Back Aa

Little Joe Otter (Version 2)

<hr class='pbk'/> <div class='figcenter'> <ANTIMG src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/></div> <div class='figcenter'> <ANTIMG src='images/endpapers.png' alt='' id='iid-0001' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/></div> <hr class='pbk'/> Little Joe Otter <hr class='pbk'/> <div class='lgc' style=''>  Books by   THORNTON W. BURGESS   Mother West Wind Series Old Mother West Wind Mother West Wind’s Children Mother West Wind’s Animal Friends Mother West Wind’s Neighbors Mother West Wind “Why” Stories Mother West Wind “How” Stories Mother West Wind “When” Stories Mother West Wind “Where” Stories   Green Meadow Series Happy Jack Mrs. Peter Rabbit Bowser the Hound Old Granny Fox   Green Forest Series Lightfoot the Deer Blacky the Crow Whitefoot the Wood Mouse Buster Bear’s Twins   Smiling Pool Series Billy Mink Little Joe Otter Jerry Muskrat at Home Longlegs the Heron </div>  <hr class='pbk'/> <div class='figcenter'> <ANTIMG src='images/illofront.png' alt='' id='illofront' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> “Come on, children!” cried Mrs. Joe. Frontispiece.  See page 42. </div> <hr class='pbk'/> <div class='figcenter'> <ANTIMG src='images/title.png' alt='' id='iid-0002' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/></div> <hr class='pbk'/> <div class='lgc' style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:10em;'>  Copyright, 1925, BY THORNTON W. BURGESS   All rights reserved </div>  <div class='lgc' style=''>  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   BY ARRANGEMENT WITH LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY </div>  <hr class='pbk'/> <table id='tab1' summary='' class='center'> <colgroup> <col span='1' style='width: 4em;'/> <col span='1' style='width: 20em;'/> <col span='1' style='width: 2.5em;'/> </colgroup> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tab1c1-col3 tdStyle0' colspan='3'>CONTENTS</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'></td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>CHAPTER</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>PAGE</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>I</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Little Joe Otter Springs a Surprise</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>1</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>II</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Peter Rabbit Goes Looking</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>7</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>III</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Little Joe Otter’s Home</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>13</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>IV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Peter Rabbit Learns by Sitting Still</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>19</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>V</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A School in the Green Forest</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>25</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The First Swimming Lesson</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>32</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Great Fun on a Slippery Slide</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>38</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Farmer Brown’s Boy Has No Luck</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>45</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>IX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Family Fishing Party</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>51</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>X</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Young Fisherman is Caught</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>57</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Sammy Jay Calls Farmer Brown’s Boy</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>64</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Peter Rabbit Finds a Queer Trail</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>72</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Curiosity Is Satisfied</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>78</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Coasting Party</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>83</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Little Joe And Mrs. Joe Reach a Decision</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>89</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Fun of Traveling</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>95</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Yowler the Bobcat Follows</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>101</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Smallest Otter Is Wilful</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>106</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Young Otter’s Curiosity Is Satisfied</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>112</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Very Meek Young Otter</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>118</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Race for Life</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>124</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Clever Trapper</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>130</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Setting of the Traps</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>136</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Little Joe Otter Is Suspicious</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>141</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Young Otters Are Warned</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>147</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXVI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Foolish Young Otter</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>152</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXVII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Suddenly Lost Appetite</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>158</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXVIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Price of Freedom</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>163</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXIX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Young Otter Pays the Price</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>168</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Otters Move On</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>173</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Fish Disappears</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>178</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Living Heap of Snow</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>183</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Another Fish Disappears</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>188</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Young Otter Learns Where His Fish Went</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>193</td></tr> </table> <hr class='pbk'/> <table id='tab2' summary='' class='center'> <colgroup> <col span='1' style='width: 1em;'/> <col span='1' style='width: 19em;'/> <col span='1' style='width: 7.5em;'/> </colgroup> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tab2c1-col3 tdStyle0' colspan='3'>ILLUSTRATIONS</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>“Come on, children!” cried Mrs. Joe</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'>Frontispiece</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>One morning he saw Mrs. Joe out with the two babies</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'>25</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Gentle Mistress Moon saw a queer procession</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'>89</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>“Well, son,” said he, “what did you see?”</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'>184</td></tr> </table> <hr class='pbk'/> <div><h1 id='ch1'>CHAPTER I LITTLE JOE OTTER SPRINGS A SURPRISE</h1></div> <div class='poetry-container' style=''> <div class='lgp'>  <div class='stanza-outer'> Folks aren’t so sure about you when You spring surprises now and then. &ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;Little Joe Otter. </div> </div></div>  Of all the little Quaddies who live in the Green Meadows, the Smiling Pool and the Green Forest, none is more surprising than Little Joe Otter. He is full of surprises, is Little Joe. He has a way of suddenly bobbing up and just as suddenly disappearing, which makes him one of the hardest of all the little people to get acquainted with. Just when you think there is no one around, up bobs Little Joe and gives you a surprise. Just when you are watching him, down he goes and you never see him again. And when you are acquainted with him, he is just as surprising. He is full of pranks and dearly loves to play. He is a wonderful swimmer, as no one knows better than those who live in the Smiling Pool. At times he is a great traveler in spite of his short legs, and he knows more of the Great World than most of his neighbors. In winter he swims under the ice and makes slippery slides down the snowy banks. In summer he makes slippery slides on muddy banks. It is his wonderful swimming power which enables him to do many things in secret. You see, when he disappears under the water, his neighbors on land have no way of knowing where he goes or what he does. Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat are the only ones who know much about Little Joe Otter, and even they do not know as much as they might, or as they think they do. Peter Rabbit had missed Little Joe Otter in the Smiling Pool this spring. He had asked Jerry Muskrat and Billy Mink where Little Joe was. “Oh!” replied Jerry Muskrat. “Probably he is on one of his foolish long journeys. What any one wants to leave the Smiling Pool for is more than I can understand. Probably if you go down to the Big River, you will find him fishing there.” Just then there was a sudden splash right behind Jerry Muskrat. It was so sudden that it startled Jerry, and the first thing that Jerry does when he is startled is to dive. He did this time. When he came up, Peter Rabbit was still sitting on the bank of the Smiling Pool. “What was it that frightened me?” asked Jerry. Peter grinned. “I’m sure I don’t know. All I saw was a splash in the water.” “Chuga-rum!” cried Grandfather Frog in his deepest, gruffest voice. “If I know anything about it, it was Little Joe Otter himself. I think, Jerry Muskrat, if you go far enough up the Laughing Brook, you will find that Little Joe is up there and not down at the Big River. I saw something that looked to me very much like a dark form swimming under water in that direction.” “I don’t believe it,” replied Jerry. “Little Joe hasn’t been in the Smiling Pool in ever and ever so long. It would be a good thing if Little Joe would settle down. He ought to have a house the same as I have. I never did believe there was any good in this roaming around.” Just then there were two splashes right where the Laughing Brook comes into the Smiling Pool. Peter and Grandfather Frog and Jerry looked hastily in that direction. Then they stared at each other. “Did I or didn’t I see double?” Peter demanded. “It looked to me much like two Little Joe Otters!” “It looked to me very much the same way,” said Jerry. Grandfather Frog looked thoughtful. “I have a suspicion,” said he, “that little Joe Otter is springing a surprise on us. Have any of you heard of a Mrs. Joe?” Peter looked at Jerry and Jerry looked at Peter. “Do you suppose it can be true?” they both exclaimed together. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

1 of 2

2 of 2

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.