that the very ones who admired his tail so to his face were laughing
at him and poking fun at him behind his back.

"And then Old King Bear wished that he _hadn't_ a tail more than ever
he wished that he _did_ have a tail. Again he lost his appetite and
grew cross and peevish, so that no one dared come near him. So matters
went from bad to worse, until once more Old Mother Nature visited the
Green Forest to see how things were. Very humbly Old King Bear went
down on his knees and begged her to take away his tail. At first Old
Mother Nature refused, but he begged so hard and promised so
faithfully never again to be discontented, that finally she relented
and took away his tail, all but just a wee little bit. That she left
as a reminder lest he should forget the lesson he had learned and
should again grow envious.

[Illustration: "Then Old King Bear wished that he hadn't a tail."]

"And every bear since that long-ago day has carried about with him a
reminder--you can hardly call it a real tail--of the silly, foolish
discontent of Old King Bear," concluded Grandfather Frog.

Peter Rabbit scratched one long ear thoughtfully as he replied: "Thank
you, Grandfather Frog. I think that hereafter I will be quite content
with what I've got and never want things it is not meant that I should
have."




XIV