Sammy Jay met Happy Jack Squirrel and told him.
Happy Jack met his cousin, Striped Chipmunk, and told him.
Striped Chipmunk passed the house of old Mr. Toad and told him.
The next morning, very early, before Old Mother West Wind had come down from the Purple Hills, Johnny Chuck stole over to his new home to begin work on his new back door. He had hardly begun to dig when he heard some one cough right behind him. He whirled around and there sat Peter Rabbit looking as innocent and surprised as if he had really just discovered the new home for the first time.
"What a splendid new home you have, Johnny Chuck!" said Peter Rabbit.
"Y—e—s," said Johnny Chuck, slowly. "It's a secret," he added suddenly. "You won't tell, will you, Peter Rabbit?"
Peter Rabbit promised that he wouldn't tell. Then Johnny Chuck felt better and went back to work as soon as Peter Rabbit left.
He had hardly begun, however, when some one just above him said: "Good morning, Johnny Chuck."
Johnny Chuck looked up and there in the old apple tree sat Blacky the Crow and his cousin, Sammy Jay.
Just then there was a rustle in the grass and out popped Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat and Happy Jack Squirrel and Striped Chipmunk and Bobby Coon. When Johnny Chuck had recovered from his surprise and looked over to the doorway of his new home there sat Reddy Fox on Johnny Chuck's precious new mound. It seemed as if all the little meadow people were there, all but Jimmy Skunk, who wisely stayed away.