Jimmy Skunk Looks for Beetles

JIMMY SKUNK LOOKS FOR BEETLES

Jimmy Skunk opened his eyes very early one morning and peeped out of his cozy little house on the hill.

Big, round Mr. Sun had a red, smiling face. He had just started to climb up into the sky.

Old Mother West Wind was heading down to the Green Meadows with her big bag over her shoulder. In that bag she carried all her children, the Merry Little Breezes. She was taking them down to the Green Meadows to play and run around all day.

"Good morning, Mother West Wind," said Jimmy Skunk. "Did you see any beetles as you came down the hill?"

Old Mother West Wind said no. She hadn't seen any beetles.

"Thank you," said Jimmy Skunk. "I guess I'll have to go look myself, for I am very, very hungry."

So Jimmy Skunk brushed his handsome black and white coat and washed his face and hands. Then he started out to find some beetles for his breakfast.

First he went down to the Green Meadows and stopped at Johnny Chuck's house. But Johnny Chuck was still in bed. Fast asleep.

Then Jimmy Skunk went to see if Reddy Fox would come help him find some beetles. But Reddy Fox had been out very, very late the night before. He was still in bed, too. Fast asleep.

So Jimmy Skunk set out all alone along the Crooked Little Path up the hill. He walked very slowly, because Jimmy Skunk never hurries. He stopped and peeped under every old log to see if there were any beetles.

After a while he came to a big piece of bark beside the Crooked Little Path. Jimmy Skunk took hold of it with his two little black paws. He pulled. And pulled. And pulled.

All of a sudden — FLOP! — the big piece of bark flipped over so fast that Jimmy Skunk fell flat on his back.

When he rolled back onto his feet, there sat old Mr. Toad. Right in the path. And old Mr. Toad was very, very cross. He swelled and he puffed and he puffed and he swelled, till he was twice as big as Jimmy Skunk had ever seen him before.

"Good morning, Mr. Toad," said Jimmy Skunk. "Have you seen any beetles?"

But Mr. Toad blinked his great big round eyes. "What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the roof off my house?"

"Is that the roof of your house?" asked Jimmy Skunk. "I won't do it again."

Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over old Mr. Toad and went on up the Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles.

After a while he came to an old tree stump. It was hollow. And it had the nicest little round hole in one side. Jimmy Skunk took hold of the edge with his two little black paws. He pulled. And pulled.

All of a sudden — RRRIP! — the whole side of the old stump tore open and Jimmy Skunk fell flat on his back again.

When he rolled back onto his feet, there was Striped Chipmunk. Hopping up and down right in the middle of the path. So angry his little tail was shaking.

"Good morning, Striped Chipmunk," said Jimmy Skunk. "Have you seen any beetles?"

But Striped Chipmunk hopped faster than ever. "What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the side off my house?"

"Is that the side of your house?" asked Jimmy Skunk. "I won't do it again."

Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over Striped Chipmunk and went on up the Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles.

Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit hopping along down the path.

"Good morning, Jimmy Skunk! Where are you going so early in the morning?"

"Good morning, Peter Rabbit. Have you seen any beetles?"

"No," said Peter Rabbit. "But I'll help you find some!"

So Peter Rabbit turned around and hopped ahead of Jimmy Skunk up the Crooked Little Path.

Now, Peter Rabbit's legs are long. And Peter Rabbit is always in a hurry. So he got to the top of the hill first.

When Jimmy Skunk finally reached the top, he found Peter Rabbit sitting up very straight. Very still. Staring hard at a great flat stone.

"What are you looking at, Peter Rabbit?"

"Sh-h-h!" whispered Peter Rabbit. "I think there are some beetles under that great flat stone. See that little black string sticking out?"

Jimmy Skunk looked. There it was. A thin black string, poking out from under the edge of the stone.

"When I count to three," said Peter Rabbit, "you grab that string and pull hard. Maybe you'll find a beetle at the other end."

Jimmy Skunk got ready. He wrapped his two little black paws around that string.

"One!" said Peter.

"Two!" said Peter.

"THREE!"

Jimmy Skunk grabbed tight and pulled as hard as ever he could and out came —

Mr. Black Snake!

That string was Mr. Black Snake's tail. And Mr. Black Snake was very, very angry.

"HA! HA! HA!" laughed Peter Rabbit, rolling on the ground.

Mr. Black Snake coiled up tall. "What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling my tail?"

"Was that your tail?" said Jimmy Skunk. "I won't do it again. Have you seen any beetles?"

But Mr. Black Snake hadn't seen any beetles. He was so cross that Jimmy Skunk just walked right on over the hill to keep looking.

Behind him, Peter Rabbit was still laughing and laughing and laughing. The more Peter laughed, the angrier Mr. Black Snake got. At last Mr. Black Snake started after Peter Rabbit.

Then Peter Rabbit stopped laughing. Because Mr. Black Snake can run very fast.

WHOOOOSH — away went Peter Rabbit down the Crooked Little Path as fast as his long legs could carry him. And away went Mr. Black Snake right behind.

But Jimmy Skunk didn't even look.

Jimmy Skunk had found some beetles. And he was eating his breakfast.