The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-01-19
Little Stories for Bedtime
CHATTERER HAS HIS TURN no
LAUGH.
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
Copyright, 1913. by J. G. Lloyd.)

Sammy Jay had not been up to the
Old Orchard for several days and
Chatterer the Red Squirrel was begin
ming 20 wonder If Sammy had grown
tired Of corn. But Chatterer had
learned that it is always best to be
prepared. and S o:every morning when
he had visited Farmer Browns corn
crib he had brought a generous sup
ply. back to the Old Orchard and hid
den it i'll several secret places in diff
ferent parts OF Hthe b stone wall n
some in Il certairA hollow in an old
apple tree. Chatt4rer couldn't quite
believe that Sammy had given up all
hope of making him more trouble, so
he meant to be prepared.
So when Sammy did appear early
one morning Chatterer was not in
the least surprised. He pretended to
be glad to see Sammy. In fact, he was
almost glad. You see, Sammy had so
many times proved his wits to be
sharper than Chatterer's that Chat
terer wanted to get even. Now, when
Sammy first made Chatterer promise
to get corn for him whenever he
wanted it Sammy had thought only of
the easy way it, would be to get all
the corn he wanted without working
for 1t. Afterward he had thought more
of the fun of seeing Chatterer in
trouble getting it, and SO when Chat
terer had at last found a way of al
ways having the corn ready without
running any risk at all Sammy had
spent all his spare time trying to
think OF some way to upset Chatter
er's simple plan. lie had noticed thai
Chatterer always got the cor for
him from a certain hiding place UNI
der the stones of the old wall. All in
a haSh q n1an hnd r0nnn6 into hiS
head-a plan to give Chatterer such a
fright that he would not dare visit
that hiding place. again in a hurry.
Then. of course. Sammy would have
the fun IF seeing Chatterer steal the
corn from the corn crib right under
the nose of Farmer Browns boy as he
had before.
So there was a sparkle of mischief
in Sammy's eyes al he came up to the
Old Orchard that morning. Chattercr
saw it right away and he guessed that
Sammy had some new plan under
that pert cap of his.
Good morning. Sammy Jay" said
Chatterer, pretending t be polite. II
ed of corn. | have some very nice,
corn ready for you, the Very best 1
could find in Farmer Browns corn
crib. Will you have some this morn
ing?" 5E. So
81 believe l will,r replied Sammy,
also pretending 10 be Very polite. ut
is very nice OF YOU to pick out the
best corn for me, and the very
thought of it makes me hungry. I be-
level would like some this very min
ute"
As he spoke he turned his head to
hide a grin. for. thought he. 'of coursc
Chatterer will so straight to that hid
ing place in the stone wall and then
we shall see some fun" He: glanced
hastily in that direction and he saw
a patch of red hall hidden behind the
WALL, and he know that 1t was; the red
coat of Reddy Fox. ;ReddX. vas hid
ing just where Sammy had told him
to go. .
Now .chatterer had been doing
some quick thinking. He remembered
the sharp trick Sammy had played on
him before. and he didn't have the
least doubt that sammy had planned
another. "Of course he expects me to
go straight to that place where he
knows l have hidden corn for him,
and II he has planned any trouble for
me-: that Is where it will. be-" thought
Chatterer. Il think I'LL get the corn
from one of the hiding , places he
doesn't know about" So.
with tina Chatterer; ran swiftly out
along a branch Of the tree he was in,
leaped across to another tree. and
then to q third, the one in. which was
the hollow in which he had put some
q, that corn. In a few minutes he was.
back with his cheeks pulled full;
Sammy Jay pretended to be very
much pleased. but he ate 1t as II he
had lost his appetite. as. indeed, he
had. You see he was wondering what
he should say to Reddy Fox. to whom,
he had promised aachancef to catch.
Chatterer. He knewsthat Reddy would
think that 1t was all M of 6afnmy's
tricks SO. without waiting to finish
ALI the corn, Sammy. politely said
est part Of the. Greens Forest. .a.
"Ha, .ha.. ha!. Ho, ho:. ,ho!" laughed
ChatteIer, as bis sharp ayes spied
Rsddy Fox trying toscreep away with
out being seen. "Ha. be. ha! Ho. no.