The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-03
* Little Stories for Bedtime II
Cl,attcrer Listens to the Small Voice.

The Very first of the little meadow
and forest people to sec Chattcrcr tho
Red Squirrel after he had safely
reached the Old Orchard was Tommy
Tit the ChicNadec. 1t Just happened
that Tommy WAS very busy in tho
very apple tree in which was the old
home OF Drummer tho Moodpecker
Chattcrer had moved into it for the
winter just IL little while before he
Il been causht in tho corn crib by
Farmer Browns boy.
Yes. sir, Tommy was very busy .in-
decd. He was SO busy thu sharp AS
his bright little eyes are he had not
seen Chattcrcr racing along the SHOW
covered old stone wall. 1t wasn't
until he heard Chattcrcr's claws on
the trunk of the apple tree that Tom
Fly saw him ut all. Thel, he was so
surprised that he lost his balance ami
almost turned u sonersnult in the air
before he caught another twig. You
see, lie knew all about Chattcrer and
how he had been kept a prisoner by
FTnler Browns boy.
Why! Whye-e: is this really You.
Chatterer?" he exclaimed. "iiowcvcr
did you get out of your prison? I'm
glad. ever and ever SO glad. that you
got away"
Chatterer tlirted his all in the
saucy way he has, and his eyes
twinkled. Here was just the hes,
chance ever to boast and bras. He
could tell Tommy Tit how smart he
from Farmer Browns boy. Tommy
Tit would tell the other little people.
and then everybody would think hin,
just rs smart as inc Billy Possum,
and O know Tnc' Billy really WAS
smart enough to get away from
Farmer Browns boy after being
caught. Everybody knew thar Chat
that he was free everybody would
believe whatever he told them about
how he got away. Was there vct
such a. chance to make his friends
and neishbors say. what Il smart
fellow he is"
IL" Chatterer stopped. Their
he began again. You see. it was
this way: IL" Somehow Chat
terer couldn't say what he had meant
bright merry eyes We're looking right
into his head and heart and could see
his very thoughts. OF course, they
couldn't. The truth, that little small
voice inside. which Chatterer had SO
often refused to listen to when he
was tempted to do wrong. was talking
GIn1f,,e IT was Eor saying; For rs shame,
truth. Tell the truth" 1t was that
little small voice that made C%hatterer
hesitate M stop.
You don't mean to say that YOU
We're smart enough to fool Farmer
Browns boy and get out of that stout
little prison he made for you, do
you?' asked Tommy Tit.
NO." replied Chatterer almost be.
fore he thought NO, l didn't. The
fact is. Tommy Tit, he left the door
open purposely. He let me go. Farm.
er Browns boy isn't half SO bad as
some people think"
Dee. dee. dce." laughed Tommy
Tit. I've been telling a lot of YOU
fellows that for a long time, but none
of you would believe me. Now I guess
you know it. Why. I'm not the leas.
bit sfraid of Farmer Browns boy
not the least little bit in the world.
If all the. little forest and meadow
people would only trust him instead
of running away from him. he would
be the very best friend we have"
SO" replied Chatterer,
doubttully. He was very good to
me while I IA in his prison and
I'm not so Very much afraid of him
now. Just the same, 1 don't mean
to let him get hands on me again"
"Pooh!" sid Tommy Tit. "Pooh!
Id just as soon eat out of his hand.'
That's all very we'll for you to say
when gu are flying around free,
but I don't believe you dare go up