The Willful Little Breeze
Old Mother West Wind was tired. Tired, and just a little bit cross — because she was tired. She had been busy all day long. She puffed out the white sails of ships on the big ocean so they could go faster. She kept the windmills whirling and whirling — pumping water for thirsty folks, grinding corn for hungry folks. She blew away smoke from tall chimneys and engines and steamboats. Yes, Old Mother West Wind had been very, very busy.
Now she was crossing the Green Meadows, heading home behind the Purple Hills. She opened her big bag and called to her children, the Merry Little Breezes. They had been playing hard on the Green Meadows all day long. One by one they crept into the bag. They were tired too. They were ready to go home.
Soon every one of them was inside — except one.
This one was a willful little Breeze. He was not quite ready to go home. He wanted to play just a little bit longer. He danced ahead of Old Mother West Wind. He kissed the sleepy daisies. He shook the nodding buttercups. He set all the little poplar leaves dancing too.
And he would NOT come into the bag.
So Old Mother West Wind closed the big bag. She slung it over her shoulder. And she walked away toward her home behind the Purple Hills.
When she was gone…
…the willful little Breeze felt very lonely.
Very lonely indeed.
The sleepy daisies didn't want to play. The buttercups were cross. Great round Mr. Sun, who had been shining all day long, pulled on his nightcap of golden clouds and went to bed.
And black shadows came creeping… creeping… creeping out into the Green Meadows.
The willful little Breeze wished — oh, how he wished — he was safe inside Old Mother West Wind's big bag with all the other Merry Little Breezes.
He started across the Green Meadows to find the Purple Hills. But every hill was black now. He could not tell which one to look behind. He could not find his way home.
After a while, he curled up under a bayberry bush and tried to go to sleep. But he was lonely. So lonely. And he could not sleep.
Old Mother Moon came up and filled the Green Meadows with light. But it was not warm and bright like Mr. Sun's light. It was cold and white, and it made long, long black shadows.
Then — HOOOO HOOOO — the willful little Breeze heard Hooty the Owl, out hunting for a meadow mouse.
Then — pat, pat, pat — down the Lone Little Path came Reddy Fox. He was trotting very softly. Every minute or so, he turned his head and looked behind him. It was easy to see that Reddy Fox was up to no good.
When Reddy Fox reached the bayberry bush, he sat down and barked twice. Hooty the Owl answered right away and flew over to join him. They did not see the willful little Breeze curled up underneath.
Those two rogues were too busy planning mischief.
They were planning to sneak across the Green Meadows to the edge of the Brown Pasture — where Mr. Bob White and pretty Mrs. Bob White and a dozen little Bob Whites had their home.
"When they run along the ground, I'll catch them," said Reddy Fox. "When they fly up in the air, you'll catch them. And we'll gobble them ALL up."
Reddy Fox licked his lips. Hooty the Owl snapped his bill. CLACK.
The willful little Breeze shivered under that bayberry bush.
Then Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl slipped away toward the Brown Pasture.
The moment they were out of sight — WHOOOOSH — the willful little Breeze jumped up and shook himself. He knew a shorter way. And he could go faster. Away he flew across the Green Meadows, past the tall grass, over the fence, into the Brown Pasture.
He got there first.
But he had to hunt and hunt and hunt to find them. At last — there they were. Mr. Bob White and Mrs. Bob White and all twelve little Bob Whites, every one with their heads tucked under their wings, fast asleep.
The willful little Breeze shook Mr. Bob White very gently.
In an instant, Mr. Bob White was wide awake.
"Sh-h-h-h," whispered the willful little Breeze. "Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl are coming. They want to gobble up you and Mrs. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites."
"Thank you, little Breeze," said Mr. Bob White. "I think I'll move my family."
He woke Mrs. Bob White. He woke all the little Bob Whites. With Mr. Bob White in the lead — FRRRRR — away they all flew to the far side of the Brown Pasture, where they tucked themselves under a big juniper tree, safe and hidden.
The willful little Breeze watched until every last one was out of sight.
Then he hurried back to the place where the Bob Whites had been sleeping.
Here came Reddy Fox, sneaking through the grass. So softly. So slowly.
Here came Hooty the Owl, flying as quiet as a shadow.
Reddy Fox pulled himself together. He made one quick POUNCE —
— and landed right in Mr. Bob White's empty bed.
Nothing there.
Nobody there.
Reddy Fox looked at Hooty the Owl. Hooty the Owl looked at Reddy Fox. They looked so surprised and so silly that the willful little Breeze almost laughed out loud.
They hunted here. They hunted there. They hunted all over the Brown Pasture.
They did not find a single Bob White.
The willful little Breeze flew back to the juniper tree and curled up right beside Mr. Bob White.
He was not lonely anymore.
