Page:A Forest Story (1929).djvu/30



Old Mole and Goodwife Mole lived near Yellow Rock, on the edge of the clearing. They were a happy old couple, never discontented, never quarreling, save when the early summer came and Old Mole would forget his promise. Then Goodwife Mole would cry softly to herself, and wipe her eyes with the corner of her red flowered shawl, and Old Mole would stamp out of the house, raging that he had never made such a promise. But he had!

»Don’t I give you the best of food.« Goodwife cried. »Barley broth, rye rolls, seed cakes and what not? Some day you’ll be punished for eating the poor little innocents,« she wailed. »And you promised last time you never would again.«

Old Mole had the unhappy failing of being much too fond of baby rabbits and young nestlings. He just couldn’t resist them! After he had eaten them, he would cry and make a solemn promise to never do so again, but alas! he always broke it.