dangerous thing to do. What if that window should be closed whilehe was in there? Then he would be a prisoner. 

So he sat up and begged. He knew that Farmer Brown's boy knew what hewanted. But Farmer Brown's boy kept his hand just where it was. 

"Come on, you little rascal, " said he. "You ought to know me well enoughby this time to know that I won't hurt you or let any harm come to you. Hurry up, because I can't stand here all day. You see, I've just gotover the mumps, and if I should catch cold I might be sick again. Comealong now, and show how brave you are. "

Of course Happy Jack couldn't understand what he said. If he couldhave, he might have guessed that it was the mumps that had made FarmerBrown's boy look so like Striped Chipmunk when he has his cheeks stuffedwith nuts. But if he couldn't understand what Farmer Brown's boy said, he had no difficulty in understanding that if he wanted those nuts hewould have to go after them. So at last he screwed up his courage andput his head inside. Nothing happened, so he went wholly in and sat onthe inside sill. Then by reaching out as far as he could withouttumbling off, he managed to get one of those nuts, and as soon as he hadit, he dodged outside to eat it. 

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 desires 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. 

"Breakfast!" called a voice from downstairs. 

"Coming!" replied Farmer Brown's boy as he put Happy Jack on the tableby a dish of nuts and began to scramble into his clothes. 

CHAPTER XXVII

HAPPY JACK IS AFRAID TO GO HOME

Safety first is the best rule to insure a long life. 

_Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack didn't dare go home. Can you think of anything more dreadfulthan to be afraid to go to your own home? Why, home is the dearest placein the world, and it should be the safest. Just think how you would feelif you should be away from home, and then you should learn that itwouldn't be safe for you to go back there again, and you had no otherplace to go. It often happens that way with the little people of theGreen Meadows and the Green Forest. It was that way with Happy JackSquirrel now. 

You see, Happy Jack knew that Shadow the Weasel is not one to give upeasily. Shadow has one very good trait, and that is persistence. He isnot easily discouraged. When he sets out to do a thing, usually he doesit. If he starts to get a thing, usually he gets it. No, he isn't easilydiscouraged. Happy Jack knows this. No one knows it better. So HappyJack didn't dare to go home. He knew that any minute of night or dayShadow might surprise him there, and that would be the end of him. Hemore than half suspected that Shadow was at that very time hidingsomewhere along the way ready to spring out on him if he should try togo back home. 

He had stayed in the room of Farmer Brown's boy until Mrs. Brown hadcome to make the bed. Then he had jumped out the window into the bigmaple tree. He wasn't quite sure of Mrs. Brown yet. She had kindly eyes. They were just like the eyes of Farmer Brown's boy. But he didn't feelreally acquainted yet, and he felt safer outside than inside the roomwhile she was there. 

 "Oh dear, oh dear! What shall I do? I have no home, and so To keep me warm and snug and safe I have no place to go!"

Happy Jack said this over and over as he sat in the maple tree, tryingto decide what was to be done. 

"I wonder what ails that Squirrel. He seems to be doing a lot ofscolding, " said Mrs. Brown, as she looked out of the window. And thatshows how easy it is to misunderstand people when we don't know allabout their affairs. Mrs. Brown thought that Happy Jack was scolding, when all the time he was just frightened and worried and wondering wherehe could go and what he could do to feel safe from Shadow the Weasel. 

Because he didn't dare to go back to the Green Forest, he spent most ofthe day in the big maple tree close to Farmer Brown's house. The windowhad been closed, so he couldn't go inside. He looked at it longingly agreat many times during the day, hoping that he would find it open. Buthe didn't. You see, it was opened only at night when Farmer Brown's boywent to bed, so that he would have plenty of fresh air all night. Ofcourse Happy Jack didn't know that. All his life he had had plenty offresh air all the time, and be couldn't understand how people could livein houses all shut up. 

Late that afternoon Farmer Brown's boy, who had been at school all day, came whistling into the yard. He noticed Happy Jack right away. "Hello!You back again! Isn't one good meal a day enough?" he exclaimed. 

"He's been there all day, " said his mother, who had come to the doorjust in time to overhear him. "I don't know what ails him. "

Then Farmer Brown's boy noticed how forlorn Happy Jack looked. Heremembered Happy Jack's fright that morning. 

