Paddy the Beaver Builds a Home

Paddy the Beaver lived in the mountains and dreamed of something more. He wanted his very own pond, with a cozy home inside.

One morning, Paddy set off down the hill to find the perfect spot. He walked into the Green Forest and found a little stream.

'This is the place,' said Paddy. He found a tall young tree and began to work. Chop, chop, chop went his strong sharp teeth.

The sound rang through the Green Forest. Sammy Jay flew down to see what was happening. 'What are you doing?' he called out.

'I am building a dam,' Paddy told Sammy Jay. 'It will hold back the water and make a pond.' He went right back to work. Chop, chop, chop went his strong sharp teeth.

The tall tree swayed and fell with a big crash. Paddy dragged the logs to the stream and piled them across the water.

He packed mud and sticks between the logs to hold them tight. Slowly the water crept higher behind the dam. A pond was growing in the Green Forest.

When the pond was big enough, Paddy began to build his lodge. He piled sticks and mud in the middle of the water. Chop, chop, chop went his strong sharp teeth.

Inside the pile, Paddy made a warm, dry room just right for sleeping. He could swim in through a secret underwater door.

As the days grew cool, Paddy tucked leafy branches under the water near his door. That was his food to eat all through the long winter.

When all the food was stored, Paddy rested at last. He sat on his lodge and looked out at his still, dark pond.

Paddy slipped softly into the water and swam inside his cozy home. He was warm and safe, and the pond was all his own. When you work hard and keep going, good things come.