Tom has a rich imaginative life but lacks the brawn and sporting prowess of his father, brothers and cousins. During his holiday with country relatives he closely observes a fox and her cubs and thwarts plans to destroy them. Tom writes funny letters to his city friend.

Tom thinks that going to his relatives' farm will be just as bad as every other athletic thing his parents have forced him to do. It starts out bad, but Tom spots a black fox and spends the summer watching her and her baby. Towards the end, the fox gets into the chickens, and his uncle hunts it by catching the baby and putting it in a cage. Tom releases the baby in the middle of the night, but his Aunt and Uncle understand. ( )