Animal Characters

Billy Mink

Peter Cottontail

Peter Cottontail is a domesticated rabbit, and he is distinguished from his wilder cousin Jumper Hare.

Long Pointed Ears
Big Eyes
Curious
Sits Up Straight and Watches Carefully
Eats Cabbage

Peter Rabbit’s legs are long and he is always in a hurry 1 – Jimmy Skunk Looks for Beetles
Peter Rabbit hopped along with great big jumps, for Peter’s legs are long and meant for jumping, but Johnny Chuck couldn’t keep up though he tried very hard, for Johnny’s legs are short.
Now I’ll jump first, and then you jump just the way I do, and then you’ll see what it is I’ve found,” said Peter Rabbit.
So Peter Rabbit jumped first, and because his legs are long and meant for jumping, he jumped way, way over the mossy green log. Then he turned around and sat up to see Johnny Chuck jump over the mossy green log, too.
Johnny Chuck tried to jump very high and very far, just as he had seen Peter Rabbit jump, but Johnny Chuck’s legs are very short and not meant for jumping. Besides, Johnny Chuck was very, very fat. So though he tried very hard indeed to jump just like Peter Rabbit, he stubbed his toes on the top of the mossy green log and over he tumbled, head first, and landed with a great big thump right on Reddy Fox, who was lying fast asleep on the other side of the mossy green log.
Peter dodged behind the trees, and jumped over the bushes, and ran this way and ran that way, just as hard as ever he could, for Peter Rabbit was very much afraid of Reddy Fox.
1 – Peter Rabbit Plays a Joke

So Peter Rabbit jumped first, and because his legs are long and meant for jumping, he jumped way, way over the mossy green log. Then he turned around and sat up to see Johnny Chuck jump over the mossy green log, too.
Peter Rabbit. Peter dodged behind the trees, and jumped over the bushes, and ran this way and ran that way, just as hard as ever he could, for Peter Rabbit was very much afraid of Reddy Fox.
1 – 9 Peter Rabbit Plays a Joke
Peter Rabbit had been boasting of how fast he could run. Reddy Fox was quite sure that he could run faster than Peter Rabbit. Billy Mink, who can move so quickly you hardly can see him, was quite sure that neither Peter Rabbit nor Reddy Fox could run as fast as he. They all met one day beside the Smiling Pool and agreed that old Grandfather Frog should decide who was the swiftest.
Away went Peter Rabbit with great big jumps.
Peter Rabbit went with great big jumps. Whenever he came to a little bush he jumped right over it, for Peter Rabbit’s legs are long and meant for jumping.
1-16 Spotty the Turtle Win a Race
To be sure, Mr. Rabbit was lazy and his cabbage patch had grown little more than weeds while he had been minding other folks’ affairs rather than his own,
No one really believed what Mr. Rabbit said, for he had such a bad name for telling things which were not so that when he did tell the truth no one could be quite sure of it.
2 – Danny Meadow Mouse

Without him no party on the Green Meadows would be complete, and Peter likes to be abroad at night even better than by day. With Peter came his cousin, Jumper the Hare, who had come down from the Pine Forest for a visit.
Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare rolled up a great, tender, fresh cabbage.
2 – Why Reddy Fox Has No Friends
sitting up very straight on the edge of the Green Meadows. His long ears were pointed straight up, his big eyes were very wide open and he seemed to be looking and listening with a great deal of curiosity. 2 – Why Peter Rabbit’s Ears Are Long

Without him, no party on the Green Meadows would be complete, and Peter likes to be abroad at night even better than by day. With Peter came his cousin, Jumper the Hare, who had come down from the Pine Forest for a visit.
Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare rolled up a great, tender, fresh cabbage.
2 – Why Reddy Fox Has No Friends
sitting up very straight on the edge of the Green Meadows. His long ears were pointed straight up, his big eyes were very wide open and he seemed to be looking and listening with a great deal of curiosity. 2 – Why Peter Rabbit’s Ears Are Long

 

 

Elements of Nature

Mother Nature

Mother Nature sits at the top of the pecking order. She arbitrates disputes among the other characters in the kingdom.

