Making Up with Mr. Dog Hollow Tree Stories   By: Albert Bigelow Paine (1861-1937)

From the Story Teller]

[Illustration: THE FIRST DINNER AT THE HOLLOW TREE INN

[See page 20]

MAKING UP WITH MR. DOG

[Illustration]

HOLLOW TREE STORIES

BY ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE

ILLUSTRATED BY J. M. CONDÉ

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON

HOLLOW TREE STORIES

BY

ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE

12mo. Cloth. Fully Illustrated

HOW MR. DOG GOT EVEN HOW MR. RABBIT LOST HIS TAIL MR. RABBIT'S BIG DINNER MAKING UP WITH MR. DOG MR. POSSUM'S GREAT BALLOON TRIP WHEN JACK RABBIT WAS A LITTLE BOY

HOLLOW TREE AND DEEP WOODS BOOK Illustrated. 8vo.

HOLLOW TREE SNOWED IN BOOK Illustrated. 8vo.

HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK

Copyright, 1898, by JAMES GORDON BENNETT

Copyright, 1899, by FRANK MUNSEY

Copyright, 1899, by THE CENTURY COMPANY

Copyright, 1898, 1899, 1901, by ROBERT HOWARD RUSSELL

Copyright, 1900, by HARPER & BROTHERS

CONTENTS

PAGE THE HOLLOW TREE INN 3

THE HOLLOW TREE INN ( Continued ) 11

A DEEP WOODS FISHING PARTY 25

MR. RABBIT EXPLAINS 41

THE HOLLOW TREE POETRY CLUB 53

MR. RABBIT'S UNWELCOME COMPANY 79

MR. 'POSSUM EXPLAINS 91

AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK AGAIN 109

THE HOLLOW TREE INN

THE THREE FRIENDS GO INTO BUSINESS

ONE rainy day when the 'Coon and 'Possum and Old Black Crow, who lived together in three big hollow limbs of a Big Hollow Tree, were rummaging about their house, they found that above each of their rooms was a good deal of room that nobody ever used. That set them to thinking, and pretty soon Mr. 'Possum said it was too bad to let all that good room go to waste, and Mr. 'Coon said yes, it was, and that their house was big enough for a hotel.

Of course he didn't think what he was saying at the time, but it set Mr. Crow to thinking and walking up and down, whistling, and pretty soon he stopped still and looked at the 'Coon and 'Possum.

"I'll do the cookin'," he said, "if you'll get the things to cook."

And right then and there they made up their minds to do it, and early the next morning, while the Old Black Crow was hurrying about inside, getting things ready for business, the 'Coon and the 'Possum nailed up a sign outside, and this is what was on it:

THE HOLLOW TREE INN. BOARD BY THE DAY OR WEEK.

[Illustration: "HELLO!" HE SAID. "WHAT'S THIS?"]

Then they went inside to help Mr. Crow get ready, and by and by they all sat down and waited for people to come. Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum felt pretty well, too, for they thought they would have the easiest time. You see, they had always depended on Mr. Crow a good deal, for, besides being a good cook, he was a great hand to provide, and knew more about where to get the best things, and the best time of day or night to get them, than both of the others put together. So he didn't say anything, but dressed up nice and spruce in a clean apron and cooking cap and leaned out of the window, as cooks always do, with his arms folded. By and by along came Mr. Jack Rabbit.

"Hello!" he said. "What's this?"

Then he read the sign over and looked at Mr. Crow and asked him if it was a joke. And Mr. Crow said:

"Not much! Come up and see."