The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-09
y Little Stories for Bedtime *
~CHATTERER GROWS VERY,
VERY, BOLD.
(By Thornton ". Burvcss,1

Copyright, 1914, by j.. G. Ll0yd.)
I'm not afraid. I'm afraid. I'm
not afraid. I'm afraid. I'm not
afraid" Chatterer the Red Squirrel
kept saying these two things over and
over and over again to himself. You
see, he really was afraid. and he was
trying to make himself believe that
he wasn't afraid. He thought that
perhaps iii, he said ever and ever so
many times that, he wasn't afraid he
might actually make himself believe
loe5sdidSsit 1ittls selce, .aiitlic truth
full voice down inside, seemed to
speak right up and tell him that he
was|afraid.
Poor Rchattcrcr: 1t hurt his pride
to have to W to himself that he
wasn't as brave as little Tommy Tit
the C~hickadee. His common sense
told him that there was No reason in
the world why he shouldn't be. Tom.
my Tit went every day and took food
from the hand of Farmer Browns
DoN. 1t seemed to Chatterer and to
Happy Jack the Gray. Squirrel and to
Peter Rabbit and to Sammy Jay and
to Black the Grow. all of whom had
seen him do it. as ii it. was the very
bravest thing they eve had seen. and
heir respect for Tommy Tit grew
wonderfully.
But Tommy Tit himself didn't think
1t brave at all. No. sir, Tommy knew
better. You see. he has a great deal
Of common sense under the little
black cap he wears. 1T may have
been brave of nc to do it the first
time" thought he to himself when
the others told him how brave they.
thought him, "but it isn't brave Of
me now. because J. know that no harm
Is going to come to me. from Farmer
Browns boy. There isn't any bravery
about 1t, and. it might be just the
same way with Chatterer and ali the
other little forest and meadow people
If only they would think so and give
Farmer Browns boy half a chance"
Clnatterer was beginning to have
some thoughts himself as he tried to
make himself think that he wasn't
afraid. He heard the door of Farm
err Browns house slam and peeped
out from the old stone wall. There
was Farmer Browns boy with a big,
fat hickory IL held out in the most
boy was whistling the same little
whistle he had used when Chatterer
was his prisoner and he had brought
good things for Chatterer to eat. OF
course, .Cl1atterer knew perfectly we'll
that tina. whistle was a call for him.
and that that big. fat hickory nut
was intended for him. Almost be-
fore. he. thought ne, had left the old
stone wall anad was half way over
to Farmer Browns boy. Then he
stopped short. 1, seemed as if that
little voice inside had fairly shouted
i'll his ears, 81 am afraid" 1t was
true. He was afraid. He was right
on the very point of turning to scurry |
back to the old stone wall when he
heard another voice. This time It
wasn't a voice inside. No, indeed: 1t
the annie trees i'll the Old Orchard. |
and. this what it said: Coward!
Coward! Coward: 1t was Sammy Jay. |
Now it is one thing to tell yourself
that you are afraid and it is quite an
other thing to be told by some one
else that you are afraid. NO such
thing! No sucf thing! In, not
to prove it he suddenly raced forward.
snatched the fat hickorynut from the
hand Of Farmer Browns boy and WAS
back in the old stone wall. It was
hard to tell which was the most sur
prised-Chattcrer himself. Farmer
Browns boy. or sammy Jay. IT did
It! 1 did it! / did it," boosted Chat
terer.
"You don't dare do it again,
thought" said Sammy Jay, in the most
provoking and unpleasant way.
IT do. tool" snapped Chatterer. and
he did 1t. And with the taking of that
second fat nut from the hand Of
Farmer Browns boy the very last bit
of fear of him left, Chatterer. and he
knew that Tommy Tit the Chickadee
had heer tight al the time when he
'rs'e.es +hot the"~ Waa nothing to fear
+~e~, -,a-~,~ ""ou'n'e hoy,
rrr-,,,s. -, cAnttnre~ ..rS '
-, - y. : ~, Ne would h.~n
seen my friend long ago!" And so H.
would have.
Next story-Peter Rabbit Tries to
Visit Paddy the Beaver.
After a girl in a small town passes.