THE BARK OF OLD HUNGRY-WOLF
HOW THE HOLLOW TREE PEOPLE HAVE A MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR, AND WHATBECOMES OF HIM
"WHAT made Mr. 'Possum so anxious to get the wood, and what made himstay down-stairs so long when he went after it?" asks the Little Ladynext evening, when the Story Teller is lighting his pipe and gettingready to remember the history of the Hollow Tree.
"We're coming to that. You may be sure there was some reason for it, forMr. 'Possum doesn't hurry after wood or stay long in a cold place if hecan help it, unless he has something on his mind. Perhaps some of theDeep Woods People thought of that too, but if they did they didn't sayanything--not at the time. I suppose they thought it didn't matter much,anyhow, if they got the wood."
So they went right on having a good time, keeping up a nice fire, andeating up whatever they had; for they thought the big snow couldn't lastas long as their wood and their things to eat, and every day they wentup to look out of the up-stairs windows to see how much had melted, andevery day they found it just about the same, only maybe a littlecrustier on top, and the weather stayed _very cold_.
But they didn't mind it so long as they were warm and not hungry, andthey played games, and recited their pieces, and sang, and danced, andsaid they had never had such a good time in all their lives.
But one day when Mr. Crow went down into the store-room for supplies hefound that he was at the bottom of the barrel of everything they had,and he came up looking pretty sober, though he didn't say anything aboutit--not then, for he knew there were plenty of bones and odds and endshe could scrape up, and he had a little flour and some meal in hispantry; so he could make soup and gravy and johnny-cake and hash, whichhe did right away, and they all said how fine such things were for achange, and told Mr. Crow to go right on making them as long as hewanted to, even if the snow stayed on till spring. And Mr. 'Possum andMr. 'Coon said it was like old times, and that Mr. Crow was probably thevery best provider in the Big Deep Woods.
ONE DAY MR. CROW FOUND HE WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARRELOF EVERYTHING]
Mr. Crow smiled, too, but he didn't feel like it much, for he knew thateven johnny-cake and gravy wouldn't last forever, and that unless thesnow went away pretty soon they would all be hungry and cold, for thewood was getting low, too.
And one morning, when Mr. Crow went to his meal-sack and his flour-bagand his pile of odds and ends there was just barely enough forbreakfast, and hardly that. And Mr. Crow didn't like to tell them aboutit, for he knew they all thought he could keep right on makingjohnny-cake and gravy forever, because they didn't have to stop to thinkwhere things came from, as he did, and he was afraid they would blamehim when there was nothing more left.
So the Old Black Crow tried to step around lively and look pleasant, tokeep anybody from noticing, because he thought it might turn warm thatday and melt the snow; and when breakfast was ready he put on what therewas and said he hadn't cooked very much because he had heard that lightbreakfasts were better for people who stayed in the house a good deal,and as for himself, he said he guessed he wouldn't eat any breakfastthat morning at all.
Then while the others were eating he crept down-stairs and looked at theempty boxes and barrels and the few sticks of wood that were left, andhe knew that if that snow didn't melt off right away they were going tohave a _very hard time_. Then he came back up in the big living-room andwent on up-stairs to his own room, to look out the window to see if itwasn't going to be a warm, melting day. But Mr. Crow came back prettysoon. He came back in a hurry, too, and he slammed his door and lockedit, and then let go of everything and just slid down-stairs. Then theDeep Woods People jumped up quick from the table and ran to him, forthey thought he was having a fit of some kind, and they still thought sowhen they looked into his face: for Mr. Crow's eyes were rolled up andhis bill was pale, and when he tried to speak he couldn't. And Mr.Rabbit said it was because Mr. Crow had done without his breakfast, andhe ran to get something from the table; but Mr. Crow couldn't eat, andthen they saw that some of the feathers on top of his head were turninggray, and they knew he had seen some awful thing just that little momenthe was in his room.
So then they all looked at one another and wondered what it was, andthey were glad Mr. Crow had locked the door. Then they carried him overto the fire, and pretty soon he got so he could whisper a little, andwhen they knew what he was saying they understood why he was so scaredand why he had locked the door; for the words that Mr. Crow keptwhispering over and over were: "Old Hungry-Wolf! Old Hungry-Wolf! OldHungry-Wolf!"