Arbitrates Disputes
In Charge
Listens
Lives in the Pine
Compassionate

Mother Nature saw how useless had become the Frog tribe she called the King Frog before her and she said: “’Because you can think of nothing but your beautiful tail it shall be taken away from you. Because you do nothing but eat and sleep your mouth shall become wide like a door, and your eyes shall start forth from your head. You shall become bow-legged and ugly to look at, and all the world shall laugh at you.’
“The King Frog looked at his beautiful tail and already it seemed to have grown shorter. He looked again and it was shorter still. Every time he looked his tail had grown shorter and smaller. By and by when he looked there was nothing left but a little stub which he couldn’t even wriggle. Then even that disappeared, his eyes popped out of his head and his mouth grew bigger and bigger.”

1 – 2 Why Grandfather Frog Has no Tale
Old Mother Nature arbitrated disputes. She listened well.
“Old Mother Nature listened to all they had to say. 2 – Danny Meadow Mouse
“Old Mother Nature knew this and down in her heart she loved Mr. Rabbit and was oh so sorry for him. – Why Peter Rabbit Has Long Ears

Old Mother West Wind

Mother of the Little Breezes
Her Home is in the Purple Hills
Caretaker
She is a Good Character – She is Pleasant – She Sings
Watchful – Her Eyes Are Sharp
She Helps Find and Activate the Rain Clouds

Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the golden light of the early morning. Over her shoulders was slung a bag—a great big bag—and in the bag were all of Old Mother West Wind’s children, the Merry Little Breezes.
Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills to the Green Meadows and as she walked she crooned a song:
“Ships upon the ocean wait;
I must hurry, hurry on!
Mills are idle if I’m late; upside down and shook it. Out tumbled all the Merry Little Breezes and began to spin round and round for very joy, for you see they were to lay in the Green Meadows all day long until Old Mother West Wind should come back at night and take them all to their home behind the Purple Hills. 1 – 1 Mrs. Redwing

Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had hardly gotten out of bed when she crossed the Green Meadows on her way to help the big ships across the ocean. Old Mother West Wind’s eyes were sharp, and she saw Sammy Jay before Sammy Jay saw her.
“Is that your nest, and may I have a stick out of it?” asked Old Mother West Wind of Sammy Jay.
“It is,” said Sammy Jay, with his politest bow, “And you are welcome to a stick out of it.” To himself he thought, “She will only take one from the top and that won’t matter.”
Old Mother West Wind suddenly puffed out her cheeks and blew so hard that she blew a big stick right out of the bottom of the old nest. Down it fell bumpity-bump on the branches of the Great Pine. After it fell—what do you think? Why, hickory nuts and chestnuts and acorns and hazel nuts, such a lot of them!
“Why! Why—e—e!” cried Happy Jack. “There are all my stolen nuts!”
1 – How Sammy Jay Was Found Out
Caretaker
Old Mother West Wind herself went to hunt for a raincloud which had wandered away before it had watered the thirsty little plants who were bravely trying to keep the Green Meadows lovely and truly green. Why Rabbit’s Ears Are Long

Merry Little Breezes

Mischievous
Loving
They Dance
Playful
Helpful
Rocks Mrs. Redwing’s Babies

Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the golden light of the early morning. Over her shoulders was slung a bag—a great big bag—and in the bag were all of Old Mother West Wind’s children, the Merry Little Breezes.
Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills to the Green Meadows and as she walked she crooned a song:
“Ships upon the ocean wait;
I must hurry, hurry on!
Mills are idle if I’m late;

The Little Breezes are Mischievous
When she reached the Green Meadows Old Mother West Wind opened her bag, turned it upside down and shook it. Out tumbled all the Merry Little Breezes and began to spin round and round for very joy, for you see they were to lay in the Green Meadows all day long until Old Mother West Wind should come back at night and take them all to their home behind the Purple Hills.
First they raced over to see Johnny Chuck. They found Johnny Chuck sitting just outside his door eating his breakfast. One, for very mischief, snatched right out of Johnny Chuck’s mouth the green leaf of corn he was eating, and ran away with it. Another playfully pulled his whiskers, while a third rumpled up his hair.
And if they teased Johnny Chuck they were good to him, too. When they saw Farmer Brown coming across the Green Meadows with a gun one of them would dance over to Johnny Chuck and whisper to him that Farmer Brown was coming, and then Johnny Chuck would hide away, deep down in his snug little house under ground, and Farmer Brown would wonder and wonder why it was that he never, never could get near enough to shoot Johnny Chuck. But he never, never could.
They Dance and are Merry – the Merry Little Breezes danced away across

