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[Illustration: Good wishes to all Hollow Tree friends

From the Story Teller]

[Illustration: THE FIRST DINNER AT THE HOLLOW TREE INN

[See page 20]




MAKING UP WITH MR. DOG

[Illustration]

HOLLOW TREE STORIES

BY ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE

ILLUSTRATED BY J. M. CONDE

        HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
        NEW YORK AND LONDON




HOLLOW TREE STORIES

BY

ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE

12mo. Cloth. Fully Illustrated


        HOW MR. DOG GOT EVEN
        HOW MR. RABBIT LOST HIS TAIL
        MR. RABBIT'S BIG DINNER
        MAKING UP WITH MR. DOG
        MR. POSSUM'S GREAT BALLOON TRIP
        WHEN JACK RABBIT WAS A LITTLE BOY

      HOLLOW TREE AND DEEP WOODS BOOK Illustrated. 8vo.

      HOLLOW TREE SNOWED-IN BOOK Illustrated. 8vo.

HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK

        Copyright, 1898, by JAMES GORDON BENNETT

        Copyright, 1899, by FRANK MUNSEY

        Copyright, 1899, by THE CENTURY COMPANY

        Copyright, 1898, 1899, 1901, by ROBERT HOWARD RUSSELL

        Copyright, 1900, by HARPER & BROTHERS




CONTENTS


                                                 PAGE
        THE HOLLOW TREE INN                          3

        THE HOLLOW TREE INN (_Continued_)      11

        A DEEP WOODS FISHING PARTY                  25

        MR. RABBIT EXPLAINS                         41

        THE HOLLOW TREE POETRY CLUB                 53

        MR. RABBIT'S UNWELCOME COMPANY              79

        MR. 'POSSUM EXPLAINS                        91

        AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK AGAIN            109




THE HOLLOW TREE INN

THE THREE FRIENDS GO INTO BUSINESS


ONE rainy day when the '<DW53> and 'Possum and Old Black Crow, who lived
together in three big hollow limbs of a Big Hollow Tree, were rummaging
about their house, they found that above each of their rooms was a good
deal of room that nobody ever used. That set them to thinking, and
pretty soon Mr. 'Possum said it was too bad to let all that good room go
to waste, and Mr. '<DW53> said yes, it was, and that their house was big
enough for a hotel.

Of course he didn't think what he was saying at the time, but it set Mr.
Crow to thinking and walking up and down, whistling, and pretty soon he
stopped still and looked at the '<DW53> and 'Possum.

"I'll do the cookin'," he said, "if you'll get the things to cook."

And right then and there they made up their minds to do it, and early
the next morning, while the Old Black Crow was hurrying about inside,
getting things ready for business, the '<DW53> and the 'Possum nailed up a
sign outside, and this is what was on it:--

        THE HOLLOW TREE INN.
        BOARD BY THE DAY OR WEEK.

[Illustration: "HELLO!" HE SAID. "WHAT'S THIS?"]

Then they went inside to help Mr. Crow get ready, and by and by they all
sat down and waited for people to come. Mr. '<DW53> and Mr. 'Possum felt
pretty well, too, for they thought they would have the easiest time. You
see, they had always depended on Mr. Crow a good deal, for, besides
being a good cook, he was a great hand to provide, and knew more about
where to get the best things, and the best time of day or night to get
them, than both of the others put together. So he didn't say anything,
but dressed up nice and spruce in a clean apron and cooking cap and
leaned out of the window, as cooks always do, with his arms folded. By
and by along came Mr. Jack Rabbit.

"Hello!" he said. "What's this?"

Then he read the sign over and looked at Mr. Crow and asked him if it
was a joke. And Mr. Crow said:--

"Not much! Come up and see."

So then Mr. Rabbit went up stairs, and Mr. '<DW53> and Mr. 'Possum showed
him through, and Jack Rabbit said that he didn't feel very well this
summer, anyway, and he believed he'd just shut up his house and come and
board awhile for a change. He said he guessed he'd take the room above
Mr. '<DW53>'s, because it had a nice south window and a tall looking
