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diff --git a/21203-h/21203-h.htm b/21203-h/21203-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8002f84 --- /dev/null +++ b/21203-h/21203-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3793 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Tale of Grandfather Mole, by Arthur Scott Bailey</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + @media print { + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; color: gray; display: none; visibility: hidden; } + } + @media screen { + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; color: gray; display: inline; visibility: visible;} + } + + div.main {max-width: 40em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + page-break-before: always; } + + p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .35em; + font-size: medium; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .35em; + line-height: 125%; } + p.noindent {text-indent: 0em;} + p.pg {text-indent: 0em; + font-family: Times-Roman, serif; } + p.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} + p.titleblock {margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; text-indent: 0em; text-align: center; line-height: 125%;} + p.titleblockl {margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; text-indent: 2.25em; text-align: left; line-height: 125%;} + p.chapter {margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; line-height: 100%;} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; font-weight: normal; page-break-after: avoid ! important;} + h1.pg { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; font-weight: bold; font-family: Times-Roman, serif; } + h3.pg { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; font-weight: bold; font-family: Times-Roman, serif; + margin-top: 0em; clear: both; + word-spacing: 0em; } + h2 {margin-top: 2em; clear: both; + word-spacing: 0.6em; letter-spacing: 0.2em; + font-weight: 500;} + h3 {margin-top: 1em; clear: both; + word-spacing: 0.2em; } + + hr {width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; + clear: both;} + hr.chapter {width: 55%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0em; page-break-before: always;} + hr.sorta {width: 45%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + hr.minor {width: 30%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + hr.wide {width: 80%; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; text-align: +center;} + + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + td.pr {text-align: right; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;} + + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: Arial, san-serif;} + + a {text-decoration: none;} + + .blockquot {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .figleft {margin: auto; text-align: left;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + img {border: none;} + ins.transcriber {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: thin dotted silver;} + div.tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; + font-size: 90%; + page-break-before: always;} + div.tnote p {text-indent: 0; margin-top: .5em; font-size: 90%;} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Tale of Grandfather Mole, by Arthur Scott +Bailey, Illustrated by Harry L. Smith</h1> +<pre> +This 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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p class="pg">Title: The Tale of Grandfather Mole</p> +<p class="pg">Author: Arthur Scott Bailey</p> +<p class="pg">Release Date: April 22, 2007 [eBook #21203]</p> +<p class="pg">Language: English</p> +<p class="pg">Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p class="pg">***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Joe Longo<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<div class="main"> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<img src="images/ttgm-front-cover.jpg" width="500" height="750" +alt="From Cover image for The Tale of Grandfather Mole" title="Front Cover" /> +</div> + + +<h1><br /><br /><br />THE TALE OF<br />GRANDFATHER MOLE<br /><br /><br /></h1> + + +<table width="400" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Publisher" border="1" id="Table1"><tr><td> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 130%;"><i>SLEEPY-TIME TALES</i></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 8px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">BY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 110%; margin-bottom: 10px;">ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">AUTHOR OF</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 130%;"><i>TUCK-ME-IN TALES</i></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 5px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<hr class="minor" /> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Cuffy Bear</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Frisky Squirrel</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Tommy Fox</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Fatty Coon</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Billy Woodchuck</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Jimmy Rabbit</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Peter Mink</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Sandy Chipmunk</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Brownie Beaver</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Paddy Muskrat</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Ferdinand Frog</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Dickie Deer Mouse</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Timothy Turtle</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Major Monkey</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Benny Badger</span></p> +</td></tr></table> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a> +<a name="illus-001-grande" id="illus-001-grande" href="images/illus-001-grande.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus-001.jpg" width="390" height="560" +alt="Grandfather Mole Made a Rush for Mr. Meadow Mouse." +title="Grandfather Mole Made a Rush for Mr. Meadow Mouse." /> +</a> +<span class="caption">Grandfather Mole Made a Rush for Mr. Meadow Mouse.</span> +<p style="font-size: 80%; text-align: right"><i>Frontispiece</i> (<a href="#i-001"><i>Page</i> 85)</a></p> +</div> + + +<table width="400" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1" id="Table2"><tr><td> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 2px; font-size: 130%; letter-spacing: 0.4em;"><i>SLEEPY-TIME TALES</i></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 70%; margin-bottom: 0px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<hr class="minor" /> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 215%;">THE TALE OF</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 255%; letter-spacing: 0.1em;"><span class="smcap">Grandfather</span></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 255%; letter-spacing: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="smcap">Mole</span></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">BY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 130%; margin-bottom: 5px;">ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">Author of</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 100%;">"TUCK-ME-IN TALES"</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 70%; margin-bottom: 50px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 60%;">ILLUSTRATED BY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 100%; margin-bottom: 60px;">HARRY L. SMITH</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%; letter-spacing: 0.1em;">NEW YORK</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 130%; letter-spacing: 0.4em;">GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%; letter-spacing: 0.2em; margin-bottom: 15px;">PUBLISHERS</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 60%;">Made in the United States of America</p> +</td></tr></table> + + +<p class="center" style="line-height: 100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1920, by</span><br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP +<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + + +<hr class="sorta" /> +<h3><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>CONTENTS</h3> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="75%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents" id="Table3"> +<col style="width:20%;" /><col style="width:70%;" /><col style="width:10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="pr" style="font-size: small" >CHAPTER</td> <td align="left"> </td> + <td align="right" style="font-size: small">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">I</td> <td align="left">A Queer Old Person</td> <td align="right"><a href="#I">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">II</td> <td align="left">What the Cat Caught</td> <td align="right"><a href="#II">5</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">III</td> <td align="left">A Breakfast Lost</td> <td align="right"><a href="#III">10</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">IV</td> <td align="left">A New Way of Taking a Stroll</td> <td align="right"><a href="#IV">15</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">V</td> <td align="left">Jimmy Rabbit Can't Wait</td> <td align="right"><a href="#V">19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">VI</td> <td align="left">A Hearty Eater</td> <td align="right"><a href="#VI">24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">VII</td> <td align="left">Two Worm-Eaters</td> <td align="right"><a href="#VII">29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">VIII</td> <td align="left">Losing His Bearings</td> <td align="right"><a href="#VIII">34</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">IX</td> <td align="left">Good News from Below</td> <td align="right"><a href="#IX">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">X</td> <td align="left">Mrs. Robin's Wish</td> <td align="right"><a href="#X">43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XI</td> <td align="left">Surprising Grandfather Mole</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XI">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XII</td> <td align="left">Mr. Blackbird's Advice</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XII">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XIII</td> <td align="left">Turning Over a New Leaf</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XIII">56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XIV</td> <td align="left">The New Sunshade</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XIV">61</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XV</td> <td align="left">Two and a Toadstool</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XV">65</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XVI</td> <td align="left">Grandfather Mole's Visitor</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XVI">70</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XVII</td> <td align="left">Mr. Crow Scolds</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XVII">76</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XVIII</td> <td align="left">A Talk with Mr. Meadow Mouse</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XVIII">81</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XIX</td> <td align="left">Mr. Crow's Apology</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XIX">86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XX</td> <td align="left">A Sign of Rain</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XX">91</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XXI</td> <td align="left">Mrs. Wren Tries to Help</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XXI">96</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XXII</td> <td align="left">Two Famous Diggers</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XXII">102</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XXIII</td> <td align="left">Seeing a Sample</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XXIII">107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XXIV</td> <td align="left">Following the Plough</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XXIV">112</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XXV</td> <td align="left">Stubborn as Ever</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XXV">116</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="75%" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<col style="width:80%; padding-right: .5em;" /> +<col style="width:20%;" /> +<tr> +<td align="left">Grandfather Mole Made a Rush for Mr. Meadow Mouse.</td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#illus-001">Frontispiece</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="left">Grandfather Mole Escapes From Miss Kitty.</td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#illus-002">10</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="left">Grandfather Mole Greets Mr. Meadow Mouse.</td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#illus-003">58</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="left">Billy Woodchuck Calls on Grandfather Mole.</td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#illus-004">98</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>THE TALE OF<br />GRANDFATHER MOLE</h2> + +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_1" id="p_1">p. 1</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>A QUEER OLD PERSON</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">There</span> was a queer old person that lived +in Farmer Green's garden. Nobody knew +exactly how long he had made his home +there because his neighbors seldom saw +him. He might have been in the garden a +whole summer before anybody set eyes on +him.</p> + +<p>Those that were acquainted with him +called him Grandfather Mole. And the +reason why his friends didn't meet him<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_2" id="p_2">p. 2</a></span> +oftener was because he spent most of his +time underground. Grandfather Mole's +house was in a mound at one end of the +garden. He had made the house himself, +for he was a great digger. And Mr. Meadow +Mouse often remarked that it had +more halls than any other dwelling he had +ever seen. He had visited it when Grandfather +Mole was away from home, so he +knew what it was like.</p> + +<p>Some of those halls that Mr. Meadow +Mouse mentioned ran right out beneath +the surface of the garden. Grandfather +Mole had dug them for a certain purpose. +Through them he made his way in the +darkness, whenever he was hungry (which +was most of the time, for he had a huge +appetite!). And when he took an underground +stroll he was almost sure to find a +few angleworms, which furnished most of +his meals.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_3" id="p_3">p. 3</a></span>To be sure, he did not despise a grub—if +he happened to meet one—nor a cutworm +nor a wire-worm.</p> + +<p>The wonder of it was that Grandfather +Mole ever found anything to eat, for the +old gentleman was all but blind. The only +good Grandfather Mole's eyes did him +was to let him tell darkness from light. +They were so small that his neighbors +claimed he hadn't any at all.