The Hattiesburg news., 1915-10-18
Bedtime Stories
For Little Folks
BAD COMPANY.

BAD COMfANf.
Mr.. Fox was walking slowly over
the hill one day when he met Mr.. Rab-
bit. "Hello!" he called. Where are
you going?"'
"oh, am out for walk" said
Mr.. Rabbit.
Come with me then" said Mr.. Fox.
II have a plan that will give you a
nice supper and will be sport as WE'LL"
What is it you are gong to dor.
asked Mr.. Rabbit, for he knew Mr..
Fox of old, and he did not intend that
he should play new trick on him.
II know where there are some nice
beet tops and tender lettuce" said Mr..
Fox. "and will take you there if YOU
will help me first"
The beet tops and lettuce sounded
tempting to Mr.. Rabbit, so he ran
along beside Mr.. Fox and listened to
This plan.
Over the hill at the farm on the
other side, is a henhouse with very
strange lock on the door,, said Mr..
Fox, "and cannot find out how to
open it.. thought you with your wise
head might be able to help me, and
then l can get chicken and hen 1
have had my eyes On for some time.
"Of course, could have asked Old
Reddy Fox, but he is so old / was
afraid he would not be sharp enough
to find out how the lock opened, and
knew you went about so much you
would surely be able to help me-
Mr.. Rabbit pricked up ais ears and
looked very knowing, for he felt quite
flattered that Mr.. Fox should select
him to help in such serious matter
as unlocking henhouse door.
"Oh yes; I think may be able to
help you," he said. 81 have seen a
great many locks in my day, but
where is this lettuce and the beet tops
you spoke OFF"
"Oh, they will be easy to get" re
piled Mr.. Fox. First let us solve the
lock and then to the other things"
l. When they reached the farm it was
still too early to examine the lock be
cause the hens and chickens were no
sound asleep, so Mr. Fox and Mr.
Rabbit hid behind the wall unit
everything was still and the moon wai
shining just little over the hill.
/ "Now, what l want you to do, m,
dear Mr.. Rabbit" said Mr.. Fox, 81
to go very carefully to the door of th
} henhouse and look at the lock; yol
} are much lighter on your feet than
} am and much spryer Also"
! Mr.. Rabbit said he supposed h,
! was, and hoped toward the door.
Beside the door was a barrel ant
Mr.. Fox told Mr.. Rabbit it would b,
very easy to jump up on that and lool
at the lock, but he did not tell hin
, that the straw beside the barrel was
{ the thing he wanted to know abou
more than the lock.
Mr.. Rabbit, of course, was moi
afraid of the straw, and he hoped
. right on it, and click went somethine
and poor Mr.. Rabbit felt a sharp pair
in his leg, and he could not move.
Then Mr.. Fox came running up to
him. "Oh! my poor friend, what has
. happened to you?" he said. "Now
don't make sound if you value your
} life; keep quiet, and l will get you
out of this dreadful trap that was nc
doubt set for me-"
Poor Mr.. Rabbit kept very still, but
he was suffering terribly, and Mr.. Fos
l went straight to the door of the hen
house and pushed it open and went in
In a few minutes he came running
) out with fat hen and off he dashed
: without eaen speaking to poor Mr.
{ Rabbit.
The hens made such a noise that the
, farmer came out of the house with his
gun, and the first thing he did was
to look at the trap and find poor Mr.
. Rabbit.
I, or course he did not shoot him. he
put him in a box for his children to
have for pet, in spite of his hurt
,