"I know what's the matter!" he cried. "It's that Weasel. The poor littlechap is afraid to go home. We must see what we can do for him. I wonderif he will stay if I make a new house for him. I believe I'll try it andsee. "

CHAPTER XXVIII

HAPPY JACK FINDS A NEW HOME

 They say the very darkest clouds Are lined with silver bright and fair, Though how they know I do not see, And neither do I really care. It's good to believe, and so I try To believe 'tis true with all my might, That nothing is so seeming dark But has a hidden side that's bright. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Certainly things couldn't look much darker than they did to Happy JackSquirrel as he sat in the big maple tree at the side of Farmer Brown'shouse, and saw jolly, round, red Mr. Sun getting ready to go to bedbehind the Purple Hills. He was afraid to go to his home in the GreenForest because Shadow the Weasel might be waiting for him there. He wasafraid of the night which would soon come. He was cold, and he washungry. Altogether he was as miserable a little Squirrel as ever wasseen. 

He had just made up his mind that he would have to go look for a hollowin one of the trees in the Old Orchard in which to spend the night, whenaround the corner of the house came Farmer Brown's boy with somethingunder one arm and dragging a ladder. He whistled cheerily to Happy Jackas he put the ladder against the tree and climbed up. By this time HappyJack had grown so timid that he was just a little afraid of FarmerBrown's boy, so he climbed as high up in the tree as he could get andwatched what was going on below. Even if he was afraid, there wascomfort in having Farmer Brown's boy near. 

For some time Farmer Brown's boy worked busily at the place where thebranch that Happy Jack knew so well started out from the trunk of thetree towards the window of Farmer Brown's boy's room. When he had fixedthings to suit him, he went down the ladder and carried it away withhim. In the crotch of the tree he had left the queer thing that he hadbrought under his arm. In spite of his fears, Happy Jack was curious. Little by little he crept nearer. What he saw was a box with a roundhole, just about big enough for him to go through, in one end, and infront of it a little shelf. On the shelf were some of the nuts that heliked best. 

For a long time Happy Jack looked and looked. Was it a trap? Somehow hecouldn't believe that it was. What would Farmer Brown's boy try to traphim for when they were such good friends? At last the sight of the nutswas too much for him. It certainly was safe enough to help himself tothose. How good they tasted! Almost before he knew it, they were gone. Then he got up courage enough to peep inside. The box was filled withsoft hay. It certainly did look inviting in there to a fellow who had nohome and no place to go. He put his head inside. Finally he went whollyin. It was just as nice as it looked. 

"I believe, " thought Happy Jack, "that he made this little house justfor me, and that he put all this hay in here for my bed. He doesn't knowmuch about making a bed, but I guess he means well. "

With that he went to work happily to make up a bed to suit him, and bythe time the first Black Shadow had crept as far as the big maple tree, Happy Jack was curled up fast asleep in his new house. 

CHAPTER XXIX

FARMER BROWN'S BOY TAKES A PRISONER

 The craftiest and cleverest, the strongest and the bold Will make mistakes like other folks, young, middle-aged, and old. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Happy Jack Squirrel was happy once more. He liked his new house, thehouse that Farmer Brown's boy had made for him and fastened in the bigmaple tree close by the house in which he himself lived. Happy Jack andFarmer Brown's boy were getting to be greater friends than ever. Everymorning Happy Jack jumped over to the window-sill and then in at theopen window of the room of Farmer Brown's boy. There he was sure to finda good breakfast of fat hickory nuts. When Farmer Brown's boy overslept, as he did sometimes, Happy Jack would jump up on the bed and waken him. He thought this great fun. So did Farmer Brown's boy, though sometimeswhen he was very sleepy he pretended to scold, especially on Sundaymornings when he did not have to get up as early as on other days. 

Of course, Black Pussy had soon discovered that Happy Jack was living inthe big maple tree, and she spent a great deal of time sitting at thefoot of it and glaring up at him with a hungry look in her eyes, although she wasn't hungry at all, for she had plenty to eat. Severaltimes she climbed up in the tree and tried to catch him. At first he hadbeen afraid, but he soon found out that Black Pussy was not at all athome in a tree as he was. After that, he rather enjoyed having her tryto catch him. It was almost like a game. It was great fun to scold ather and let her get very near him and then, just as she was sure thatshe was going to catch him, to jump out of her reach. After a while shewas content to sit at the foot of the tree and just glare at him. 

