  Now when Old Barney Owl heard Little Jack Rabbit and Chippy Chipmunk knock on his front door, he winked and blinked. But he didn't open it, for the light hurt his eyes, you know, and all day long he kept the shades pulled down. "Who are you and what do you want?" he asked in a sleepy voice. "It's me and Little Jack Rabbit," answered the little chipmunk. "Come 'round this evening," replied the wise old owl. "No, thank you," laughed Little Jack Rabbit. "We don't make calls in the evening," and he and the little chipmunk hurried away for they thought, maybe or perhaps, Old Barney Owl might open the front door and catch them. "He, he," said Chippy Chipmunk, "he asked us to call this evening, did he? Not if my name is Chipendale Chipmunk!" Well, after they had called on Mrs. Water Rat, who lived nearby in a lovely garden of water lilies, they hopped on board the log and after a shove, away it went over the water to the other bank, where these two little four-footed sailors hopped off and then, all of a sudden, just like that, a voice said: "Don't you go another inch Or your noses I will pinch." "Who said that?" inquired the frightened little rabbit. "Who are you?" asked trembling Chippy Chipmunk. And then Teddy Turtle crawled out from behind some bulrushes and began to laugh. And the little rabbit and the little chipmunk would have been frightened if it hadn't been Teddy Turtle, let me tell you, for some turtles are dreadful snappers, you know. Little Jack and Chippy Chipmunk Meet Teddy Turtle."Oh, it's you, is it?" and the little rabbit told Teddy Turtle all about the little snail at the seashore who carries his shell house around with him. "Yes, he takes his little house with him just the way you do." "I'm going to take a swim, so good-by!" answered Teddy Turtle, crawling over to the water, and in he went with a loud splash that frightened two little minnows almost to death. Oh, the little minnows swim Where the water's cool and dim, 'Neath the weeping willow branches Making shadows here and there. Where the gnats and little flies Are making nice mud pies, And Mrs. Muskrat combs her silky hair. "Come on, let's be going. There's always something to see. Why, here comes the Little Balmy Breezes across the Sunny Meadow," cried the little rabbit, but the little chipmunk ran off to the Shady Forest. |
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