Once upon a time there was an Old Oak Tree in a gentleman’s park. It grew beside a river, and stretched out its long strong arms, covered with thick green ivy, as if welcoming everybody to its shelter.
A number of animals took advantage of its invitations:
First, at the foot of it, lived Bunny the Rabbit, with Mrs. Bunny, his wife, and a fine family of sixteen children. There they ran in and out, cocking up their little white tails, and popping into their hole as quick as lightning the moment they saw anybody coming.
Jerry, the Squirrel, who lived high up in the tree, used to look down and pity Mr. Bunny very much; for he was so poor, had such a large family, and not a single nut laid by for the winter! But Bunny knew better; and when he, Mrs. Bunny, and the little gray Bunnies were huddled together so warm on a winter’s night, he used to listen to the wind, and say, “Poor Jerry! how cold it must be up there!” But Jerry could wrap his tail round his neck like a boa, and fall sound asleep on the tree-top.
Below Jerry’s house, where the ivy was thickest, lived Cozie Cowl, the Owl, with his wise nose, and his great yellow staring eyes. He kept a singing-school at night, and when all the other birds were sleeping you might hear Cozie Cowl and the Misses Cozie Cowl all singing, “Tu-whit! Tu-who-o!”
Then, among the ivy was a Robin Redbreast, a pair of Blackbirds, and two lovely Tomtits; there was also a noisy family of Jackdaws, Mr. and Mrs. Ray by name, in a hole in the trunk, which they called “Heart of Oak Hall;” and, highest of all, lived a quiet old fisherman, called Longlegs, the Heron.
Most peaceably they all lived together, always polite and neighbourly. They sang their best songs; and the Squire used to look up and say,—“Ah! there is no tree so full of music as the Old Oak.”