I 've found a sign . Old Mother Nature has wrapped this corn in extra thick husks , and of course she has done it to protect it . She does n't do things without a reason . We are going to have a cold winter , or my name is n't Blacky the Crow . '' CHAPTER XVI : Blacky Finds Other Signs A single fact may fail to prove you either right or wrong ; Confirm it with another and your proof will then be strong . -- Blacky the Crow . After his discovery that Old Mother Nature had wrapped all the ears of corn in extra thick husks , Blacky had no doubt in his own mind that Johnny Chuck and Jerry Muskrat and Paddy the Beaver and the Quacks were quite right in feeling that the coming winter would be long , hard and cold . But Blacky long ago learned that it is n't wise or wholly safe to depend altogether on one thing . `` Old Mother Nature never does things by halves , '' thought Blacky , as he sat on the fence post on the Green Meadows , thinking over his discovery of the thick husks on the corn . `` She would n't take care to protect the corn that way and not do as much for other things . There must be other signs , if I am smart enough to find them . '' He lifted one black wing and began to set in order the feathers beneath it . Suddenly he made a funny little hop straight up . `` Well , I never ! '' he exclaimed , as he spread his wings to regain his balance . `` I never did ! '' `` Is that so ? '' piped a squeaky little voice . `` If you say you never did , I suppose you never did , though I want the word of some one else before I will believe it . What is it you never did ? ''
XXXXX looked down .
Blacky Chuck Meadows Mother Muskrat Nature Paddy XVI husks right