All the Deep Woods People know what that means. They know that when OldHungry-Wolf comes, or even when you hear him bark, it means that thereis no food left in the Big Deep Woods for anybody, and that nobody cantell how long it will be before there _will_ be food again. And all theDeep Woods People stood still and held their breath and listened for thebark of Old Hungry-Wolf, because they knew Mr. Crow had seen his facelooking in the window. And they all thought they heard it, except Mr.'Possum, who said he didn't believe it was Old Hungry-Wolf at all thatMr. Crow had seen, but only Mr. Gray Wolf himself, who had perhapsslipped out and travelled over the snow to see if they were all at homeand comfortable.
But Mr. Crow said:
"No, no; it was Old Hungry-Wolf! He was big and black, and I saw hisgreat fiery eyes!"
Then Mr. 'Possum looked very brave, and said he would see if OldHungry-Wolf was looking into his window too, and he went right up, andsoon came back and said there wasn't any big black face at his window,and he thought that Mr. Crow's empty stomach had made him imaginethings.
So then Mr. 'Coon said that he would go up to _his_ room if the otherswould like to come along, and they could see for themselves whether OldHungry-Wolf was trying to get in or not.
THEN MR. 'COON SLAMMED HIS DOOR]
Then they all went very quietly up Mr. 'Coon's stair (all except Mr.'Possum, who stayed with Mr. Crow), and they opened Mr. 'Coon's doorand took one look inside, and then Mr. 'Coon he slammed _his_ door shut,and locked it, and they all let go of everything and came sliding downin a heap, for they had seen the great fiery eyes and black face of OldHungry-Wolf glaring in at Mr. 'Coon's window.
So they all huddled around the fire and lit their pipes--for they stillhad some tobacco--and smoked, but didn't say anything, until by-and-byMr. Crow told them that there wasn't another bite to eat in the houseand very little wood, and that that was the reason why Old Hungry-Wolfhad come. And they talked about it in whispers--whether they ought toexercise any more, because though exercise would help them to keep warmand save wood, it would make them hungrier. And some of them said theythought they would try to go to sleep like Mr. Bear, who slept allwinter and never knew that he was hungry until spring. So they kepttalking, and now and then they would stop and listen, and they all saidthey could hear the bark of Old Hungry-Wolf--all except Mr. 'Possum,which was strange, because Mr. 'Possum is fond of good things and wouldbe apt to be the very first to hear Old Hungry's bark.
MR. 'POSSUM SAID NOT TO MOVE, THAT HE WOULD GO AFTER APIECE OF WOOD]
And when the fire got very low and it was getting cold, Mr. 'Possum saidfor them not to move; that he would go down after a piece of wood, andhe would attend to the fire as long as the wood lasted, and try tomake it last as long as possible. And every time the fire got very lowMr. 'Possum would bring a piece of wood, and sometimes he stayed a goodwhile (just for one piece of wood), but they still didn't think muchabout it--not then. What they did think about was how hungry they were,and Mr. 'Crow said he knew he could eat as much as the old ancestor ofhis that was told about in a book which he had once borrowed from Mr.Man's little boy who had left it out in the yard at dinner-time.
Then they all begged Mr. Crow to get the book and read it to them, andperhaps they could imagine they were not so hungry. So Mr. Crow broughtthe book and read them the poem about
THE RAVENOUS RAVEN
Oh, there was an old raven as black as could be, And a wonderful sort of a raven was he;
For his house he kept tidy, his yard he kept neat, And he cooked the most marvellous dainties to eat. He could roast, he could toast, he could bake, he could fry, He could stir up a cake in the wink of an eye, He could boil, he could broil, he could grill, he could stew-- Oh, there wasn't a thing that this bird couldn't do. He would smoke in the sun when the mornings were fair, And his plans for new puddings and pies would prepare; But, alas! like the famous Jim Crow with his shelf, He was greedy, and ate all his dainties himself.
