Old Mother Nature and begged her to give him back his old coat. She
promised that she would when his heart changed, and he changed his
ways. But his heart never did change, and his children and his
children's children were just like him. They have always been the
smartest and the sliest and the most feared and disliked of all the
little people on the meadows or in the forest. And now you know why
Reddy Fox wears a red coat," concluded Grandfather Frog.

Peter Rabbit drew a long breath. "Thank you, thank you, Grandfather
Frog!" said he. "I--I think hereafter I'll be quite content with my
own suit, even if it isn't handsome. Jenny Wren was right. A good
heart and honest ways are better than fine clothes."




V

WHY JIMMY SKUNK NEVER HURRIES


The Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had just been
released from the big bag in which she carries them every night to
their home behind the Purple Hills and every morning brings them back
to the Green Meadows to romp and play all day. They romped and raced
and danced away, some one way, some another, to see whom they could
find to play with. Presently some of them spied Jimmy Skunk slowly
ambling down the Crooked Little Path, stopping every few steps to pull
over a loose stone or stick. They knew what he was doing that for.
They knew that he was looking for fat beetles for his breakfast. They