WHITEFOOT THE WOOD MOUSE

BY THORNTON W. BURGESS

CHAPTER I: Whitefoot Spends A Happy Winter

In all his short life Whitefoot the Wood Mouse never had spent such
a happy winter. Whitefoot is one of those wise little people who
never allow unpleasant things of the past to spoil their present
happiness, and who never borrow trouble from the future.
Whitefoot believes in getting the most from the present. The things
which are past are past, and that is all there is to it. There is
no use in thinking about them. As for the things of the future,
it will be time enough to think about them when they happen.

If you and I had as many things to worry about as does Whitefoot the
Wood Mouse, we probably never would be happy at all. But Whitefoot
is happy whenever he has a chance to be, and in this he is wiser
than most human beings. You see, there is not one of all the little
people in the Green Forest who has so many enemies to watch out for
as has Whitefoot. There are ever so many who would like nothing
better than to dine on plump little Whitefoot. There are Buster
Bear and Billy Mink and Shadow the Weasel and Unc' Billy Possum and
Hooty the Owl and all the members of the Hawk family, not to mention
Blacky the Crow in times when other food is scarce. Reddy and
Granny Fox and Old Man Coyote are always looking for him.

So you see Whitefoot never knows at what instant he may have to run
for his life. That is why he is such a timid little fellow and is
always running away at the least little unexpected sound. In spite