1、MOTHER WEST WIND“WHY” STORIESByTHORNTON W. BURGESSMOTHER WEST WIND “WHY” STORIESbyTHORNTON W. BURGESSAuthor of “Old Mother West Wind,” and“The Bed Time Story-Books.”Illustrations in Color by HARRISON CADYBOSTONLITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY1920Project Gutenbergs Mother West Wind Why Stories, by Thornton
2、 W. BurgessThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at Title: Mother West Wind Why StoriesAuthor: Thornton W. Burg
3、essRelease Date: February 7, 2005 EBook #14958BOOKS BY THORNTON W. BURGESSBEDTIME STORY-BOOKS1. THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX2. THE ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY CHUCK3. THE ADVENTURES OF PETER COTTONTAIL4. THE ADVENTURES OF UNC BILLY POSSUM5. THE ADVENTURES OF MR. MOCKER6. THE ADVENTURES OF JERRY MUSKRAT7. TH
4、E ADVENTURES OF DANNY MEADOW MOUSE8. THE ADVENTURES OF GRANDFATHER FROG9. THE ADVENTURES OF CHATTERER, THE RED SQUIRREL10. THE ADVENTURES OF SAMMY JAY11. THE ADVENTURES OF BUSTER BEAR12. THE ADVENTURES OF OLD MR. TOAD13. THE ADVENTURES OF PRICKLY PORKY14. THE ADVENTURES OF OLD MAN COYOTE15. THE ADVE
5、NTURES OF PADDY THE BEAVER16. THE ADVENTURES OF POOR MRS. QUACK17. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY COON18. THE ADVENTURES OF JIMMY SKUNK19. THE ADVENTURES OF BOB WHITE20. THE ADVENTURES OF OL MISTAH BUZZARDMOTHER WEST WIND SERIES1. OLD MOTHER WEST WIND2. MOTHER WEST WINDS CHILDREN3. MOTHER WEST WINDS ANIMAL
6、 FRIENDS4. MOTHER WEST WINDS NEIGHBORS5. MOTHER WEST WIND “WHY” STORIES6. MOTHER WEST WIND “HOW” STORIES7. MOTHER WEST WIND “WHEN” STORIES8. MOTHER WEST WIND “WHERE” STORIESGREEN MEADOW SERIES1. HAPPY JACK2. MRS. PETER RABBIT3. BOWSER THE HOUND4. OLD GRANNY FOXTHE BURGESS BIRD BOOK FOR CHILDRENTHE B
7、URGESS ANIMAL BOOK FOR CHILDRENCONTENTSI. WHY STRIPED CHIPMUNK IS PROUD OF HIS STRIPES .1II. WHY PETER RABBIT CANNOT FOLD HIS HANDS .5III. WHY UNC BILLY POSSUM PLAYS DEAD .11IV. WHY REDDY FOX WEARS RED.17V. WHY JIMMY SKUNK NEVER HURRIES 23VI. WHY SAMMY JAY HAS A FINE COAT 29VII. WHY JERRY MUSKRAT BU
8、ILDS HIS HOUSE IN THE WATER .35VIII. WHY OLD MAN COYOTE HAS MANY VOICES 41IX. WHY MINER THE MOLE LIVES UNDER GROUND .47X. WHY MR. SNAKE CANNOT WINK.53XI. WHY BOBBY COON HAS RINGS ON HIS TAIL 59XII. WHY THERE IS A BLACK HEAD IN THE BUZZARD FAMILY.65XIII. WHY BUSTER BEAR APPEARS TO HAVE NO TAIL 71XIV.
