Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-25
Granny Fox Catches Peter
Rabbit.

Now listen to this little tale
That deals somewhat with folly,
And shows how sometimes one may be
A little bit too jolly.
No sooner was old Granny Fox out of
sight, running as if she thought that
every jump might be her last. than
i'Jimmy Skunk came out from the hole
under a big stump where he had been
hiding. Peter Rabbit came out of the
hollow log from which he had been
peeping. and Unc' Billy Postum dropped
down from the hemlock trees in which
he had so carefully kept out of sight.
and all three began to dance around
Prickly Porky, laughing as if they were
trying to split their sides
''Ho. no. ho!' shouted Jimmy Skunk.
Il wonder what Reddy Fox would have
said if he could have seen old Granny
Fox go down that hollow"
"Ha, ha, hal shouted Peter Rabbit.
Did you see how her eyes popped out?"
'Hee, hee, hee!" squeaked Unc' Billy
Postum in his funny, cracked voice. "Ah
reckons she am bound to have sore feet
if she keeps on running the way she
started
Prickly Porky Cidn't say word He
just smiled in a quiet sort of way as he
slowly climbed up to the top of the hill
Now, old Granny Fox had been badly
frightened. Who wouldn't have been at
seeing strange creature without head,
tail or legs rolling down hill straight to-
ward them? But Granny was too old and
wise to run very far without cause. She
was hardly out of sight of the four little
scamps who had been watching her
when she stopped to see if that strange
creature was following her. 1t didn't
take her long to decide that it was not.
Then she did some quick thinking.
said beforehand that there was some
trick. and now I'm sure of it," she NUT
tered. Il have an idea that that good
for-nothing old Bill Postum knows some
thing about it, and I'm just going back
to find OUT
She wasted no time thinking about it.
but began to steal back the way she had
come. Now, no one is lighter footed
than old Granny Fox, and no one knows
better how to keep out of sight From
tree to tree she crawled, sometimes fat
on her stomach, until at last she reach
ed the foot of the hill where she had
just had such a fright. There was nothing
to be seen there, but up at the top of
fierce, angry CLEAN come into her yellow
eyes. Then she smiled grimly THE
last laugh always is the best laugh. and
this time l guess 1t is going to be nine
she said to herself and very slowly and
carefully, SO as not to so much as rustic
q icSli, Slie DeBdI " crawl AROUND. SO as
to come up on the back of the hill.
Now. what old Granny Fox had seen
was Peter Rabbit and Jimmy Skunk and
INC Billy Postum rolling over and over
in the dried leaves, turning somersau lts
and shouting and laughing, while Prick
ly Porker sat looking on and smiling.
Granny knew well enough what was
tickling them so. and she knew, too,
that they didn't dream but that she was
still running away in fright. At last
they were SO tired with their good time
that they had to stop for a rest.
"Oh, dear, I'm all out of breath"
painted Peter as he threw himself fiat
on the ground. That was the funniest
thing 1 ever saw. l wonder who We
Peter didn't finish. No. sir, Peter
didn't finish. Instead he gave fright
ened shrek as something red flashed
out from under Iow-growing hemlock
tree close behind him, and two black
paws pinned him down and sharp teeth
caught him by the back OF the neck
Old Granny Fox had caught Peter Rab-
bit at last.