Happy Jack had only one worry now, and this didn't trouble him a greatdeal. It was possible that Shadow the Weasel might take it into his headto try to surprise him some night. Happy Jack knew that by this timeShadow must know where he was living, for of course Sammy Jay had foundout, and Sammy is one of those who tells all he knows. Still, being soclose to Farmer Brown's boy gave Happy Jack a very comfortable feeling. 

Now all this time Farmer Brown's boy had not forgotten Shadow the Weaseland how he had driven Happy Jack out of the Green Forest, and he hadwondered a great many times if it wouldn't be a kindness to the otherlittle people if he should trap Shadow and put him out of the way. Butyou know he had given up trapping, and somehow he didn't like to thinkof setting a trap, even for such a mischief-maker as Shadow. Thensomething happened that made Farmer Brown's boy very, very angry. Onemorning, when he went to feed the biddies, he found that Shadow hadvisited the henhouse in the night and killed three of his best pullets. That decided him. He felt sure that Shadow would come again, and hemeant to give Shadow a surprise. He hunted until he found the littlehole through which Shadow had got into the henhouse, and there he set atrap. 

"I don't like to do it, but I've got to, " said he. "If he had beencontent with one, it would have been bad enough, but he killed threejust from the love of killing, and it is high time that something bedone to get rid of him. "

The very next morning Happy Jack saw Farmer Brown's boy coming from thehenhouse with something under his arm. He came straight over to the footof the big maple tree and put the thing he was carrying down on theground. He whistled to Happy Jack, and as Happy Jack came down to seewhat it was all about, Farmer Brown's boy grinned. "Here's a friend ofyours you probably will be glad to see, " said he. 

At first, all Happy Jack could make out was a kind of wire box. Then hesaw something white inside, and it moved. Very suspiciously Happy Jackcame nearer. Then his heart gave a great leap. That wire box was a cage, and glaring between the wires with red, angry eyes was Shadow theWeasel! He was a prisoner! Right away Happy Jack was so excited that heacted as if he were crazy. He no longer had a single thing to be afraidof. Do you wonder that he was excited?

CHAPTER XXX

A PRISONER WITHOUT FEAR

A bad name is easy to get but hard to live down. 

_Happy Jack. _

Shadow the Weasel was a prisoner. He who always had been free to go andcome as he pleased and to do as he pleased was now in a little narrowcage and quite helpless. For once he had been careless, and this was theresult. Farmer Brown's boy had caught him in a trap. Of course, heshould have known better than to have visited the henhouse a second timeafter killing three of the best pullets there. He should have knownthat Farmer Brown's boy would be sure to do something about it. Thetruth is, he had yielded to temptation when common sense had warned himnot to. So he had no one to blame for his present difficulty buthimself, and he knew it. 

At first he had been in a terrible rage and had bitten at the wiresuntil he had made his mouth sore. When he had made sure that the wireswere stouter than his teeth, he wisely stopped trying to get out in thatway, and made up his mind that the only thing to do was to watch for achance to slip out, if the door of the cage should happen to be leftunfastened. 

Of course it hurt his pride terribly to be made fun of by those whoalways had feared him. Happy Jack Squirrel was the first one of these tosee him. Farmer Brown's boy had put the cage down near the foot of thebig maple tree in which Happy Jack was living, because Shadow had drivenhim out of the Green Forest. As soon as Happy Jack had made sure thatShadow really and truly was a prisoner and so quite harmless, he hadacted as if he were crazy. Perhaps he was--crazy with joy. You see, heno longer had anything to be really afraid of, for there was no one butShadow from whom he could not get away by running into his house. BillyMink was the only other one who could follow him there, and Billy wasnot likely to come climbing up a tree so close to Farmer Brown's house. 