9、 WHY FLITTER THE BAT FLIES AT NIGHT77XV. WHY SPOTTY THE TURTLE CARRIES HIS HOUSE WITH HIM 83XVI. WHY PADDY THE BEAVER HAS A BROAD TAIL89LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS“As they were all very hungry, they would like to know when the feast would be ready.”.17“He went right on about his business”27“You dont mean
10、to say so, Peter,” interrupted Grandfather Frog. 33He would make no reply, save to run out his tongue at them.57“Then Old King Bear wished that he hadnt a tail.” .75“It must be fine to fly,” thought Peter. “I wish I could fly.”.79“Hi, Spotty!” he shouted. “Where do you live?” 87The first thing Peter
11、 looked to see was what kind of a tail Paddy has.93IWHY STRIPED CHIPMUNK IS PROUD OF HIS STRIPESHE Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind are great friends of Striped Chipmunk. They hurry to call on him the very first thing every morning after Old Mother West Wind has brought them down from th
12、e Purple Hills. They always beg him to stop and play with them, but often he refuses. But he does it in such a merry way and with such a twinkle in his eyes that the Merry Little Breezes never get cross because he wont play. No, Sir, they never get cross. If anything, they think just a little bit mo
13、re of Striped Chipmunk because he wont play. You see, they know that the reason he wont play is because he has work to do, and Striped Chipmunk believes and says:“When there is work for me to doThe sooner started, sooner through.”So every morning they ask him to play, and every morning they laugh wh
14、en he says he has too much to do. Then they rumple up his hair and pull his whiskers and give him last tag and race down to the Smiling Pool to see Grandfather Frog and beg him for a story. Now Grandfather Frog is very old and very wise, and he knows all about the days when the world was young. When
15、 he is feeling just right, he dearly loves to tell about those long-ago days.One morning the Merry Little Breezes found Grandfather Frog sitting as usual on his big green lily-pad, and they knew by the way he folded his hands across his white and yellow waistcoat that it was full of foolish green fl
16、ies.“Oh, Grandfather Frog, please do tell us why it is that Striped Chipmunk has such beautiful stripes on his coat,” begged one of the Merry Little Breezes.T2 MOTHER WEST WIND “WHY” STORIES“Chug-a-rum! They are stripes of honor,” replied Grandfather Frog, in his deep, gruff voice.“Honor! Oh, how lo
17、vely! Do tell us about it! Please do!” begged the Merry Little Breezes.“Chug-a-rum!” began Grandfather Frog, his big, goggly eyes twinkling. “Once upon a time, when the world was young, old Mr. Chipmunk, the grandfather a thousand times removed of Striped Chipmunk, lived very much as Striped Chipmun
18、k does now. He was always very busy, very busy, indeed, and it was always about his own affairs. By attending strictly to my own business, I have no time to meddle with the affairs of my neighbors, and so I keep out of trouble, said old Mr. Chipmunk,”“Just what Striped Chipmunk says now,” broke in o
19、ne of the Merry Little Breezes.“That shows that he is just as wise as was his grandfather a thousand times removed, about whom I am telling you,” replied Grandfather Frog. “Old Mr. Chipmunk wore just a little, plain brown coat. It didnt worry him a bit, not a bit, that his coat was just plain brown.
20、 It kept him just as warm as if it were a beautiful red, like that of Mr. Fox, or handsome black and white, like that of Mr. Skunk. He was perfectly satisfied with his little plain brown coat and took the best of care of it.“One day as he was hurrying home to dinner, he climbed up on an old stump to
21、 look around and make sure that the way was clear. Over in a little path in the meadow grass was walking old Mr. Meadow Mouse. He was strolling along as if there was nothing in the world to fear. Way back behind him in the same little path, walking very fast but very quietly, was big Mr. Bob Cat. Hi
22、s eyes were yellow, and a hungry look was in them. He didnt see Mr. Meadow Mouse, but he would in a few minutes. Mr. Chipmunk saw that he would, and that there was no place for Mr. Meadow Mouse to hide.“Humph! I never meddle in other peoples affairs, and this is none of my business, said little Mr.
