“OH, dear! oh, dear!” groaned this knocked-about Fox, as he scrambled through a small hole in the bottom of the mud kettle. “Whatever shall I do? I have lost my eyes, my ears, my teeth, and my tail. Oh, if I could but find a pair of eyes to see a bit with!” But as he could not feel any such things were lying about, he thought that he had but one thing left to do, and that was to dig a deep hole in the ground at once, and cover himself quietly. He found it a hard matter to dig at all, he was so bruised and sore; but at last, after trying many times in vain, he managed to dig a deep hole. When he had finished it he

He crawled and crawled, and crawled right down to the bottom, and whom should he run against there but Digger the Mole?

“Thank you kindly for your help,” said the Mole. “I was so knocked up with my week's work that I do not know how I should have ever dug up to the grass again. What have you lost that you dig down?”

“I have lost my eyes,” moaned Redlegs.

“What is the use of eyes?” asked Digger the Mole. “I found a beautiful pair the other day, but I never use them. You may have them, if you like.”

“You are very good,” said the poor Fox. “Thank you.” Redlegs soon put his eyes in, and, bidding the tired Mole “Goodnight,” scrambled up the hole and went on his way merrily.

But after a while, when he came past Duck Lake, what should he see but that fat old dame, Mrs. Duck, catching poor little Jack Frog? The great coward of a Duck soon swam away when she saw the Fox coming, and so left poor little Jack behind.

“Thank you kindly for your help,” croaked the Frog; “you were only just in time. But what have you lost that you walk on dry land?”

“I've lost my tail,” cried Redlegs.

“What can be the use of tails?” asked Jack Frog. “I found a beautiful bushy tail only the other day; but do you think that I have ever tried to wear it? I'll give it to you, if you like to have it.”

“Thank you,” said Redlegs, politely, and he soon stuck his tail on, you may be sure, and, bidding Jack Frog “Good-day,” off he went again. Well he walked on till the sun rose, and then he began to feel very warm, so as he could not find anything better than some fine prickly thistles that grew by the roadside, he used them as a fan, and a very fine one it made him, I assure you.

Suddenly a great noise arose, and, turning a sharp corner, whom should he meet but Ned the Donkey?

“Hee-haw!” shrieked the Donkey. “Oh! what would I give for a thistle!”

“Here are plenty of thistles for you, if that is all you want,” said Redlegs, giving him some.

“Thank you kindly,” said the Donkey, munching them up. “But, I say, what have you lost that you carry thistles about without eating them?”

“I have lost my ears,” groaned the Fox, as he looked at the Donkey's fine pair.

“What can be the use of ears?” asked the Donkey. “I wish to goodness I had none. Here, I will give you mine with great pleasure, if you like to put them on.”

“You are very good,” said Redlegs in great joy. “Thank you.” And he soon buckled his ears on, as you may very well suppose.

On he went again, till in the afternoon he drew near the Dog's house, and what do you think he came upon then? Why, nothing less than Old Keeper the Dog, worrying Tabby the Cat. No sooner did the Dog set eyes on the Fox's magnificent pair of ears, than they so startled him that he set up the most dismal howl you ever heard, and ran straight away home without stopping,

“Thank you kindly,” said Tabby the Cat, when she had become herself a little, and was able to speak. “What have you lost that you walk along with your mouth open?” for Redlegs had certainly opened his mouth.

“I have lost my teeth,” he whispered.

“Have you? Ah! that is a bad job,” returned the Cat, shaking her head. “I found a fine set the other day. They are too large for me, so I suppose they must be too large for you. You can try them if you like, though.”

“Thank you,” said the Fox, “I will.”

And so it happened that they fitted exactly. So on he went again, restored eyes, ears, tail, and teeth, singing to himself, and as happy as a prince.