So Happy Jack raced up and down the tree in the very greatestexcitement, and his tongue went quite as fast as his legs. He wantedeverybody to know that Shadow was a prisoner at last. At first he didnot dare go very close to the cage. You see, he had so long fearedShadow that he was still afraid of him even though he was so helpless. But little by little Happy Jack grew bolder and came very close. Andthen he began doing something not at all nice. He began calling Shadownames and making fun of him, and telling him how he wasn't afraid ofhim. It was all very foolish and worse--it was like hitting a foe whowas helpless. 

Of course Happy Jack hastened to tell everybody he met all about Shadow, so it wasn't long before Shadow began to receive many visitors. WheneverFarmer Brown's boy was not around there was sure to be one or more ofthe little people who had feared Shadow to taunt him and make fun ofhim. Somehow it seems as if always it is that way when people get intotrouble. You know it is very easy to appear to be bold and brave whenthere is nothing to be afraid of. Of course that isn't bravery at all, though many seem to think it is. 

[Illustration: IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE SHADOW BEGAN TO RECEIVE MANYVISITORS. ]

Now what do you think that right down in their hearts all these littlepeople who came to jeer at Shadow the Weasel hoped they would see? Why, they hoped they would see Shadow afraid. Yes, Sir, that is just whatthey hoped. But they didn't. That is where they were disappointed. Notonce did Shadow show the least sign of fear. He didn't know what FarmerBrown's boy would do with him, and he had every reason to fear that ifhe was not to be kept a prisoner for the rest of his natural life, something dreadful would be the end. But he was too proud and too braveto let any one know that any such fear ever entered his mind. Whateverhis faults, Shadow is no coward. He boldly took bits of meat whichFarmer Brown's boy brought to him, and not once appeared in the leastafraid, so that, much as he disliked him, Farmer Brown's boy actuallyhad to admire him. He was a prisoner, but he kept just as stout a heartas ever. 

CHAPTER XXXI

WHAT FARMER BROWN'S BOY DID WITH SHADOW

 Ribble, dibble, dibble, dab! Some people have the gift of gab! Some people have no tongues at all To trip them up and make them fall. 

 _Happy Jack. _

It is a fact, one of the biggest facts in all the world, that tonguesmake the greatest part of all the trouble that brings uncomfortablefeelings, and bitterness and sadness and suffering and sorrow. If itwasn't for unruly, careless, mean tongues, the Great World would be amillion times better to live in, a million times happier. It is becauseof his unruly tongue that Sammy Jay is forever getting into trouble. Itis the same way with Chatterer the Red Squirrel. And it is just the sameway with a great many little boys and girls, and with grown-ups as well. 

When the little people of the Green Forest and Green Meadows who fearShadow the Weasel found that he was a prisoner, many of them tookparticular pains to visit him when the way was clear, just to make funof him and tease him and tell him that they were not afraid of him andthat they were glad that he was a prisoner, and that they were suresomething dreadful would happen to him and they hoped it would. Shadowsaid never a word in reply. He was too wise to do that. He just turnedhis back on them. But all the time he was storing up in his mind allthese hateful things, and he meant, if ever he got free again, to makelife very uncomfortable for those whose foolish tongues were trying tomake him more miserable than he already felt. 

But these little people with the foolish tongues didn't stop to think ofwhat might happen. They just took it for granted that Shadow never againwould run wild and free in the Green Forest, and so they just let theirtongues run and enjoyed doing it. Perhaps they wouldn't have, if theycould have known just what was going on in the mind of Farmer Brown'sboy. Ever since he had found Shadow in the trap which he had set for himin the henhouse, Farmer Brown's boy had been puzzling over what heshould do with his prisoner. At first he had thought he would keep himin a cage the rest of his life. But somehow, whenever he looked intoShadow's fierce little eyes and saw how unafraid they looked, he got tothinking of how terrible it must be to be shut up in a little narrowcage when one has had all the Green Forest in which to go and come. Thenhe thought that he would kill Shadow and put him out of his misery atonce. 

"He killed my pullets, and he is always hunting the harmless littlepeople of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows, so he deserves to bekilled, " thought Farmer Brown's boy. "He's a pest. "

Then he remembered that after all Shadow was one of Old Mother Nature'slittle people, and that he must serve some purpose in Mother Nature'sgreat plan. Bad as he seemed, she must have some use for him. Perhaps itwas to teach others through fear of him how to be smarter and takebetter care of themselves and so be better fitted to do their parts. Themore he thought of this, the harder it was for Farmer Brown's boy tomake up his mind to kill him. But if he couldn't keep him a prisonerand he couldn't kill him, what could he do?