23、Chipmunk.WHY STRIPED CHIPMUNK IS PROUD OF HIS STRIPES 3“But old Mr. Meadow Mouse was a friend. He thought a great deal of Mr. Meadow Mouse, did little Mr. Chipmunk. He couldnt bear to think of what would happen to Mr. Meadow Mouse if big Mr. Bob Cat should catch him. Then, almost without realizing w
24、hat he was doing, little Mr. Chipmunk began to shout at big Mr. Bob Cat and to call him names. Of course big Mr. Bob Cat looked up right away and saw little Mr. Chipmunk sitting on the old stump. His eyes grew yellower and yellower, he drew his lips back from his long, sharp teeth in a very angry wa
25、y, and his little bob tail twitched and twitched. Then, with great leaps, he came straight for the old stump on which little Mr. Chipmunk was sitting.“Little Mr. Chipmunk didnt wait for him to get there. Oh, my, no! He took one good look at those fierce, hungry, yellow eyes and long, cruel teeth, an
26、d then he whisked into a hole in the old stump. You see, there wasnt time to go anywhere else. Big Mr. Bob Cat found the hole in the stump right away. He snarled when he saw it. You see it was too small, very much too small, for him to get into himself. But he could get one hand and arm in, and he d
27、id, feeling all around inside for little Mr. Chipmunk. Little Mr. Chipmunk was frightened almost to death. Yes, Sir, he was frightened almost to death. He made himself just as flat as he could on the bottom of the hollow and held his breath.“Youd better come out of there, Mr. Chipmunk, or Ill pull y
28、ou out! snarled Mr. Bob Cat.“Little Mr. Chipmunk just snuggled down flatter than ever and didnt say a word. Mr. Bob Cat felt round and round inside the hollow stump and raked his long claws on the sides until little Mr. Chipmunks hair fairly stood up. Yes, Sir, it stood right up on end, he was so sc
29、ared. When it did that, it tickled the claws of Mr. Bob Cat. Mr. Bob Cat grinned. It was an ugly grin to see. Then he reached in a little farther and made a grab for little Mr. Chipmunk. His wide-spread, sharp claws caught in little Mr. Chipmunks coat near the neck and tore little strips the whole l
30、ength of it.“Of course little Mr. Chipmunk squealed with pain, for those claws hurt dreadfully, but he was glad that his coat tore. If it hadnt, Mr. 4 MOTHER WEST WIND “WHY” STORIESBob Cat would surely have pulled him out. After a long time, Mr. Bob Cat gave up and went off, growling and snarling. W
31、hen he thought it was safe, little Mr. Chipmunk crawled out of the old stump and hurried home. He ached and smarted terribly, and his little plain brown coat was torn in long strips.“This is what I get for meddling in the affairs of other folks! said little Mr. Chipmunk bitterly. If Id just minded m
32、y own business, it wouldnt have happened.“Just then he happened to look over to the house of Mr. Meadow Mouse. There was Mr. Meadow Mouse playing with his children. He didnt know a thing about what his neighbor, little Mr. Chipmunk, had done for him, for you remember he hadnt seen Mr. Bob Cat at all
33、. Little Mr. Chipmunk grinned as well as he could for the pain.“Im glad I did it, he muttered. Yes, Sir, Im glad I did it, and Im glad that Neighbor Meadow Mouse doesnt know about it. Im glad that nobody knows about it.“A kindly deeds most kindly doneIn secret wrought, and seen of none.And so Im gla
34、d that no one knows.“Now just imagine how surprised little Mr. Chipmunk was, when in the fall it came time to put on a new coat, to have Old Mother Nature hand him out a beautiful striped coat instead of the little plain brown coat he had expected. Old Mother Natures eyes twinkled as she said:“There
35、s a stripe for every tear made in your old coat by the claws of Mr. Bob Cat the day you saved Mr. Meadow Mouse. They are honor stripes, and hereafter you and your children and your childrens children shall always wear stripes.“And that is how it happens that Striped Chipmunk comes by his striped coa
36、t, and why he is so proud of it, and takes such good care of it,” concluded Grandfather Frog.IIWHY PETER RABBIT CANNOT FOLD HIS HANDSAPPY JACK SQUIRREL sat with his hands folded across his white waistcoat. He is very fond of sitting with his hands folded that way. A little way from him sat Peter Rab
