V

JOHNNY CHUCK BECOMES DISSATISFIED


Johnny Chuck was unhappy. Here it was the glad springtime, when
everybody is supposed to be the very happiest, and Johnny Chuck was
unhappy. Why was he unhappy? Well, he hardly knew himself. He had
slept comfortably all the long winter. He had awakened very, very
hungry, but now he had plenty to eat. All about him the birds were
singing or busily at work building new homes. And still Johnny Chuck
felt unhappy. It was dreadful to feel this way and not have any good
reason for it.

One bright morning Johnny Chuck sat on his door-step watching Drummer
the Woodpecker building a new home in the old apple-tree. Drummer's
red head flew back and forth, back and forth, and his sharp bill cut
out tiny bits of wood. It was slow work; it was hard work. But Drummer
seemed happy, very happy indeed. It was watching Drummer that started
Johnny Chuck to thinking about his own home. He had always thought it
a very nice home. He had built it just as he wanted it. From the
doorstep he could look in all directions over the Green Meadows. It
had a front door and a hidden back door. Yes, it was a very nice home
indeed.

But now, all of a sudden, Johnny Chuck became dissatisfied with his
home. It was too near the Lone Little Path. Too many people knew where