Mister Billy's Gun

"Got to get a gun! Got to get a gun!" Mister Billy fumes to Miss Addie, for a band of hungry quail are nibbling away at his vegetable garden. Miss Addie, preferring softer remedies, suggests a scarecrow or a fence. But the quail, friendly birds, are soon old pals of the flop-armed scarecrow's, and the fence is easy to fly over.

A sprained ankle puts Mister Billy grumpily to bed, and the quail keep him company, visiting at his bedroom window. Mister Billy recovers and decides to try once more. This time he will scare the quail away. The faithful quail see him coming–one hops on his shoe, another whirrs up to his shoulder, another roosts on his gun barrel. Mister Billy, covered with quail, lowers his gun and retreats to the house, where Miss Addie hits on a surprising answer – for the quail and Mister Billy.