Tiggy-winklewiththebundlesofclothes！
Allthewaydownthepathlittleanimalscameoutoftheferntomeetthem；theveryfirstthattheymetwerePeterRabbitandBenjaminBunny！
ANDshegavethemtheirnicecleanclothes；andallthelittleanimalsandbirdsweresoverymuchobligedtodearMrs。Tiggy-winkle。
SOthatatthebottomofthehillwhentheycametothestile，therewasnothinglefttocarryexceptLucie\'sonelittlebundle。
LUCIEscrambledupthestilewiththebundleinherhand；andthensheturnedtosay\"Good-night，\"andtothankthewasher-woman——
ButwhataVERYoddthing！
Mrs。Tiggy-winklehadnotwaitedeitherforthanksorforthewashingbill！
Shewasrunningrunningrunningupthehill——andwherewasherwhitefrilledcap？andhershawl？andhergown——andherpetticoat？
ANDhowsmallshehadgrown——andhowbrown——andcoveredwithPRICKLES！
Why！Mrs。Tiggy-winklewasnothingbutaHEDGEHOG。
****
（NowsomepeoplesaythatlittleLuciehadbeenasleepuponthestile——
butthenhowcouldshehavefoundthreecleanpocket-handkinsandapinny，pinnedwithasilversafety-pin？
Andbesides——_I_haveseenthatdoorintothebackofthehillcalledCatBells——andbesides_I_amverywellacquaintedwithdearMrs。Tiggy-winkle！）
THETALEOF
GINGER&PICKLES
ONCEuponatimetherewasavillageshop。Thenameoverthewindowwas\"GingerandPickles。\"
ItwasalittlesmallshopjusttherightsizeforDolls——LucindaandJaneDoll-cookalwaysboughttheirgroceriesatGingerandPickles。
Thecounterinsidewasaconvenientheightforrabbits。GingerandPicklessoldredspottypocket-
handkerchiefsatapennythreefarthings。
Theyalsosoldsugar，andsnuffandgaloshes。
Infact，althoughitwassuchasmallshopitsoldnearlyeverything——exceptafewthingsthatyouwantinahurry——likebootlaces，hair-pinsandmuttonchops。
GingerandPickleswerethepeoplewhokepttheshop。Gingerwasayellowtom-cat，andPickleswasaterrier。
TherabbitswerealwaysalittlebitafraidofPickles。
Theshopwasalsopatronizedbymice——onlythemicewereratherafraidofGinger。
GingerusuallyrequestedPicklestoservethem，becausehesaiditmadehismouthwater。
\"Icannotbear，\"saidhe，\"toseethemgoingoutatthedoorcarryingtheirlittleparcels。\"
\"Ihavethesamefeelingaboutrats，\"repliedPickles，\"butitwouldneverdotoeatourowncustomers；theywouldleaveusandgotoTabithaTwitchit\'s。\"
\"Onthecontrary，theywouldgonowhere，\"repliedGingergloomily。
（TabithaTwitchitkepttheonlyothershopinthevillage。Shedidnotgivecredit。）
GingerandPicklesgaveunlimitedcredit。
Nowthemeaningof\"credit\"isthis——whenacustomerbuysabarofsoap，insteadofthecustomerpullingoutapurseandpayingforit——shesaysshewillpayanothertime。
AndPicklesmakesalowbowandsays，\"Withpleasure，madam，\"
anditiswrittendowninabook。
Thecustomerscomeagainandagain，andbuyquantities，inspiteofbeingafraidofGingerandPickles。
Butthereisnomoneyinwhatiscalledthe\"till。\"
Thecustomerscameincrowdseverydayandboughtquantities，especiallythetoffeecustomers。
Buttherewasalwaysnomoney；
theyneverpaidforasmuchasapennyworthofpeppermints。
Butthesaleswereenormous，tentimesaslargeasTabithaTwitchit\'s。
Astherewasalwaysnomoney，GingerandPickleswereobligedtoeattheirowngoods。
PicklesatebiscuitsandGingerateadriedhaddock。
Theyatethembycandle-lightaftertheshopwasclosed。
WhenitcametoJan。1sttherewasstillnomoney，andPickleswasunabletobuyadoglicence。
\"Itisveryunpleasant，Iamafraidofthepolice，\"saidPickles。
\"Itisyourownfaultforbeingaterrier；_I_donotrequirealicence，andneitherdoesKep，theColliedog。\"
\"Itisveryuncomfortable，IamafraidIshallbesummoned。I