</p> + +<p>Another odd thing about this odd person +was his ears. The neighbors said they +couldn't see them, either. But they were +in his head, even if they didn't show. And +Grandfather Mole himself sometimes remarked +that he didn't know how he could +have burrowed as he did if he had been +forever getting dirt in his eyes and ears. +He seemed quite satisfied to be just as he +was.</p> + +<p>And he used to say that he didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_4" id="p_4">p. 4</a></span> +know what good eyes were to anyone +whether he was under the ground or on +top of it!</p> + +<p>Liking to dig as he did, he certainly had +nothing to complain about. His long nose +was as good as a drill. And his front legs +were just long enough so that he could +reach his large, spade-like feet beyond his +nose and throw the dirt back. His fur +lay in one direction as easily as in another, +never troubling him in the least when he +was boring his way through the dry, loose +soil of Farmer Green's garden.</p> + +<p>So in spite of what might seem great +drawbacks to others, Grandfather Mole +was contented with his lot. The only +thing he was ever known to grumble about +was the scarcity of angleworms.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_5" id="p_5">p. 5</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>WHAT THE CAT CAUGHT</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Everybody</span> knew the cat at Farmer +Green's to be a great hunter. She had +long since disposed of the last mouse that +was so foolish as to venture inside her +home. And being very big, and not at all +timid, she had made such a name for herself +in the neighborhood that even the rats +looked on her as a monster to be avoided.</p> + +<p>Now it often happened that this capable +cat turned up her nose at the saucer of +milk that Farmer Green's wife set before +her with great regularity. And off she +would go—sometimes to the barn, sometimes +to the fields—to see what she could<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_6" id="p_6">p. 6</a></span> +find that would furnish her both food and +a frolic. For she thought it great sport +to capture some small creature.</p> + +<p>She was crossing the garden early one +morning, on her way to the meadow, when +she came upon Grandfather Mole. And +having no pity for him—in spite of his +blindness—she thought there was no sense +in going any further for her breakfast. +She would enjoy it right there in the garden. +But first she would play with Grandfather +Mole, before eating. For she was +a pleasure-loving dame. She must have +her sport, no matter if her breakfast +waited.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole had blundered that +morning. Burrowing his way just under +the surface of the ground, he had broken +through the sun-baked crust of the garden +before he knew it. And as he groped +about, surprised to find himself in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_7" id="p_7">p. 7</a></span> +open, Miss Kitty had pounced upon him.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole struggled to escape. +And his captor let him go, to give herself +the pleasure of pouncing upon him again. +She knew well enough that he couldn't get +away from her. He could run quite spryly +for an old gentleman—it is true. But +when he couldn't see where he was going, +of what use was running?</p> + +<p>Farmer Green's cat didn't know the answer +to that question herself. She captured +and freed Grandfather Mole several +times. And to tell the truth, she couldn't +help wishing he could see, so he could make +the game livelier. But she was the sort +of cat that believes in making the best of +things. And she kept pretending that +Grandfather Mole almost got away from +her. She would let him run about for a +few moments and then she would leap +upon him as if she had nearly lost him.</p> + +<p><a name="i-002" id="i-002"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_8" id="p_8">p. 8</a></span>It was great fun for the cat. But +Grandfather Mole did not enjoy it in the +least. He thought such treatment far +from neighborly. And he quite agreed +with old Mr. Crow, who had come hurrying +up to see what was going on.</p> + +<p>"Give him a chance! Give him a +chance!" Mr. Crow called to the cat, as he +glared down at her from a tree close by.</p> + +<p>The cat had been about to spring at +Grandfather Mole again when Mr. Crow +spoke to her. It was only natural that she +should pause and turn her head. And she +looked at Mr. Crow none too pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"I'll thank you to mind your own affairs," +she said, and her voice was not +nearly so polite as her words. "No gentleman +would interrupt a lady at her +breakfast," she added.</p> + +<p>Something seemed to amuse Mr. Crow, +for he laughed loudly. The cat didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_9" id="p_9">p. 9</a></span> +know what he was laughing at. And after +staring at him a few moments longer she +turned her head to look at Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>It wasn't more than ten seconds since +she had taken her eyes off him. But +Grandfather Mole had vanished.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_10" id="p_10">p. 10</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>A BREAKFAST LOST</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">When</span> Farmer Green's cat looked around +and discovered that Grandfather Mole +had disappeared from the garden a puzzled +look came over her face. She couldn't +think where he had gone in just a few seconds.</p> + +<p>But she knew then why Mr. Crow +had laughed. And she was not pleased.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" she asked Mr. Crow. +"You interrupted me at my breakfast and +now I've lost it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow was rocking back and forth +on his perch, for a joke—on anybody except +himself—always delighted him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="illus-002" id="illus-002"></a> +<a name="illus-002-grande" id="illus-002-grande" href="images/illus-002-grande.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus-002.jpg" width="390" height="557" +alt="Grandfather Mole Escapes From Miss Kitty." title="Grandfather Mole Escapes From Miss Kitty." /> +</a> +<span class="caption">Grandfather Mole Escapes From Miss Kitty.</span> +<p style="font-size: 80%; text-align: right">(<a href="#i-002"><i>Page</i> 8</a>)</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_11" id="p_11">p. 11</a></span>"Grandfather Mole is right here in the +garden," he declared.</p> + +<p>"Then he must have hidden beneath a +vegetable," the cat observed.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't say that, exactly," Mr. +Crow replied.</p> + +<p>"How far away is he?" the cat demanded.</p> + +<p>"That would be hard to tell," Mr. Crow +answered.</p> + +<p>Farmer Green's cat had never liked Mr. +Crow, for no particular reason. And now +she certainly had a very special reason for +being angry with him.</p> + +<p>"It's all your fault," she scolded. "If +you hadn't spoken to me I'd never have +taken my eyes off Grandfather Mole.... +The least you can do," she added, "is to +tell me this instant where Grandfather +Mole is."</p> + +<p>"I've already told you," Mr. Crow re<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_12" id="p_12">p. 12</a></span>minded +her. "He's here in the garden. +Find him if you can!"</p> + +<p>At that Farmer Green's cat began to +run up and down between the rows of +vegetables. But she had no luck at all. +So after a while she came back and told +Mr. Crow that she didn't believe him.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut!" said Mr. Crow. "You +haven't looked in the right place."</p> + +<p>"I've searched the whole garden!" the +cat cried.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" Mr. Crow exclaimed. +"You've looked only on top of the ground. +If you want to find Grandfather Mole you +must look beneath the surface."</p> + +<p>The cat was greatly disappointed when +she heard that.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that he went +into a hole, do you?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I do," Mr. Crow declared.</p> + +<p>"I don't see one anywhere," she said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_13" id="p_13">p. 13</a></span></p> + +<p>"If I had I'd have been more careful how +I let him run about."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Mr. Crow. "I see you don't +know that Grandfather Mole always carries +a hole around with him, wherever he +goes. He believes in having one handy, +in case of sudden need."</p> + +<p>"I didn't see it," the cat told him angrily.</p> + +<p>"Of course not!" Mr. Crow agreed. +"How could you see a hole until it's put in +a certain place, ready to use?"</p> + +<p>Well, the cat was puzzled. Somehow +she couldn't quite understand Mr. Crow's +remarks. And yet there seemed some +sense in them, too. But she pretended that +she understood, because she didn't want +him to think she was stupid. And without +thanking him for his explanation (for she +was still angry) she turned and went off +towards the meadow.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_14" id="p_14">p. 14</a></span>The whole affair amused Mr. Crow +greatly. It kept him in a good humor all +that day. And he went about telling +everybody how Grandfather Mole had dug +himself out of sight in the garden, almost +under the cat's nose.</p> + +<p>For that was exactly what had happened.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_15" id="p_15">p. 15</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV</h2> + +<h3>A NEW WAY OF TAKING A STROLL</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Grandfather Mole</span> was digging a new +gallery under the garden, leading out from +his house into a field of corn, where he +expected to find a good many fine grubs.</p> + +<p>His work was half done, and he was +under the cabbage-patch, when he found +himself in the open air. Farmer Green's +hired man's hoe had left a small hollow +between two heads of cabbage; and as luck +had it, Grandfather Mole's gallery led +straight into it. So the first thing he +knew, there he was right out in the light +of early morning! And somebody called +out in a cheery sort of voice, "How-dy-do,<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_16" id="p_16">p. 16</a></span> +Grandfather Mole! It's a pleasure to see +you! And isn't this a beautiful day?"</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole knew at once that he +had nothing to fear, for he recognized +Jimmy Rabbit's voice. And he knew, too, +without being told, that he was in the cabbage-patch. +For Jimmy Rabbit could be +nowhere else at breakfast time.</p> + +<p>"Good morning!" said Grandfather +Mole. "I hope you are enjoying your +breakfast."</p> + +<p>"I am," Jimmy Rabbit answered. +"And as soon as I've finished this leaf I'm +eating now, I'm going to take a stroll. +Won't you join me?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care if I do," said Grandfather +Mole—meaning that he'd be glad +to walk with Jimmy. And in about half +a minute Jimmy Rabbit said he was ready.</p> + +<p>"Very well!" Grandfather Mole told +him. "Let's be on our way! I'll see you<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_17" id="p_17">p. 17</a></span> +at the edge of the duck-pond." And to +Jimmy Rabbit's amazement he stuck his +nose straight down into the loose dirt, +thrust out his strong fore-feet, and was +out of sight before Jimmy Rabbit could +speak.</p> + +<p>The duck-pond was just beyond the garden +fence. And since Grandfather Mole +had accepted Jimmy's invitation there +was nothing for Jimmy Rabbit to do but +to go to the edge of the pond and wait.</p> + +<p>He grew very restless, for it was a long +time before Grandfather Mole appeared. +But at last the old gentleman's head came +popping up out of the ground, and the +owner of the head cried, "Here I am! +And I'm glad to see you haven't kept me +waiting, young man. I dug so fast I was +afraid I'd get here before you did."</p> + +<p>Really, he had made astonishing speed +for one who had tunnelled his way under<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_18" id="p_18">p. 18</a></span>ground. +And being a polite person, +Jimmy Rabbit could only tell Grandfather +Mole that he had been very quick.</p> + +<p>"And now we're this far," Grandfather +Mole remarked, "I'd like to stroll over in +the meadow—if that suits you."</p> + +<p>Jimmy Rabbit said that it did. There +was clover in the meadow. And he had +waited so long for Grandfather Mole that +he had begun to feel hungry again. A +luncheon of clover-tops! It would be exactly +what he needed.</p> + +<p>"Then let's be on our way!" Grandfather +Mole cried again. "I'll join you +on the other side of the duck-pond!"</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_19" id="p_19">p. 19</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V</h2> + +<h3>JIMMY RABBIT CAN'T WAIT</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">After</span> telling Jimmy Rabbit that he would +meet him on the other side of the duck-pond, +Grandfather Mole waded into the +water and started to swim across.</p> + +<p>Why he did that, instead of walking +around on the shore, Jimmy Rabbit +couldn't understand. He was so amazed +that he stood still and stared at Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>One thing was certain: Grandfather +Mole could travel much faster through the +water than he could underground. His +strong legs and his broad, spade-like feet +helped to make him a fine swimmer. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_20" id="p_20">p. 20</a></span> +Jimmy Rabbit had noticed for the first +time that Grandfather Mole's hind feet +were webbed. It was no wonder that he +felt quite at home in the duck-pond, which +was made for web-footed folk.</p> + +<p>Jimmy Rabbit was so interested in +watching Grandfather Mole swim that he +didn't start to run around the pond until +the swimmer had almost reached the other +side. Then Jimmy remembered suddenly +that he had to meet Grandfather Mole over +there. So he raced along the edge of the +duck-pond at top speed. And since he +was a very fast runner—for short distances—he +met Grandfather Mole just as +the old chap was crawling up the bank.</p> + +<p>"There!" Grandfather Mole exclaimed. +"I almost beat you this time, young man! +If you're going to take a morning stroll +with me you'll have to step lively."</p> + +<p>Of course Jimmy Rabbit was too polite<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_21" id="p_21">p. 21</a></span> +to explain that he had waited a long time +while Grandfather Mole was tunnelling +his way from the garden to the pond, and +that he hadn't begun to run around the +pond until Grandfather Mole had swum +almost across it. He merely smiled and +replied that he would do his best to keep +up, for he shouldn't like to make Grandfather +Mole wait, especially since he had +invited Grandfather Mole to go walking +with him.</p> + +<p>"You don't mind staying here in the +sunshine, I hope, while my coat dries?" +Grandfather Mole inquired. "As soon as +it's dry we'll start for the meadow."</p> + +<p>Though Jimmy Rabbit was in a great +hurry to reach the place where the clover +grew he said that he would be glad to wait +with Grandfather Mole. "The sun feels +good on this cool morning," he observed. +"And it's cheerful, too."