Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-05
| STORIES FOR BEDTIME.
The Clever Plan Of Granny Fox.
BY Thornton w. Burgess.
BY Thornton w. Burgess.

The bold visit of old Granny Fox to
Bowser the Hound in Farmer Browns
dooryard right in broad daylight was all
part of a clever plan Granny had
worked out to make trouble for Old Man
Coyote. First she had sent Reddy Fox
to make sure that Mr.. Wolf was taking
his usual sun nap in his usual place. Ii
he was, Reddy was to softly steal away
and then hurry to the top Of the Crook
ed Little Path where it comes down the
hill When he got there he was to bark
three times. Granny was to be hidden
behind the old stone wall on the edge
of Farmer Browns orchard, and when
she heard Reddy bark she was to do her
part, while Reddy was to hide in a Sc
cret place on the edge of the Green
Forest and watch what would happen.
1t all turned out just as Granny had
planned She had been in hiding behind
the old stone wall only few minutes
when she heard Reddy bark three times.
Granny grinned. Then she stole up to
Farmer Browns dooryard. and there she
found Bowser the Hound fast asleep and
dreaming. Granny sat down in front
Of him at a safe distance and laughed,
for she knew by Bowser's little yelps
She was just getting ready to bark to
Waken him when he walked himself with
his own voice. Granny had laughed
harder than ever when she saw how
Bowser didn't know whether he was
awake or asleep.
1t was just then that a hen happened
to walk around the corner Of the house.
Grannys eyes sparkled.
, Good" she said to herself. "Ill take
this hen along with me and Reddy and
ha off hou
set Bowser to chasing Old Man Coyote.
for that was what Granny was planning
to do. So she caught the hen. threw 1t
over her shoulder. and started on with
BOwser the Hound after her, making a
great noise with his big voice.
Now. OF course. Granny knew that she
couldn't carry that hen very far and
keep ahead OF Bowser, SO she ran
straight across the old orchard, toward
the secret place on the edge Of the
Green Forest, where she knew that
Reddy Fox was hiding. When she was
sure that Reddy could see her she gave
the hen toss over into the grass and
then raced away toward the Green Mead
ows. You see, she knew that EowseT
would keep right on after her, and when
1t was safe for him to do so. Reddy
would steal out from his hiding place
and get the hen, and that Is just what
did happen.
Away ran Granny, and after her ran
Bowser and all the little meadow and
forest people heard his great voice and
were glad that he was not after them.
But Granny Fox was not worried. You
see. she had fooled him so many times
that she knew she could do 1t again. So
she kept just little ways ahead of him
and gradually led him toward the place
where Old Man Coyote took his sun NAP
every day. But she was too smart to
run straight toward 1t.
For" said she to herself. III do that
he will become alarmed and run away
before Bowser is near enough to see
| him." So she ran in a big circle around
the place, feeling sure that Old Man
Coyote would lie perfectly still so as not
| to be seen.
Round and round ran Granny Fox
with Bowser after her, and all the
time she was making the circle smaller
and smaller. so as to get nearer and
nearer to the mapping place Of Mr.. Wolf
When she thought that she was near
enough she suddenly started straight
| for 1t.
Now" thought she. "he'll jump and
run, and when Bowser sees him he will
I forget all about me. He will follow Old
Man Coyote. and perhaps he will drive
| him away from the Green Meadows for
ever"
Nearer and nearer to the mapping place
Granny drew. She was almost to It