37、bit. Peter was sitting up very straight, but his hands dropped right down in front. Happy Jack noticed it.“Why dont you fold your hands the way I do, Peter Rabbit?” shouted Happy Jack.“IIdont want to,” stammered Peter.“You mean you cant!” jeered Happy Jack.Peter pretended not to hear, and a few minu
38、tes later he hopped away towards the dear Old Briar-patch, lipperty-lipperty-lip. Happy Jack watched him go, and there was a puzzled look in Happy Jacks eyes.“I really believe he cant fold his hands,” said Happy Jack to himself, but speaking aloud.“He cant, and none of his family can,” said a gruff
39、voice.Happy Jack turned to find Old Mr. Toad sitting in the Lone Little Path.“Why not?” asked Happy Jack.“Ask Grandfather Frog; he knows,” replied Old Mr. Toad, and started on about his business.And this is how it happens that Grandfather Frog told this story to the little meadow and forest people g
40、athered around him on the bank of the Smiling Pool.“Chug-a-rum!” said Grandfather Frog. “Old Mr. Rabbit, the grandfather a thousand times removed of Peter Rabbit, was always H6 MOTHER WEST WIND “WHY” STORIESgetting into trouble. Yes, Sir, old Mr. Rabbit was always getting into trouble. Seemed like h
41、e wouldnt be happy if he couldnt get into trouble. It was all because he was so dreadfully curious about other peoples business, just as Peter Rabbit is now. It seemed that he was just born to be curious and so, of course, to get into trouble.“One day word came to the Green Forest and to the Green M
42、eadows that Old Mother Nature was coming to see how all the little meadow and forest people were getting along, to settle all the little troubles and fusses between them, and to find out who were and who were not obeying the orders she had given them when she had visited them last. My, my, my, such
43、a hurrying and scurrying and worrying as there was! You see, everybody wanted to look his best when Old Mother Nature arrived, Yes, Sir, everybody wanted to look his best.“There was the greatest changing of clothes you ever did see. Old King Bear put on his blackest coat. Mr. Coon and Mr. Mink and M
44、r. Otter sat up half the night brushing their suits and making them look as fine and handsome as they could. Even Old Mr. Toad put on a new suit under his old one, and planned to pull the old one off and throw it away as soon as Old Mother Nature should arrive. Then everybody began to fix up their h
45、omes and make them as neat and nice as they knew howeverybody but Mr. Rabbit.“Now Mr. Rabbit was lazy. He didnt like to work anymore than Peter Rabbit does now. No, Sir, old Mr. Rabbit was afraid of work. The very sight of work scared old Mr. Rabbit. You see, he was so busy minding other peoples bus
46、iness that he didnt have time to attend to his own. So his brown and gray coat always was rumpled and tumbled and dirty. His house was a tumble-down affair in which no one but Mr. Rabbit would ever have thought of living, and his gardenoh, dear me, such a garden you never did see! It was all weeds a
47、nd brambles. They filled up the yard, and old Mr. Rabbit actually couldnt have gotten into his own house if he hadnt cut a path through the brambles.“Now when old Mr. Rabbit heard that Old Mother Nature was coming, his heart sank way, way down, for he knew just how angry WHY PETER RABBIT CANNOT FOLD
48、 HIS HANDS 7she would be when she saw his house, his garden and his shabby suit.“Oh, dear! Oh, dear! What shall I do? wailed Mr. Rabbit, wringing his hands.“Get busy and clean up, advised Mr. Woodchuck, hurrying about his own work.“Now Mr. Woodchuck was a worker and very, very neat. He meant to have
49、 his home looking just as fine as he could make it. He brought up some clean yellow sand from deep down in the ground and sprinkled it smoothly over his doorstep.“Ill help you, if I get through my own work in time, shouted Mr. Woodchuck over his shoulder.“That gave Mr. Rabbit an idea. He would ask all his neighbors to help him, and perhaps then he could get his house and garden in order by the time Old Mother Nature arrived. So Mr. Rabbit called on Mr. Skunk and Mr. Coon and Mr. Mink and Mr.
