[Illustration: Down to the ground Sammy fell.]
Bump! he came down at the foot of the oak tree.
He almost fell on top of Bunny Rabbit.
But Bunny saw him coming and jumped out of the way just in time.
Sammy lay very still where he had fallen.
All the squirrels ran down to see if he had hurt himself.
Bobby Gray Squirrel ran to pick the fallen bird up from the ground.
Sammy had given his nose such a bump that it was all black and blue.
He had hurt his paw. And his make-believe wings were all crushed and broken.
Sammy rubbed his nose and then he looked at his friends.
"I don't believe oak leaves make good wings," he said.
"No," said the tiniest sparrow, "the best wings are made of feathers."
"Caw, caw!" said Blacky Crow. "My wings are made of feathers. See how I can fly."
Then Blacky Crow flapped his big wings and flew away.
The sparrows flew away, too.
All the squirrels scampered off to hunt for nuts.
And the rabbits went back to their home to take a nap.
Sammy was left sitting alone on the old stone wall.
Every few minutes he rubbed his poor little nose.
And as he rubbed his nose he thought:
"Flying may be fun for birds, and swimming may be fun for ducks.
"But running and jumping among the branches of the big oak tree is more fun for squirrels."
THE CABBAGE PATCH
I
"Oh, dear me!" said Billy. "I am so hungry. I wish I could find something good to eat."
"I know where there is a big cabbage patch," said Bunny.
"Where, where?" asked Billy.
"Where, where?" asked Bobtail.
"Follow me," said Bunny, "and I will show you."
"Is it far?" asked Billy.
"No," said Bunny. "It is not very far,—just down in Mr. Man's garden."
"I think I will stay here," said Billy. "This clover is very good."
So Billy stayed and ate the clover, but Bobtail and Bunny hopped off down the road.
They hopped along the road until they came to Mr. Man's barn.
Then they stopped to listen.
Bunny sat up straight and held up his long ears.
Bobtail sat up straight and held up his long ears.
They listened and listened, but they did not hear a sound.
"I think Jip is asleep in the house," said Bunny.
"I think Mr. Man is eating his dinner," said Bobtail.
"Let's hurry," said Bunny. "We can reach the garden without any one seeing us, I am sure."
So the two little rabbits laid their ears down on their heads and hopped away.
They hopped behind the barn.
Mr. Rooster saw them coming.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" he said. "Who are you? Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"We are going to the garden to get our dinner," said Bunny.
"Mr. Man never lets me go to the garden," said Mr. Rooster.
"Mr. Man never lets me go to the garden if he knows about it," laughed Bunny.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" said the rooster, as he flapped his wings and flew up on the fence.
"Please do not make so much noise," begged Bobtail. "Mr. Man will hear you and come out to see what is the matter."
But the rooster just flapped his big wings and crowed again.
"Come," said Bunny. "This is no place for us.
"Let's hop into the garden and get some cabbage."