HE WOULD SMOKE IN THE SUN WHEN THE MORNINGS WERE FAIR]
It was true he was proud of the things he could cook, And would call in his neighbors sometimes for a look, Or a taste, it may be, when his pastry was fine; But he'd never been known to invite them to dine. With a look and a sigh they could stand and behold All the puddings so brown and the sauces of gold; With a taste and a growl they'd reluctantly go Praying vengeance to fall on that greedy old crow.
WITH A LOOK AND A SIGH THEY WOULD STAND AND BEHOLD]
Now, one morning near Christmas when holly grows green, And the best of good things in the markets are seen, He went out for a smoke in the crisp morning air, And to think of some holiday dish to prepare. Mr. Rabbit had spices to sell at his store, Mr. Reynard had tender young chicks by the score, And the old raven thought, as he stood there alone, Of the tastiest pastry that ever was known.
Then away to the market he hurried full soon, Dropping in for a chat with the 'possum and 'coon Just to tell them his plans, which they heard with delight, And to ask them to call for a moment that night
THE TASTIEST PASTRY THAT EVER WAS KNOWN]
For a look and a taste of his pastry so fine, And he hinted he might even ask them to dine. Then he hurried away, and the rest of the day Messrs. 'Possum and 'Coon were expectant and gay.
Oh, he hurried away and to market he went, And his money for spices and poultry he spent, While behind in the market were many, he knew, Who would talk of the marvellous things he would do; So with joy in his heart and with twinkling eye He returned to his home his new project to try, Then to stir and to bake he began right away, And his dish was complete at the end of the day.
THEN TO STIR AND TO BAKE HE BEGAN RIGHT AWAY]
Aye, the marvel was done--'twas a rich golden hue, And its smell was delicious--the old raven knew That he never had made such a pastry before, And a look of deep trouble his countenance wore; "For," thought he, "I am certain the 'possum and 'coon That I talked with to-day will be coming here soon, And expect me to ask them to dine, when, you see, There is just a good feast in this dainty for me."
Now, behold, he'd scarce uttered his thoughts when he heard At the casement a tapping--this greedy old bird-- And the latch was uplifted, and gayly strode in Both the 'coon and the 'possum with faces agrin. They were barbered and brushed and arrayed in their best, In the holiday fashion their figures were dressed, While a look in each face, to the raven at least, Said, "We've come here to-night, sir, prepared for a feast."
And the raven he smiled as he said, "Howdy-do?" For he'd thought of a plan to get rid of the two; And quoth he, "My dear friends, I am sorry to say That the wonderful pastry I mentioned to-day When it came to be baked was a failure complete, Disappointing to taste and disturbing to eat. I am sorry, dear friends, for I thought 'twould be fine; I am sorry I cannot invite you to dine."
And the 'coon and the 'possum were both sorry, too, And suspicious, somewhat, for the raven they knew. They declared 'twas too bad all that pudding to waste, And they begged him to give them at least just a taste, But he firmly refused and at last they departed, While the greedy old crow for the dining-room started, And the pie so delicious he piled on his plate, And he ate, and he ate, and he ate, and he ate!
THE GREEDY OLD RAVEN, BUT GREEDY NO MORE]
Well, next morn when the 'possum and 'coon passed along They could see at the raven's that something was wrong, For no blue curling smoke from the chimney-top came; So they opened his door and they called out his name, And they entered inside, and behold! on the floor Was the greedy old raven, but greedy no more: For his heart it was still--not a flutter was there-- And his toes were turned up and the table was bare; Now his epitaph tells to the whole country-side How he ate, and he ate, and he ate till he died.
When Mr. Crow finished, Mr. Rabbit said it was certainly an interestingpoem, and if he just had a chance now to eat till he died he'd take it,and Mr. 'Coon said he'd give anything to know how that pie had tasted,and he didn't see how any _one_ pie could be big enough to kill anybodythat felt as hungry as _he_ did now. And Mr. 'Possum didn't say much ofanything, but only seemed drowsy and peaceful-like, which was curiousfor _him_ as things were.
Well, all that day, and the next day, and the next, there wasn'tanything to eat, and they sat as close as they could around the littlefire and wished they'd saved some of the big logs and some of the food,too, that they had used up so fast when they thought the big snow wouldgo away. And the bark of Old Hungry-Wolf got louder and louder, and hebegan to gnaw, too, and they all heard it, day and night--all except Mr.'Possum, who said he didn't know why, but that for some reason hecouldn't hear a sound like that at all, which was _very_ strange,indeed.