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_22" id="p_22">p. 22</a></span>"Do you really think so?" Grandfather +Mole asked him. And when Jimmy Rabbit +assured him that he did, Grandfather +Mole muttered that it was the strangest +thing he ever heard of. As for him, he +much preferred the darkness of his cool, +damp galleries under the ground. And +the only reason why he wanted his coat to +dry was so that the dirt wouldn't stick to +it.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Jimmy Rabbit that Grandfather +Mole's coat would never get dry +enough to suit the old gentleman. But at +last he announced that he was ready to +stroll on. And when Jimmy Rabbit cried +that he was ready, too, Grandfather Mole +said, "Then let's be on our way! And I'll +meet you——"</p> + +<p>"Where the clover grows!" Jimmy interrupted.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole had already buried<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_23" id="p_23">p. 23</a></span> +his nose in the sand and was fast digging +himself out of sight. And Jimmy thought +that if he must wait for him again he +would wait in a pleasant place.</p> + +<p>So Jimmy Rabbit hurried to the meadow. +And as he lunched on luscious +clover-tops he reflected that Grandfather +Mole had a queer notion of taking a stroll +with a friend. He made up his mind then +and there that he would never again invite +Grandfather Mole to walk with him.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_24" id="p_24">p. 24</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI</h2> + +<h3>A HEARTY EATER</h3> + + +<p>A <span class="smcap">great</span> eater was Grandfather Mole. And +having an enormous appetite he was fortunate +in being expert at finding angleworms.</p> + +<p>To be sure, he had one advantage that +the birds, for instance, didn't enjoy: he +was able to prowl about his galleries +through the ground and find the angleworms +right where they lived. He didn't +need to wait—as the birds did—until an +angleworm stuck his head above ground.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jolly Robin had often wished—when +she was trying to feed a rapidly-growing +family—that she could hunt for<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_25" id="p_25">p. 25</a></span> +angleworms as Grandfather Mole did. +And this summer it seemed to her that she +never would be able to take proper care +of her nestful of children.</p> + +<p>There was one of her family in particular +that was especially greedy. Mrs. +Robin had begun to suspect that he was +no child of hers, but a young Cowbird. +Almost as soon as she had finished building +her nest she had discovered a strange-looking +egg there. It had been the first to +hatch. And now the youngster that came +from it was just enough older than the +rest of her children to jostle them, and to +grab the biggest worms for himself.</p> + +<p>It was no wonder that Mrs. Robin +needed help. And seeing Grandfather +Mole one morning, she explained her +difficulty to him, asking if he wouldn't +be so kind as to capture angleworms for +her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_26" id="p_26">p. 26</a></span>"Why, certainly! Certainly!" said +Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Robin breathed a sigh of relief. +She felt that her troubles were +ended.</p> + +<p>"Will you begin to help me at once?" +she asked Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry that I can't do that," he told +her. "You see, I haven't had my breakfast +yet. So of course I must catch a few +angleworms for myself."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Robin was a bit disappointed. But +she told Grandfather Mole that it was all +right—that she knew a person of his age +ought not to go without his breakfast.</p> + +<p>So Grandfather Mole went back into the +hole through which he had lately come up, +first saying however that he would return +after he had breakfasted.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Robin then set to work herself, to +find what she could to feed her clamoring<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_27" id="p_27">p. 27</a></span> +family. Though she hurried as fast as +she could, by the time the morning was +almost half gone her children were still +hungry; and to Mrs. Robin's distress +Grandfather Mole had not yet showed himself +again.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Robin had been watching for him. +And she had about given him up in despair +when all at once he rose out of the +ground.</p> + +<p>"Good!" she cried. "Now you can help +me, for you must have had your breakfast +by this time."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have!" said Grandfather Mole. +"I've just finished. But I always begin +my luncheon at this hour. So if you don't +mind I'll go down into my galleries and +hunt for a few angleworms; and when I've +had a good meal I'll come back here."</p> + +<p>Well, what could Mrs. Robin say? She +nodded her head; and she hoped, as Grand<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_28" id="p_28">p. 28</a></span>father +Mole vanished, that perhaps he +would eat only a light luncheon.</p> + +<p>But he never reappeared until mid-afternoon. +And since he announced then +that he was ready to begin his dinner Mrs. +Jolly Robin saw that she could expect no +help from him whatsoever.</p> + +<p>She was terribly upset. But there was +nothing she could do except to tell her +husband that he would have to spend all +his time catching angleworms for the family. +And since he was glad enough to do +that, Mrs. Robin managed to feed her children +all they needed. Even the young +Cowbird in her nest had all he wanted.</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Robin remarked that it was +lucky her husband hadn't such a terrible +appetite as some people's—meaning +Grandfather Mole's, of course.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_29" id="p_29">p. 29</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII</h2> + +<h3>TWO WORM-EATERS</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">There</span> was one special reason—among +others—why Grandfather Mole didn't +like to show himself above ground in the +daytime. This reason was—hawks! And +there was something else that made him +dislike to appear at night, too. This +something else was—owls!</p> + +<p>But of the two, Grandfather Mole disliked +hawks the more, because they could +see so far, while he (poor old fellow!) +couldn't even see the end of his own nose, +though goodness knows it was long +enough! Since Henry Hawk could sit in +a great elm far up the road and see him<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_30" id="p_30">p. 30</a></span> +the moment he stuck his head out of the +ground, while Grandfather Mole couldn't +even see the tree, it was not surprising that +Grandfather Mole preferred to stay below +while Henry Hawk was awake and on +watch.</p> + +<p>Down in his galleries and chambers +where it was dark as a pocket Grandfather +Mole enjoyed himself thoroughly. It was +lucky he was fond of worms and grubs. If +he hadn't been it would be hard to say +what he could have found to eat—unless it +was dirt. There was plenty of that where +he spent his time. But luckily he didn't +have to eat it. He did enjoy digging in it, +however. So it is easy to see that the way +he lived suited him perfectly.</p> + +<p>Not every one, of course, would have +felt as Grandfather Mole did about angleworms, +and grubs and dirt, or dampness, +or the dark. Many of his bird neighbors,<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_31" id="p_31">p. 31</a></span> +for instance, liked the same things to eat +that he did. But most of them—except +such odd ones as Solomon Owl, and Mr. +Nighthawk, and Willie Whip-poor-will—loved +the bright sunshine.</p> + +<p>Spending a summer in Pleasant Valley +was a small gentleman of the well +known Warbler family, who had so great +a liking for worms that he was known as +the Worm-eating Warbler. This tiny +person spent little or none of his time in +the tree-tops, but chose to stay near the +ground. And more than once he had seen +Grandfather Mole in Farmer Green's garden. +He had heard somehow of Grandfather +Mole's tastes and habits. And he +was inclined to believe that it was Grandfather +Mole that was to blame for the +scarcity of worms in the neighborhood. It +must be confessed that he felt none too +kindly towards Grandfather Mole. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_32" id="p_32">p. 32</a></span> +thought that it would be a good thing if +somebody could persuade that odd, old +chap to stay on top of the ground, instead +of lurking most of the time down below +where he could catch the worms right +where they lived.</p> + +<p>And one day the Worm-eating Warbler +spoke to Grandfather Mole when he happened +to see him come out of a hole.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you live up here where you +can get plenty of fresh air and sunshine?" +he asked. "Don't you know they'd be +good for your health?"</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole turned his head toward +the speaker. That was as near as he +could come to staring at him, since he +couldn't see him. Grandfather Mole did +not like the Worm-eating Warbler's remarks +in the least!</p> + +<p>"Why don't you"—he inquired—"why +don't you come down into the ground and<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_33" id="p_33">p. 33</a></span> +enjoy the close, damp air and the darkness? +They'd be good for your health. +I've thrived down below all my life; and +I'm considerably older than you, young +sir!"</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole's retort struck the +Worm-eating Warbler dumb. He could +think of nothing more to say. So he flew +off and hid in some raspberry bushes. +And he couldn't help saying to himself +what a strange world it was and what +strange persons there were in it.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_34" id="p_34">p. 34</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII</h2> + +<h3>LOSING HIS BEARINGS</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">It</span> often happened, when Grandfather +Mole came up from his home under +Farmer Green's garden, that he turned +straight around and went back again. +Sometimes, to be sure, he ran about a bit +in a bewildered way, before he disappeared. +For he never felt at home in the +world above; and he was always uneasy +until he felt the darkness closing in +around him.</p> + +<p>So nobody thought it strange when +Grandfather Mole came tumbling up +amongst the turnips one day and began +running blindly around the garden, zig<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_35" id="p_35">p. 35</a></span>-zagging +in every direction. Nobody that +saw him paid much attention to him. But +at last Rusty Wren, who had come to the +garden to look for worms, noticed that +Grandfather Mole was quite upset over +something. He didn't seem to have any +notion of going back into the ground, but +kept twisting this way and that, with his +long nose turning here and turning there, +in a manner that was unmistakably inquiring.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Rusty Wren +finally asked him, for his curiosity soon +got the better of him.</p> + +<p>But Grandfather Mole didn't appear +to hear. Perhaps he didn't want to answer +the question.</p> + +<p>"Have you lost something?" Rusty +Wren cried.</p> + +<p>But Grandfather Mole never stopped +to reply. He never stopped running to<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_36" id="p_36">p. 36</a></span> +and fro. And Rusty Wren became more +curious than ever. It was plain, to him, +that something unusual was afoot. And +he wanted to know what it was. "Can't +I help you?" he asked in his shrillest tones, +flying close to Grandfather Mole and +speaking almost in his ear—only Grandfather +Mole had no ears, so far as Rusty +Wren could see. "Can't I help you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can!" Grandfather Mole answered +at last. "If you wish to help me, +for pity's sake go away and keep still! I +don't want the whole neighborhood to +come a-running. The cat will be here the +first thing we know."</p> + +<p>Rusty Wren felt sure, then, that Grandfather +Mole was in trouble. And if he was +worried about Farmer Green's cat, why +didn't he dig a hole for himself at once, +and get out of harm's way?</p> + +<p>Since Rusty Wren didn't know, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_37" id="p_37">p. 37</a></span> +asked Grandfather Mole—in little more +than a whisper. But Grandfather Mole +only shook his head impatiently, as if to +say that digging a hole wouldn't help him +this time.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile some of Rusty Wren's +friends had come up to see what was going +on. And talking in low tones, so that +they wouldn't attract the cat's attention, +they agreed with him that there was some +mystery about Grandfather Mole. But +not one of them knew what it could be.</p> + +<p>"He's lost something!" Rusty Wren declared.</p> + +<p>"There's no doubt of that," Jolly Robin +chimed in.</p> + +<p>"What can it be?" little Mr. Chippy +piped in his thin voice.</p> + +<p>"I know!" Rusty Wren exclaimed +abruptly. "It's his bearings! Grandfather +Mole has lost his bearings!"</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_38" id="p_38">p. 38</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX</h2> + +<h3>GOOD NEWS FROM BELOW</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">When</span> Rusty Wren decided that Grandfather +Mole had lost his bearings and +that that was the reason why he was running +about the garden in a most peculiar +fashion, the rest of the birds began to +wonder whether they oughtn't to help +Grandfather Mole find them, since he was +blind.</p> + +<p>The Worm-eating Warbler, however, +who was none too friendly towards Grandfather +Mole, said that he had his doubts +as to Grandfather Mole's blindness.</p> + +<p>"If he can find angleworms in the dark +he certainly ought to be able to find his<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_39" id="p_39">p. 39</a></span> +bearings in broad daylight," he sneered.</p> + +<p>But Rusty Wren pointed out that nobody +could <i>see</i> bearings, anyhow—a remark +that puzzled the Worm-eating +Warbler more than a little. To tell the +truth, he had no idea what bearings were. +And at last he admitted that he didn't +know.</p> + +<p>"What are bearings, anyhow?" he +asked Rusty Wren. "I don't understand +what you mean."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I mean that Grandfather Mole +has lost his way," Rusty Wren explained. +"He doesn't know how to get home."</p> + +<p>The Worm-eating Warbler asked why +Grandfather Mole didn't dig a new hole +for himself, if he had lost the one he used +when he came up in the garden. And +when he saw that Rusty Wren couldn't +answer his question the Worm-eating +Warbler said he had his doubts as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_40" id="p_40">p. 40</a></span> +Rusty Wren's ideas about Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>"It's my opinion," he went on, "that +Grandfather Mole has eaten all the worms +that lived in the ground; and now he's +hoping to find some in the air."</p> + +<p>Although everybody laughed at such a +notion, the Worm-eating Warbler declared +that he had a right to his own belief. +And when he added that he hadn't +seen an angleworm for two days there +were a few of his bird companions that +began to think perhaps there was some +reason in his remarks, after all.</p> + +<p>But Rusty Wren declined to change his +opinion.