So when she saw what a selfish glutton and thief he had become she decided to put him to sleep just as she had old King Bear . But first she would teach Mr. Coon that stolen food is not the sweetest . `` So old Mother Nature found some tender , juicy corn just in the milk which Mr. Coon had stolen from old King Bear . Then she went down on the Green Meadows where the wild mustard grows and gathering a lot of this she rubbed the juice into the corn and then put it back where Mr. Coon had left it . `` Now I have told you that it was night when Mr. Coon had his stolen feasts , for he wanted no one to see him . So no one was there when he took a great bite of the tender , juicy corn old Mother Nature had put back for him . Being greedy and a glutton , he swallowed the first mouthful before he had fairly tasted it , and took a second , and then such a time as there was on the edge of the Green Forest ! Mr. Coon rolled over and over with both of his forepaws clasped over his stomach and groaned and groaned and groaned . He had rubbed his eyes and of course had got mustard into them and could not see . He waked up all the little Green Forest folk who sleep through the night , as good people should , and they all gathered around to see what was the matter with Mr. Coon . `` Finally old Mother Nature came to his relief and brought him some water . Then she led him to his home in the great hollow in the big chestnut tree , and when she had seen him curled up in a tight little ball among the dried leaves she put him into the long sleep as she had old King Bear . `` In the spring , when gentle Sister South Wind kissed away all the snow and ice , old King Bear , who was king no longer , and Mr. Coon awoke and both were very thin , and both were very hungry , oh very , very hungry indeed . Old King Bear , who was king no longer , was n't the least mite fussy about what he had to eat , but ate gladly any food he could find . `` But Mr. Coon remembered the burning of his stomach and mouth and could not forget it . So whenever he found anything to eat he first took it to the Laughing Brook or the Smiling Pool and washed it very carefully , lest there be some mustard on it . `` And ever since that long ago time , when the world was young , the Coon family has remembered that experience of Mr. Coon , who was second cousin to old King Bear , and that is why Bobby Coon washes his food , travels about at night , and sleeps all winter , '' concluded Grandfather Frog , fixing his great goggle eyes on a foolish green fly headed his way . `` Oh thank you , thank you , Grandfather Frog , '' cried the Merry Little Breezes as they danced away over the Green Meadows . But one of them slipped back long enough to get behind the foolish green fly and blow him right up to Grandfather Frog 's big lily pad . `` Chug-a-rum , '' said Grandfather Frog , smacking his lips .
XIII THE MERRY LITTLE BREEZES HAVE A BUSY DAY Old XXXXX West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the shadowy coolness of the early morning , before even jolly , round , red Mr. Sun had thrown off his rosy coverlids for his daily climb up through the blue sky .
Chug-a-rum Coon Forest Frog Green King Mother first left right