THERE Peter Rabbit lay. He had dragged that piece of stake a long way, a very long way, indeed. But now he could drag it no farther, for it had caught in the bramble bushes. So Peter just dropped on the snow and cried. Yes, Sir, he cried! You see, he was so tired and worn out and frightened, and his leg was so stiff and sore and hurt him so! And then it was so dreadful to actually get home and be stopped right on your very own doorstep. So Peter just lay there and cried. Just supposing old Granny Fox should come poking¹ around and find Peter caught that way! All she would have to do would be to get hold of that hateful stake caught in the bramble bushes and pull Peter out where she could get him. Do you wonder that Peter cried?

 

By and by he became aware that someone was wiping away his tears. It was Danny Meadow Mouse. And Danny was singing in a funny little voice. Pretty soon Peter stopped crying and listened, and this is what he heard:

 

“Isn't any use to cry!

Not a bit! Not a bit!

Wipe your eyes and wipe 'em dry!

Use your wit! Use your wit!

Just remember that tomorrow

Never brings a single sorrow.

Yesterday has gone forever

And tomorrow gets here never.

Chase your worries all away;

Nothing's worse than just today.”

Peter smiled in spite of himself.

 

“That's right! That's right! Smile away, Peter Rabbit. Smile away! Your troubles, Sir, are all today. And between you and me, I don't believe they are so bad as you think they are. Now you lie still just where you are, while I go see what can be done.”

 

With that, off whisked Danny Meadow Mouse as spry as you please, in spite of his lame² leg, and in a few minutes Peter knew by little twitches³ of the wire on his leg that Danny was doing something at the other end. He was. Danny Meadow Mouse had set out to gnaw⁴ that piece of stake all to splinters. So there he sat and gnawed⁵ and gnawed and gnawed. Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun climbed higher and higher in the sky, and Danny Meadow Mouse grew hungry, but still he kept right on

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