</p> + +<p>"There's only one way to be sure; and +that's to ask Grandfather Mole!" little +Mr. Chippy cried.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't do any good," Rusty told +him. "Grandfather Mole won't answer<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_41" id="p_41">p. 41</a></span> +any questions. But he's in some sort of +trouble. There's no doubt of that."</p> + +<p>They looked down at Grandfather Mole, +who was still scurrying frantically about +the garden. If he heard their talk he did +nothing to let them know it. And they had +begun to think that they would never know +his secret when a person who looked somewhat +like Grandfather Mole thrust her +head and shoulders out of a hole in the +ground.</p> + +<p>"That"—Rusty Wren whispered—"that +is Grandfather Mole's daughter. I +know, for I've seen her before." And listening +sharply, the bird people heard her +say, "Don't worry, Father! I've found +them."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole didn't wait for anything +more. He didn't even wait until +he had found the opening in which his +daughter had appeared. He began to<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_42" id="p_42">p. 42</a></span> +dig right where he stood. And he was +out of sight in short order.</p> + +<p>Although the bird people didn't know +it, he was anxious to reach his grandchildren. +He had them out for a stroll through +his underground galleries; and walking +behind him they had taken a wrong turn +when Grandfather Mole didn't know it. +After looking for them in vain down below +he had feared that they might have +found their way into the open air. And +that was why he was running about in +such a distracted fashion.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_43" id="p_43">p. 43</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X</h2> + +<h3>MRS. ROBIN'S WISH</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">In</span> order to provide enough food for her +children—as well as for the young Cowbird +that she was bringing up—Mrs. Jolly +Robin had to work hard every day. +Though her husband gladly did what he +could to help her, he complained sometimes +about the stranger in their nest.</p> + +<p>"Our family is certainly big enough +without him," he often remarked. "We +ought to turn him out to shift for himself."</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Robin wouldn't hear of such +a thing.</p> + +<p>"It's not his fault that his mother left<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_44" id="p_44">p. 44</a></span> +him here—in the egg," she would remind +Jolly Robin. "If we set him adrift the +poor child would starve—unless the cat +got him."</p> + +<p>And then Jolly Robin would feel +ashamed that he had even thought of being +so cruel to an infant bird, even if he +was a Cowbird. So he would set to work +harder than ever gathering worms and +grubs and bugs; and before long he would +find himself singing merrily, "Cheerily, +cheer-up!" because it made him happy to +know that he was doing somebody a good +turn.</p> + +<p>Once in a while Grandfather Mole +thrust his head out of the soil of the garden, +as if he were watching Mr. and Mrs. +Robin at their task. Of course he +couldn't see what they were doing. But +Mrs. Robin said that it gave her a queer +turn to have Grandfather Mole stick his<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_45" id="p_45">p. 45</a></span> +nose out of the ground at her very feet. +And since he was too busy catching angleworms +for himself to help her and her +husband, she wished he would keep out of +sight.</p> + +<p>Sometimes Grandfather Mole would +speak to Mrs. Robin, or her husband; for +he could hear them talking. And when +you hear anybody in a garden exclaiming, +"Oh, here's a big one! The children will +like him, if I can ever pull him loose!" +you may know at once that the speaker +is talking about an angleworm. There +can be no mistake about it.</p> + +<p>When Grandfather Mole overheard +Mrs. Robin making such a remark he +would quite likely advise her to "try a +smaller one."</p> + +<p>Such a suggestion only made Mrs. +Robin pull all the harder.</p> + +<p>"Grandfather Mole wants all the big<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_46" id="p_46">p. 46</a></span> +ones himself," she would splutter as soon +as she and her husband were where +Grandfather Mole couldn't listen to what +she said. And then, probably, Jolly Robin +would laugh and tell her not to mind, for +there ought to be worms enough for everybody.</p> + +<p>More than once, when Grandfather +Mole had advised her to "try a smaller +one," Mrs. Robin had declared afterward +that she wished she could catch the biggest +angleworm in the whole garden, just +to spite old Grandfather Mole and teach +him that other people had their rights, as +well as he.</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" Jolly Robin always exclaimed +with a laugh. "Well, well! Perhaps +some day you will find the grandfather +of all the angleworms!"</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_47" id="p_47">p. 47</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI</h2> + +<h3>SURPRISING GRANDFATHER<br />MOLE</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Somehow</span> Grandfather Mole heard that +Mrs. Robin hoped to capture the biggest +angleworm in the garden. So the very +next time he happened to find her at work +there he offered her another bit of unsought +advice. And Mrs. Robin liked it +no better than any other of Grandfather +Mole's counsels.</p> + +<p>"Don't waste your valuable time looking +for the biggest angleworm in the garden!" +he told her. "I've caught him already."</p> + +<p>Well, for once Mrs. Robin almost said +something tart to the old gentleman. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_48" id="p_48">p. 48</a></span> +she checked herself in time; not by biting +her tongue, however, but by clapping her +bill upon a fat bug that was trying to +hide under a potato-top. And away she +flew to her nest, leaving Grandfather +Mole to talk to the air, if he wished.</p> + +<p>"She went off without thanking me," +he muttered. To be sure, he hadn't seen +Mrs. Robin go, but he had heard the beat +of her wings as she began her flight. He +didn't know that he had barely escaped a +sharp scolding.</p> + +<p>"What do you think Grandfather Mole +has just said to me?" Mrs. Robin asked +her husband, whom she found at the nest +feeding their children.</p> + +<p>Jolly Robin made three guesses. But +none of them was right. So his wife repeated +Grandfather Mole's remarks. And +as usual Jolly Robin laughed.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't pay any attention to what<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_49" id="p_49">p. 49</a></span> +Grandfather Mole says," he advised his +wife. "I should keep an eye out for big +angleworms, if I were you. Grandfather +Mole may be mistaken. He may have +caught only the second biggest one."</p> + +<p>What her husband said made Mrs. +Robin feel better. And she declared that +she would surprise Grandfather Mole yet.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, the very next day +Grandfather Mole spoke to Mrs. Robin +again and told her that "there was no +use trying to surprise him, so she needn't +waste her valuable time trying to do it."</p> + +<p>This news made Mrs. Robin quite +speechless. She couldn't think how +Grandfather Mole had happened to learn +of her remark, unless her husband had +been gossiping with his friends. And if +that was the case, Mrs. Robin didn't mean +to let anything of the kind occur again. +So she went on searching for her chil<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_50" id="p_50">p. 50</a></span>dren's +breakfast and said nothing to any +one about Grandfather Mole's latest bit of +advice.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Robin worked harder than ever +that day. It seemed to her husband that +she had eyes for nothing but worms. Certainly +she paid little attention to him. So +he couldn't help feeling pleased when she +called to him toward evening.</p> + +<p>He flew quickly to her side. And he +saw at once that she needed his help. For +Mrs. Robin had an end of a pinkish-white +worm in her bill, on which she was tugging +as hard as she could.</p> + +<p>"I think it's the biggest one in the garden!" +she managed to gasp. "But it simply +won't come up out of the ground."</p> + +<p>"It must be the grandfather of them +all!" Jolly Robin cried. And laying hold +of the worm himself, he pulled with her.</p> + +<p>Somehow there seemed a great commo<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_51" id="p_51">p. 51</a></span>tion +in the loose dirt at their feet, as they +struggled to get the worm out of its hiding-place. +And at last, to their great delight, +they felt it—saw it—coming.</p> + +<p>Then a shower of dirt flew into their +faces and both Jolly Robin and his wife +tumbled over backward.</p> + +<p>It was no worm that Mrs. Robin had +found, but Grandfather Mole's hairless +tail sticking out of the ground. Together +they had dragged him to the surface.</p> + +<p>And if Mrs. Robin hadn't found the +grandfather of all angleworms, at least +she had found Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p>And she had given him a surprise, too.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_52" id="p_52">p. 52</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII</h2> + +<h3>MR. BLACKBIRD'S ADVICE</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Out</span> of the pine woods beyond the meadow +Mr. Blackbird sometimes came to breakfast +in Farmer Green's garden. He +claimed that he came there to look for +angleworms. But those that knew him +best said that he wasn't above taking an +egg out of some small bird's nest. And +some whispered that he had even been +known to devour a nestling.</p> + +<p>Whenever he visited the garden he told +everybody that he should never come there +again because Grandfather Mole was too +greedy. Mr. Blackbird said that Grandfather +Mole didn't leave enough angle<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_53" id="p_53">p. 53</a></span>worms +to make it worth his while to fly +across the meadow. And one day when +he chanced to meet Grandfather Mole he +told him that it was a shame, the way he +was treating Farmer Green.</p> + +<p>"Farmer Green is good enough to let +you live underneath his garden. But instead +of showing him that you are grateful +you eat all of his angleworms you can."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole was thunderstruck. +After pondering over Mr. Blackbird's +speech for a few moments he raised his +head. "What shall I do?" he asked in a +plaintive voice.</p> + +<p>"I should think you'd turn over a new +leaf," Mr. Blackbird told him severely.</p> + +<p>And Grandfather Mole promised that +he would.</p> + +<p>"I'll turn one over to-day," he said, "if +you think it will please Farmer Green."</p> + +<p>"There's no doubt that it will," Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_54" id="p_54">p. 54</a></span> +Blackbird assured him in a slightly more +amiable tone.</p> + +<p>A hopeful look came into Grandfather +Mole's face. And after thanking Mr. +Blackbird for his advice, he turned away +and burrowed out of sight.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Blackbird selected a good +many choice tidbits here and there, which +he bolted with gusto. And after he had +eaten what Jolly Robin, who had been +watching him, declared afterward to have +been a hearty meal and big enough for +any one, Mr. Blackbird began to scold. +He announced that there wasn't any use +of his looking for anything more to eat +in that neighborhood, for there wasn't +enough there to keep a mosquito alive. +And thereupon he flew away. Nor was +anybody sorry to see him go.</p> + +<p>Most of the feathered folk agreed that +Mr. Blackbird ought not to have spoken<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_55" id="p_55">p. 55</a></span> +as he did to Grandfather Mole. But Jolly +Robin's wife said that she was glad there +was somebody with backbone enough to +tell Grandfather Mole the truth.</p> + +<p>"If there were many more like Grandfather +Mole in the garden we'd all have to +spend our summers somewhere else," she +said, "or starve."</p> + +<p>Jolly Robin told her that she would find +things much the same, no matter where +she lived. "What's a garden, without an +old mole or two?" he asked the company +in general. And since nobody answered, +Jolly Robin seemed to think he had silenced +Mrs. Robin—for once.</p> + +<p>But it was not so.</p> + +<p>"A garden without an old mole in it +would be just what I'd like," she cried.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyhow, my dear," her husband +said, "please remember that Grandfather +Mole is going to turn over a new leaf."</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_56" id="p_56">p. 56</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII</h2> + +<h3>TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Several</span> days passed before Mr. Blackbird +returned to Farmer Green's garden. +And when at last he flew across the meadow +one morning and perched on the garden +fence, to take a look around before +beginning his breakfast, he saw that Mrs. +Jolly Robin was making countless trips +between the garden and her home. Early +as it was she was hard at work feeding +her nestlings.</p> + +<p>"How are the pickings this morning?" +Mr. Blackbird called to her.</p> + +<p>"I'm finding plenty for my children to +eat—if that's what you mean," Mrs. Robin<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_57" id="p_57">p. 57</a></span> +replied somewhat haughtily. Mr. Blackbird +laughed in the sleeve of his black coat. +The rascal delighted in using language +that did not please Mrs. Robin.</p> + +<p>"If the pickings are good, then there +must be fewer pickers," he remarked with +a grin. "I suppose Grandfather Mole +has taken my advice and turned over a +new leaf."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," said Mrs. +Robin. "Anyhow, there are plenty of +good crawling things stirring after last +night's shower. Everything seems to be +coming up out of the garden this morning."</p> + +<p>She had scarcely finished speaking +when Grandfather Mole poked his head +from beneath a head of lettuce. Mr. +Blackbird was just about to begin his +breakfast. But he paused when he saw +Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_58" id="p_58">p. 58</a></span>"Hello!" he cried. "What brings you +to the surface?"</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole knew Mr. Blackbird's +voice at once.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you're here!" he exclaimed. +"I want you to tell Farmer Green the +news. For I know he'll be delighted to +hear it."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Blackbird did an ungentlemanly +thing. He winked at Jolly Robin's +wife. But he was a rowdy. So what could +you expect of him?</p> + +<p>"You've turned over a new leaf, have +you?" he asked Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" said Grandfather Mole. "And +not only one! I've turned over a new one +every day since I last saw you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Blackbird replied that he was glad +to know it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="illus-003" id="illus-003"></a> +<a name="illus-003-grande" id="illus-003-grande" href="images/illus-003-grande.