I JIMMY SKUNK IS PUZZLED Old Mother West Wind had just come down from the Purple Hills and turned loose her children , the Merry Little Breezes , from the big bag in which she had been carrying them . They were very lively and very merry as they danced and raced across the Green Meadows in all directions , for it was good to be back there once more . Old Mother West Wind almost sighed as she watched them for a few minutes . She felt that she would like to join them . Always the springtime made her feel this way , -- young , mad , carefree , and happy . But she had work to do . She had to turn the windmill to pump water for Farmer Brown 's cows , and this was only one of many mills standing idle as they waited for her . So she puffed her cheeks out and started about her business . Jimmy Skunk sat at the top of the hill that overlooks the Green Meadows and watched her out of sight . Then he started to amble down the Lone Little Path to look for some beetles . He was ambling along in his lazy way , for you know he never hurries , when he heard some one puffing and blowing behind him . Of course he turned to see who it was , and he was greatly surprised when he discovered Old Mr. Toad . Yes , Sir , it was Old Mr. Toad , and he seemed in a great hurry . He was quite short of breath , but he was hopping along in the most determined way as if he were in a great hurry to get somewhere . Now it is a very unusual thing for Mr. Toad to hurry , very unusual indeed . As a rule he hops a few steps and then sits down to think it over . Jimmy had never before seen him hop more than a few steps unless he was trying to get away from danger , from Mr. Blacksnake for instance . Of course the first thing Jimmy thought of was Mr. Blacksnake , and he looked for him . But there was no sign of Mr. Blacksnake nor of any other danger . Then he looked very hard at Old Mr. Toad , and he saw right away that Old Mr. Toad did n't seem to be frightened at all , only very determined , and as if he had something important on his mind .
`` Well , well , '' exclaimed Jimmy Skunk , `` whatever has got into those long hind legs of yours XXXXX make them work so fast ? ''
So about across as for from in over that to