Old Mother Nature was just about to open school when a slight noise up the Little Path drew all eyes in that direction. There, down the Lone Little Path, was a queer looking fellow. No one needed more than one look at that funny, sharp, black and white face of his to recognize him.  
“Bobby Coon!” shouted Peter Rabbit. “Are you coming to join our school, Bobby?”
 
Bobby along a little nearer, then sat up and blinked at them sleepily. No one needed to be told that Bobby had been out all night. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Hello, everybody,” said he. “I wish I felt as bright and lively as all of you look. I'd like to join your school, but I'm afraid if I did I would go to sleep right in the middle of the lesson. I ought to have been home an hour ago. So I guess I'll have to be excused.”
 
Old Mother Nature an accusing finger at Bobby Coon. “Bobby,” said she, “You've been getting in . Now own up you've been stealing some of that sweet, corn from Farmer Brown's cornfield.”
 
Bobby Coon hung his head. “I—I—I don't think it was stealing,” he . “That corn just grows, and I don't see why I shouldn't have my share of it. I help myself to other things, so why shouldn't I help myself to that?”
 
“I'll tell you why,” replied Old Mother Nature. “Farmer Brown planted that corn and took care of it. If he hadn't planted it, there wouldn't have been any corn there. That makes it his corn. If it grew wild, you would have a perfect right to it. As it is, you haven't any right to it at all. Now take my advice, Bobby, and keep away from that cornfield. If you don't, you will get in trouble. One of these fine nights Bowser the Hound will find you there and you will have to run for your life. Keep away from temptation.”
 
“But that corn is so good,” sighed Bobby Coon, his lips. “There is nothing I like better than sweet, milky corn, and if I don't get it from Farmer Brown's cornfield, I can't get it at all, for it doesn't grow wild. He'll never miss the little I take.”
 
Old Mother Nature shook her head and looked very grave. “Bobby,” said she, “that is no excuse at all. Mark what I say: If you keep on you certainly will get in trouble. If you would be satisfied to take just an ear or two, I don't believe Farmer Brown would care, but you know very well that you spoil many times what you eat. You sample one ear, then think that probably the next ear will be better and sweeter and you try that. By the time you get through you have spoiled a lot, and eaten only a little. I think I'll punish you a little myself by keeping you here a while. If you think you can't keep awake, just go over and sit down there by Prickly Porky; he'll keep you awake.”
 
“I—I think I can keep awake,” Bobby and opened his eyes very wide as if he were trying to stretch his so as to make them stay open.
 
“I'll help you by asking you a few questions,” replied Old Mother Nature. “Who is it that people sometimes call you the little cousin of?”
 
Bobby grinned. “Buster Bear,” said he.
 
“That's right,” replied Old Mother Nature.
 
“Of course, being a Raccoon, you are not a Bear, but you are related to the Bear family. I want you all to notice Bobby's footprints over yonder. You will see that the print of his foot shows the whole foot, heels and toes, and is a lot like Buster Bear's footprint on a small scale. Bobby along in much the same way that Buster walks. No one ever mistakes Bobby Coon for any one else. There is no danger that any one ever will as long as he carries that big, bushy tail with its broad black and gray rings. There is only one other in all this great country with a tail so marked, and that is a relative of Bobby's of whom I will tell you later. And there is no other face like Bobby's with its black cheeks. You will notice that Bobby is rather small around the shoulders, but is big and heavy around the . That gives him a clumsy look, but he is anything but clumsy. Despite the fact that his legs are not very long Bobby is a very good runner. However, he doesn't do any running unless he has to. Bobby, where were you before you went over to Farmer Brown's cornfield?”
 
Once more Bobby hung his head. It was quite clear that Bobby didn't want to answer that question. But Old Mother Nature insisted, and finally Bobby it out. “I was up to Farmer Brown's hen house,” said he.
 
“What for?” asked Old Mother Nature.
 
“Oh, just to look around,” replied Bobby.
 
“To look around for what?” insisted Old Mother Nature.
 
“Well,” said Bobby, “I thought one of those Hens up there might have dropped an egg that she didn't really care about.”
 
“Bobby,” said Old Mother Nature sternly, “why don't you own up that you went over there to try to steal eggs? Or did you think you might catch a tender young Chicken? Where were you night before last?”
 
“Over at the Laughing and the Smiling Pool,” replied Bobby , evidently glad............