THE POPCORN PARTY
Danny Fox couldn’t forget how he and Hungry Hawk had been fooled by Little Jack Rabbit. The more he thought about it, the angrier he grew. To think that a little bunny had got the better of them! Well, well, well! It certainly was enough to make any fox mad.
“I’ll get him yet,” said Danny Fox. “I’ll catch him if it takes a year and a day!”
And the old fox meant what he said, for he was having a hard time of it nowadays. The Big Farmer kept close watch and locked his chickens in the Henhouse every night. Besides, Danny Fox hadn’t forgotten about the steel trap. He was afraid to venture again in the Farm Yard—there might be another trap hidden somewhere.
One day he had a bright idea. There was a little log cabin in the Shady Forest. It had a nice door and three windows, a chimney of red brick, and a big fireplace. It was empty—nobody had lived in it for some time. He would give a popcorn party, and invite Little Jack Rabbit.
That very evening he sent out invitations to Chippy Chipmunk, Squirrel Nutcracker, Busy Beaver and Peter Possum. Everybody was asked to come to the Popcorn Party.
At first Little Jack Rabbit was afraid to accept, but when he found that everyone was invited, he persuaded himself that Danny Fox was just trying to be friendly. At the same time he made up his mind to keep both eyes wide open, for after all there was no telling what that old fox might do. No indeed!
At last the day for the party arrived, and the little Log Cabin was filled to overflowing. After the corn was popped the fire was allowed to die down, and everybody sat around and had a feast.
But, oh dear me! All of a sudden, without any warning, Danny Fox made a jump for the little rabbit. And, oh dear me again! What a commotion there was. Out of the windows and through the door went the Shady Forest Folk—all but Little Jack Rabbit. He jumped up the chimney, and not a wink too soon, either, for Danny Fox landed right on the spot where he had been sitting.
“Now I’ve got you,” cried that wicked old robber, sitting down on the hearth.
He didn’t care if the ashes got all over his beautiful long bushy tail. No indeed. He didn’t care about that. All he thought of was how to catch poor Little Jack Rabbit.