CHIPPY CHIPMUNK'S STORE
Reading edition
Chippy Chipmunk stood outside his store waiting for Little Jack Rabbit to come along. He had promised, if the little bunny would call after business hours, to help him get a little store of his own.
Mr. Chippy Chipmunk looked very nice and well-to-do in his clean striped jacket as he sat on the wooden bench just under the big sign. Pretty soon he stood up to look at it again. He had done this very same thing at least ten times that day, he was so proud of it.
CHIPPY CHIPMUNK ALL KINDS OF NUTS WHOLESALE & RETAIL
"A mighty nice sign!" he said aloud, as he sat down again on the wooden bench. All of a sudden the thumperty-thump of little feet made him look up.
"Good evening," said Chippy Chipmunk.
"I was afraid I'd be late," answered Little Jack Rabbit. "You see, I had to wait until mother got home."
"Come over and sit down," said Chippy Chipmunk.
"Wait till I read the sign over again," answered the little bunny. "Wouldn't I be proud if I had a little store! I don't know what I'd sell, but that doesn't make so much difference—it's having your own name over the door that makes you feel like a millionaire."
"Come in and see the nuts," said the little chipmunk, after a while.
A long hollow log, carefully split in two, made a very nice counter. Indeed, it served also for a showcase, for in the hollow the nuts were arranged in separate piles.
"I made all the tags myself," said Chippy Chipmunk proudly, pointing to small squares of cardboard on which were printed:—CHESTNUTS—HICKORY NUTS—WALNUTS—BEECH NUTS.
"Are these your scales?" asked Little Jack Rabbit admiringly.
"Yes, I sell by the pound. Then nobody gets cheated," answered the little chipmunk, cracking a nut with his sharp teeth. "You ought to have a store at the edge of the Old Bramble Patch, with a sign painted in red and green letters:
"JACK RABBIT CABBAGES & TURNIPS"
"Do you think I know enough about vegetables?" asked the little rabbit anxiously.
"Just as much as I do about nuts," replied Chippy Chipmunk.
But, oh, dear me! If they had known what was going to happen I guess they never would have talked so long about the nut and vegetable business.