Enthusiastic – “We must see it,” cried the Merry Little Breezes, and away they all ran to the swamp where the bulrushes grow.
Helpers – Mrs. Redwing was afraid that Tommy Brown would find her dear little nest, for he was very, very near it, and his eyes were very, very sharp
“Oh,” cried the Merry Little Breezes, “we must help Mrs. Redwing save her pretty speckled eggs from bad Tommy Brown!”
So one of the Merry Little Breezes whisked Tommy Brown’s old straw hat off his head over into the Green Meadows. Of course Tommy ran after it. Just as he stooped to pick it up another little Breeze ran away with it. Then they took turns, first one little Breeze, then another little Breeze running away with the old straw hat just as Tommy Brown would almost get his hands on it. Down past the Smiling Pool and across the Laughing Brook they raced and chased the old straw hat, Tommy Brown running after it, very cross, very red in the face, and breathing very hard. Way across the Green Meadows they ran to the edge of the wood, where they hung the old straw hat in the middle of a thorn tree. By the time Tommy Brown had it once more on his head he had forgotten all about Mrs. Redwing and her dear little nest. Besides, he heard the breakfast horn blowing just then, so off he started for home up the Lone Little Path through the wood.
1 – 1 Mrs. Redwing Special Eggs
They had played tag and run races with the Bees and played hide and seek with the Sun Beams, and now they had gathered around the Smiling Pool where on a green lily pad sat Grandfather Frog.
1 – 2 Why Grandfather Frog Has No Tail
The Green Meadows lay peaceful and still. Mother Moon, sailing high overhead, looked down upon them and smiled and smiled, flooding them with her silvery light. All day long the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had romped there among the asters and goldenrod. They had played tag through the cat rushes around the Smiling Pool. 2 – Danny Meadow Mouse

The Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were tired. Ever since she had turned them out of her big bag onto the Green Meadows early that morning they had romped and played tag and chased butterflies \
The Merry Little Breezes threw themselves down on the edge of the Smiling Pool, where the rushes grow tall, and there they took turns rocking the cradle which held Mrs. Redwing’s four babies.
Pretty soon one of the Merry Little Breezes, peeping through the rushes, spied Peter Rabbit sitting up very straight on the edge of the Green Meadows. His long ears were pointed straight up, his big eyes were very wide open and he seemed to be looking and listening with a great deal of curiosity.
Then up jumped all the Merry Little Breezes and away they raced. Some of them went east, some of them went west, some of them went north, some of them went south, all looking for fat, foolish, green flies for Grandfather Frog.
By and by they came skipping back, one by one, to the edge of the Smiling Pool, each with a fat, foolish, green fly, and each stopping to give Mrs. Redwing’s cradle a gentle push.

2 – Why Peter Rabbit’s Ears Are Long

Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had romped there among the asters and goldenrod. They had played tag through the cat rushes around the Smiling Pool.

2 –  Danny Meadow Mouse

Mr. Sun

Jolly
Round
Red
Plays Hide and Seek with the Clouds
Winks

jolly, round, red Mr. Sun
round, red Mr. Sun was laughing very hard as he peeped over the hill – 1 Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox

Great round, red Mr. Sun kept climbing higher and higher up in the sky, then by and by he began to go down on the other side, and long shadows began to creep out across the Green Meadows. Johnny Chuck didn’t know anything about them: he was fast aslee
Higher and higher up in the sky climbed round, red Mr. Sun. Every time Johnny Chuck looked up at him Mr. Sun winked.

