see it clearly
Johnny Chuck Gives Advice
By Thornton W. Burgess
"Good morning, Johnny Chuck." Johnny Chuck looked up. Then he stopped digging and wiped his hands on his overalls. "Good morning, Peter Rabbit," said he.
"Wa ht are you doing?" asked Peter.
"Building a new house," replied Johnny Chuck.
Peter Rabbit grinned. "What's the use?" Why don't you do as I do, use one of the empty houses someone else has left? There are plenty of them around," said Peter.
Johnny Chuck shook his head. "Not for me, Peter Rabbit, not for me! Most of these empty houses are dirty and have only one door. I wouldn't live in a house with only one door."
"Pool! you're a 'fraid-a-cat!" broke in Peter. What's the good of two doors? You can't use but one at a time. Come on and play."
Johnny Chuck shook his head. "No," said he. "Work first and fun afterward. When I get my house done I'll play all you want to."
Peter Rabbit laughed and then jumped over his own shadow; at least he tried to. "You're a silly, Johnny Chuck; you're a silly!" he said. "This is too find a day to work."
Johnny Chuck began to dig once more handmade the sand fly to make up for lost time. Peter stretched out in the sun and yawned lazily while he watched Johnny. Peter Rabbit is lazy and shiftless. Yes, Sir, Peter certainly is shiftless. By and by Johnny Chuck stopped to get his breath. Peter looked so comfortable that Johnny was tempted, very much tempted to stretch out beside him. But the new house was a long way from being finished so he just sat down on the doorstep for a few minutes.
"Peter," said he, "Wa ht would you do if Bowser the Hound should come along?"
Peter laughed. "I'd lose him in the Old Brier Patch," said he.
"But suppose you couldn't lose him in the Brier Patch?"
"Then I would just slip into that old house of Jimmy Skunk's up on the hill," replied Peter.
"But the back door has got a stone over it. I know for I have been up there," said Johnny.
"What difference does that make?" asked Peter. "Bowser the Hound can't get in the front door because it is too small."
"You take my advice and build a house with two doors. You never can tell what may happen," replied Johnny chuck, once more making the sand fly.
"Pooh! I'm not afraid of Bowser the Hound," boasted Peter. "I wish he'd come along just for some excitement."
"Bow-wow-wow," roared a great voice right behind Peter.
Peter didn't stop to look around or to say "Good-bye," but started for the Old Brier patch as fast as his long legs could take him, and right at his heels was Bowser the Hound.