He was scowling down at Shadow one morning and puzzling over this when ahappy idea came to him. "I know what I'll do!" he exclaimed. Withoutanother word he picked up the cage with Shadow in it and started offacross the Green Meadows, which now, you know, were not green at all butcovered with snow. Happy Jack watched him out of sight. He had gone inthe direction of the Old Pasture. He was gone a long time, and when hedid return, the cage was empty. 

Happy Jack blinked at the empty cage. Then he began to ask in ascolding tone, "What did you do with him? What did you do with him?"

Farmer Brown's boy just smiled and tossed a nut to Happy Jack. And farup in the Old Pasture, Shadow the Weasel was once more free. It was wellfor Happy Jack's peace of mind that he didn't know that. 

CHAPTER XXXII

HAPPY JACK IS PERFECTLY HAPPY

 Never say a thing is so Unless you absolutely know. Just remember every day To be quite sure of what you say. 

 _Happy Jack. _

Taking things for granted doesn't do at all in this world. To take athing for granted is to think that it is so without taking the troubleto find out whether it is or not. It is apt not only to get you yourselfinto trouble, but to make trouble for other people as well. Happy Jacksaw Farmer Brown's boy carry Shadow the Weasel away in a cage, and hesaw him bring back the cage empty. What could he have done with Shadow?For a while he teased Farmer Brown's boy to tell him, but of courseFarmer Brown's boy didn't understand Happy Jack's language. 

Now Happy Jack knew just what he would like to believe. He would like tobelieve that Farmer Brown's boy had taken Shadow away and made an end ofhim. And because he wanted to believe that, it wasn't very hard tobelieve it. There was the empty cage. Of course Farmer Brown's boywouldn't have gone to the trouble of trapping Shadow unless he intendedto get rid of him for good. 

"He's made an end of him, that's what he's done!" said Happy Jack tohimself, because that is what he would have done if he had been inFarmer Brown's boy's place. So having made up his mind that this is whathad been done with Shadow, he at once told all his friends that it wasso, and was himself supremely happy. You see, he felt that he no longerhad anything to worry about. Yes, Sir, Happy Jack was happy. He likedthe house Farmer Brown's boy had made for him in the big maple treeclose by his own house. He was sure of plenty to eat, because FarmerBrown's boy always looked out for that, and as a result Happy Jack wasgrowing fat. None of his enemies of the Green Forest dared come so nearto Farmer Brown's house, and the only one he had to watch out for atall was Black Pussy. By this time he wasn't afraid of her; not a bit. Infact, he rather enjoyed teasing her and getting her to chase him. Whenshe was dozing on the doorstep he liked to steal very close, wake herwith a sharp bark, and then race for the nearest tree, and there scoldher to his heart's content. He had made friends with Mrs. Brown and withFarmer Brown, and he even felt almost friends with Bowser the Hound. Sometimes he would climb up on the roof of Bowser's little house anddrop nutshells on Bowser's head when he was asleep. The funny thing wasBowser never seemed to mind. He would lazily open his eyes and wink oneof them at Happy Jack and thump with his tail. He seemed to feel thatnow Happy Jack was one of the family, just as he was. 

So Happy Jack was just as happy as a fat Gray Squirrel with nothing toworry him could be. He was so happy that Sammy Jay actually becamejealous. You know Sammy is a born trouble maker. He visited Happy Jackevery morning, and while he helped himself to the good things that healways found spread for him, for Farmer Brown's boy always had somethingfor the little feathered folk to eat, he would hint darkly that suchgoodness and kindness was not to be trusted, and that something was sureto happen. That is just the way with some folks; they always aresuspicious. 

But nothing that Sammy Jay could say troubled Happy Jack; and Sammywould fly away quite put out because he couldn't spoil Happy Jack'shappiness the least little bit. 

CHAPTER XXXIII

SAMMY JAY UPSETS HAPPY JACK

A good deed well done often is overlooked, but you never are allowed to forget a mistake. 

