Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-08
Little Joe Otter Has Great
News to Tell.

Little Joe Otter was fairly bursting
with excitement. He could hardly con-
tain himself He felt that he had the
greatest news to tell since Peter Rab-
bit had first found the tracks of Bus
ter Bear In the Great Forest He
couldn't keep it to himself a minute
longer than he had to. So he hurried
to the Smiling Pool. where he was
sure he would find Billy Mink and
Jerry Muskrat and Grandfather Frog
and Spotty the Turtle. and he hoped
that perhaps some of the little people
who live in the Green Forest might
be there. too. Sure enough. Peter
Rabbit was there on one side of the
Smiling Pool making faces at Reddy
Fox, who was on the other side. which.
of course. was not at all nice of Peter.
Mr.. and Mrs Redwing were there. and
Blacky the Crow was sitting in the
Big Hickory Tree.
Little Joe Otter swan straight to the
Big Rock and climbed up to the very
highest part. He looked SO excited
and his eyes sparkled SO that every
one knew right away that something
had happened.
Little Joe Otter! 1t must be that for
once he has been smarter than Buster
Bear"
Little Joe made a good natured face
mo, Billy" said he, you are wrong;
altogether wrong. i don't believe any
body can be smarter than Buster
Bear.
unpleasant grin. Don't be too sure of
that he snapped. I'm not through
with him yet,
Rabbit.
Reddy glared across the Smiling
Pool at Peter. I'm not through with
you, either. Peter Rabbit he snarled
You'll find it out one of these hne
days."
But. Peter answered:
"Reddy. Reddy. smart and sly,
Couldn't catch buzzing fy.
"Chugarum." said Grandfather Frog
in his deepest. sruffest voice. We
know all about that What We want
to know is what Little Joe Otter has
got on his mind.
ITS news-great news" cried Lit
tie Joe.
when we hear what it is" replied
Grandfather Frog. testify. ~ nat is
it,"
Little Joe otter looked around at all
the eager faces watching him and then
in the slowest. most provoking way
afraid of Buster Bear"
For minute no one said a word.
Then Blacky the Crow leaned down
from his perch in the Big Hickory
Tree and looked very hard at Little
Joe as he said:
II don't believe it. 1 don't believe
a word of it. Farmer Browns boy
isn't afraid of any one who lives in the
Green Forest. or on the Green Mead
ows. or in the Smiling Pool, and you
know it. We are all afraid of him."
Little Joe glared black at Blacky. 'T
don't care whether you believe it or
not. it's true" he reterted.
Then he told how early that very
he and Buster Bear had been
fishing together in the Laughing Brook
and how Farmer Browns boy had been
fishing there too. and hadn't caught
single trout because they had all been
caught or frightened before he got
there. Then he told how Farmer
Browns boy had found a footprint OF
Buster Bear in the soft mud. and how
ne had stopped fishing right away and
started for home. looking behind him
with fear in his eyes all the way.
Now. tell me that he isn't afraid"
concluded Little Joe. For once he
knows just how we feel when he
ZONES prowling around where we are
ISN'T that great news? Now. we'll get
sven with him.
'TN believe II when 1 see it for
myself! snapped Blacky the Grow.