English
AfterMr.CrowflewbacktoPleasantValleytogathernewsforhim,BrownieBeavercarefullycountedeachdaythatpassed.
SinceMr.Crowhadagreedtobehisnewspaper,andcomeeachSaturdayafternoontotellhimeverythingthathadhappenedduringtheweek,BrowniewasinagreathurryforSaturdaytoarrive.
Inordertomakenomistake,heputasideastickinwhichhegnawedanotcheachday.AndinthatwayheknewexactlywhenSaturdaycame.
ThatwasprobablythelongestdayinBrownieBeaver’slife.Atleast,itseemedsotohim.
Wheneverhesawabirdsoaringabovethetree-topshecouldn’thelphopingitwasMr.Crow.
Andwheneverheheardacaw—cawfaroffinthedistanceBrownieBeaverdroppedwhateverhehappenedtobedoing,expectingthatMr.Crowwouldflapintosightatanymoment.
Browniehadmanydisappointments.ButMr.Crowreallycameatlast.HelightedrightontopofBrownieBeaver’shouseandcalled“Paper!”downthechimney—justlikethat!
Browniehappenedtobeinsidehishouse.AndinawonderfullyshorttimehisheadappearedabovethewaterandhesooncrawledupbesideMr.Crow.
“Well,Iamgladtoseeyou!”hetoldMr.Crow.
“PeterMinkcaughtamonstrouseelintheduckpondonMonday,”Mr.Crowsaid.Beinganewspaper,hethoughtheoughttosaynothingexceptwhatwasnews—noteven“Goodafternoon!”
“Mr.Rabbit,ofPineRidge,withhiswifeandfourteenchildren,isvisitinghisbrother,Mr.JeremiahRabbit.
Mrs.JeremiahRabbitsaysshedoesnotknowwhenherhusband’srelationsaregoinghome,”Mr.Crowcontinuedtorelateinasingsongvoice.
“Goodnessgracious!”BrownieBeaverexclaimed.
“FattyCoon—”Mr.Crowsaid—“FattyCoonwasconfinedtohishousebyillnessTuesdaynight.Heatetoomanydriedapples.”
“Well,well!”BrownieBeavermurmured.AndhestartedtoaskMr.Crowaquestion.ButMr.Crowinterruptedhimwithmorenews.
“Mrs.BearhadabirthdayonWednesday.Anenjoyabletimewashadbyall—exceptthepig.”
“Pig?”BrownieBeaverasked.“Whatpig?”
“Thepigtheyate,”saidMr.Crow.Andhewentrightontalking.“OnThursdayMr.WoodchuckwenttovisithiscousinsintheWest.Mrs.Woodchuckisworried.”
“What’ssheworriedabout?”Brownieinquired.
“She’safraidhe’scomingbackagain,”Mr.Crowexplained.
“Ihaveheardhewaslazy,”Browniesaid.“WhathappenedonFriday?”
“TommyFoxmadeavisit.Buthedidn’thaveagoodtimeatall,”Mr.Crowreported,“andheleftfasterthanhecame.”
BrownieBeaverwantedtoknowwhereTommyFoxmadehisvisit.
“AtFarmerGreen’shen-house,”Mr.Crowexplained.
“Whydidhehurryaway?”Brownieasked.
“OlddogSpotchasedhim,”Mr.Crowreplied.“Butyoumustn’taskquestions,”hecomplained.“Youcan’taskquestionsofanewspaper,youknow.”
“Well—whathappenedonSaturday?”
“Thereyougoagain!”criedMr.Crow.“Anotherquestion!Ideclare,Idon’tbelieveyouevertookanewspaperbefore—didyou?”
BrownieBeaveradmittedthatheneverhad.
“Then—”saidMr.Crow—“thendon’tinterruptmeagain,please!
I’lltellyouallthenewsI’vebrought.
AndwhenI’vefinishedI’llstopbeinganewspaperandbemyselfforawhile.Andthenwecantalk.Butnotbefore!”heinsisted.
BrownieBeavernoddedhishead.HewasafraidthatifhesaidanotherwordMr.Crowwouldgrowangryandflyawaywithouttellinghimanymorenews.
“OnSaturday—thismorning,tobeexact”—saidMr.Crow,“therecamenearbeingabadaccident.JimmyRabbitalmostcutoffFriskySquirrel’stail.”
Mr.CrowpausedandlookedatBrownieBeaveroutofthecornerofhiseye.HeknewthatBrowniewouldwanttoknowwhatpreventedtheaccident.Buthewasinnohurrytotellhim.
ForafewmomentsBrowniewaitedtoheartherest.Butafewmomentswasmorethanhecouldendure.
“Whydidn’tJimmycutoffhistail?”Brownieaskedeagerly.
“There!”saidMr.Crow.“You’vedonejustasItoldyounotto.
SoIshallnottellyoutherestuntilnextSaturday....Yousee,youhaveafewthingstolearnabouttakinganewspaper.”
And‘hewouldgiveBrownienomorenewsthatday.
Tobesure,hewaswillingtotalk—butonlyaboutthingsthathadhappenedwhereBrownieBeaverlived.
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