Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26

above, you are not going to sit there In
that wet coat and catch your death of cold :?
You must not do it. I would be only too
glad to come down and smoke with you
and oner you some of my tobacco, for
know that yours must all have gotten wet
when you took your early bath but since
you haven't asked me I suppose that must
stay where l am. However II there Is
anything that can do for you, don't hesi-
tate to ask me-" To all of which the fox
offered no reply, but sat quietly before his
fire with his back against the trunk of the
tree.
Cousin Coon could easily have dropped
into the water and swan out of the fox s
way, but he thought that by staying in
the tree he could annoy the old fellow still
more. He remained in the tree chatting
the fox and occasionally singing to him.
but finally he thought that as he had got
ten up there to take nap. he would do so,
and he was soon fast asleep.
When he awoke he that the big
moon had climbed higher in the sky, and
It's bright light showed him that his cousin
was still at his post. Quietly slipping down
the tree trunk he discovered that Old Fox
was sound asleep and snoring. He made
sure that the fox was really sleeping. and
then from the trunk of the tree he leaped
lightly to the ground. Not a move made
the fox, even when the coon picked up a
twig and tickled the end of Old Foxs nose
Now, it seemed too bad to miss playing a
prank on the fox when he had such an op-
portunity, so. stealing down under the river
bank, where he knew there was some soft,
sticky clay, he soon returned with a guam
tity OF 1t. This he put on fiat rock that
was nearby and daubed it thickly all over
the foxs face, entirely covering his eyes
with 1t. Stepping back and taking look
at his handiwork he said:
My cousin will have a good time getting
MS lace clean In the morning especially IL
he sits there by the fire until all of that
gets dry. l wonder If l hadn't better
awaken him and tell him to go home"
Having said this he turned and set off to-
ward nome; but he stopped every now and
then to roll and laugh at the scrape that
Old Fox would find himself in this time.
when he awoke.
The great moon had gone and it was
growing light in the east when Old Fox
awoke; but everything looked pretty dark
TO MIN. He soon found out that try as he
might, he was unable to open his eyes. He
staggered blindly around nearly tumblng
over the bank into the river, which would
have been the best thing for him; and then
1t dawned upon him that he was again
trlcked by his scamp of cousin.
II was all In vain, but he tried to rub off
the dried and hardened clay for it stuck
closer than burr and would not come off
he was certainly in a fix this time and
utterly al loss what to do next. He tried
TO ind the path and start on his way home
Wafo, Dut this effort only ended In getting
himself entangled in bunch of brambles
which he very plainly felt, though he could
not them.
AS ne sat qulet Tor a moment, wondering
what to do next, he heard on a dead branch
nigh in the tree above him the ringing tap
tap-tap of the little black and white wood
pecker. He listened and heard 1t again
Hon. my friend" he cried. won't you
come down heree and see If you can do
something for me?" Down came the busy
little bird, with a swift darling movement
''What is 1t that seems to be the matter
with you, friend Fox?" said the bird, "and
IN what way can I do anything for your
II believe that If you will be so good, you
can pick this dried mud off, enough at least
so that I may get my eyes open.'
yes. but am afraid that my sharp bill
Will go deeper than the mud. You know
that do not pick very lightly. However
will try to do the best that I can and
cause you as little pain possible" The
kind little bird went to work, and though
she was as careful as she could be- she
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