One sunny summer morning little Lucy the Fox sat down on her front door step, which was a stump of an old tree, and began to think. She thought so hard that she did not see old Mr. Rabbit come hopping along till he was close by. Then she looked up and said:
“Good morning, Mr. Rabbit! Don’t you think it would be very nice if we were all to have a surprising and delightful festival here in the forest some of these lovely days?”
Old Mr. Rabbit thought for a minute and then replied:
“Yes, it would, dear little Lucy, but who would arrange it all?”
“I will,” said Lucy.
“But a festival means much to do,” said he.
“Oh, I shall have plenty of help. I am sure all our friends will want to help,” Lucy answered cheerfully, and then she told old Mr. Rabbit what she thought about it all. Mr. Rabbit listened patiently, then said softly:
“You do think a lot of our animal friends, dear Lucy. Now there is old Father Owl.”
“Ah, yes,” said Lucy. “I must go at once and ask him.”
“Better ask her,” said Mr. Rabbit, meaning Mrs. Owl.
Lucy went to the Owl’s home and found them both at home.
“Good-morning, Father Owl,” said Lucy. “I want a little advice. Do you think all our friends, large and small, would like to come to a surprise festival here in the forest?”
“Yes,” said Father Owl. “All will come if they can, but do not forget that even the smallest animals have their young ones to mind.”
“I had forgotten that,” said Lucy. “Thank you, good Father Owl.”
“She means Mother Owl,” said Mr. Rabbit.
“Yes, yes, of course,” said Lucy. “I shall ask Mother Owl what we can do about the small animal’s young ones. Thank you, Father Owl.”
After this Lucy went and spoke to them all, even to little Miss Wangari and her little wee daughter, and they all said: “Yes, gladly, yes,” to Lucy’s happy face and invitation.
“How about the cooking?” asked old Mr. Rabbit. “You will need helpers there. Who will go to the town?”
“Oh, I shall see that all is properly done, and many will help,” Lucy replied.
A week was fixed for the happy festival. The animals arrived by three o’clock, and old Father Owl said the whole thing was a success. To this Lucy very gladly, and also very softly, hoped to Heaven she might be able to do this all once again.
So the forest festival was a glorious success and all felt delighted to have helped in the happy scheme.