The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-09-05
The Four Little Bunnies Learn How
to 'Freeze."
-tBy Thornton.W Burgess.)

lBy Thornton"W Burgese.)
Copyright, 1913, by j. q. Lloyd.)
The first great lesson which little
meadow and forest people. as we'll as
little boys and girls. have to learn
is to mind. Some learn it right away,
while others, like Little Peter, Peter
Rabbits favorite baby. learn only by
bitter experience. Little Pete had
already had to go hungry because he
was Swollen and dreadfully sore be.
cause he had persisted in bothering
Bundle the Bee after he had been
told not to. OF course Ms tender
hearted little SISTERS, ,Iaz4y :4nd Wuz-
~. were sorry afof him and tried to
comfort him, but his brother, Little
Jed. who had minded. said that 1t
tie Pete didn't like that, but down
deep -tn his heart he knew that It
was true, and he made up his mind
that never. never would he disobey
again.
Now the. second great lesson that
little meadow and forest people have
to learn grows out Of the first and is
called "freezing." Don't shiver and
kind Of freezing at all. Oh, my no.
It il simply sitting. or standing per-
fectly still. just as stall as If an icy
breath from fierce Brother North
Wind had frozen o 30 stiff that You
couldn't move If you tried. Know
Ing just. how and when to do this is
the most important lesson that the
little meadow and forest people have
learn 1t best live the longest.
Now Peter Rabbit knows all about
freezing" Many a time he has sat
almost under Hooty the Owl and
Hooty couldn't see him because he
didn't move. so much as his nose. So
Peter was very particular that his
four babies should be taught Just how
learn 1t wouldn't be safe for them
to even peep outside Of the dear old
briar patch. Sammy Jay was on hand
ITO watch. Sammy knows all about
freezing; though he seldom has to.
practise It himself.
Now" said Peter. you children
80 play. but all the time you are
PLAYING keep your ears open. and the
me thump like this'-Peter struck the
ground a quick, sharp blow with his
hind feet-'stop right where you are
and don't move the t%eeniest, weeniest
bit until you, hear two .thumps, which
will mean that danger is past"
+ Then Peter and Mrs. Peter went
Stl out u elSAt II the FOUR little
Dummies started the merriest kind Of
"a game of tag. They had almost for
gotten that they. were at school, when
suddenly there was a sharp thump
from way " in the far corner Of
the old briar patch. Instantly each
little bunny stopped as II really and
truly frozen. They waited and watt
ed. a fly crawled over the sore nose
Of Little Pete. It seemed as If he
Just had to brush it off. but he didn't.
By and by he heard two thumps, and
It seemed to him that he never be-
fore heard such a welcome sound.
Good Bunny!" said Sammy Jay.
noddips his head approvinRly.
Then the game began again, until
there wal another thump.. when they
up ali the morning. II was fun. and
yet 1t was hard work. too. Once
Fuzzy sneexed. and Mrs. Peter, who
happened to be close by, promptly
punished her by knocking her over
with a kick from n Of her long hind
legs. Once little Jed was in such an
uncomfortable position that it seemed
to him he couldn't possibly. keep still
a second longer. but he did.
Finally Peter Rabbit made up his
mind that they had had lessons
enough for one day. and he was just
going to say so when the imp Of mis-
chief prompted Sammy Jay to scream
the way he always does when Reddy !
Fox is around. Instantly Peter gave
the signal thump and the four little
Dummies 'froze" Just where they were.
Now. of course. Peter didn't know
that Sammy was fooling, and GO he
dare give the sisnal that danger
was past. The four little bunnies sat
and sat and Peter and Mrs. Peter
sat and sat. until they all ached from
80 Laos Nl-,lI H
could keep it no longer. He jlst had
to laugh al the success Of his Joke.
Peter looked up angrily as he gave
the signal that told the tired little
Dummies they might move again.
Next story: Following Mammy's
Tail. -.
Ignorance will soon be an excuse.
for law violations: the Massachusetts .