havetriedinvaintogetalicenceuponcreditatthePostOffice；\"
saidPickles。\"Theplaceisfullofpoliceman。ImetoneasIwascominghome。\"
\"LetussendinthebillagaintoSamuelWhiskers，Ginger，heowes22/9forbacon。\"
\"Idonotbelievethatheintendstopayatall，\"repliedGinger。
\"AndIfeelsurethatAnnaMariapocketsthings——Whereareallthecreamcrackers？\"
\"Youhaveeatenthemyourself，\"
repliedGinger。
GingerandPicklesretiredintothebackparlour。
Theydidaccounts。Theyaddedupsumsandsums，andsums。
\"SamuelWhiskershasrunupabillaslongashistail；hehashadanounceandthree-quartersofsnuffsinceOctober。\"
\"Whatissevenpoundsofbutterat1/3，andastickofsealingwaxandfourmatches？\"
\"Sendinallthebillsagaintoeverybody\'withcompts\'\"repliedGinger。
Afteratimetheyheardanoiseintheshop，asifsomethinghadbeenpushedinatthedoor。Theycameoutofthebackparlour。Therewasanenvelopelyingonthecounter，andapolicemanwritinginanote-book！
Picklesnearlyhadafit，hebarkedandhebarkedandmadelittlerushes。
\"Bitehim，Pickles！bitehim！\"
splutteredGingerbehindasugar-
barrel，\"he\'sonlyaGermandoll！\"
Thepolicemanwentonwritinginhisnotebook；twiceheputhispencilinhismouth，andoncehedippeditinthetreacle。
Picklesbarkedtillhewashoarse。
Butstillthepolicemantooknonotice。Hehadbeadeyes，andhishelmetwassewedonwithstitches。
Atlengthonhislastlittlerush——Picklesfoundthattheshopwasempty。Thepolicemanhaddisappeared。
Buttheenveloperemained。
\"Doyouthinkthathehasgonetofetchareallivepoliceman？I
amafraiditisasummons，\"saidPickles。
\"No，\"repliedGinger，whohadopenedtheenvelope，\"itistheratesandtaxes，L319113/4。\"
\"Thisisthelaststraw，\"saidPickles，\"letusclosetheshop。\"
Theyputuptheshutters，andleft。Buttheyhavenotremovedfromtheneighbourhood。Infactsomepeoplewishtheyhadgonefurther。
Gingerislivinginthewarren。I
donotknowwhatoccupationhepursues；helooksstoutandcomfortable。
Picklesisatpresentagamekeeper。
Theclosingoftheshopcausedgreatinconvenience。TabithaTwitchitimmediatelyraisedthepriceofeverythingahalf-penny；
andshecontinuedtorefusetogivecredit。
Ofcoursetherearethetrades-
men\'scarts——thebutcher，thefishmanandTimothyBaker。
Butapersoncannotliveon\"seedwigs\"andsponge-cakeandbutter-
buns——notevenwhenthesponge-
cakeisasgoodasTimothy\'s！
AfteratimeMr。JohnDormouseandhisdaughterbegantosellpeppermintsandcandles。
Buttheydidnotkeep\"self-fittingsixes\"；andittakesfivemicetocarryoneseveninchcandle。
Besides——thecandleswhichtheysellbehaveverystrangelyinwarmweather。
AndMissDormouserefusedtotakebacktheendswhentheywerebroughtbacktoherwithcomplaints。
AndwhenMrJohnDormousewascomplainedto，hestayedinbed，andwouldsaynothingbut\"verysnug；\"whichisnotthewaytocarryonaretailbusinessSoeverybodywaspleasedwhenSallyHennyPennysentoutaprintedpostertosaythatshewasgoingtore-opentheshop——
\"Henny\'sOpeningSale！Grandco-operativeJumble！Penny\'spennyprices！Comebuy，cometry，comebuy！\"
Theposterreallywasmost\'ticing。
Therewasarushupontheopeningday。Theshopwascrammedwithcustomers，andtherewerecrowdsofmiceuponthebiscuitcanisters。
SallyHennyPennygetsratherflusteredwhenshetriestocountoutchange，andsheinsistsonbeingpaidcash；butsheisquiteharmless。
Andshehaslaidinaremarkableassortmentofbargains。
Thereissomethingtopleaseeverybody。
THEEND
THESTORYOF
MISSMOPPET
THISisaPussycalledMissMoppet，shethinksshehasheardamouse！
THISistheMousepeepingoutbehindthecupboard，andmakingfunofMissMoppet。Heisnotafraidofakitten。
THISisMissMoppetjumpingjusttoolate；
