THE SPOTTED FAWN When Nimbles mother first looked at him she couldnt believe she would ever be able to raise him. He was such a tiny, frail, spotted thing that he seemed too delicate for a life of adventure on the wooded ridges and in the tangled swamps under the shadow of Blue Mountain. Bless me! cried the good lady. This childs not much taller than an overgrown beet top and he cant be any heavier than one of Farmer Greens prize cabbages. And his legsȔ she exclaimedȔhis legs are no thicker than pea pods.... Theyll be ready to eat in another month, she added, meaning not her childs legs, as you might have supposed, but Farmer Greens early June peas. For Nimbles mother was very fond of certain vegetables that did not grow wild in the woods. Of course young Nimble did not know what she was talking about. He had a great deal to learn. And he would have to wait until he was a good deal bigger before his mother took him on an excursion, by night, across the fields to Farmer Greens garden patch. All at once Nimble leaped quickly upon his slightly wobbly legs. He trembled and gazed up at his mother with a look of fear in his great eyes. At the same time his mother, too, lifted her head and listened for a few moments. Dont be afraid! she said then, to Nimble. Thats old SpotȔFarmer Greens dogȔbarking. But hes down near the barns, so we dont need to worry. That was the first time Nimble had ever heard a dogs voice. Yet no one needed to tell him that it wasnt a pleasant sound. Even his mother couldnt help feeling that she had better put a wide stretch of rough country between her new youngster and old Spots home. So in a little while she led the way slowly along the pine grown ridge which bent around a shoulder of the mountain. She was headed for the spring which marked the beginning of Broad Brook. Her little spotted fawn, Nimble, kept close beside her. Slowly as his mother moved, he found the traveling none too easy. And he was glad when she stopped in a pocket-like clearing. There she spoke to a proud speckled bird who was sitting on a log and amusing himself by spreading his tail feathers into a beautiful fan. Good morning, Mr. Grouse! said Nimbles mother. Good morning, madam! replied the gentleman with the fan. What a handsome child you have! Theres nothing quite like spotsȔor specklesȔto add to a persons looks. They are pretty, Nimbles mother agreed with a happy glance at her son. I cant say he favors his mother, Mr. Grouse remarked. Oh, I had spots enough when I was young, she explained. You see, all our family lose our spots as we grow up. Im glad to say, Mr. Grouse said with a flirt of his tail, that all our family keep their spots, every one of them. We get to be so swift-footed that we dont need spots, said Nimbles mother. That speech seemed to displease Mr. Grouse. I hope, he cried, you dont mean to say that we Grouse arent swift! No, indeed! Nimbles mother answered hastily. I should hope not! was Mr....