But there was something else about Mr. 'Possum that was strange. Hedidn't get any thinner. All the others began to show the change rightaway, but Mr. 'Possum still looked the same, and still kept cheerful,and stepped around as lively as ever, and that was _very strange_.
By-and-by, when Mr. 'Possum had gone down-stairs for some barrel stavesto burn, for the wood was all gone, Mr. Rabbit spoke of it, and said hecouldn't understand it; and then Mr. 'Coon, who had been thinking aboutit too, said he wondered why it sometimes took Mr. 'Possum so long toget a little bit of wood. Then they all remembered how Mr. 'Possum hadstayed so long down-stairs whenever he went, even before Old Hungry-Wolfcame to the Hollow Tree, and they couldn't understand it _at all_.
And just then Mr. 'Possum came up with two little barrel staves which hehad been a long time getting, and they all turned and looked at him veryclosely, which was a thing they had never done until that time. Andbefore Mr. 'Possum noticed it, they saw him chew--a kind of last,finishing chew--and then give a little swallow--a sort of last,finishing swallow--and just then he noticed them watching him, and hestopped right in his tracks and dropped the two little barrel staves andlooked very scared and guilty, which was strange, when he had alwaysbeen so willing about the wood.
Then they all got up out of their chairs and looked straight at Mr.'Possum, and said:
"What was that you were chewing just now?"
And Mr. 'Possum couldn't say a word.
LOOKED STRAIGHT AT MR. 'POSSUM AND SAID, "WHAT WAS THATYOU WERE CHEWING JUST NOW?"]
Then they all said:
"What was that you were swallowing just now?"
And Mr. 'Possum couldn't say a word.
Then they all said:
"Why do you always stay so long when you go for wood?"
And Mr. 'Possum couldn't say a word.
Then they all said:
"Why is it that you don't get thin, like the rest of us?"
And Mr. 'Possum couldn't say a word.
Then they all said:
"Why is it you never hear the bark of Old Hungry-Wolf?"
And Mr. 'Possum said, very weakly:
"I did think I heard it a little while ago."
Then they all said:
"And was that why you went down after wood?"
And once more Mr. 'Possum couldn't say a word.
Then they all said:
"What have you got _down there_ to eat? And _where_ do you keep it?"
Then Mr. 'Possum seemed to think of something, and picked up the twolittle barrel staves and brought them over to the fire and put them on,
and looked very friendly, and sat down and lit his pipe and smoked aminute, and said that climbing the stairs had overcome him a little, andthat he wasn't feeling very well, but if they'd let him breathe aminute he'd tell them all about it, and how he had been preparing a nicesurprise for them, for just such a time as this; but when he saw theyhad found out something, it all came on him so sudden that, what withclimbing the stairs and all, he couldn't quite gather himself, but thathe was all right now, and the surprise was ready.
"Of course you know," Mr. 'Possum said, "that I have travelled a gooddeal, and have seen a good many kinds of things happen, and know aboutwhat to expect. And when I saw how fast we were using up the food, andhow deep the snow was, I knew we might expect a famine that even Mr.Crow's johnny-cake and gravy wouldn't last through; and Mr. Crowmentioned something of the kind once himself, though he seemed to forgetit right away again, for he went on giving us just as much as ever. ButI didn't forget about it, and right away I began laying aside in a quietplace some of the things that would keep pretty well, and that we wouldbe glad to have when Old Hungry-Wolf should really come along and we hadlearned to live on lighter meals and could make things last."
Mr. 'Possum was going right on, but Mr. 'Coon interrupted him, and saidthat Mr. 'Possum could call it living on lighter meals if he wanted tobut that he hadn't eaten any meal at all for three days, and that if Mr.'Possum had put away anything for a hungry time he wished he'd get itout right now, without any more explaining, for it was food that hewanted and not explanations, and all the others said so too.
