Peter pricked up his ears. "What do they want to get rid of him
for. What harm does he do?" he asked.

"When he lives far away from the homes of men he does no harm,"
replied Old Mother Nature. "But when he lives near the homes of
men he gets into mischief, just as you do when you visit Farmer
Brown's garden." Old Mother Nature looked very severe when she
said this and Peter hung his head.

"I know I ought to keep away from that garden," said Peter very
meekly, "but you have no idea what a temptation it is. The things
in that garden do taste so good."

Old Mother Nature turned her head to hide the twinkle in her eyes.
When she turned toward Peter again her face was severe as before.
"That is no excuse, Peter Rabbit," said she. "You should be
sufficiently strong-minded not to yield to temptation. Yielding
to temptation is the cause of most of the trouble in this world.
It has made man an enemy to Jack Rabbit. Jack just cannot keep
away from the crops planted by men. His family is very large, and
when a lot of them get together in a field of clover or young wheat,
or in a young orchard where the bark on the trees is tender and
sweet, they do so much damage that the owner is hardly to be blamed
for becoming angry and seeking to kill them. Yes, I am sorry to
say, Jack Rabbit becomes a terrible nuisance when he goes where
he has no business. Now I guess you have learned sufficient about
your long-legged cousins. I've a great deal to do, so skip along
home, both of you."

"If you please, Mother Nature, may we come again to-morrow?"