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but Reddy Fox had disappeared inside the house。
Granny Fox sighed in relief。 It had been a terrible scare； the worst she
could remember。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XXIV。 Granny and Reddy Have To
Move
〃I don't want to move；〃 whined Reddy Fox。 〃I'm too sore to walk。〃
Old Granny Fox gave him a shove。 〃You go along and do as I say！〃
she snapped。 〃If you had minded me； we wouldn't have to move。 It's all
your own fault。 The wonder is that you weren't killed when you poked
your head out right in front of Farmer Brown's boy。 Now that he knows
where we live； he will give us no peace。 Move along lively now！ This is
the best home I have ever had； and now I've got to leave it。 Oh dear！ Oh
dear！〃
Reddy Fox hobbled along up the long hall and out the front door。 He
was walking on three legs； and at every step he made a face because； you
know； it hurt so to walk。
The little stars； looking down from the sky； saw Reddy Fox limp out
the door of the house he had lived in so long； and right behind him came
old Granny Fox。 Granny sighed and wiped away a tear； as she said good…
by to her old home。 Reddy Fox was thinking too much of his own troubles
to notice how badly Granny Fox was feeling。 Every few steps he had to sit
down and rest because it hurt him so to walk。
〃I don't see the use of moving tonight； anyway。 It would be a lot easier
and pleasanter when the sun is shining。 This night air makes me so stiff
that I know I never will get over it；〃 grumbled Reddy Fox。
Old Granny Fox listened to him for a while； and then she lost patience。
Yes； Sir； Granny Fox lost patience。 She boxed Reddy Fox first on one ear
and then on the other。 Reddy began to snivel。
〃Stop that！〃 said Granny Fox sharply。 〃Do you want all the neighbors
to know that we have got to move？ They'll find it out soon enough。 Now
come along without any more fuss。 If you don't； I'll just go off and leave
you to shift for yourself。 Then how will you get anything to eat？〃
Reddy Fox wiped his eyes on his coat sleeve and hobbled along as best
he could。 Granny Fox would run a little way ahead to see that the way was
safe and then come back for Reddy。 Poor Reddy。 He did his best not to
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complain； but it was such hard work。 And somehow Reddy Fox didn't
believe that it was at all necessary。 He had been terribly frightened when
he had disobeyed Granny Fox that afternoon and put his head out the door；
only to look right into the freckled face of Farmer Brown's boy。 He had
ducked back out of sight again too quickly for Farmer Brown's boy to
shoot； and now he couldn't see why old Granny Fox wanted to move that
very night。
〃She's getting old。 She's getting old and timid and fussy；〃 muttered
Reddy Fox； as he hobbled along behind her。
It seemed to Reddy as if they had walked miles and miles。 He really
thought that they had been walking nearly all night when old Granny Fox
stopped in front of the worst…looking old fox house Reddy had ever seen。
〃Here we are！〃 said she。
〃What！ Are we going to live in that thing？〃 cried Reddy。 〃It isn't fit for
any respectable fox to put his nose into。〃
〃It is where I was born！〃 snapped old Granny Fox。 〃If you want to
keep out of harm's way； don't go to putting on airs now。
〃Who scorns the simple things of life And tilts his nose at all he
sees； Is almost sure to feel the knife Of want cut through his
pleasant ease。
〃Now don't let me hear another word from you； but get inside at
once！〃
Reddy Fox didn't quite understand all Granny Fox said； but he knew
when she was to be obeyed； and so he crawled gingerly through the
broken…down doorway。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XXV。 Peter Rabbit Makes a
Discovery
Hardly had jolly； round； red Mr。 Sun thrown off his nightcap and come
out from his home behind the Purple Hills for his daily climb up in the
blue； blue sky； when Farmer Brown's boy started down the Lone Little
Path through the Green Forest。
Peter Rabbit； who had been out all night and was just then on his way
home； saw him。 Peter stopped and sat up to rub his eyes and look again。
He wasn't quite sure that he had seen aright the first time。 But he had。
There was Farmer Brown's boy； sure enough； and at his heels trotted
Bowser the Hound。
Peter Rabbit rubbed his eyes once more and wrinkled up his eyebrows。
Farmer Brown's boy certainly had a gun over one shoulder and a spade
over the other。 Where could he be going down the Lone Little Path with a
spade？ Farmer Brown's garden certainly was not in that direction。 Peter
watched him out of sight and then he hurried down to the Green Meadows
to tell Johnny Chuck what he had seen。 My； how Peter's long legs did fly！
He was so excited that he had forgotten how sleepy he had felt a few
minutes before。
Halfway down to Johnny Chuck's house； Peter Rabbit almost ran
plump into Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk； who had been quarreling and
were calling each other names。 They stopped when they saw Peter Rabbit。
〃Peter Rabbit runs away From his shadder； so they say。 Peter； Peter；
what a sight！ Tell us why this sudden fright；〃
shouted Bobby Coon。
Peter Rabbit stopped short。 Indeed； he stopped so short that he almost
turned a somersault。 〃Say；〃 he panted； 〃I've just seen Farmer Brown's
boy。〃
〃You don't say so！〃 said Jimmy Skunk； pretending to be very much
surprised。 〃You don't say so！ Why； now I think of it； I believe I've seen
Farmer Brown's boy a few times myself。〃
Peter Rabbit made a good…natured face at Jimmy Skunk； and then he
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told all about how he had seen Farmer Brown's boy with gun and spade
and Bowser the Hound going down the Lone Little Path。 〃You know there
isn't any garden down that way；〃 he concluded。
Bobby Coon's face wore a sober look。 Yes； Sir； all the fun was gone
from Bobby Coon's face。
〃What's the matt