'
"Old Mother Nature was so pleased with Mr. Muskrat's reply that right
away she made up her mind that he should have a finer house than any
of the others, so she took him over to a quiet little pool, where the
water was not too deep and she showed him how to build a wonderful
house of mud and rushes and twigs, with a nice warm bedroom lined
with grass above the water, and an entrance down under the water, so
that no one except those who still lived most of the time in the water
could possibly get into it. None of his friends on land had such a
big, fine house, and Mr. Muskrat was very proud of it. But with all
his pride he never forgot that it was a reward for trying to be
content with his surroundings and making the best of them.
"So from that day to this, the Muskrats have built their houses in the
water, and have been among the most industrious, contented, and happy
of all the animals. And that is why Jerry Muskrat has built that fine
house in the Smiling Pool and has so few enemies," concluded
Grandfather Frog.
Peter Rabbit drew a long breath, which was almost a sigh. "I almost
wish my grandfather a thousand times removed had been content to stay
in the water, too," he said.
"Chug-a-rum!" retorted Grandfather Frog. "If he had, you wouldn't have
the dear Old Briar-patch. Be content with what you've got,"
"I think I will," said Peter.
VIII
WHY OLD MAN COYOTE HAS MANY VOICES
Of course Old Man Coyote has only one voice, but that one is such a
wonderful voice that he can make it sound like a great many voices,
all yelping and howling and shouting and laughing at the same time.
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