_Happy Jack. _

Sammy Jay chuckled as he flew across the snow-covered Green Meadows onhis way to his home in the Green Forest. He chuckled and he chuckled. Tohave heard him you would have thought that either he had thought ofsomething very pleasant, or something very pleasant had happened to him. Once he turned in the direction of Farmer Brown's house, but changed hismind as he saw the Black Shadows creeping out from the Purple Hills, and once more headed for the Green Forest. 

"Too late to-day. Time I was home now. It'll keep until to-morrow, " hemuttered. Then he chuckled, and he was still chuckling when he reachedthe big hemlock tree, among the thick branches of which he spent eachnight. 

"Don't know what started me off to the Old Pasture this afternoon, butI'm glad I went. My, my, my, but I'm glad I went, " said he, as hefluffed out his feathers and prepared to tuck his head under his wing. "It pays to snoop around in this world and see what is going on. Ilearned a long time ago not to believe everything I hear, and that thesurest way to make sure of things is to find out for myself. Nothinglike using my own eyes and my own ears. Well, I must get to sleep. " Hebegan to chuckle again, and he was still chuckling as he fell asleep. 

The next morning Sammy Jay was astir at the very first sign of light. Hewaited just long enough to see that every feather was in place, forSammy is a bit vain, and very particular about his dress. Then he headedstraight for Farmer Brown's house. Just as he expected he found HappyJack Squirrel was awake, for Happy Jack is an early riser. 

"Good morning, " said Sammy Jay, and tried very hard to make his voicesound smooth and pleasant, a very hard thing for Sammy to do, for hisvoice, you know, is naturally harsh and unpleasant. "You seem to belooking as happy as ever. "

"Of course I am, " replied Happy Jack. "Why shouldn't I be? I haven't athing to worry about. Of course I'm happy, and I hope you're just ashappy as I am. I'm going to get my breakfast now, and then I'll behappier still. "

"That's so. There's nothing like a good breakfast to make one happy, "said Sammy Jay, helping himself to some suet tied to a branch of themaple tree. "By the way, I saw an old friend of yours yesterday. Heinquired after you particularly. He didn't exactly send his love, but hesaid that he hoped you are as well and fat as ever, and that he will seeyou again some time. He said that he didn't know of any one he likes tolook at better than you. "

Happy Jack looked flattered. "That was very nice of him, " said he. "Whowas it?"

"Guess, " replied Sammy. 

Happy Jack scratched his head thoughtfully. There were not many friendsin winter. Most of them were asleep or had gone to the far awaysouthland. 

"Peter Rabbit, " he ventured. 

Sammy shook his head. 

"Jimmy Skunk!"

Again Sammy shook his head. 

"Jumper the Hare!"

"Guess again, " said Sammy, chuckling. 

"Little Joe Otter!"

"Wrong, " replied Sammy. 

"I give up. Who was it? Do tell me, " begged Happy Jack. 

"It was Shadow the Weasel!" cried Sammy, triumphantly. 

Happy Jack dropped the nut he was just going to eat, and in place ofhappiness something very like fear grew and grew in his eyes. "I--Idon't believe you, " he stammered. "Farmer Brown's boy took him away andput an end to him. I saw him take him. "

"But you didn't see him put an end to Shadow, " declared Sammy, "becausehe didn't. He took him 'way up in the Old Pasture and let him go, and Isaw him up there yesterday. That's what comes of guessing at things. Shadow is no more dead than you are. Well, I must be going along. I hopeyou'll enjoy your breakfast. "

With this, off flew Sammy Jay, chuckling as if he thought he had done avery smart thing in upsetting Happy Jack, which goes to show what queerideas some people have. 

As for Happy Jack, he worried for a while, but as Shadow didn't come, and there was nothing else to worry about, little by little Happy Jack'shigh spirits returned, until he was as happy as ever. And now, thoughhe has had many adventures since then, I must leave him, for there is nomore room in this book. Perhaps if you ask him, he will tell you ofthese other adventures himself. Meanwhile, bashful little Mrs. PeterRabbit is anxious that you should know something about her. So I havepromised to call the next book, "Mrs. Peter Rabbit. "