The Detroit times., 1915-07-24
LITTLE STORIES FOR BEDTIME.
Peter Discovers Another Helper
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
tCspyrfght. 1915. ny J. @. LlsyAS

Copyright. 1913. ny J. q. L1eyA)
Peter Rabbi, felt very important
Is he kept xa;ch In the Old Or
chard. He couldn't kiln bugs and
WORMS because in the frst place he
couldn't climb trees. and in the sec
ond place he didn't eat bugs or
worms. No indeed. Peter, couldn't
even think Of such a thing and feel
comfortable. But he had found a
way OF helping those who could. He
could watch out for danger so that
the others could give all their at
tention TO the bugs and not worry
for wear they would be surprised
by their enemies, and this made
Peter very happy You see he felt
now that he was really doing some
thing for Farmer Browns boy. The
latter might not know II. but the
little feathcred folk who were work
ing so hard TO save the fruit by kill
ing the bugs and worms that were
spelling the trees knew II. and Pc
ter himself knew il. and that was
enough.
So Peter sat up very straight with
his long ears pointing straight up
10 the blue, blue sky, and he
watched this way and he watched
that way. Over on the other side
Of the Old Orchard was Johnny
Chuck doing the same thing. In the
trees the birds were working with
might and main and chattering mer.
rily as they worked. Even Sammy
Jay was helping. Peter wouldn't
have believed IL II he hadn't seen II
for himself. But he did see IT, He
saw Sammy tear open a big nest of
caterp!ilars, and when Sammy got
through there wasn't q caterpillar
left.
Good for you. sammy" called
Peter.
Sammy pretended not to hear. but
be did hear and secretly he was
pleased. You see Sammy doesn't
often hear nice things said to him.
and II gave him very pleasant feel
ing inside. though not for the world
would he have admitted IL. II was
while Peter was watching Sammy
10 see what he would do next that
he felt the ground rise under him.
It was so sudden and unexpected
that he nearly lost his balance, and
had TO drop down on TO all four feet
II frightened him too. He Jumped
on 10 one side and then looked
where he had been sitting to see
what II meant. There was . little
ridge where the earth had been
pushed up from beneath and even
"a Peter looked the ground moved
as II something was showing II up
and the little ridge was q few inches
longer than before
Peter knew right away who had
frightened him. He knew that little
ridge was made by Miner the Mole,
and that Miner was making . tun-
mel right along Just under the sur.
face through the Old Orchard. OF
course Miner hadn't known that
Peter was sitting there. and he had
just happened to push his tunnel
right under Peter. Now most
people are apt 20 be . little BIT
cross when they are frightened,
especially II they find that there
was nothing to be frightened OF. Il
was so with Peter.
"Ha." exclaimed Peter. "I1l teach
you to frighten honest people," And
with that he hoped over TO the spot
where by the movement of the
earth he could tell that Miner was
at work and then what do you think
he did, Why he thumped with all
his might right over Miner the Mole.
OF course II wasn't o nice thing to
do. II was trying to get even and II
was doing II In an unfair way. You
see Miner hadn't Intended to fright.
en- Peter but Peter did intend to
brighten Miner. He did brighten
him too. Who wouldn't be frighten-
ed 10 have a terrible thump Just
over their head? Miner was just az
much frightened an Peter had been
a few moments before.
lie backed along the tunnel un-
III he reached the nearest opening.
He didn't como out because tho
sunlight hurts his eyes. but he
Scclded angrily a; Peter. who had
followed by watching the roof OF
the little tunnel move.
VIVA; are you doing down there
under ground any way?" demanded
Peter.