Little Jack Rabbit and Chippy Chipmunk

<h2><SPAN name="PITTER_PATTER" id="PITTER_PATTER"></SPAN>PITTER, PATTER</h2> <p>As soon as Billy Breeze had turned the Weathercock on the Big Red Barn, he hurried away to get the rain-clouds. He didn't even wait to say howdy to Ducky Waddles, although he knew the little duck would be glad to know where he was going. But Billy Breeze didn't have time. No, sir. He had to get those rain-clouds in a hurry. It hadn't rained for so long that the roads were inches deep with dust, the Bubbling Brook was almost dry, and the Old Duck Pond was so low that the Mill Wheel couldn't turn. The Miller couldn't grind his corn, and the Miller's Boy had so much spare time to tease Granddaddy Bullfrog that the poor old gentleman frog was nearly worried to death.</p> <p>"Hurry up and get those rain-clouds," shouted Granddaddy Bullfrog as Billy Breeze hurried across the Old Duck Pond.</p> <p>"I wish we'd have some rain," said the "rusty, dusty" Miller, coming to the door of the Old Mill. It almost seemed as if he were speaking to Billy Breeze.</p> <p>"You'll get rain pretty soon," he answered, but I guess the Miller didn't hear him, for he turned around and went inside.</p> <p>By and by the rain-clouds came tumbling across the sky, as Billy Breeze pushed them headlong over one another. Mr. Merry Sun saw them coming, and hurried over to the west. But it wasn't any use. Billy Breeze drove them on so fast that in a little while Mr. Merry Sun was shut in altogether. The bright blue sky grew gray and the leaves began to whisper:</p> <p>"It's going to rain! It's going to rain!"</p> <p>And the grass rippled in the Sunny Meadow and murmured:</p> <p>"It's going to rain! It's going to rain!"</p> <p>Everybody seemed glad except, perhaps, Mr. Merry Sun. But I don't believe he minded it. He must have known that rain is just as needful as sunshine.</p> <p>Pitter, patter, pitter, patter! Yes, the raindrops were falling. Chippy Chipmunk scurried into his little house and Granddaddy Bullfrog chuckled as he crawled under a sheltering leaf.</p> <p>Little Jack Rabbit hopped swiftly over to the Old Bramble Patch and the Farmer's Boy turned up his collar and ran out of the Shady Forest where he had been gathering nuts.</p> <p>"You're a good little boy to get home in time," said Mrs. Rabbit as her little bunny popped into the kitchen door, and the little canary bird began to sing:</p> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">"Pitter, patter, goes the rain,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Making music on the pane.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Draw the shades and light the lamp&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Never mind the evening damp.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Wind the clock, make fast the latch<br/></span> <span class="i0">Of the dear Old Bramble Patch."<br/></span></div> </div> <h3>THE END</h3> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />