“If I only had some one to talk to, I’d feel better,” said he to himself.  That reminded him of Johnny Chuck and what good times they used to have together when Johnny lived on the Green Meadows.  Then he thought of how happy Johnny seemed with his little family in his new home in the Old Orchard, in spite of all the worries his family made him.  And right then Peter found out what was the matter with him.

“I believe I’m just lonesome,” said Peter.  “Yes, Sir, that’s what’s the matter with me.

    “It isn’t good to be alone,
     I’ve often heard my mother say. 
     It makes one selfish, grouchy, cross,
     And quite unhappy all the day. 
     One needs to think of other folks,
     And not of just one’s self alone,
     To find the truest happiness,
     And joy and real content to own.

“Now that I’ve found out what is the trouble with me, the question is, what am I going to do about it?”

CHAPTER II

PETER RABBIT PLANS A JOURNEY

It’s a long jump that makes no landing. 
                                      Peter Rabbit.

“The trouble with me is that I’m lonesome,” repeated Peter Rabbit as he sat in the dear Old Briar-patch.  “Yes, Sir, that’s the only thing that’s wrong with me.  I’m just tired of myself, and that’s why I’ve lost my appetite.  And now I know what’s the matter, what am I going to do about it?  If I were sure, absolutely sure, that Old Man Coyote meant what he said about our being friends, I’d start out this very minute to call on all my old friends.  My, my, my, it seems an age since I visited the Smiling Pool and saw Grandfather Frog and Jerry Muskrat and Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter!  Mr. Coyote sounded as if he really meant to leave me alone, but, but—­well, perhaps he did mean it when he saw me sitting here safe among the brambles, but if I should meet him out in the open, he might change his mind and—­oh, dear, his teeth are terrible long and sharp!”

Peter sat a little longer, thinking and thinking.  Then a bright idea popped into his head.  He kicked up his heels.

“I’ll do it,” said he.  “I’ll make a journey!  That’s what I’ll do!  I’ll make a journey and see the Great World.

    “By staying here and sitting still
     I’m sure I’ll simply grow quite ill. 
     A change of scene is what I need
     To be from all my trouble freed.”

Of course if Peter had really stopped to think the matter over thoroughly he would have known that running away from one kind of trouble is almost sure to lead to other troubles.  But Peter is one of those who does his thinking afterward.  Peter is what is called impulsive.  That is, he does things and then thinks about them later, and often wishes he hadn’t done them.  So now the minute the idea of making a journey popped into his head, he made up his mind that he would do it, and that was all there was to it.  You see, Peter never looks ahead.  If he could get rid of the trouble that bothered him now, which, you know, was nothing but lonesomeness, he wouldn’t worry about the troubles he might get into later.