relations even to his third cousins. Bobby Coon was there, and he
had brought with him every Coon of his acquaintance who ever fished
in the Smiling Pool or along the Laughing Brook. And everybody was
looking very solemn, very solemn indeed.

When the last one had arrived, Mother Muskrat climbed up on the Big
Rock and called Jerry Muskrat up beside her, where all could see him.
Then she made a speech. "Friends of the Smiling Pool and Laughing
Brook," began Mrs. Muskrat, "I have called you together to show you
what has happened to my son Jerry and to ask your advice." She stopped
and pointed to Jerry's sore tail. "What do you think did that?" she
demanded.

"Probably Jerry's been in a fight and got whipped," said Bobby Coon
to his neighbor, for Bobby Coon is a graceless young scamp and does
not always show proper respect to his neighbors.

Mrs. Muskrat glared at him, for she had overheard the remark. Then
she held up one hand to command silence. "Friends, it was a trap --
a trap set by Farmer Brown's boy! a trap to catch you and me and our
children!" said she solemnly. "It is no longer safe for our little
folks to play around the Smiling Pool or along the Laughing Brook.
What are we going to do about it?"

Everybody looked at everybody else in dismay. Then everybody began
to talk at once, and if Farmer Brown's boy could have heard all the
things said about him, his cheeks certainly would have burned.
Indeed, I am afraid that they would have blistered. Such excitement!
Everybody had a different idea, and nobody would listen to anybody
else. Old Mr. Mink lost his temper and called Grandpa Otter a