“I’m just studying what Old Man Coyote means by telling me one day that he is my friend, and proving it by doing me a good turn, and then trying to catch me the very next time he sees me.  I don’t understand it,” said Peter, shaking his head,

“Oh, you dear old stupid!” replied little Mrs. Peter.  “Now, you listen to me.  You did Old Man Coyote a good turn and he paid you back by doing you a good turn.  That made you even, didn’t it?”

Peter nodded.

“Well, then you are right back where you started from, and Old Man Coyote doesn’t see any reason why he should treat you any differently than at first, and I don’t see why he should either, when I come to think it over.  I tell you what, Peter, the thing for you to do is to keep doing good turns to Old Man Coyote so that he will always be in debt to you.  Then he will always be your friend,”

As little Mrs. Peter stopped speaking, Peter sprang to his feet.  “The very thing!” he cried.  “It’s sort of a Golden Rule, and I do believe it will work.”

“Of course it will,” replied little Mrs. Peter.

CHAPTER XXVII

MISTAH MOCKER PLAYS A JOKE ON MRS. PETER

 This little point remember, please—­
 There’s little gained by those who tease. 
                              Peter Rabbit.

Mistah Mocker the Mockingbird had been very late in coming up to the Green Meadows from way down South.  The truth is, he had almost decided not to come.  You see, he loves the sunny south-land so much, and all who live there love him so much, that if it hadn’t been for Unc’ Billy Possum and Ol’ Mistah Buzzard he never, never would have thought of leaving, even for a little while.  Unc’ Billy and Ol’ Mistah Buzzard are particular friends of his, very particular friends, and he felt that he just had to come up for a little visit.

Now Mistah Mocker reached the Green Meadows just after Peter Rabbit had brought little Mrs. Peter down from the Old Pasture to live with him in the dear Old Briar-patch.  He knew that little Mrs. Peter didn’t know anything about him, for he never had visited the Old Pasture where she had spent her life.  But he knew all the bird people who do live there, for he had met them in the sunny southland, where they spent the winter,

“I believe I’ll go pay my respects to Mrs. Peter,” said Mistah Mocker one day, winking at Ol’ Mistah Buzzard.  Ol’ Mistah Buzzard chuckled and winked back.

“Ah cert’nly hopes yo’all will behave yo’self right proper and not forget that yo’ is a member of one of the oldest families in the Souf,” said he.

Mistah Mocker looked quite solemn as he promised to behave himself, but there was a twinkle in his eyes as he flew toward the Old Briar-patch.  There he hid in a thick tangle of vines.  Now it happened that Peter Rabbit had gone over to the sweet-clover patch, and little Mrs. Peter was quite alone.  Somehow she got to thinking of her old home, and for the first time she began to feel just a wee, wee bit homesick.  It was just then that she heard a familiar voice.  Little Mrs. Peter pricked up her ears and smiled happily.