It was too much for Sammy Jay . `` What are you so proud about , Johnny Chuck ? '' he demanded , in his harsh voice , `` If I did n't have a better looking coat than you 've got , I would n't put on airs ! '' You know Sammy Jay is very proud of his own handsome blue and white coat and dearly loves to show it off . `` It is n't that , '' said Johnny Chuck . `` Well , if it is because you think yourself so smart to hide yourself up here in the old orchard , let me tell you that I found you out long ago , and so did Reddy Fox , and Bowser the Hound , and Farmer Brown 's boy , '' sneered Sammy Jay in the most disagreeable way . `` It is n't that , '' said Johnny Chuck . `` Well , what is it , then ? '' snapped Sammy Jay . `` That 's for you to find out , '' replied Johnny Chuck . `` There 's foolish pride and silly pride and pride of low degree ; A better pride is honest pride , and that 's the pride for me . '' And with that , Johnny Chuck disappeared in his new house . XX SAMMY JAY UNDERSTANDS It was a beautiful morning . Jolly , round , red Mr. Sun had thrown his bedclothes off very early and started to climb up the sky , smiling his broadest . Old Mother West Wind had swept his path clear of clouds . The Merry Little Breezes , who , you know , are Mother West Wind 's children , had danced across the Green Meadows up to the old orchard , where they pelted each other with white and pink petals of apple blossoms until the ground was covered . Each apple-tree was like a huge bouquet of loveliness . Yes , indeed , it was very beautiful that spring morning . Sammy Jay had gotten up almost as early as Mr. Sun and Old Mother West Wind . As soon as he had swallowed his breakfast , he flew up to the old orchard and hid among the white and pink apple blossoms to watch for Johnny Chuck .
You see , he knew that Johnny Chuck had some sort of a secret which filled Johnny XXXXX very great pride ; but what it was Sammy Jay could n't even guess , and nothing troubles Sammy Jay quite so much as the feeling that he can not find out the secrets of other people .
about across among if in like than that up with