ground as you do. Why don't you, Jumper?"

"I wouldn't feel safe there," replied Jumper rather timidly. "I
depend on my long legs for safety, and the way I can dodge around
trees and bushes. I suppose Reddy Fox may be fast enough to catch
me in the open, but he can't do it where I can dodge around trees
and bushes. That is why I stick to the Green Forest. If you please,
Mother Nature, what is this about a cousin who likes to swim?"

Old Mother Nature's eyes twinkled. "We'll get to that later on,"
said she. "Now, each of you hold up a hind foot and tell me what
difference you see."

Peter and Jumper each held up a hind foot and each looked first at
his own and then at the other's. "They look to me very much
alike, only Jumper's is a lot longer and bigger than mine," said
Peter. Jumper nodded as if he agreed.

"What's the matter with your eyes?" demanded Old Mother Nature.
"Don't you see that Jumper's foot is a great deal broader than
yours, Peter, and that his toes are spread apart, while yours are
close together?"

Peter and Jumper looked sheepish, for it was just as Old Mother
Nature had said. Jumper's foot really was quite different from
that of Peter. Peter's was narrow and slim.

"That is a very important difference," declared Old Mother Nature.
"Can you guess why I gave you those big feet, Jumper?"