The Complete Beatrix Potter Collection vol 5 : Tales & Original Illustrations E-Book

Beatrix Potter

• Herausgeber: The griffin classics
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Join the beloved animals of Beatrix Potter for heartwarming adventures!   Whisk your child away to a world of charming characters and delightful stories with this collection of classic Beatrix Potter tales. From the cunning Mr. Tod facing off against the brave Mrs. Foxy, to the forgetful Pigling Bland searching for his lost button, each story is filled with humor, friendship, and timeless lessons. In The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse, your child will join Johnny on a visit to his country cousin. Will the excitement of city life or the simple joys of the countryside win him over? Filled with Beatrix Potter's iconic illustrations, this collection will spark your child's imagination and nurture a love for reading. The Complete Beatrix Potter Collection Vol. 5: - Features three captivating tales perfect for bedtime stories or independent reading. - Instills valuable lessons about resourcefulness, courage, and appreciating the beauty of nature. - Includes the beloved characters children adore, brought to life by Beatrix Potter's classic illustrations.  "A timeless collection that continues to enchant children of all ages." - Parents Magazine "A wonderful introduction to the world of Beatrix Potter." - School Library Journal   Gift your child the joy of Beatrix Potter's stories! Download your copy of The Complete Beatrix Potter Collection Vol. 5 today and create lasting memories. Spark your child's imagination and love for reading. Scroll up and click "Buy Now!"

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

The Tale of Mr. Tod

Dedication

Frontispiece 1

Frontispiece 2

Titlepage

The Tale

The Tale of Pigling Bland

Dedication

Frontispiece

Titlepage

The Tale

The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse

Dedication

Frontispiece

Titlepage

The Tale

FOR FRANCIS WILLIAM OF ULVA

– SOMEDAY!



The Tale of Mr. Tod



  ( 1912 )

Ihave made many books about well-behaved people. Now, for a change, I am going to make a story about two disagreeable people, called Tommy Brock and Mr. Tod.

Nobody could call Mr. Tod “nice”. The rabbits could not bear him; they could smell him half a mile off. He was of a wandering habit and he had foxy whiskers; they never knew where he would be next.

One day he was living in a stick-house in the coppice, causing terror to the family of old Mr. Benjamin Bouncer. Next day he moved into a pollard willow near the lake, frightening the wild ducks and the water rats.

In winter and early spring he might generally be found in an earth amongst the rocks at the top of Bull Banks, under Oatmeal Crag.

He had half a dozen houses, but he was seldom at home.

The houses were not always empty when Mr. Tod moved out; because sometimes Tommy Brock moved in; (without asking leave).

Tommy Brock was a short bristly fat waddling person with a grin; he grinned all over his face. He was not nice in his habits. He ate wasp nests and frogs and worms; and he waddled about by moonlight, digging things up.

His clothes were very dirty; and as he slept in the day-time, he always went to bed in his boots. And the bed which he went to bed in, was generally Mr. Tod’s.

Now Tommy Brock did occasionally eat rabbit-pie; but it was only very little young ones occasionally, when other food was really scarce. He was friendly with old Mr. Bouncer; they agreed in disliking the wicked otters and Mr. Tod; they often talked over that painful subject.

Old Mr. Bouncer was stricken in years. He sat in the spring sunshine outside the burrow, in a muffler; smoking a pipe of rabbit-tobacco.

He lived with his son Benjamin Bunny and his daughter-in-law Flopsy, who had a young family. Old Mr. Bouncer was in charge of the family that afternoon, because Benjamin and Flopsy had gone out.

The little rabbit babies were just old enough to open their blue eyes and kick. They lay in a fluffy bed of rabbit wool and hay, in a shallow burrow, separate from the main rabbit-hole. To tell the truth – old Mr. Bouncer had forgotten them.

He sat in the sun, and conversed cordially with Tommy Brock, who was passing through the wood with a sack and a little spud which he used for digging, and some mole traps.

He complained bitterly about the scarcity of pheasants’ eggs, and accused Mr. Tod of poaching them. And the otters had cleared off all the frogs while he was asleep in winter – “I have not had a good square meal for a fortnight, I am living on pig-nuts. I shall have to turn vegetarian and eat my own tail!” said Tommy Brock.

It was not much of a joke, but it tickled old Mr. Bouncer; because Tommy Brock was so fat and stumpy and grinning.

So old Mr. Bouncer laughed; and pressed Tommy Brock to come inside, to taste a slice of seed-cake and “a glass of my daughter Flopsy’s cowslip wine”. Tommy Brock squeezed himself into the rabbit-hole with alacrity.

Then old Mr. Bouncer smoked another pipe, and gave Tommy Brock a cabbage leaf cigar which was so very strong that it made Tommy Brock grin more than ever; and the smoke filled the burrow. Old Mr. Bouncer coughed and laughed; and Tommy Brock puffed and grinned.

And Mr. Bouncer laughed and coughed, and shut his eyes because of the cabbage smoke…

When Flopsy and Benjamin came back – old Mr. Bouncer woke up. Tommy Brock and all the young rabbit babies had disappeared!

Mr. Bouncer would not confess that he had admitted anybody into the rabbit-hole. But the smell of badger was undeniable; and there were round heavy footmarks in the sand. He was in disgrace; Flopsy wrung her ears, and slapped him.

Benjamin Bunny set off at once after Tommy Brock.