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus-003.jpg" width="390" height="554" +alt="Grandfather Mole Greets Mr. Meadow Mouse." +title="Grandfather Mole Greets Mr. Meadow Mouse." /> +</a> +<span class="caption">Grandfather Mole Greets Mr. Meadow Mouse.</span> +<p style="font-size: 80%; text-align: right">(<a href="#i-003"><i>Page</i> 61</a>)</p> +</div> + +<p>"At least," Grandfather Mole continued, +"I've turned over the newest<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_59" id="p_59">p. 59</a></span> +leaves I could. Of course you can't turn +over a leaf unless it's big enough to turn +over. When a leaf is so young that it +wraps itself around the main stalk it's +useless to try to turn it over. And it's a +great waste of time waiting for it to grow.... +But it's easy to turn over a big one." +Suiting his action to his words, Grandfather +Mole stepped up to a loose-growing +head of lettuce, and thrusting his long nose +under a drooping leaf he lifted it up and +pushed it over.</p> + +<p>As soon as he moved aside a little the +leaf promptly righted itself. Grandfather +Mole felt it brush his back as it swept into +place again.</p> + +<p>"Of course," he remarked, "you can't +expect a leaf to stay turned over, unless +you want to stand and hold it in place. +And that would be a great waste of time—especially +for one as hungry as I am."<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_60" id="p_60">p. 60</a></span> +And poking his drill-like snout into the +earth, he drew forth a huge angleworm, +which quickly disappeared down his +throat.</p> + +<p>Mr. Blackbird choked; and not over +anything he was eating, either. He choked +because he was angry.</p> + +<p>"It's no use," he said gloomily to Mrs. +Robin, as soon as he could speak. "It's +no use trying to get Grandfather Mole to +stop eating angleworms. In my opinion, +he's too old to turn over a new leaf—the +way I meant.</p> + +<p>"You can't teach an old Mole new +tricks," said Mr. Blackbird.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_61" id="p_61">p. 61</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE NEW SUNSHADE</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><a name="i-003" id="i-003"></a><span class="smcap">Grandfather Mole</span> was resting in the +shade of a toadstool. It was a stifling, +sultry day. And having come up into the +garden on some errand or other, Grandfather +Mole had found the sunshine upon +his back altogether too hot for his liking.</p> + +<p>He was thinking how comfortable his +own cool, dark chambers were, and wondering +why anybody should prefer to live +above ground in the heat, when a voice +called to him, "What a fine umbrella you +have! It must be a handy thing to have in +one's family!"</p> + +<p>It was Mr. Meadow Mouse speaking. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_62" id="p_62">p. 62</a></span>And since Grandfather Mole knew him to +be a harmless sort of person he asked him +to come over and join him.</p> + +<p>"To be sure, there's not room enough +for two under my sunshade," Grandfather +Mole said. "But you can stand just outside +it. And perhaps the sight of me in +the shade may help you to feel cooler, even +if you are in the sun."</p> + +<p>Well, Mr. Meadow Mouse smiled a bit, +all to himself. He knew that Grandfather +Mole was odd. And being a good-natured +person and wishing to please Grandfather +Mole, Mr. Meadow Mouse joined him.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of it now?" Grandfather +Mole demanded of Mr. Meadow +Mouse, almost as soon as he had stepped +just outside the shade of the toadstool. +"Don't you feel cooler already? I +shouldn't care to stay in the garden a +second without this sunshade."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_63" id="p_63">p. 63</a></span>Mr. Meadow Mouse wanted to be polite. +So he replied that perhaps he did feel a +bit more comfortable.</p> + +<p>"You ought to own one of these," said +Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p>"I've heard they're not always easy to +find," Mr. Meadow Mouse remarked.</p> + +<p>"That's true," Grandfather agreed.</p> + +<p>"You don't—ahem!—you don't use this +one all the time, do you?" Mr. Meadow +Mouse inquired.</p> + +<p>"No!" Grandfather Mole answered. +"Not when it rains!"</p> + +<p>"Then," said Mr. Meadow Mouse, +"maybe you'll let me borrow your umbrella +(or sunshade, as you call it) some +rainy day."</p> + +<p>"Certainly! You shall take it the next +time it rains!" Grandfather promised.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Meadow Mouse murmured, +"Thank you!" he looked up at the sky<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_64" id="p_64">p. 64</a></span> +with a knowing eye. He could see signs +there. But of course Grandfather Mole +had never seen the sky in all his life.</p> + +<p>"The very next time it rains!" Mr. +Meadow Mouse repeated, as if he wanted +to be sure there was no misunderstanding +about it.</p> + +<p>"Certainly! Certainly!" Grandfather +Mole said. "And as I've remarked before, +I'd be glad to let you come under +the sunshade now, beside me, if there was +only room enough for both of us."</p> + +<p>"You needn't trouble yourself," Mr. +Meadow Mouse told him. And once more +he scanned the sky eagerly.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Grandfather Mole +cried suddenly, as he started up in alarm. +"What struck the top of my sunshade?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Mr. Meadow +Mouse. "I don't know what it was, unless +it was a rain-drop."</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_65" id="p_65">p. 65</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV</h2> + +<h3>TWO AND A TOADSTOOL</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Grandfather Mole</span> had promised Mr. +Meadow Mouse that he would loan him +his toadstool sunshade—or umbrella—the +very next time it rained. But when he +agreed to that, Grandfather hadn't the +slightest idea there was a shower coming. +Mr. Meadow Mouse, however, had +watched the dark clouds gathering in the +sky. But he had said nothing of what he +saw. And when the rain-drops began to +patter on top of Grandfather Mole's sunshade +Mr. Meadow Mouse cried in a brisk +voice: "I'll thank you, sir, for the loan of +your umbrella!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_66" id="p_66">p. 66</a></span>Now, Grandfather Mole had never used +his umbrella until that very day. It was +not a quarter of an hour since he had discovered +it standing in the garden. And +when he had made his promise to Mr. +Meadow Mouse he had had no idea that +it was going to rain so soon. He didn't +like the thought of loaning a new umbrella +the first day he owned it.</p> + +<p>"Can't you wait?" he asked Mr. Meadow +Mouse. "Wouldn't some other day +suit you just as well?"</p> + +<p>But Mr. Meadow Mouse reminded him +that a promise was a promise.</p> + +<p>"Well, then—can't you squeeze in beside +me?" Grandfather Mole asked him.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Meadow Mouse said that he +didn't see how he could do that. "Now +that it rains there's no more room under +your umbrella than there was a few moments +ago, when the sun was shining."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_67" id="p_67">p. 67</a></span>"You're mistaken," said Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>Mr. Meadow Mouse looked surprised. +"I don't understand how that can be," he +muttered.</p> + +<p>"This toadstool is growing bigger all +the time," Grandfather Mole explained.</p> + +<p>"Very well!" said Mr. Meadow Mouse. +"If you think there's room for two, I'll +crowd in." As he spoke he wedged himself +between Grandfather Mole and the +stem of the toadstool umbrella. And immediately +Grandfather Mole found himself +out in the rain. The old gentleman +didn't like that very well; and he said as +much, too.</p> + +<p>"It's plain that your umbrella didn't +grow as much as you thought," Mr. Meadow +Mouse retorted.</p> + +<p>"You're mistaken," Grandfather Mole +told him once more. "My umbrella grew<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_68" id="p_68">p. 68</a></span> +exactly as much as I expected it would. +But there was one thing I forgot."</p> + +<p>"What was that?"</p> + +<p>"You were growing at the same time," +Grandfather Mole replied.</p> + +<p>"Yes! And there's another thing that +you forgot!" Mr. Meadow Mouse exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," said Grandfather Mole. +And though he didn't ask what it was, Mr. +Meadow Mouse told him.</p> + +<p>"You were growing too!" he cried.</p> + +<p>But Grandfather Mole couldn't agree +with Mr. Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>"I'm too old to grow any more," he said.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," said Mr. Meadow Mouse, +"but I don't see how a person with your +well known appetite can help growing fat. +And anyhow I'm sorry you're out in the +rain. But it's certainly not my fault."</p> + +<p>"We won't discuss that," Grandfather<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_69" id="p_69">p. 69</a></span> +Mole told him. "And since I don't want +to get wet I'm going home.... I hope +you'll take good care of my new sunshade. +And please don't forget to return it!" he +added anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I'll leave it right here for you," Mr. +Meadow Mouse promised.</p> + +<p>Though Grandfather Mole was far from +satisfied he crawled into the ground and +left Mr. Meadow Mouse to enjoy the rain +pattering on the top of the toadstool. And +the next day, to his great relief, Grandfather +Mole found his sunshade in the +same spot. Mr. Meadow Mouse hadn't +taken it away. To tell the truth, he had +tried to; but he had found that he couldn't +move it. Grandfather Mole said it was the +first sunshade that a borrower had ever returned +to him.</p> + +<p>And that was the truth. For he had +never owned a sunshade before.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_70" id="p_70">p. 70</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI</h2> + +<h3>GRANDFATHER MOLE'S VISITOR</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Whatever</span> Grandfather Mole's neighbors +might say of him, they never could claim that +he was lazy. He was always busy. +When he wasn't eating or sleeping you +could be quite sure that he was digging. +He never seemed to be satisfied with his +house, but was forever making what he +called "improvements." If there was one +thing he liked, it was plenty of halls. He +had halls running in every direction. And +since a person could never tell in which +one Grandfather Mole might be, visitors +might roam about his dark galleries a long +time without finding him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_71" id="p_71">p. 71</a></span>If anybody happened to point out to +Grandfather Mole that his house had such +a drawback, Grandfather Mole always answered +that he liked his house just as it +was and that he wouldn't change it for +anything—except to add a few more halls.</p> + +<p>He was very set in his ways. He +claimed that he wouldn't be comfortable +in a house that had maybe only two halls—a +front and a back one, as Billy Woodchuck's +dwelling was known to contain.</p> + +<p>Maybe that was the reason why Grandfather +Mole never went visiting. And as +for anybody else visiting him—well, what +was the use when most likely you never +could find him?</p> + +<p>Nevertheless there was one of Grandfather +Mole's neighbors who called at his +house frequently, and for the very reason +that he knew he could probably do exactly +as he pleased. Far from trying to find<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_72" id="p_72">p. 72</a></span> +Grandfather Mole, Mr. Meadow Mouse always +took pains to avoid him. And if by +chance he met Grandfather Mole in one of +his galleries Mr. Meadow Mouse was always +extremely polite—and ready to run +at a moment's notice.</p> + +<p>During corn-planting time Mr. Meadow +Mouse went regularly down into a +gallery of Grandfather Mole's that ran +under a corner of the cornfield. And +somehow he soon grew quite plump.</p> + +<p>Now, Grandfather Mole had met Mr. +Meadow Mouse two or three times in that +particular gallery. And he was not slow +to notice that his visitor looked fatter each +time he saw him. So one day Grandfather +Mole asked Mr. Meadow Mouse bluntly +what he was doing there.</p> + +<p>"I'm taking a stroll!" Mr. Meadow +Mouse told him meekly.</p> + +<p>"Be careful"—Grandfather Mole<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_73" id="p_73">p. 73</a></span> +warned him—"be careful that you don't +take anything else!"</p> + +<p>Trembling slightly (for Grandfather +Mole could be terribly severe when he +wanted to be) Mr. Meadow Mouse said +that he hoped Grandfather Mole didn't +mind if a person took a little exercise now +and then in those underground halls. "On +a warm summer's day it's delightfully +cool down here," Mr. Meadow Mouse murmured.</p> + +<p>His speech pleased Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad there's some one that agrees +with me!" he exclaimed. "Most people +think I'm queer because I like to live +underground."</p> + +<p>Mr. Meadow Mouse hastened to assure +him that <i>he</i> didn't think him queer—not +in the least!</p> + +<p>"Thank you! Thank you!" Grandfather +Mole said. "And since you're a<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_74" id="p_74">p. 74</a></span> +person of more sense than I had supposed +you're welcome to ramble through my +halls—so long as you don't take anything +except exercise and a stroll."</p> + +<p>Then it was Mr. Meadow Mouse's turn +to thank Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p>"I feel better," he said, "now that +you've given me permission to come here. +For to tell the truth, I've often felt that I +was taking a chance."</p> + +<p>So matters went on smoothly for a time. +And Mr. Meadow Mouse spent hours in +the gallery under the cornfield. And he +grew fatter every day. Naturally he did +not take such pains to dodge Grandfather +Mole—after the talk they had had. And +when the two met one evening Grandfather +Mole stopped Mr. Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>"There's something I want to say to +you," he remarked. "I notice you're +looking extremely well-fed. And I hope<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_75" id="p_75">p. 75</a></span> +you're not eating any of my angleworms."</p> + +<p>Mr. Meadow Mouse laughed right in +Grandfather Mole's face.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" he replied.</p> + +<p>"Nor any of my grubs or bugs?" +Grandfather Mole persisted.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" said Mr. Meadow +Mouse, making a wry face as he spoke—for +he was rather a dainty person. And +then he whispered something to Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Grandfather Mole. "So +that's it, eh? Well, I don't mind. I never +eat anything of that sort. Take all you +want of it!"</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_76" id="p_76">p. 76</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII</h2> + +<h3>MR. CROW SCOLDS</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Old</span> Mr. Crow was angry with Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>Now, there was nothing strange about +that, because Mr. Crow was always losing +his temper. And his neighbors had +long since learned not to pay much heed to +his scolding. They knew that loud talk +never really hurt any one. And generally +Mr. Crow forgot a grievance quickly, because +he was sure to get angry with somebody +else.