"I'm your big cousin from the North; I'm Paddy the Beaver, and if
you leave my dam alone, I think we'll be good friends," continued
the stranger.

"I -- I -- I hope so," said Jerry in a very faint voice, trying to
be polite, but with his teeth chattering with fear.



CHAPTER XXII: Jerry Loses His Fear

"Oh, tell me, you and you and you,
If it may hap you've ever heard
Of all that wond'rous is and great
The greatest is the spoken word?"

It's true. It'sthe truest thing that ever was. If you don't believe
it, you just go ask Jerry Muskrat. He'll tell you it's true, and
Jerry knows. You see, it's this way: Words are more than just
sounds. Oh, my, yes! They are little messengers, and once they have
been sent out, you can't call them back. No, Sir, you can't call
them back, and sometimes that is a very sad thing, because -- well,
you see these little messengers always carry something to some one
else, and that something may be anger or hate or fear or an untruth,
and it is these things which make most of the trouble in this world.
Or that something may be love or sympathy or helpfulness or kindness,
and it is these things which put an end to most of the troubles
in this world.