shemissestheMouseandhitsherownhead。
SHEthinksitisaveryhardcupboard！
THEMousewatchesMissMoppetfromthetopofthecupboard。
MISSMOPPETtiesupherheadinaduster，andsitsbeforethefire。
THEMousethinkssheislookingveryill。Hecomesslidingdownthebell-
pull。
MISSMOPPETlooksworseandworse。TheMousecomesalittlenearer。
MISSMOPPETholdsherpoorheadinherpaws，andlooksathimthroughaholeintheduster。
TheMousecomesVERYclose。
ANDthenallofasudden——MissMoppetjumpsupontheMouse！
ANDbecausetheMousehasteasedMissMoppet——MissMoppetthinksshewillteasetheMouse；whichisnotatallniceofMissMoppet。
SHEtieshimupintheduster，andtossesitaboutlikeaball。
BUTsheforgotaboutthatholeintheduster；andwhensheuntiedit——therewasnoMouse！
HEhaswriggledoutandrunaway；andheisdancingajigonthetopofthecupboard！
THEEND
THETALEOF
MR。JEREMYFISHER
FOR
STEPHANIE
FROM
COUSINB。
ONCEuponatimetherewasafrogcalledMr。
JeremyFisher；helivedinalittledamphouseamongstthebuttercupsattheedgeofapond。
THEwaterwasallslippy-
sloppyinthelarderandinthebackpassage。
ButMr。Jeremylikedgettinghisfeetwet；nobodyeverscoldedhim，andhenevercaughtacold！
HEwasquitepleasedwhenhelookedoutandsawlargedropsofrain，splashinginthepond——
\"IWILLgetsomewormsandgofishingandcatchadishofminnowsformydinner，\"saidMr。JeremyFisher。\"IfIcatchmorethanfivefish，IwillinvitemyfriendsMr。AldermanPtolemyTortoiseandSirIsaacNewton。
TheAlderman，however，eatssalad。\"
MR。JEREMYputonamacintosh，andapairofshinygoloshes；hetookhisrodandbasket，andsetoffwithenormoushopstotheplacewherehekepthisboat。
THEboatwasroundandgreen，andveryliketheotherlily-leaves。Itwastiedtoawater-plantinthemiddleofthepond。
MR。JEREMYtookareedpole，andpushedtheboatoutintoopenwater。\"I
knowagoodplaceforminnows，\"
saidMr。JeremyFisher。
MR。JEREMYstuckhispoleintothemudandfastenedhisboattoit。
Thenhesettledhimselfcross-leggedandarrangedhisfishingtackle。Hehadthedearestlittleredfloat。Hisrodwasatoughstalkofgrass，hislinewasafinelongwhitehorse-hair，andhetiedalittlewrigglingwormattheend。
THEraintrickleddownhisback，andfornearlyanhourhestaredatthefloat。
\"Thisisgettingtiresome，IthinkIshouldlikesomelunch，\"saidMr。JeremyFisher。
HEpuntedbackagainamongstthewater-
plants，andtooksomelunchoutofhisbasket。
\"Iwilleatabutterflysandwich，andwaittilltheshowerisover，\"saidMr。
JeremyFisher。
AGREATbigwater-beetlecameupunderneaththelilyleafandtweakedthetoeofoneofhisgoloshes。
Mr。Jeremycrossedhislegsupshorter，outofreach，andwentoneatinghissandwich。
ONCEortwicesomethingmovedaboutwitharustleandasplashamongsttherushesatthesideofthepond。
\"Itrustthatisnotarat，\"
saidMr。JeremyFisher；\"I
thinkIhadbettergetawayfromhere。\"
MR。JEREMYshovedtheboatoutagainalittleway，anddroppedinthebait。
Therewasabitealmostdirectly；thefloatgaveatremendousbobbit！
\"Aminnow！aminnow！I
havehimbythenose！\"criedMr。JeremyFisher，jerkinguphisrod。
BUTwhatahorriblesurprise！Insteadofasmoothfatminnow，Mr。
JeremylandedlittleJackSharpthestickleback，coveredwithspines！
THEsticklebackflounderedabouttheboat，prickingandsnappinguntilhewasquiteoutofbreath。Thenhejumpedbackintothewater。
ANDashoalofotherlittlefishesputtheirheadsout，andlaughedatMr。
JeremyFisher。
ANDwhileMr。Jeremysatdisconsolatelyontheedgeofhisboat——suckinghissorefingersandpeeringdownintothewater——aMUCHworsethinghappened；areallyFRIGHTFULthingitwouldhavebeen，ifMr。Jeremyhadnotbeenwearingamacintosh！
