WhenJohnnieGreenturnedTommyFoxloose,outinthemeadow,inthemoonlight,Tommyhurriedacrossthefieldsasfastashecouldgo. Yourememberthatheheardafoxbarking,nearthefootofBlueMountain,andhethoughtitsoundedlikehismother.SoTommybarked,too. Andasheranhecouldhearthatotherfoxcomingtowardshim. Prettysoontheymet,andsuchajoyfulmeetingyouneversawinallyourlife.ForitwasoldMrs.Fox. AndshewassodelightedtoseeTommythatshelickedhimalloverwithhertongue,andlookedathimcarefully,toseeifhewashurtanywhere. Mrs.FoxhadneverexpectedtoseeTommyagain. Buttherehewas,biggerthanever,andaltogethertoofat,forJohnniehadfedhimwell;andthen,therewerethosetwohensthatTommyhadstolen. TommyFoxwasverygladindeedtoseehismotheroncemore. Hefriskedabouther,andyelped,andjumpedupanddown. AndwhenshesawthatTommyhadcomebacksafeandsoundMrs.Foxdancedalittlebit,too.AndthenshetookTommyhome. YourememberthatwhenFarmerGreencaughtTommyinatrap,rightatthedoorofhismother’shouse,Mrs.Foxhadbeenobligedtomove. Hernewhomewasnotfarawayfromtheoldone. Itwassnugandcozy,andonthewholewasaprettynicesortofhouse,thoughthedooryardwasnotquitesosunnyasshewouldhavepreferred,forthebranchesofabigtreeshadedit. Tommyhadtoansweragreatmanyquestions. Hismotherwantedtoknoweverythingthathadhappenedtohim. Shewasastonishedwhenshefoundthathehadbeeninthevillage,rightinthedaytime. Hewastheonlyfoxsheknewofwhohadeverbeenthere. AndwhensheheardofTommy’sfriendshipwiththedogSpotMrs.Foxwasmoresurprisedthanever.Shecouldn’tunderstandit. AndsheshookherheadoverandoveragainasTommytoldherwhatgoodtimesheandSpothadhadtogether. Mrs.FoxactuallybegantothinkthatTommywastellingstories. Theotherforest-people,too,thoughtthatTommywasfibbingwhenhebraggedabouthisstrangeadventures. AndoldMr.Crowbegantocry“Stop,liar!”afterhim,insteadof“Stop,thief!”asheusedtodo. ButTommyFoxdidn’tmindthatverymuch.Heknewthathewastellingthetruth.AndhemorethanhalfguessedthatoldMr.Crowwasjealousofhim,becausehehadsomanywonderfulthingstotell. Thoughtheforest-peoplealwayslistenedtoTommy’sstories,theydislikedhimmorethanever. Forhewasalwaysgoingaboutboastingofwhathehadseen,andwhathehaddone,andwhathisfriend,thedogSpot,said. “Ifyou’resuchgoodfriendswitholddogSpot,whydon’tyougodowntothefarm-yardandseehim?”Mr.CrowsaidtoTommyoneday. ThiswaslongafterTommyhadcomebacktolivewithhismother. Infact,itwasquitelateinthefall,andtheweatherwasgrowingcold. “Allright!Iwill!”Tommysaid.HewasnotgoingtoletoldMr.Crowgetthebetterofhim.“I’llgonow,”Tommysaid.AndwiththathestarteddownthevalleytowardFarmerGreen’sbuildings. 
