Mother West Wind's ChildrenBurgess, Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo)
General
Mother West Wind's Children
Burgess, Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo)
Animals -- Juvenile fiction; Children's stories, American
Now Johnny Chuck is not naturally a fighter. Oh my, no! He is so
good-natured and so sunny-hearted that he seldom quarrels with any one.
But when he has to fight, there isn't a cowardly hair on him, not the
teeniest, weeniest one. No one ever has a chance to cry, "'Fraid cat!
Cry baby!" after Johnny Chuck.
So though, like all the other little meadow people, he was usually just
a little afraid of Reddy Fox, because Reddy is so much bigger, he
forgot all about it as soon as he caught sight of Reddy Fox tormenting
Peter Rabbit's little brother. He didn't stop to think of what might
happen to himself. He didn't stop to think at all. He just gritted
his teeth and in a flash had Reddy Fox on his back.
Such a fight was never seen before on the Green Meadows! Reddy Fox is
a bully and a coward, for he never fights with any one of his own size
if he can help it, but when he has to fight, he fights hard. And he
certainly had to fight now.
"Bully!" hissed Johnny Chuck as with his stout little hind feet he
ripped the bright red coat of Reddy Fox. "You great big bully!"
Over and over they rolled, Johnny Chuck on top, then Reddy Fox on top,
then Johnny Chuck up again, clawing and snarling.
It seemed as if news of the fight had gone over all the Green Meadows,
for the little meadow people came running from every direction--Billy
Mink, Little Joe Otter, Jerry Muskrat, Striped Chipmunk, Jimmy Skunk,
old Mr. Toad. Even Great-Grandfather Frog, who left his big lily pad,
and came hurrying with great jumps across the Green Meadows. They
formed a ring around Reddy Fox and Johnny Chuck and danced with
excitement. And all wanted Johnny Chuck to win.
Peter Rabbit's poor little brother, so sore and lame from the knocking
about from Reddy Fox, and so frightened that he hardly dared breathe,
lay flat on the ground under a little bush and was forgotten by all but
the Merry Little Breezes, who covered him up with some dead grass, and
kissed him and whispered to him not to be afraid now. How Peter
Rabbit's little brother did hope that Johnny Chuck would win! His
great, big, round, soft eyes were wide with terror as he thought of
what might happen to him if Reddy Fox should whip Johnny Chuck.
But Reddy Fox wasn't whipping Johnny Chuck. Try as he would, he could
not get a good hold on that round, fat, little body. And Johnny
Chuck's stout claws were ripping his red coat and white vest and Johnny
Chuck's sharp teeth were gripping him so that they could not be shaken
loose. Pretty soon Reddy Fox began to think of nothing but getting
away. Every one was shouting for Johnny Chuck. Every time Reddy Fox
was underneath, he would hear a great shout from all the little meadow
people, and he knew that they were glad.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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