</p> + +<p>There was one matter upon which Mr. +Crow was especially touchy. That was +corn. If anybody talked about corn-rob<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_77" id="p_77">p. 77</a></span>bers, +or even said much about corn as a +food, Mr. Crow always lost his temper. +And if anybody showed much liking for +corn, or meddled in the cornfield, then old +Mr. Crow would get so angry that he +couldn't speak a pleasant word for days +and days.</p> + +<p>And now he was enraged because he had +reason to believe that Grandfather Mole +was eating the corn that Farmer Green +had planted.</p> + +<p>"He's eating it out of the hills," Mr. +Crow told his neighbors.</p> + +<p>"Farmer Green sometimes places scarecrows +in the cornfield," Jimmy Rabbit remarked. +"So why wouldn't it be a good +idea to get him to set up a few scaremoles?"</p> + +<p>"That wouldn't help any," Mr. Crow +said gloomily. Usually the merest mention +of a scarecrow sent him into a rage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_78" id="p_78">p. 78</a></span> +But now he was too angry with Grandfather +Mole to pick a quarrel with any one +else. "Grandfather Mole couldn't see a +scaremole if he ran head first into it," Mr. +Crow continued. "And besides, even if +he had eyes to see with, he's working +underground. Grandfather Mole has dug +galleries that run under the cornfield. And +he can get right inside a hill of corn and +gobble the seed corn without being seen."</p> + +<p>"Then how do you know what Grandfather +Mole is doing, when you can't see +him?" Jimmy Rabbit inquired.</p> + +<p>"The corn isn't coming up as it should," +Mr. Crow told him. "So I scratched open +a hill myself, to find out what was the +matter."</p> + +<p>"You didn't find Grandfather Mole, did +you?" Jimmy Rabbit cried.</p> + +<p>"No!" said Mr. Crow. "And I found +no corn, either. But there was one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_79" id="p_79">p. 79</a></span> +Grandfather Mole's galleries leading up +to the center of the hill. So it's easy to +guess where the corn goes."</p> + +<p>Since news always travels fast in Pleasant +Valley and tales such as Mr. Crow told +spread more rapidly than any other, it +wasn't long before Mrs. Robin repeated +Mr. Crow's remarks in Grandfather +Mole's hearing.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he called. "Please say +that again!"</p> + +<p>"Old Mr. Crow claims that you are eating +Farmer Green's seed corn out of the +hills," Mrs. Robin said. And she had the +grace to grow somewhat red in the face, +because it was hardly the sort of thing to +say to an old gentleman like Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>For a few moments Grandfather Mole +was silent. He couldn't say a word for +himself. And Mrs. Robin whispered to<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_80" id="p_80">p. 80</a></span> +some of her friends that it certainly looked +as if Grandfather Mole was guilty.</p> + +<p>At last he managed to speak. But it +was a most peculiar question that he +asked; so far as Mrs. Robin could see, it +had absolutely nothing to do with the case:</p> + +<p>"If you happen to see Mr. Meadow +Mouse, will you tell him that I'd like to +have a talk with him?"</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_81" id="p_81">p. 81</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII</h2> + +<h3>A TALK WITH MR. MEADOW<br />MOUSE</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">The</span> next time she saw Mr. Meadow Mouse +Mrs. Robin gave him Grandfather Mole's +message. "He says," said she, "he'd like +to have a talk with you."</p> + +<p>"Does he?" Mr. Meadow Mouse exclaimed. +"Now I wonder what he has to +say! I returned his umbrella to him, after +the rain. So it can't be about that."</p> + +<p>"If I wanted to know, I'd go and find +Grandfather Mole," Mrs. Robin suggested +tartly.</p> + +<p>Being a mild sort of person, Mr. Meadow +Mouse thanked Mrs. Robin politely, +both for the message and for the advice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_82" id="p_82">p. 82</a></span> +And then, scampering to a certain spot +that he knew, near the fence, he disappeared +through an opening into the +ground. It was one of Grandfather +Mole's doorways. Mr. Meadow Mouse did +not hesitate to use it, being one of those +fortunate folk that are quite at home anywhere. +It made little difference to him +whether he was above the ground or in +it. And aside from Grandfather Mole and +his own family there was no one that knew +his way about Grandfather Mole's galleries +as well as Mr. Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>To be sure, he had some trouble in finding +the old gentleman, there were so many +different passages in which to look for +him. But at last Mr. Meadow Mouse met +Grandfather Mole in a long tunnel that +followed a row of newly planted corn.</p> + +<p>"Ah, ha!" Grandfather Mole cried. +"There's something I want to say to you."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_83" id="p_83">p. 83</a></span>"So I hear!" Mr. Meadow Mouse replied +a bit anxiously, for Grandfather +Mole sounded none too pleasant.</p> + +<p>"You've been getting me into trouble +with old Mr. Crow," Grandfather Mole +complained. "He thinks I've been eating +the seed corn that Farmer Green planted. +And if I told him that it was you that's +done it, and that you've been using my +galleries to reach the hills of corn, Mr. +Crow would never believe what I said."</p> + +<p>"It looks bad for you, doesn't it?" said +Mr. Meadow Mouse more cheerfully.</p> + +<p>Somehow his remark displeased Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>"You'd better be careful what you say!" +he warned Mr. Meadow Mouse. "If you +make me angry it will go hard with you."</p> + +<p>Now, Grandfather Mole was known to +be a terrible fighter when aroused. And +Mr. Meadow Mouse had no liking for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_84" id="p_84">p. 84</a></span> +fight with any one. So he moved backward +a few steps and made ready to run.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry if I have caused you +trouble," he said. "Couldn't you explain +to Mr. Crow that you have tunnelled into +the hills of corn in order to catch the grubs +that would eat the corn if you didn't eat +them first? Can't you tell him that you +are helping the corn crop, instead of ruining +it?"</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole shook his head.</p> + +<p>"You're not much acquainted with Mr. +Crow," he replied. "If he has made up his +mind that I'm stealing corn nothing I +could say would change his opinion."</p> + +<p>"Can't I help you in some way?" Mr. +Meadow Mouse asked. "I'd do almost +anything, because you've let me use your +galleries."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole pondered for a +time. + +<a name="i-001" id="i-001"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_85" id="p_85">p. 85</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps there is a way you can help," +he said at last. "If you'll manage somehow +to let Mr. Crow catch you in one of +these hills, with your mouth full of corn, +he'd know that you were the guilty party."</p> + +<p>Mr. Meadow Mouse paled at the thought +of such a situation. And his legs shook +beneath him. "Oh! I—I couldn't do +that!" he stammered. "Can't you think +of some other way?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can!" Grandfather replied. +"I'll let him catch me in a hill of corn."</p> + +<p>"With corn in your mouth?" Mr. Meadow +Mouse inquired eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No!" said Grandfather Mole. "With +<i>you</i> in my mouth!" When he chose, +Grandfather Mole could be very spry. +And as he said those words he made a +quick rush toward Mr. Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>Then there was a great scurrying down +there in the dark.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_86" id="p_86">p. 86</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX</h2> + +<h3>MR. CROW'S APOLOGY</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">It</span> was lucky for Mr. Meadow Mouse that +he had placed a little distance between +himself and Grandfather Mole down in +the gallery under the cornfield. For when +Grandfather Mole rushed at him, Mr. +Meadow Mouse had just enough lead to +escape. He made for the open air as fast +as he could scramble, knowing that Grandfather +Mole could never catch him once he +reached the great out-of-doors.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was only natural that Grandfather +Mole should have been angry with +Mr. Meadow Mouse. Nobody likes to be +accused of thieving—especially when he<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_87" id="p_87">p. 87</a></span> +is innocent. And when the real corn +thief (Mr. Meadow Mouse) declined to +take the blame off Grandfather Mole's +shoulders maybe his anger was not altogether +uncalled-for.</p> + +<p>After all, Grandfather Mole was glad, +in a way, that Mr. Meadow Mouse had got +away from him. "It proves"—Grandfather +Mole told himself—"it proves that +Mr. Meadow Mouse is not only a thief: he's +a coward as well."</p> + +<p>At the same time, any one that really +knew old Mr. Crow couldn't have blamed +Mr. Meadow Mouse for not wanting to +follow Grandfather's suggestion. Grandfather +Mole had asked Mr. Meadow Mouse +to allow Mr. Crow to catch him with his +mouth full of corn, so that Mr. Crow might +know that it wasn't Grandfather Mole +that was taking the seed corn, as Mr. Crow +supposed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_88" id="p_88">p. 88</a></span>Mr. Meadow Mouse was too well acquainted +with old Mr. Crow to get himself +into any such fix as that.</p> + +<p>When he found himself above ground, +after Grandfather Mole had chased him +out of his galleries, Mr. Meadow Mouse +felt so pleased with himself that he +couldn't help telling his neighbors about +his adventure. He boasted that he had +been eating the seed corn out of the hills. +And he declared that he didn't care if +Mr. Crow heard of it himself.</p> + +<p>"It's no more his corn than mine," Mr. +Meadow Mouse said. "It belongs to +Farmer Green. And since he has never +spoken to me about missing any, I don't +believe he cares. Besides, I've often noticed +that he drops more kernels in a hill +than he expects will grow. And really +I've been saving him the trouble of pulling +up a good many young stalks."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_89" id="p_89">p. 89</a></span>All this Mr. Meadow Mouse spread far +and wide. And soon it reached the ears +of old Mr. Crow.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" Mr. Crow exclaimed. "So he's +the thief! I'll have to teach him a lesson."</p> + +<p>It was Jasper Jay that had related the +news to his cousin, old Mr. Crow. And +now he asked, "What about Grandfather +Mole? Don't you think you ought to +apologize to him?"</p> + +<p>That was a strange thing for Jasper Jay +to ask. He was the greatest rowdy in the +woods, with shocking manners.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow gave Jasper a sidewise +glance.</p> + +<p>"Will you apologize for me?" he inquired. +"I'm too busy to do it myself."</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will!" Jasper Jay cried. +"Leave that to me!" And he hurried off +at once to find Grandfather Mole.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_90" id="p_90">p. 90</a></span>Jasper was lucky enough to see Grandfather +Mole's head sticking out of the +ground, when he reached the garden.</p> + +<p>"I have a message for you!" Jasper told +him. "My cousin Mr. Crow—the old +black rascal!—was going to punish you +for stealing corn. But he has made other +arrangements."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Crow"—Grandfather Mole spluttered—"Mr. +Crow owes me an apology."</p> + +<p>"Not now, he doesn't!" Jasper disputed.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Grandfather Mole cried.</p> + +<p>"Because I've just brought his apology +and given it to you," Jasper Jay replied.</p> + +<p>But Grandfather Mole told him to be +gone, and to take the apology away with +him.</p> + +<p>"It's nothing but an insult!" Grandfather +Mole declared.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_91" id="p_91">p. 91</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX</h2> + +<h3>A SIGN OF RAIN</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Over</span> near the garden fence lay an old +hollow log. Grandfather Mole discovered +it one day; and thinking that it would be +a fine place to look for grubs and other +good things, he crept into one end of it.</p> + +<p>If he had been able to see, near the +other end of the log, a pair of bright eyes +that peered at him out of the darkness +perhaps he would have backed out in a +hurry. But it was all right. The owner +of the two eyes was only Sandy Chipmunk. +And he spoke pleasantly to Grandfather +Mole, in a soft sort of chatter, because he +didn't want to alarm him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_92" id="p_92">p. 92</a></span>"Good afternoon!" said Grandfather +Mole. At Sandy's first word he had +jumped. But as soon as he knew who was +in the log with him he felt safe enough. +"What are you doing here, young man?" +Grandfather inquired.</p> + +<p>"I came in to get out of the rain," +Sandy told him.</p> + +<p>"Rain!" Grandfather Mole exclaimed. +"It's not raining!"</p> + +<p>"I know that. But it's going to," Sandy +Chipmunk replied.</p> + +<p>"There's not the least sign of rain," +Grandfather Mole declared. Being older +than Sandy, he didn't hesitate to dispute +what Sandy said. And he never troubled +himself to apologize, either. Sandy Chipmunk +noticed that, for he had been carefully +reared by his mother. But he knew +that Grandfather Mole was considered an +odd old gentleman. And besides, what<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_93" id="p_93">p. 93</a></span> +could Sandy have said that wouldn't have +sounded rude?</p> + +<p>"There's not a sign of rain," Grandfather +Mole repeated, "so far as I can +see."</p> + +<p>"How far can you see?" Sandy inquired +politely.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut!" said Grandfather Mole. +"What I mean is that I haven't <i>noticed</i> +anything that foretells rain. For instance, +I haven't had a twinge of rheumatism +since I don't know when."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad of that, anyhow," +Sandy assured him. "But I saw a sign of +rain to-day that perhaps you never noticed."</p> + +<p>"What was that?"</p> + +<p>"Farmer Green's cat was washing her +face on the doorsteps," Sandy explained +triumphantly. "It's a sure sign of rain. +My mother has never known it to fail."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_94" id="p_94">p. 94</a></span>"Farmer Green's cat!" Grandfather +Mole repeated after him. And he shuddered +as he spoke. "Don't you know that +she's not a trustworthy person? You +surely don't depend on her, I hope! She's +not dependable."</p> + +<p>"Well, you can always depend on her +to jump at you," Sandy observed.</p> + +<p>"She's a coward—that's what she is," +Grandfather Mole scolded. "You never +heard of her chasing anybody that was +bigger than herself, did you? You never +heard of her attacking Fatty Coon!"</p> + +<p>Sandy Chipmunk said that if the cat +hunted coons, she kept it to herself.