TommyFoxwasinaterriblefix.Hewascaughtfastbythefootinatrap;andifthatisn’tbeinginafix,Ishouldliketoknowwhatis. Allnightlonghewhimperedandcried.Allnightlonghetuggedandpulled,tryingtogetfree.Butthemorehetuggedthemorethetraphurthisfoot.Andtheharderhecried. Mrs.Foxcouldn’thelpTommyatall.Shestayedwithhimthroughoutthenight,andtriedtocomforthim. Andsheonlyleftwhenmorningcameandshesmelledmencomingacrossthefields. Then,withonelastsorrowfullookatTommy,shecreptsadlyaway. InafewminutesmoreFarmerGreenandhisboyJohnniereachedMrs.Fox’sdoor.Andtheywerebothgreatlypleasedwhentheysawthatthetraphaddoneitsworksowell. “It’sayoungcub,”FarmerGreensaid,assoonashespiedTommyFox. “MayIhavehim,Father?”Johnnieaskedquickly.“I’dlikehimforapet.” TommyFoxwasterriblyfrightenedwhenheheardthat. Yousee,hedidn’tknowwhata“pet”was. Hethoughtthatprobablyitwassomethinglikeastew,forhehadbeentoldthatpeopleatethingslikethat;andhecouldseehimself,inhismind’seye,beingcutupandtossedintoapot. “Apet,eh?”saidFarmerGreen.“Well,Isupposeso.He’shardlyworthskinning.Youmayhavehim,Iguess.Butlookoutthathedoesn’tbiteyou.” JohnnieGreenwasdelighted.HehelpedhisfatherputTommyintoanoldsack,andtakingthetraptoo,theystartedtowardthefarmhouse. WhentheyreachedFarmerGreen’shomeJohnnieandhisfatherfittedastoutcollaraboutTommy’sneck. Andtheyfastenedoneendofachaintoit;andtheotherendtheytiedtoalongstake,whichtheydroveintothegroundinFarmerGreen’sdoor-yard. ThenJohnnieGreensetabigwoodenboxclosebesidethestake. Hetippedtheboxoveronitsside,andthrewsomestrawintoit.AndthatwasTommyFox’snewhome. Youmightthinkthatitwasamuchnicerhomethanhehadbefore.ButTommydidnotlikeitatall. Allthepeopleonthefarmcameandlookedathim,insidethebox;andJohnnieGreenneverlefthimformorethantenminutesalltherestofthatday. Tommymadeuphismindthathewouldmakeahouseofhisown. AndthatverynighthedugaholeinFarmerGreen’sdooryard,wherehecouldcrawloutofsightofeveryone.Tommylikedthatmuchbetter. NomatterhowhardJohnnieGreenpulledonthechain,hecouldn’tdragTommyoutunlesshewantedtocome. ButafterafewdaysTommybegantogetusedtobeingapet. Hefoundthatitwasnotsuchaterriblething,afterall. Hedidmissthefinerunsheusedtohave;andthehunts;andhemissedhismother,too. Hecouldhearheroften,atnight,callingtohimfromthefields. AndthenTommywouldanswer,andtugathischain.Buthecouldn’tgetaway. Andafterawhilehewouldgotosleepanddreampleasantdreams,aboutcatchingcricketsinthelonggrass. 