1 – 4 How Reddy Fox Was Surprised
Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was playing at hide and seek behind some fleecy white clouds. All the birds were singing and singing, and the world was happy—all but Danny Meadow Mouse.
No, Danny Meadow Mouse was not happy. Indeed, he was very far from happy, and all because his tail was short. 2 – Danny Meadow Mouse

Mother Moon

Old
Smiles
Floods the Kingdom with Silvery Light

When old Mother Moon was just going to bed and all the little stars were too sleepy to twinkle any longer 1 – Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox
The Green Meadows lay peaceful and still. Mother Moon, sailing high overhead, looked down upon them and smiled and smiled, flooding them with her silvery light. All day long the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had romped there among the asters and goldenrod. They had played tag through the cat rushes around the Smiling Pool. 2 – Danny Meadow Mouse

Places

The Green Meadows

Peaceful
Still
Asters
Goldenrod

The Green Meadows lay peaceful and still. Mother Moon, sailing high overhead, looked down upon them and smiled and smiled, flooding them with her silvery light. All day long the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind had romped there among the asters and goldenrod. They had played tag through the cat rushes around the Smiling Pool. 2 – Why Reddy Fox Has No

Also called the White Meadow
Home of Farmer Brown
Way over across the broad White Meadows, which in summer time are green, you know, in the dooryard of Farmer Brown’s house, Bowser the Hound sat and barked at the moon, too.

Then both would listen and watch the million little stars twinkle and twinkle in the d to. Every night for a week he had sat at the foot of the Lone Pine and barked and barked until his throat was sore. Every night old Mother Fox had warned him that noisy children would come to no good end, and every night Reddy had promised that he would bark no more. But every night when the first silver flood of witching light crept over the hill and cast strange shadows from the naked branches of the trees,

2 – Reddy Fox Disobeys

The Purple Hills

Home of Old Mother West Wind
Where Mr. Sun Sleeps at Night

Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills in the golden light of the early morning. Over her shoulders was slung a bag—a great big bag—and in the bag were all of Old Mother West Wind’s children, the Merry Little Breezes.
Old Mother West Wind came down from the Purple Hills to the Green Meadows and as she walked she crooned a song:
“Ships upon the ocean wait;
I must hurry, hurry on!
Mills are idle if I’m late; upside down and shook it. Out tumbled all the Merry Little Breezes and began to spin round and round for very joy, for you see they were to lay in the Green Meadows all day long until Old Mother West Wind should come back at night and take them all to their home behind the Purple Hills. 1 – 1 Mrs. Redwing

Round, red Mr. Sun was getting very close to the Purple Hills, where he goes to bed every night 1 – 16 Spotty Turtle Wins a Race

The Smiling Pool

The place where Grandfather Frog lives and sits on his lily pad, eating green flies
Redwing lives there and the Merry Breezes rock her babies there.
Cattails

When the Merry Little Breezes left Johnny Chuck they raced across the Green Meadows to the Smiling Pool to say good morning to Grandfather Frog who sat on a big lily pad watching for green flies for breakfast.
“Chug-arum,” said Grandfather Frog, which was his way of saying good morning.
Just then along came a fat green fly and up jumped Grandfather Frog. When he sat down again on the lily pad the fat green fly was nowhere to be seen, but Grandfather Frog looked very well satisfied indeed as he contentedly rubbed his white waistcoat with one hand. 1 – 1 Mrs. Redwings

They had played tag and run races with the Bees and played hide and seek with the Sun Beams, and now they had gathered around the Smiling Pool where on a green lily pad sat Grandfather Frog. 1 – 2 Why Frog HAS No tAIL
he Smiling Pool, where the rushes grow tall, and there they took turns rocking the cradle which held Mrs. Redwing’s four babies.

The Laughing Brook

Home of the Trout
Happy
Sings

One day when round, red Mr. Sun was shining and the Laughing Brook was singing on its way to join the Big River, 1 – 15 Tail of Tommy Trout

The Lone Pine

Old Mother Nature Lives in the Lone Pine
2 – Why Peter Rabbit’s Ears Are Long

The Lone Little Path

A dark, lonely path along which unsavory characters travel

Farmer Brown and Tommy’s home is up that path – started for home up the Lone Little Path through the wood. 1 – Mrs. Redwing’s Speckled Eggs
But I know who the real thief is and he is stealing away as fast as he can go down the Lone Little Path this very minute.’
The Lone Path is dark
“All of the little meadow people and forest folks turned to look down the Lone Little Path, but it was so dark none could see, none but Hooty the Owl, whose eyes are made to see in the dark.
“‘I see him!’ cried Hooty the Owl. ‘It’s Mr. Wharf Rat!’
2 – Danny Meadow Mouse