"
But this was easier said than done, for neither a rabbit nor a goose
gentleman is made for climbing up trees, though when he was a young
chap Grandpa Goosey had flown up into little trees, and Uncle Wiggily
had jumped over them. But that was long, long ago.
Try as they did, neither the rabbit gentleman nor the goose gentleman
could climb up after the tall silk hat.
"What are we going to do?" asked Grandpa Goosey.
"I don't know," replied Mr. Longears. "I guess I'll have to go get
Billie or Johnnie Bushytail, the squirrel boys, to climb the tree for
us. Yes, that's what I'll do; and then I can get my hat."
Uncle Wiggily started off through the woods to look for one of the
Bushytail chaps, while Grandpa Goosey stayed near the tree, to catch
the hat in case it should happen to fall by itself.
All of a sudden Uncle Wiggily heard some one coming along whistling,
and then he heard a loud pounding sound, and next he saw Toodle
Flat-tail, the beaver boy, walking in the woods.
"Oh, Toodle! You're the very one I want!" cried Uncle Wiggily. "My
hat is in a high tree and I can't get it. With your strong teeth, just
made for cutting down trees, will you kindly cut down this one, and get
my hat for me?"
"I will," said the little beaver chap. But when he began to gnaw the
tree, to make it fall, the tree cried:
"Oh, Mr.
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