ItwasaprettybigsurpriseforTommyFox,whenMr.Grousesprangoutofthesnow,rightbeneathhisfeet.Butitwasnothingatall,comparedwiththesurpriseTommyhadwhenhereachedhome. VerylateatnightTommystoleintohismother’shouse.Infact,itwasnearlymorning. AndTommycreptinveryquietly,forhehardlyexpectedthathismotherwouldbeawakeandhedidnotwanttodisturbher. Tommyhadjustcurleduponhisbedandwasallreadytogotosleep,whentohisgreatastonishmentheheardhismothertalking. Shewasnottalkingtohim,buttosomeonenearher,forshespokesolowthatTommycouldnothearwhatshewassaying. Hethoughtrightawaythatsomebodyhadcometopaythemavisit.Andhecalledout— “Who’shere,Mother?Isitavisitor?” “Yes,Tommy,”Mrs.Foxanswered.“Comehereandseewhoitis.” Tommyjumpedoutofbedandhoppedacrosstheroom.Atfirsthecouldn’tseeanybodybuthismother. “It’sjustajoke!”Tommyexclaimed.“You’reonlyfooling!” “Looksharp!”saidMrs.Fox.“It’sasurprise.Whatdoyoucallthis?” Shemovedasideabit,andpointedtoalittle,soft,woollythingwhichlayclosebesideher. Tommyhadtolooktwoorthreetimestoseewhatitwas.Andeventhenhewasn’tsure. “Isit—isit—ababy?”heasked. “That’sjustwhatitis,”hismothersaid. Tommycertainlywassurprised.AndbeforehecouldfindhisvoiceagainMrs.Foxshowedhimanotherbabyfox,andanotherandanotherandanother. Yes—theretheywere—fiveofthemalltogether,smallandsoftandwoolly. Theyweren’tnearlysobrightlycoloredasTommyandhismother—justapale,brownishred.TommyFoxcouldhardlybelieveit. Ashestaredatthemhesuddenlynoticedsomethingstrangeaboutthebabyfoxes. “Why—they’reallblind—everyoneofthem!”hecried. “Hadn’twebettersendthembackandgetsomegoodones?”heasked. “Ofcoursethey’reblind,”shesaid.“Youwereblindwhenyouweretheirage. Theireyeswillbeopeninafewdays....Well—whatdoyouthinkofthem,Tommy?” sheasked;forTommyFoxseemedtobelostinthought. “Iwaswonderinghowtheywouldeverbeabletohunt—they’resosmall.” “Oh!I’llhavetohuntforthem,foralongtime,”hismotherexplained.“WhentheygetbigenoughIshallteachthemtohuntforthemselves,justasItaughtyou. “NowyouseewhyIshowedyouhowtocatchmiceandrabbitsandwoodchucks,”Mrs.Foxsaid. “You’llhavetolookoutforyourselfnow,Tommy. ForIshallhaveallIcandotofindenoughformyselfandfivechildrentoeat,withoutfeedingabigfellowlikeyou.” ThatmadeTommyFoxfeelveryproud.Hefeltbigger,andstronger,andwiserthaneverbefore. “Ishallgetalongallright,”Tommysaid.“IalmostcaughtMr.Grousetonight.Buthegotaway.”Tommyyawned,forhewasverysleepy. Andprettysoonhewascurleduponhislittlebedagain,dreamingofawonderfulbirdthathehadcaught,whichwassobigthatheandhismotherandhisfivelittlebrothersandsistersmadeafinemealoffit. Butofcourseitwasonlyadream. 