AGREATbigenormoustroutcameup——ker-
pflop-p-p-p！withasplash——
anditseizedMr。Jeremywithasnap，\"Ow！Ow！Ow！\"——
andthenitturnedanddiveddowntothebottomofthepond！
BUTthetroutwassodispleasedwiththetasteofthemacintosh，thatinlessthanhalfaminuteitspathimoutagain；andtheonlythingitswallowedwasMr。Jeremy\'sgoloshes。
MR。JEREMYbounceduptothesurfaceofthewater，likeacorkandthebubblesoutofasodawaterbottle；andheswamwithallhismighttotheedgeofthepond。
HEscrambledoutonthefirstbankhecameto，andhehoppedhomeacrossthemeadowwithhismacintoshallintatters。
\"WHATamercythatwasnotapike！\"saidMr。JeremyFisher。\"Ihavelostmyrodandbasket；butitdoesnotmuchmatter，forI
amsureIshouldneverhavedaredtogofishingagain！\"
HEputsomestickingplasteronhisfingers，andhisfriendsbothcametodinner。Hecouldnotofferthemfish，buthehadsomethingelseinhislarder。
SIRISAACNEWTON
worehisblackandgoldwaistcoat，ANDMr。AldermanPtolemyTortoisebroughtasaladwithhiminastringbag。
ANDinsteadofanicedishofminnows——theyhadaroastedgrasshopperwithlady-birdsauce；whichfrogsconsiderabeautifultreat；but_I_thinkitmusthavebeennasty！
THEEND
THETALEOF
TIMMYTIPTOES
FOR
MANYUNKNOWNLITTLEFRIENDS，INCLUDINGMONICA
ONCEuponatimetherewasalittlefatcomfortablegreysquirrel，calledTimmyTiptoes。Hehadanestthatchedwithleavesinthetopofatalltree；andhehadalittlesquirrelwifecalledGoody。
TIMMYTIPTOESsatout，enjoyingthebreeze；hewhiskedhistailandchuckled——\"LittlewifeGoody，thenutsareripe；wemustlayupastoreforwinterandspring。\"
GoodyTiptoeswasbusypushingmossunderthethatch——\"Thenestissosnug，weshallbesoundasleepallwinter。\"\"Thenweshallwakeupallthethinner，whenthereisnothingtoeatinspring-time，\"repliedprudentTimothy。
WHENTimmyandGoodyTiptoescametothenutthicket，theyfoundothersquirrelsweretherealready。
Timmytookoffhisjacketandhungitonatwig；theyworkedawayquietlybythemselves。
EVERYdaytheymadeseveraljourneysandpickedquantitiesofnuts。
Theycarriedthemawayinbags，andstoredtheminseveralhollowstumpsnearthetreewheretheyhadbuilttheirnest。
WHENthesestumpswerefull，theybegantoemptythebagsintoaholehighupatree，thathadbelongedtoawood-pecker；thenutsrattleddown——down——
downinside。
\"Howshallyouevergetthemoutagain？Itislikeamoney-box！\"saidGoody。
\"Ishallbemuchthinnerbeforespring-time，mylove，\"
saidTimmyTiptoes，peepingintothehole。
THEYdidcollectquantities——becausetheydidnotlosethem！Squirrelswhoburytheirnutsinthegroundlosemorethanhalf，becausetheycannotremembertheplace。
ThemostforgetfulsquirrelinthewoodwascalledSilvertail。
Hebegantodig，andhecouldnotremember。Andthenhedugagainandfoundsomenutsthatdidnotbelongtohim；andtherewasafight。
Andothersquirrelsbegantodig，——thewholewoodwasincommotion！
UNFORTUNATELY，justatthistimeaflockoflittlebirdsflewby，frombushtobush，searchingforgreencaterpillarsandspiders。
Therewereseveralsortsoflittlebirds，twitteringdifferentsongs。
Thefirstonesang——
\"Who\'sbindigging-upMY
nuts？Who\'s-been-digging-
upMYnuts？\"
Andanothersang——\"Littlebitabreadand-NO-cheese！
Littlebit-a-breadan\'-NO-
cheese！\"
THEsquirrelsfollowedandlistened。ThefirstlittlebirdflewintothebushwhereTimmyandGoodyTiptoeswerequietlytyinguptheirbags，anditsang——\"Who\'s-
bindigging-upMYnuts？
Who\'sbeendigging-upMY-
nuts？\"
TimmyTiptoeswentonwithhisworkwithoutreplying；indeed，thelittlebirddidnotexpectananswer。Itwasonlysingingitsnaturalsong，anditmeantnothingatall。