Then Mr. 'Possum said he was just coming to that, but he only wished tosay a few words about it because they had seemed to think that he wasdoing something that he shouldn't, when he was really trying to savethem from Old Hungry-Wolf, and he said he had kept his surprise as longas he could, so it would last longer, and that he had been pretendingnot to hear Old Hungry's bark just to keep their spirits up, and hesupposed one of the reasons why he hadn't got any thinner was because hehadn't been so worried, and had kept happy in the nice surprise he hadall the time, just saving it for when they would begin to need it most.As to what he had been chewing and swallowing when he came up-stairs,Mr. 'Possum said that he had been taking just the least little taste ofsome of the things to see if they were keeping well--some nice cookedchickens, for instance, from a lot that Mr. Crow had on hand and didn'tremember about, and a young turkey or two, and a few ducks, and a bushelor so of apples, and a half a barrel of doughnuts, and--
But Mr. 'Possum didn't get any further, for all the Deep Woods Peoplemade a wild scramble for the stairs, with Mr. 'Possum after them, andwhen they got down in the store-room he took them behind one of the bigroots of the Hollow Tree, and there was a passageway that none of themhad ever suspected, and Mr. 'Possum lit a candle and led them through itand out into a sort of cave, and there, sure enough, were all the thingshe had told them about and some mince-pies besides. And there was evensome wood, for Mr. 'Possum had worked hard to lay away a supply ofthings for a long snowed-in time.
Then all the Hollow Tree People sat right down there and had some of thethings, and by-and-by they carried some more up-stairs, and some wood,too, and built up a fine big fire, and lit their pipes and smoked, andforgot everything unpleasant in the world. And they all said how smartand good Mr. 'Possum was to save all that food for the very time whenthey would need it most, when all the rest of them had been just eatingit up as fast as possible and would have been now without a thing in theworld except for Mr. 'Possum.
Then Mr. 'Possum asked them if they could hear Old Hungry-Wolf any more,and they listened but they couldn't hear a sound, and then they went upinto Mr. Crow's room, and into Mr. 'Coon's room, and into Mr. 'Possum'sroom, and they couldn't see a thing of him anywhere, though it was justthe time of day to see him, for it was late in the evening--the timeOld Hungry-Wolf is most likely to look in the window.
And that night it turned warm, and the big snow began to thaw; and itthawed, and it thawed, and all the brooks and rivers came up, and eventhe Wide Blue Water rose so that the Deep Woods Company had to stay alittle longer in the Hollow Tree, even when all the snow was nearlygone. Mr. Rabbit was pretty anxious to get home, and started out oneafternoon with Mr. Turtle along, because Mr. Turtle is a good swimmer.But there was too much water to cross and they came back again just atsunset, and Mr. Crow let them in,[C] so they had to wait several dayslonger. But Mr. 'Possum's food lasted, and by the time it was gone theycould get plenty more; and when they all went away and left the threeHollow Tree People together again, they were very happy because they hadhad such a good time; and the 'Coon and 'Possum and the Old Black Crowwere as good friends as ever, though the gray feathers on the top of Mr.Crow's head never did turn quite black again, and some of the Deep WoodsPeople call him "Silver-Top" to this day.
The Little Lady looks anxiously at the Story Teller.
"Did Old Hungry-Wolf ever get inside of the Hollow Tree?" she asks.
"No, he never did get inside; they only saw him through the window, andheard him bark."
"And why couldn't Mr. 'Possum ever hear him sometimes?"
"Well, you see, Old Hungry isn't a real wolf, but only a shadowwolf--the shadow of famine. He only looks in when people dread famine,and he only barks and gnaws when they feel it. A famine, you know, iswhen one is very hungry and there is nothing to eat. I don't think Mr.'Possum was very hungry, and he had all those nice things laid away, sohe would not care much about that old shadow wolf, which is only anothername for hunger."
The Little Lady clings very close to the Story Teller.
"Will we ever see Old Hungry-Wolf and hear his bark?"
The Story Teller sits up quite straight, and gathers the Little Ladytight.
"Good gracious, no!" he says. "He moved out of our part of the countrybefore you were born, and we'll take good care that he doesn't come backany more."
"I'm glad," says the Little Lady. "You can sing now--you know--the'Hollow Tree Song.'"
FOOTNOTE:
[C] See picture on cover.