cross-like. "My brother Johnnie got out of school early, and he and
the other animal boys have gone off to play where I can't find them. I
had to stay in, because I didn't know my nut-cracking lesson, and now I
can't have any fun. Oh, dear! I don't care!"

Billie meant, I suppose, that he didn't care what he said or did, and
that isn't right. But Uncle Wiggily only pinkled his twink nose. No,
wait just a moment if you please. He just twinkled his pink nose
behind the squirrel boy's back, and then the bunny uncle said:

"How would you like to come for a walk in the woods with me, Billie?"

"Oh, that will be nice!" exclaimed the squirrel lady. "Do go, Billie."

"No, I don't want to!" chattered the boy squirrel, most impolitely.

"Oh, that isn't at all nice," said Mrs. Bushy-tail. "At least thank
Uncle Wiggily for asking you."

"Oh, excuse me, Uncle Wiggily," said Billie, sorrylike. "I do thank
you. But I want very much to have some fun, and there's no fun in the
woods. I know all about them. I know every tree and bush and stump.
I want to go to a new place."

"Well, new places are nice," said the bunny uncle, "but old ones are
nice, too, if you know where to look for the niceness. Now come along
with me, and we'll see if we can't have some fun. It is lovely in the
woods now."

"I won't have any fun there," said Billie, crossly. "The woods are no