Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-28
Sammy Jays Message to Old
Man Coyote.

While Farmer Browns Boy was doing
lot of hard thinking about those traps
he had set for Old Man Coyote Sammy
Jay was making a call on Old Man
Coyote. Yes, sir, Sammy was calling on
Old Man Coyote. You see he had been
sent with q message from the little peo-
pie of the Smiling Pool and the Green
Meadows. That message was vote Of
thanks to Old Man Coyote for leading
Bowser the Hound into b trap and SO
teaching Farmer Browns Boy lesson.
You see they all felt what was really
true, that Farmer Browns Boy would
almost rather have been caught him
self than to have had Bowser caught.
Sammy found Old Man Coyote at
home, and what do you suppose he was
doing? tie was digging out and uncov-
ering every one of the traps that Farmer
Browns Boy had set so carefully. And
as he worked he growled and grumbled
to himself. for those traps made him
very angry. Sammy stopped to listen. a
very lmpolite thing to do. and he grinned
as he heard Old Man Coyote say all
kinds OF unpleasant things about
Farmer Browns Boy. You know Sammy
is always willing to believe the worst
of any one. When Old Man Coyote
looked up and saw Sammy he snarled
at him. You know no one likes to be
overheard talking to himself, especially
when saying unpleasant things.
Sammy pretended that he had just ar
rived and that he didn't notice Old Man
Coyotes bad temper.
Good morn ng, Mr.. Coyote" said he.
making grand bow and speaking as
pleasantly as he knew how. Il have
the honor to bring you message from
the little people of the Green Meadows
and the Smiling Pool"
Old Man Coyote pricked up his ears
and grinned. Whats worrying them
now?' he demanded. You can go
straight back and tell them that 1 like
the Green Meadows and that 1 intend
to stay here. If they don't like 1t they
can go themselves.
You see he knew very well that he was
the most feared of all the little people
living on the Green Meadows, and that
no one had any love for him.
you've guessed wrong this time"
chuckled Sammy: You've guessed
wrong this time. Mr.. Coyote. It's vote
"What?" exclaimed Old Man Coyote
looking very foolish and very much as II
he thought Sammy Jay was making fun
Of him. Probably this was the first time
in all his life that he had ever been
thanked for anything. and it gave him
a queer feeling.
II said it's a vote Of thanks replied
Sammy.
what for?" asked Old Man Coyote
gruffiy, and looking very much puzzled.
For leading Bowser the Hound into
trap and so teaching him and his master
what dreadful things traps are" replied
Sammy.
pooh. that's nothing" said Old Man
Coyote. II guess that silly dog has
learned lesson. but that doesn't look
as If his master has, does it?" He point
ed to the traps he had just uncovered.
Sammy scratched his head thought
fully Moo" said he slowly. Moo. I
can't say that it does. What pity it is
that some one doesn't trap him, Then
you people wouldn't have to worry. I'm
glad l live in trees and not on the
ground. 1 don't have to worry about
traps"
do you notice that I am doing much
worrying?' grunted Old Man Coyote.
Traps don't bother me. 1t will take
some one smarter than Farmer Browns
Boy to set a trap that will catch me"
Sammy looked at Old Man Coyote in
admiration. for 1t was very plain to see
that he was not Dragging. He was just
stating fact.
my. how smart you are" exclaimed
Sammy. 1--WE always said that you were
the smartest person on the Green
Meadows. Nobody else. not even Granny
Fox. would have been smart enough to
have found those traps
Old Man Coyote locked very much fiat
tered. Sammy's quick eyes saw it, Il
mean it," he said. Old Man Coyote
looked I'M at him with a kinder express
sion in his yellow eyes than Sammy ever
had seen before. It began to look as II
they were going to be friends.