Of course Sammy Jay knew all this , because he had had to go to school when he was a little fellow . So Sammy was not much surprised when , from his snug hiding-place in one of the old apple-trees , he discovered that there was a school in Farmer Brown 's old orchard . Johnny Chuck was the teacher and his three baby Chucks were the pupils . Sammy Jay was so interested in that funny little school in the old orchard that he quite forgot to think about mischief . The very first lesson that the three little Chucks had to learn was obedience . Johnny Chuck was very particular about that . You see he knew that unless they learned this first of all , none of the other lessons would do them much good . They must first learn to mind instantly , without asking questions . Dear me , dear me , Johnny Chuck certainly did have his hands full , teaching those three little Chucks to mind ! They were such lively little chaps , and there was so much that was new and wonderful to see , that it was dreadfully hard work to sit perfectly still , just because Johnny Chuck told them to . But if they did n't mind instantly , they were sure to have their ears soundly boxed , and sometimes were sent back to the house without a taste of the sweet , tender , young clover of which they were so fond . After a few lessons of this kind , they found out that it was always best to obey instantly , and then Johnny began to teach them other things , things which it is very important that every Chuck should know . First , there were signals . When Johnny whistled a certain way , it meant `` A stranger in sight ; possible danger ! '' Then each little Chuck would sit up very straight and not move the teeniest , weeniest bit , so that from a little distance they looked for all the world like tiny stumps . But all the time their sharp little eyes would be looking this way and that way , to see what the danger might be . After a while Johnny would give another little whistle , which meant `` Danger past . '' Then they would once more begin to fill their little stomachs with sweet , tender , young clover . Sometimes , however , Johnny would whistle sharply . That meant `` Run ! ''
Then they would scamper as fast as they could along the nearest little path to the house under the old apple-tree XXXXX the far corner , and never once look around .
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