</p> + +<p>"She's too wise to run any risk," said +Grandfather Mole. "But if she's washing +her face just because she expects rain, +then she's stupid.</p> + +<p>"If the cat wants to wash her face, why +doesn't she stick her head out in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_95" id="p_95">p. 95</a></span> +rain?" Grandfather Mole demanded. +And without waiting for his young companion +to answer, he went on to say that +in his opinion anybody that washed his +face in anything but dirt was stupid beyond +all hope. "I claim," said Grandfather +Mole, "that there's nothing quite +like a dirt bath."</p> + +<p>"There aren't many that would agree +with you," Sandy Chipmunk told him.</p> + +<p>"There's a lot of stupid people in this +valley," Grandfather Mole retorted.</p> + +<p>Sandy Chipmunk thought deeply for a +few moments.</p> + +<p>"I know of one person who would say +you were right," he remarked at last.</p> + +<p>"Who's that?" Grandfather asked him.</p> + +<p>"The boy, Johnnie Green!" Sandy +Chipmunk replied. "If you could <i>see</i> his +face you'd know that he takes a dirt bath +every day!"</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_96" id="p_96">p. 96</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI</h2> + +<h3>MRS. WREN TRIES TO HELP</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">"Have</span> you found him yet?" Mrs. Rusty +Wren asked Grandfather Mole one day +when the old gentleman had left his dark +underground home to brave the dangers +of the garden.</p> + +<p>"Found whom?" Grandfather Mole inquired.</p> + +<p>"Why, your grandson! I saw him wandering +about the garden a little while ago. +And I supposed of course that you had +come up to find him."</p> + +<p>"Now, that's strange!" Grandfather +Mole exclaimed. "I wasn't aware one of +them had strayed away from the house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_97" id="p_97">p. 97</a></span>... +Which of my grandchildren was it +that you saw!"</p> + +<p>"I don't know them by name," Mrs. +Wren replied. "But this was just a tiny +chap."</p> + +<p>"Then it must be my little grandson +Moses!" Grandfather Mole cried. "He's +the smallest of the lot.... I must find +him at once, before the cat catches him."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wren saw that Grandfather Mole +was greatly disturbed. And though she +had enough to do—goodness knows!—to +look after her own family, she told Grandfather +Mole that she would help him find +his grandchild.</p> + +<p>"That's kind of you, I'm sure," Grandfather +Mole remarked. "If I had your +bright eyes I wouldn't need anybody's +help."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're welcome!" Mrs. Wren assured +him. "I shouldn't want a young<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_98" id="p_98">p. 98</a></span>ster +of mine walking about the garden +alone. I'm glad to do what I can. And +meanwhile you had better stay close to +that hole, for there's no need of your running +any risks. If I can't find young +Moses Mole, then nobody can."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole said she was very +kind and that he would take her advice. +So he stationed himself beside the hole +through which he had lately appeared and +waited there while Rusty Wren's wife +looked for his grandson.</p> + +<p>She was a quick, spry little body—was +Mrs. Wren. It wasn't long before she surprised +the object of her search in the act +of eating a fat grub beside a pumpkin.</p> + +<p>"Here he is!" Mrs. Wren called to +Grandfather Mole. "I've found him. Do +you want to come and get him, or shall I +bring him to you?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="illus-004" id="illus-004"></a> +<a name="illus-004-grande" id="illus-004-grande" href="images/illus-004-grande.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus-004.jpg" width="390" height="554" +alt="Billy Woodchuck Calls on Grandfather Mole." +title="Billy Woodchuck Calls on Grandfather Mole." /> +</a> +<span class="caption">Billy Woodchuck Calls on Grandfather Mole.</span> +<p style="font-size: 80%; text-align: right">(<a href="#i-004"><i>Page</i> 106</a>)</p> +</div> + + +<p>"You'd better bring him," Grandfather<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_99" id="p_99">p. 99</a></span> +Mole answered. And anybody could see +that he was vastly relieved.</p> + +<p>A little later Mrs. Wren called to him +again.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do?" she asked. "He +won't mind me. And he's too heavy for +me to carry."</p> + +<p>"That's Moses, without a doubt!" +Grandfather Mole declared. "Yes! If +he won't mind, it's certainly my grandson +Moses. He's the littlest of the family; +and his mother has always spoiled him.... +I suppose"—Grandfather Mole +added—"I suppose I'll have to go and get +him."</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment!" Mrs. Wren suddenly +sang out. "There's some mistake. This +little fellow says his name isn't Moses!"</p> + +<p>Well, Grandfather Mole's mouth fell +open, he was so surprised. "Then what's +his name?" he demanded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_100" id="p_100">p. 100</a></span></p> + +<p>"He says it's Mr. Shrew. And he +seems very angry over something or +other," Mrs. Wren explained.</p> + +<p>"Tell me"—Grandfather Mole besought +her—"has he a neck?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wren glanced at the small person +whose breakfast she had interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he has one," she reported.</p> + +<p>"Then he's no relation of mine," +Grandfather Mole said. "Or at least, he's +no more than a distant cousin. And I +don't even know him." He was relieved +to learn that his grandson Moses Mole was +not wandering about the garden, after all. +"Maybe you never stopped to think that +none of our family have necks—so far as +you can notice."</p> + +<p>And now Mrs. Wren looked at Grandfather +Mole. And she saw that his head +was set right on his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I was mistaken," she faltered. "I'm<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_101" id="p_101">p. 101</a></span> +sorry if I upset you about your grandson."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter now," Grandfather +Mole assured her. "To be sure, I was +alarmed. And when you said he wouldn't +mind I was sure it was Moses.</p> + +<p>"Children," said Grandfather Mole, +"are not brought up as strictly as they +were when I was young."</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_102" id="p_102">p. 102</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII</h2> + +<h3>TWO FAMOUS DIGGERS</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Billy Woodchuck</span> had decided to move +into new quarters before cold weather set +in. Old dog Spot had learned where he +lived; and to Billy's dismay Spot was +spending altogether too much of his time +watching Billy's front door.</p> + +<p>There was only one reason why Billy +Woodchuck didn't exactly care to dig a +new home for himself in the pasture just +then. The fall crop of clover was about +to head out. And being very fond of +clover blossoms, Billy hated to spend his +time digging.</p> + +<p>He was telling his troubles one day to<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_103" id="p_103">p. 103</a></span> +old Mr. Crow. And as usual, Mr. Crow +had an idea.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you get somebody to help +you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Billy Woodchuck looked a bit doubtful.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" he inquired. "Nobody +would be willing to dig for me unless +I paid him."</p> + +<p>"Well—if I were you I'd offer a modest +wage," Mr. Crow suggested.</p> + +<p>But Billy Woodchuck shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't pay anybody anything—unless +it was clover-tops," he explained. +"And why should any one dig for them +when there are thousands to be had for +the taking?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow agreed that Billy Woodchuck +knew what he was talking about.</p> + +<p>"But," said Mr. Crow, "I've usually +found that there's a way out of every difficulty. +What you must do is to find<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_104" id="p_104">p. 104</a></span> +somebody that <i>likes</i> to dig—somebody that +is so crazy to dig that he'd help you just +for the fun of the thing."</p> + +<p>Billy Woodchuck looked still more +doubtful.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" he asked once more.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Mr. Crow had been thinking +rapidly—for he was a quick-witted old +scamp.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you!" he cried. "There's +Grandfather Mole!"</p> + +<p>Although Billy Woodchuck brightened +considerably—for Mr. Crow's ideas made +him more hopeful—he observed that he +didn't know Grandfather Mole. "I've +heard of him, however," Billy told Mr. +Crow. "He lives in Farmer Green's garden. +But you know I never go there. I +stick to the fields. I don't like to get too +far from home."</p> + +<p>"For once, then," said old Mr. Crow, "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_105" id="p_105">p. 105</a></span> +should break my rule—if I were you—and +visit the garden. Find Grandfather Mole +and have a talk with him!"</p> + +<p>So Billy Woodchuck decided that he +would take Mr. Crow's advice. And +though he hated to leave the clover-patch +he set out that very afternoon to find +Grandfather Mole and ask him if he +wouldn't like to help dig a winter home in +the pasture. But before starting on his +journey Billy Woodchuck waited until +Mr. Crow came back and told him that +Grandfather Mole had just appeared +above ground.</p> + +<p>Billy Woodchuck hurried off across the +pasture as fast as he could scamper. And +in a short time he reached Farmer +Green's garden. He was somewhat out +of breath, because there had been plenty +of good things to eat all summer long and +he was round as a ball of butter.</p> + +<p><a name="i-004" id="i-004"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_106" id="p_106">p. 106</a></span>Luckily he arrived just in time. Grandfather +Mole had been on the point of +creeping down into one of his many +underground halls when he heard a +strange voice say, "Stop a moment, +please! I've something important to say +to you."</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant voice. If it hadn't +been, Grandfather Mole wouldn't have +waited an instant. He turned his head +toward the place where the voice came +from and said, "What is it, stranger? +And talk fast, because I'm busy. I have +some digging to do down below."</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_107" id="p_107">p. 107</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII</h2> + +<h3>SEEING A SAMPLE</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Grandfather Mole's</span> remark made Billy +Woodchuck smile.</p> + +<p>"I'm a very busy person. I've some +digging to do down below," Grandfather +had said.</p> + +<p>"You're just the one I need to help +me!" Billy Woodchuck exclaimed, for he +had heard somewhere that if you want a +thing done, you should get a busy person +to do it.</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't want me to catch +angleworms for you," Grandfather Mole +told him. "The neighbors are always asking +me to do that. And I've decided that<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_108" id="p_108">p. 108</a></span> +I can't do it. Somehow I can't help eating +'em myself."</p> + +<p>Billy Woodchuck assured him that he +had no use at all for angleworms.</p> + +<p>"What I want," he explained, "is a +good digger to help dig a new house for +me."</p> + +<p>"Is anybody else going to help too?" +Grandfather Mole inquired carefully.</p> + +<p>"No—only myself!" Billy said.</p> + +<p>"Then I'm sorry; but I can't work for +you," Grandfather Mole announced. And +he had already turned away, as if the business +were ended, when Billy Woodchuck +stopped him again.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps"—said Billy—"perhaps I +can find one or two others besides myself."</p> + +<p>"You've missed my point," said Grandfather +Mole. "I don't want anybody else +to help—not even you! For I won't share +the fun of digging with any one."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_109" id="p_109">p. 109</a></span>Well, Billy Woodchuck could hardly +believe his own ears.</p> + +<p>"You shall have things all your own +way!" he cried. "I won't scratch a speck +of dirt, I promise you!"</p> + +<p>"That's different," Grandfather Mole +remarked. "That's more like it. And if +you're a person that keeps his promises +we shall not have a bit of trouble."</p> + +<p>"You can depend on me," Billy Woodchuck +told Grandfather Mole. "While +you're working for me I'll spend all my +time in the clover-patch.... And now," +he added, "I'd like to see a sample of your +digging."</p> + +<p>"Come right this way!" Grandfather +Mole directed. And Billy Woodchuck +followed, and looked carefully at the small +hole that Grandfather Mole pointed to +with an air of pride. "Here's one of my +doorways," he announced.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_110" id="p_110">p. 110</a></span>With his head on one side, Billy Woodchuck +inspected it.</p> + +<p>"It's well made," he said, "but of +course it's entirely too small for my house. +If you work for me you'll have to dig bigger +than that."</p> + +<p>That speech did not please Grandfather +Mole. "Small doorways are the only kind +to have," he declared. "I wouldn't make +a bigger one for anybody—not even for +Farmer Green himself."</p> + +<p>Billy Woodchuck soon saw that Grandfather +Mole was a stubborn old fellow. No +matter what he said, he couldn't get +Grandfather Mole to change his opinion. +And at last Billy Woodchuck gave up all +hope of having Grandfather Mole dig for +him.</p> + +<p>"A door like yours would be of no use +to me," he said dolefully. "I never could +squeeze through it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_111" id="p_111">p. 111</a></span>"My goodness!" Grandfather Mole +cried. "How big are you, anyhow?" It +must be remembered that he couldn't see +his caller.</p> + +<p>"I'm big enough," said Billy Woodchuck, +"to put you in my pocket, almost."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole turned pale at the +mere thought of such a thing.</p> + +<p>"I—I'd no idea I was talking to a monster," +he stammered. "I don't believe I +want to dig for you, after all." And saying +a hasty good afternoon, he popped +through his doorway and vanished at Billy +Woodchuck's feet.</p> + +<p>Greatly disappointed, Billy Woodchuck +turned homewards. "I'd have been in a +pretty fix if he had finished my house, and +I had tried to move my furniture into it," +he muttered. "It's lucky I asked to see a +sample of Grandfather Mole's work," said +Billy Woodchuck.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_112" id="p_112">p. 112</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a>XXIV</h2> + +<h3>FOLLOWING THE PLOUGH</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">A good</span> many of Grandfather Mole's +neighbors sneered at him, and said he was +queer. Mr. Blackbird was one of these +scoffers. Though he was a lazy scamp, +he always managed to look sleek and well +fed. And he liked the same fare that +Grandfather Mole did.