THORNTON W. BURGESS
Reading edition
Illustrations by HARRISON CADY
GROSSET & DUNLAP
Publishers New York
By arrangement with Little, Brown, and Company
Copyright, 1916, By Thornton W. Burgess. All rights reserved PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
To the cause of conservation of wild life and to increase of love for our little friends of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows through awakened interest in them and a better understanding of their value to us as faithful workers in carrying out the plans of wise Old Mother Nature, this little book is dedicated.
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I How Old King Eagle Won His White Head 3
II How Old Mr. Mink Taught Himself to Swim 17
III How Old Mr. Toad Learned to Sing 31
IV How Old Mr. Crow Lost His Double Tongue 45
V How Howler the Wolf Got His Name 59
VI How Old Mr. Squirrel Became Thrifty 73
VII How Lightfoot the Deer Learned to Jump 87
VIII How Mr. Flying Squirrel Almost Got Wings 103
IX How Mr. Weasel Was Made an Outcast 117
X How the Eyes of Old Mr. Owl Became Fixed 131
XI How It Happens Johnny Chuck Sleeps All Winter 145
XII How Old Mr. Otter Learned to Slide 161
XIII How Drummer the Woodpecker Came by His Red Cap 175
XIV How Old Mr. Tree Toad Found Out How To Climb 191
XV How Old Mr. Heron Learned Patience 205
XVI How Tufty the Lynx Happens to Have a Stump of a Tail 219
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
"Inside Cover"
"Caw, caw, caw, caw, caw!" yelled Blacky at the top of his voice Frontispiece
"Old King Bear, who was king no longer, would growl a deep, rumbly-grumbly growl" 64
"One day Mr. Rabbit surprised Mr. Weasel making a meal of young mice" 120
"His legs were so long and his neck was so long that all his neighbors laughed at him" 216