TommyFoxwashuntingcricketsinthefieldnearhismother’shouse. Beingayoungfox,notmuchmorethanhalf-grown,Tommyknewverylittleofhunting. Infact,cricketswereabouttheonlythinghecouldhuntandcatch.Ofcourse,anyonecanhunt. Thehardpartofitistocatchwhatyouarehunting. Tommywasgladthatheknewhowtocapturecrickets,forhewasveryfondofthem. Tobesure,ittookagreatmanycricketstosatisfyhishunger. Buttheyweregoodwhenhewantedalightlunch;andtherewasfun,too,inhuntingthem. ThisisthewayTommyFoxcaughtcrickets. Hewouldstandverystillinthetallgrassandwatchsharply. Whereverhesawthegrassmoving,Tommywouldpounceuponthatspot,bringinghistwofrontpawsdowntightagainsttheground. AndinthebunchofgrassthatlaybeneathhispawsTommyalmostalwaysfoundafatcricket. Therewasjustonedrawbackaboutthatkindofhunting. Hecouldcatchcricketsonlyuponstilldays,whentherewasnowind;becausewhenthewindblew,thegrasswavedeverywhere,andTommycouldn’ttellwhetheritwascricketsorwhetheritwaswindthatmadethegrassmove. Well,uponthisverydaywhenTommyFoxwasamusinghimself,andswallowingcricketsasfastashecouldgrabthem,hismothercameoutofherhouseandwatchedhimforalittlewhile. Tommywasfeelingquiteproudofhisskill. “Icanhunt—can’tI,Mother?”heexclaimed.“Watchme!Igetthemalmosteverytime!”heboasted. Mrs.Foxdidnotanswer.Shewasthinkingdeeply. Sheknewthattherewereagreatmanythingsshemustteachherson,becausehewasgrowingup;andsomedayhewouldbeleavinghometogooutintotheworldandtakecareofhimself. AndMrs.FoxknewthatTommywouldhavetolearntocatchbiggerthingsthancricketsinordertokeepfromstarving. PrettysoonMrs.Foxstartedacrossthefield.Shewasgoneratheralongtime. Butshecamebackatlast,carryingsomethingthatsquirmedandtwistedandwriggled. WhateveritwasthatMrs.Foxwasbringinghome,itwasfurry,andquitebigandheavy. WhenTommysawithestoppedhuntingcricketsatonce.Heknewwhathismotherhad.Itwasawoodchuck! “Hurrah!”heshouted.“I’mhungry!MayIeatallofhimIwant?” Youmightthinkthathehadswallowedsomanycricketsthathewouldn’twantanythingmoretoeatjustthen. Buttotellthetruth,itwasveryseldomthatTommyFoxwasn’thungryasabear. “Notsofast!”Mrs.Foxsaid.“I’mgoingtoteachyoutohunt. Andyou’retobeginwiththiswoodchuck. NowI’mgoingtolethimgo,andyoumustcatchhim.” SoMrs.Foxletthewoodchuckslipaway;andoffhescampered,withTommyafterhim.Mrs.Foxfollowedclosebehind. AndsoonshesawTommygiveagreatspringandlandrightontopofthewoodchuck. Tommywasgreatlyexcited.Buthewashungry,too,“MayIeathimnow?”heasked. “No!Lethimgoagain,”hismothercommanded.“Andseeifyoucancatchhimmorequicklynexttime.” Tommyobeyed.Andthoughheovertookthewoodchucksooner,hewasnotsocarefultoavoidthe‘chuck’ssharpteeth,andhegotasavageniprightonhisnose. Tommywassurprised.Hewassosurprisedthathedroppedthewoodchuck.AndyoumaybelievethatMr.Woodchucklostnotime.Hescurriedawayasfastashislegswouldcarryhim. Tommybegantowhimper.Hisnosehurt;andhethoughthehadlosthisdinner,too. ButMrs.FoxboundedafterMr.Woodchuckandbroughthimbackagain.ShemadeTommystopcrying.Andhehadtobeginhislessonalloveragain. WhenMrs.FoxthoughtthatTommyhadlearnedenoughforthatdaytheybothsatdownandmadeamealofthatunfortunateMr.Woodchuck. AndTommyfeltthathehadalreadybecomeamightyhunter. Hehadn’ttheleastdoubtthathecouldgointothewoodsandcatchalmostanythinghesaw. WeshallseelaterwhetherTommyFoxknewasmuchashethoughthedid. 