BUTwhentheothersquirrelsheardthatsong，theyrusheduponTimmyTiptoesandcuffedandscratchedhim，andupsethisbagofnuts。
Theinnocentlittlebirdwhichhadcausedallthemischief，flewawayinafright！
Timmyrolledoverandover，andthenturnedtailandfledtowardshisnest，followedbyacrowdofsquirrelsshouting——\"Who\'s-beendigging-upMY-nuts？\"
THEYcaughthimanddraggedhimuptheverysametree，wheretherewasthelittleroundhole，andtheypushedhimin。TheholewasmuchtoosmallforTimmyTiptoes\'figure。Theysqueezedhimdreadfully，itwasawondertheydidnotbreakhisribs。\"Wewillleavehimheretillheconfesses，\"saidSilvertailSquirrel，andheshoutedintothehole——
\"Who\'s-been-digging-upMY-nuts？\"
TIMMYTIPTOESmadenoreply；hehadtumbleddowninsidethetree，uponhalfapeckofnutsbelongingtohimself。Helayquitestunnedandstill。
GOODYTIPTOESpickedupthenutbagsandwenthome。ShemadeacupofteaforTimmy；buthedidn\'tcomeanddidn\'tcome。
GoodyTiptoespassedalonelyandunhappynight。
Nextmorningsheventuredbacktothenut-bushestolookforhim；buttheotherunkindsquirrelsdroveheraway。
Shewanderedalloverthewood，calling——
\"TimmyTiptoes！TimmyTiptoes！Oh，whereisTimmyTiptoes？\"
INthemeantimeTimmyTiptoescametohissenses。
Hefoundhimselftuckedupinalittlemossbed，verymuchinthedark，feelingsore；itseemedtobeunderground。
Timmycoughedandgroaned，becausehisribshurtedhim。
Therewasachirpynoise，andasmallstripedChipmunkappearedwithanightlight，andhopedhefeltbetter？
ItwasmostkindtoTimmyTiptoes；itlenthimitsnightcap；
andthehousewasfullofprovisions。
THEChipmunkexplainedthatithadrainednutsthroughthetopofthetree——\"Besides，Ifoundafewburied！\"ItlaughedandchuckledwhenitheardTimmy\'sstory。WhileTimmywasconfinedtobed，it\'ticedhimtoeatquantities——\"ButhowshallIevergetoutthroughthatholeunlessI
thinmyself？Mywifewillbeanxious！\"\"Justanothernut——ortwonuts；letmecrackthemforyou，\"saidtheChipmunk。
TimmyTiptoesgrewfatterandfatter！
NOWGoodyTiptoeshadsettoworkagainbyherself。Shedidnotputanymorenutsintothewoodpecker\'shole，becauseshehadalwaysdoubtedhowtheycouldbegotoutagain。Shehidthemunderatreeroot；
theyrattleddown，down，down。OncewhenGoodyemptiedanextrabigbagful，therewasadecidedsqueak；
andnexttimeGoodybroughtanotherbagful，alittlestripedChipmunkscrambledoutinahurry。
\"ITisgettingperfectlyfull-
updown-stairs；thesitting-roomisfull，andtheyarerollingalongthepassage；andmyhusband，ChippyHackee，hasrunawayandleftme。
Whatistheexplanationoftheseshowersofnuts？\"
\"IamsureIbegyourpardon；Ididnotnotknowthatanybodylivedhere，\"saidMrs。
GoodyTiptoes；\"butwhereisChippyHackee？Myhusband，TimmyTiptoes，hasrunawaytoo。\"\"IknowwhereChippyis；alittlebirdtoldme，\"saidMrs。ChippyHackee。
SHEledthewaytothewoodpecker\'stree，andtheylistenedatthehole。
Downbelowtherewasanoiseofnutcrackers，andafatsquirrelvoiceandathinsquirrelvoiceweresingingtogether——
\"MylittleoldmanandIfellout，Howshallwebringthismatterabout？
Bringitaboutaswellasyoucan，Andgetyougone，youlittleoldman！\"
\"Youcouldsqueezein，throughthatlittleroundhole，\"saidGoodyTiptoes。\"Yes，Icould，\"saidtheChipmunk，\"butmyhusband，ChippyHackee，bites！\"
Downbelowtherewasanoiseofcrackingnutsandnibbling；andthenthefatsquirrelvoiceandthethinsquirrelvoicesang——
\"ForthediddlumdayDaydiddledumdi！
Daydiddlediddledumday！\"
THENGoodypeepedinatthehole，andcalleddown——\"TimmyTiptoes！Ohfie，TimmyTiptoes！\"AndTimmyreplied，\"Isthatyou，GoodyTiptoes？Why，certainly！\"
HecameupandkissedGoodythroughthehole；buthewassofatthathecouldnotgetout。