“Good morning, Mother West Wind,” said Jimmy Skunk, politely. “Did you see any beetles⁴ as you came down the hill?”

 

Old Mother West Wind said, no, she hadn't seen any beetles as she came down the hill.

 

“Thank you,” said Jimmy Skunk politely. “I guess I'll have to go look myself, for I'm very, very hungry.”

 

So Jimmy Skunk brushed his handsome black and white coat, and washed his face and hands, and started out to try to find some beetles for his breakfast. First he went down to the Green Meadows and stopped at Johnny Chuck's house. But Johnny Chuck was still in bed and fast asleep. Then Jimmy Skunk went over to see if Reddy Fox would go with him to help find some beetles for his breakfast. But Reddy Fox had been out very, very late the night before and was still in bed fast asleep, too.

 

So Jimmy Skunk set out all alone along the Crooked⁵ Little Path up the hill to find some beetles for his breakfast. He walked very slowly, for Jimmy Skunk never hurries. He stopped and peeped under every old log to see if there were any beetles. By and by he came to a big piece of bark beside the Crooked Little Path. Jimmy Skunk took hold of the piece of bark with his two little black paws and pulled and pulled. All of a sudden, the big piece of bark turned over so quickly that Jimmy Skunk fell flat on his back.

 

When Jimmy Skunk had rolled over onto his feet again, there sat old Mr. Toad⁶ right in the path, and old Mr. Toad was very, very cross indeed. He swelled⁷ and he

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