Thornton W. Burgess

Name: Old Mother West Wind
Author: Thornton W. Burgess

Summary

“Old Mother West Wind”, is a work by Thornton W. Burgess. It explores elements such as Johnny Chuck, Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox.

Quotes from Old Mother West Wind (Thornton W. Burgess)

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ You see he had lived a long time, oh, very much longer than any of the others, and therefore, because of the wisdom of age, Grandfather Frog was always called on to decide all disputes. He sat on his green lily-pad while Billy Mink sat on the Big Rock, and Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox sat on the bank. Each in turn told why he thought he was the fastest. Old Grandfather Frog listened and listened and said never a word until they were all through. When they had finished, he stopped to catch a foolish green fly and then he said: “The best way to decide who is the swiftest is to have a race.” ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Then Peter Rabbit spoke up. “It MIGHT be the yolk of an egg,” said Peter Rabbit.
“Who are likely to be sleepy on a bright sunny morning?” asked Old Dame Nature.
“People who have been out all night,” said Johnny Chuck, who himself always goes to bed with the sun.
“Jimmy Skunk,” said Old Dame Nature, and her voice was very stern, very stern indeed, and her face was very grave. “Jimmy Skunk, I accuse you of having broken and eaten the eggs of Mrs. Grouse. What have you to say for yourself?”
Jimmy Skunk hung his head. He hadn't a word to say. He just wanted to sneak away by himself. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Together they went down cross the Green Meadows asking every one whom they met if they had seen the thief who had stolen Happy Jack's store of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. All the Merry Little Breezes joined in the search, and soon every one who lived in the Green Meadows or in the wood knew that some one had stolen all of Happy Jack Squirrel's store of nuts from the hollow in the old chestnut tree. And because every one liked Happy Jack, every one felt very sorry indeed for him. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ He was very independent and cared for no one. Like a great many other independent people, he did not always consider the rights of others. Indeed, it was hinted in the wood and on the Green Meadows that not all of Jimmy Skunk's doings would bear the light of day. It was openly said that he was altogether too fond of prowling about at night, but no one could prove that he was responsible for mischief done in the night, for no one saw him. You see his coat was so black that in the darkness of the night it was not visible at all. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ And because every one liked Happy Jack every one went to the Great Pine on the hill—Reddy Fox, Bobby Coon, Jimmy Skunk Striped Chipmunk, who is Happy Jack's cousin you know, Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, Jerry Muskrat, Hooty the Owl, who was almost too sleepy to keep his eyes open, Blacky the Crow, Johnny Chuck, Peter Rabbit, even old Grandfather Frog. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ He was very proud of his handsome blue coat with white trimmings and his high cap, and he would sit on a fence post and make fun of Johnny Chuck working at a new door for his snug little home in the Green Meadows, and of Striped Chipmunk storing up heaps of corn and nuts for the winter, for most of the time Sammy Jay was an idle fellow. And when Sammy Jay WAS busy, he was pretty sure to be doing something that he ought not to do, for idle people almost always get into mischief. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Just then along came a fat green fly and up jumped Grandfather Frog. When he sat down again on the lily pad the fat green fly was nowhere to be seen, but Grandfather Frog looked very well satisfied indeed as he contentedly rubbed his white waistcoat with one hand.
“What is the news, Grandfather Frog?” cried the Merry Little Breezes.
“Mrs. Redwing has a new speckled egg in her nest in the bulrushes,” said Grandfather Frog.
“We must see it,” cried the Merry Little Breezes, and away they all ran to the swamp where the bulrushes grow. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Everyone was there to see the race—Striped Chipmunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow, Hooty the Owl and Bobby Coon all sat up in the old butternut tree where it was cool and shady. Johnny Chuck, Jerry Muskrat, Jimmy Skunk, Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog and even old Mr. Toad, were there. Last of all came Spotty the Turtle. Now Spotty the Turtle is a very slow walker, and he cannot run at all. When Peter Rabbit saw him coming up towards the old butternut tree he shouted: “Come, Spotty, don't you want to race with us?” ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Old Mother West Wind was tired—tired and just a wee bit cross—cross because she was tired. She had had a very busy day. Ever since early morning she had been puffing out the white sales of the ships on the big ocean so that they could go faster; she had kept all the big and little wind mills whirling and whirling to pump water for thirsty folks and grind corn for hungry folks ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Now you all know that people who do nothing worth while in this world are of no use and there is little room for them. So when Mother Nature saw how useless had become the Frog tribe she called the King Frog before her and she said:
“'Because you can think of nothing but your beautiful tail it shall be taken away from you. Because you do nothing but eat and sleep your mouth shall become wide like a door, and your eyes shall start forth from your head. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Billy Mink remembered this pond and he chuckled to himself as he raced along, for he knew that Peter Rabbit couldn't swim and he knew that Reddy Fox does not like the water, so therefore both would have to run around it. He himself can swim even faster than he can run. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Hooty the Owl answered him at once and flew over to join him. They didn't see the willful little Breeze curled up under the bayberry bush, so intent were these two rogues in plotting mischief. They were planning to steal down across the Green Meadows to the edge of the Brown Pasture where Mr. Bob White and pretty Mrs. Bob White and a dozen little Bob Whites had their home.
“When they run along the ground I'll catch 'em, and when they fly up in the air you'll catch 'em, and we'll gobble 'em all up,” said Reddy Fox to Hooty the Owl. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Thornton W. Burgess, Old Mother West Wind

“ Everybody laughed because you know Spotty is so very, very slow but Spotty didn't laugh and he didn't get cross because everyone else laughed.
“There is a wise old saying, Peter Rabbit,” said Spotty the Turtle, “which shows that those who run fastest do not always reach a place first. ”

Thornton W. Burgess

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Quotes from Old Mother West Wind (Thornton W. Burgess)

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