woods."

"But who would plant the corn?" Fatty asked.

Mrs. Coon did not appear to hear his question.




XI

JASPER JAY TELLS SOME NEWS


It was quite late in the fall, and the weather had grown very cold. Mrs.
Coon and her family had not left their home for several days; but on
this day she thought it would be pleasant to go out in the sunshine and
get a breath of fresh air and a bite to eat.

Fatty was the only one of her children that was not asleep; and he
complained of being very hungry. So Mrs. Coon decided to take him with
her.

The hunting was not very good. There were no birds' eggs at all to be
found in the trees. The river and the brook and the creek were all
frozen over, so Fatty and his mother could not catch any fish. And as
for corn--Farmer Green had long ago gathered the last ear of it. Fatty
wished that it was summertime. But it only made him hungrier than ever,
to think of all the good things to eat that summer brings. He was
feeling very unhappy when his mother said to him sharply--