</p> + +<p>"You're a goose to work so hard for +your food," Mr. Blackbird jeered one fine +spring day as he sat on the garden fence +and looked down at Grandfather Mole. +"You ought to change your habits. Just +look at me! I get plenty to eat. And I +do precious little digging for it, believe<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_113" id="p_113">p. 113</a></span> +me! I tell you, there's a better way than +yours!"</p> + +<p>Naturally, Grandfather Mole couldn't +look at Mr. Blackbird. But he raised his +head in his odd fashion.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he inquired. "What's +a better way than mine?"</p> + +<p>But Mr. Blackbird was in no hurry to +tell all he knew.</p> + +<p>"Suppose," he said, "I should explain +my method to you. You could follow it +for some weeks and live well without much +trouble. And then—when the spring +ploughing is finished—I should want you +to supply me with angleworms for the +same length of time. You know, you can't +expect me to give away my secret for nothing."</p> + +<p>"But I <i>like</i> to dig," Grandfather Mole +replied. "You may have noticed that I +am built for that sort of work."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_114" id="p_114">p. 114</a></span>What Grandfather Mole said was true. +His drill-like nose, his powerful fore-legs +and big, strong feet all served to make him +the fastest digger in Pleasant Valley.</p> + +<p>Mr. Blackbird regarded him with a sly +smile. "You seem to be built for <i>eating</i>, +too," he observed.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole soon confessed that +Mr. Blackbird's mention of angleworms +had made him so hungry that he was +ready to promise to do as Mr. Blackbird +had proposed.</p> + +<p>So Mr. Blackbird cried that it was a +bargain.</p> + +<p>"And now," he said, "listen carefully +while I whisper the secret, for I don't +want everybody to hear it.... I follow +the plough," he explained. "It turns up +a great quantity of angleworms. The only +work I have to do is to pick 'em up with +my bill."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_115" id="p_115">p. 115</a></span>Somehow Grandfather Mole did not appear +as delighted as Mr. Blackbird had +expected.</p> + +<p>"How can I follow the plough when I +can't see where it's going?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Silly!" Mr. Blackbird jeered. "You +can find your way along a furrow, can't +you?"</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole thought he could do +that. "But you're forgetting Henry +Hawk!" he reminded Mr. Blackbird. +"Farmer Green ploughs in the daytime. +And Henry Hawk might see me."</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't be likely to notice you if +you crept along the bottom of a furrow," +Mr. Blackbird assured Grandfather Mole. +"Anyhow, I'll be there. And I'll warn +you if Henry Hawk appears in the sky."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole was relieved. And +Mr. Blackbird told him to be ready the +next morning.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_116" id="p_116">p. 116</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a>XXV</h2> + +<h3>STUBBORN AS EVER</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Farmer Green</span> hadn't finished ploughing +his first furrow before Mr. Blackbird and +Grandfather Mole began breakfasting on +the angleworms that the plough turned +up.</p> + +<p>Very soon Mr. Blackbird began to regret +his bargain with Grandfather Mole, +for Grandfather was even a greater eater +than Mr. Blackbird had supposed. Mr. +Blackbird began to be afraid that there +wouldn't be worms enough left for himself.</p> + +<p>"This is a fine place to dig," he remarked +to Grandfather Mole in what<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_117" id="p_117">p. 117</a></span> +seemed a careless way. But he watched +Grandfather Mole narrowly, with a grin +on his face, to see what the old chap would +do.</p> + +<p>And after that Grandfather Mole +couldn't resist burrowing in the loose +earth now and then. It pleased Mr. +Blackbird to see him amuse himself in +that fashion, because while he was digging +Grandfather Mole lost his chance at +a good many angleworms. They found +their way quickly down Mr. Blackbird's +throat. And it was not long before he was +in the best of spirits.</p> + +<p>Day after day while the spring ploughing +went on, the strange pair followed the +plough together. And since Grandfather +Mole spent more than half the time in digging, +Mr. Blackbird felt that on the whole +their bargain had proved a good one.</p> + +<p>When Farmer Green had finished the<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_118" id="p_118">p. 118</a></span> +last furrow in the field Mr. Blackbird told +Grandfather Mole that the ploughing had +come to an end.</p> + +<p>"And now"—he said—"now it's your +turn to carry out your part of the bargain. +I showed you where the food was plentiful; +and it's time for you to begin furnishing +me twenty fat angleworms a day."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole was amazed. There +hadn't been a word said about the <i>number</i> +of angleworms he was to supply Mr. +Blackbird.</p> + +<p>"Twenty!" he exclaimed. "Nobody +said 'twenty!'"</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Mr. Blackbird. "It +was forty."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Mole was staggered. But +he didn't dare object again, for fear Mr. +Blackbird would double the number once +more and make it eighty.</p> + +<p>"Agreed!" he cried. "And I'll have<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_119" id="p_119">p. 119</a></span> +them ready for you at midnight regularly."</p> + +<p>"Midnight!" Mr. Blackbird repeated +after him, in great surprise. "Nothing +was said about 'midnight!'"</p> + +<p>"That's so!" Grandfather Mole admitted. +"It was one o'clock in the morning." +And in spite of everything Mr. +Blackbird said, Grandfather Mole +wouldn't change the time. Everybody +knew that he was very stubborn.</p> + +<p>"A hundred angleworms in the middle +of the night wouldn't do me any good," +Mr. Blackbird complained. "I'm always +asleep at that time."</p> + +<p>"You'd better change your habits," +Grandfather Mole replied. "You ought +to be glad to change your hours for sleep, +if it would make things easier for you."</p> + +<p>Now that was very like the sort of remark +that Mr. Blackbird himself had<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_120" id="p_120">p. 120</a></span> +once made to Grandfather Mole. But +coming from Grandfather Mole the suggestion +did not please him. He even lost +his temper. And he told Grandfather +Mole that he was the queerest person in all +Pleasant Valley.</p> + +<p>But that speech did not trouble Grandfather +Mole.</p> + +<p>"It's everybody else that's queer—and +not I!" he declared.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /><br /><br /><br />THE END<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + + + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 200%; word-spacing: 0.9em; letter-spacing: 0.5em;">SLEEPY-TIME TALES</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 60%;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock">By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock">AUTHOR OF THE</p> +<p class="titleblock">TUCK-ME-IN TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES</p> + +<p class="center">Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH</p> + +<p style="font-size: 125%">This series of animal stories for children from three +to eight years, tells of the adventures of the four-footed +creatures of our American woods and fields in an +amusing way, which delights small two-footed human +beings.</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +THE TALE OF CUFFY BEAR<br /> +THE TALE OF FRISKY SQUIRREL<br /> +THE TALE OF TOMMY FOX<br /> +THE TALE OF FATTY COON<br /> +THE TALE OF BILLY WOODCHUCK<br /> +THE TALE OF JIMMY RABBIT<br /> +THE TALE OF PETER MINK<br /> +THE TALE OF SANDY CHIPMUNK<br /> +THE TALE OF BROWNIE BEAVER<br /> +THE TALE OF PADDY MUSKRAT<br /> +THE TALE OF FERDINAND FROG<br /> +THE TALE OF DICKIE DEER MOUSE<br /> +THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE<br /> +THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER<br /> +THE TALE OF MAJOR MONKEY<br /> +THE TALE OF GRUMPY WEASEL<br /> +THE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLE<br /> +THE TALE OF MASTER MEADOW MOUSE<br /> +<br /> +</p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span><br /><br /><br /></p> + + +<hr class="sorta" /> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 200%; word-spacing: 0.9em; letter-spacing: 0.5em;">TUCK-ME-IN TALES</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 60%;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock">By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock">AUTHOR OF THE</p> +<p class="titleblock">SLEEPY-TIME TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES</p> + +<p class="center">Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH</p> + +<p style="font-size: 125%">A delightful and unusual series of bird and insect +stories for boys and girls from three to eight years old, +or thereabouts. +</p> + + +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF JOLLY ROBIN</p> +<p>Jolly Robin spreads happiness everywhere with his merry song.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF OLD MR. CROW</p> +<p>A wise bird was Mr. Crow. He'd laugh when any one tried to catch him.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWL</p> +<p>Solomon Owl looked so solemn that many people thought he knew everything.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF JASPER JAY</p> +<p>Jasper Jay was very mischievous. But many of his neighbors liked him.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF RUSTY WREN</p> +<p>Rusty Wren fought bravely to keep all strangers out of his house.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF DADDY LONG-LEGS</p> +<p>Daddy Long-Legs could point in all directions at once—with his different legs.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF KIDDIE KATYDID</p> +<p>He was a musical person and chanted all night during the autumn.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF BETSY BUTTERFLY</p> +<p>Betsy spent most of her time among the flowers.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF BUSTER BUMBLEBEE</p> +<p>Buster was clumsy and blundering, but was known far and wide.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY</p> +<p>Freddie had great sport dancing in the meadow and flashing his light.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF BOBBY BOBOLINK</p> +<p>Bobby had a wonderful voice and loved to sing.</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF CHIRPY CRICKET</p> +<p>Chirpy to stroll about after dark and "chirp."</p> +<p class="noindent">THE TALE OF MRS. LADYBUG</p> +<p>Mrs. Ladybug loved to find out what her neighbors were doing and to give them advice.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> +<hr class="sorta" /> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 633px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="front-endpapers" id="front-endpapers"></a> +<a name="front-endpapers-grande" id="front-endpapers-grande" href="images/ttgm-front-endpapers-grande.jpg"> +<img src="images/ttgm-front-endpapers.jpg" width="633" height="461" +alt="Front endpapers" title="Front endpapers" /> +</a> +<span class="caption">Front endpapers</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 633px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="back-endpapers" id="back-endpapers"></a> +<a name="back-endpapers-grande" id="back-endpapers-grande" href="images/ttgm-back-endpapers-grande.jpg"> +<img src="images/ttgm-back-endpapers.jpg" width="633" height="461" +alt="Back endpapers" title="Back endpapers" /> +</a> +<span class="caption">Back endpapers</span> +</div> + +<div class="figleft" style="float: left; width: 86px;"> +<img src="images/ttgm-spine.png" width="86" height="750" +alt="Spine image for The Tale of Grandfather Mole" title="Spine" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 495px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<img src="images/ttgm-back-cover.jpg" width="495" height="750" +alt="Back Cover image for The Tale of Grandfather Mole" title="Back Cover" /> +</div> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 155%; +word-spacing: 0.6em; letter-spacing: 0.3em;"> +<span class="smcap">Sleepy-Time Tales</span></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 60%; margin-bottom: +8px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 95%;">By ARTHUR SCOTT +BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 67%;"><i>Wrappers and +illustrations in color.<br/>Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH</i></p> +<hr class="wide" /> +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: 0em;">These little books for +little people tell of the adventures +of the four-footed creatures of our American woods +and fields in an amusing way which delights small two-footed +human beings; and at the same time, in the shortcomings of +Cuffy Bear and his neighbors, children are quick to recognize +their own faults and to take home the obvious lessons.</p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 1px; font-size: 155%; +word-spacing: 0.6em; letter-spacing: 0.3em;"> +<span class="smcap">Tuck-Me-In Tales</span></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 60%; margin-bottom: +8px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 95%;">By ARTHUR SCOTT +BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 67%;"><i>Wrappers and +illustrations in color.<br/>Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH</i></p> +<hr class="wide" /> +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: 0em;">The stories of Jolly +Robin, Old Mr. Crow and the other +birds are as unusual as they are delightful, since this is +almost the first time these feathered friends of the kiddies +have appeared in print. These bird stories, like the Sleepy-Time +animal stories, are based upon actual natural history +facts, but while the youngster eagerly listens to them, a moral +foundation, of deeper importance than that in natural history, +is being laid.</p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 1px; font-size: 155%; +word-spacing: 0.6em; letter-spacing: 0.3em;"> +<span class="smcap">Slumber-Town Tales</span></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 60%; margin-bottom: +8px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 95%;">By ARTHUR SCOTT +BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 67%;"><i>Wrappers and +illustrations in color.<br/>Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH</i></p> +<hr class="wide" /> +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: 0em;">The kiddies will love +these fascinating stories of Farmyard +Folk, which tell of the daily doings of Muley Cow, +Old Dog Spot, and their companions. These tales will show +them that they have much in common with Henrietta Hen +and the others, and will develop in them a wholesome respect +for those good friends.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, +New York</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + + + + +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 21203-h.txt or 21203-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/2/0/21203">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/2/0/21203</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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