The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-08-11
><
Little Stories
For Bedtime
CHATTERER, RED SQUIRREL
TELLS WRONG STORY.

(By Thornton W. Bursess.)


Copyright, 1918. by ]. g. Lloyd.)
tbs It R wss s no,hinE new 3e ts for e c Wsess
story. Indeed. Chatterer has told 50
many wrong stories that no one be-
iieves him even when he tells the
truth, which. Of course Is a dreadful
state Of affairs. He is q great mis-
chief maker, n never SO happy as
when he has started trouble among
his neighbors in the Green Forest
But. like a great many other wrong.
truthful, and when n n suggests
that he isn't he grows very angry and
pretends to feel very much injured.
So this time, when Drummer the
Woodpecker accused him of having
stolen an egg from Drummer's nest
in an old apple tree. Chatterer few
into such a rage at the very idea Of
mer actually began to think that 1t
might be that he was mistaken.
Just as soon as Chatterer saw that
Drummer was beginning to think he
might be mistaken Chatterer made up
a story in which there wasn't one BIT
Of truth, but which he meant should
set Drummer to watching some one
else. This will give me a chance to
steal the rest of the eggs while some
n else is blamed for It," he thought
to himself: You see, he really had
Drummer that he had been running
along the old stone wall that morning
when he just happened to look up in
the old apple tree, where Drummer's
nest was, and who should he see just
pulling his head out Of the doorway
but Sammy Jay. Sammy had some
thing white in his mouth, and while
| ChQftaror. rny0dn't he a,rrh ohonx ;S
he thought it was an egg. Now that
Drummer said that one had been
stolen he was, sure that Sammy Jay
must be the thief.
Now Drummer knew perfectly we'll
that Sammy Jay steals eggs every
chance he gets. and 1t so happened
that he had himself caught a glimpse
of Sammy's sky blue coat in the old
orchard that very morning. So he
Chatterer in spite Of the fact that
he knew him to be every bit as bad
a thief as Sammy Jay. He looked
very sharply at Chatterer, but Chat
terer looked so innocent as he sat
with his hands folded across his white
waistcoat that Drummer begged par
don for accusing him. and then told
him of the dreadful things he would
do to Sammy Jay if he ever caught
him around his nest again.
Now Chatterer had told this wrong
story about Sammy Jay because
Sammy happened to be the first one
he thought of. Now as hi scampered
back 10 the Green Forest he chuckled
to himself, for he saw that his wrong
story might make trouble for Sammy
Jay. He hoped it would. He never
did love Sammy Jay and now If he
could make trouble for Sammy moth
ing would please him more. Instead
Of feeling sorry for having told a
wrong story, an untruth, he was glad
Of 1t.
I'll get all. those eggs of Drum
mer's and Sammy Jay will get the
blame" he chuckled. Now ] must
think Of some way to get Sammy
Jay to visit the old orchard tomor.
row morning so that Drummer the
Woodpecker will be sure to see him
hanging around"
And so from telling one wrong story
Chatterer was already planning to
tell another. It's always that way.
One little deed you know is wrong,
One little story not quite true,
And soon another follows it
Because it's easier to do.
Next story: Drummer. the Wood.
pecker, is Robbed Again."