The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-12-02
Bedtime Stories
For Little Folks
PETER PAN.

er Jones farm. Peter ran all over the
house: no room was too sacred for him
to enter, and he even slept on the bed
in the spare room when the fancy took
him to do so.
He chased the chickens and the lit
tie ducklings, and, although he had
never harmed them, he had frightened
them very much, and made their mo-
Their very angry.
THAT Peter Pan is a spoiled kitten, .
said Mother Hen to Mother Duck, land
he needs to be punished, but his mo-
Their will never do it, and we will new
er get a chance, so l suppose we will
have to put up with his pranks."
But Fate delivered Peter Pan into
Mother Ducks power in an unexpected
way not long after the conversation
between Mother Duck and Mother
Hen.
Peter Pan saw the ducklings wan
dering about the yard one day not far
from the pond, so he slyIy crept to.
ward them, hiding in the bushes until
he was right beside them. Then he
sprang out, and the poor frightened
ducklings wadled to the pond as fast
as their legs would carry them. A
piece of board lay directly on :--e bank
and partly in the water, and one of the
ducklings waddled on it before he
plunged into the pond.
Peter Pan ventured too far this
time, and when he stepped on the
board it slipped from the bank, and
Peter Pan went with it. He was so
little that it kept afoat, and there he
was, sailing from land, his eyes star
ing with fright, and his loud me-ow's
could be heard over the barnyard.
Mrs. Tabby came running down to
the pond, and when she saw her Peter
Pan sailing away she almost tainted.
Save him! Save him!" she cried.
running around the yard. But there
was no one to save him. The hens
and the rooster ran to the edge or the
pond and looked, but they could not
swim, and Mother Duck was on the
pond with her children.
When the ducklings saw Peters Pan
they were frightened at first. for they
thought he was chasing them even on
the pond, where they had always been
safe, but in minute they saw tina.
Peter Pan was the frightened one this
time, and they gathered around him.
Hello, Peter PAM" they said. How
do you like our pond? You are not
sailing very fast, so we will help YOU"
and they gave the board a push with
their bills, making Peter Pan sway
and nearly lose his balance.
GO away. Go away he called tc
them. But they only ouacked and
quacked to see him frightened. and
gave the board another push. This
time he lost his balance and his hind
legs went into the water.
Peter Pan me-Owed loudly for helm
and his mother on the shore called r.
Mother Duck TO keep her ducklinge
from bothering her Peter Pan.
Keep him out of our pond" called
back Mother Duck; che should not 90
IN their way if he does not want to he
bothered"
But he can't get out of the pond"
said Mrs. Tabby. DO help him: he
Will be drowned if some one does not
help him"
But Mother Duck was not ready tc
nelp him yet; she intended that Peter
Pan should have a lesson he would M,
soon forget. So she went to the sid
Oh the board and tapped her wings
making small waves in the nond
which set set Peters treacherous little
craft sailing out into the middle of tb,
pond, with Peter me-owing as loud .,
he could.
Mother Duck sailed after him. fol
lowed by her little ones. and after LOT
ing Peter get few more frights fror,
'ne tipping Of the board. Mother Dnc,
SAID to him: "If | take Won hail > (
the barnyard will you promise neve,
10 bother my children again or Notbo,
Hens brood, either?"
on yes me-owed Peter Pan var,
meekly IF you will only take m,
BACK TO my mother l will never chase
any or the chickens or ducks again
very well" said Mother Dpcl
then I will take you home hut il 70,
ever bother my children again 7 viii
TAKE you out here and let you stav
NOW mop on my back and win swim,
ashore with you"
mere is your Peter Pam said
motner Duck when she reached shore
think we have given him a lessor