Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-23
so PETER CALLED A MEETING AND
TOLD THE OTHERS JUST WHAT
WAS BOTHERING HIM.

him. Right away everybody had some
thing to say. You know everybody is
suspicious of the Snake family. No
body had a good word for little Mr.
Garter Snake. In spite of himself Pc
ter had to smile when he asked what
they had against little Mr.. Garter
Snake. There was a sudden silence
Finally Chatterer the Red Squirrel
spoke up.
He is impudent." said he. He
thrusts his tongue out at everybody
Everybody nodded as if this was
sufficient reason for keeping little Mr.
Garter Snake out of the band. Peter
laughed right out.
THAT doesn't sound well coming
from you, Chatterer." said he. Il don't
know of any one more saucy ana I'M
pudent than you are sometimes. Be
sides, it isn't impudence on the part of
little Mr. Garter Snake. 1t isn't impu-
dence at ALL
Then I'd like to know what it is"
exclaimed Billy Mink,
So Peter explained what he had
learned about the tongue of little Mr..
Garter Snake. how in"'t way it took
the place of ears. that the felt sounds
with it instead of heaaing them, and
that it was for this reasb n that he kept
through impudence.
THAT is very interest Ting. but is it
true?" said Bobby Coon. shaking his
head doubtfully.
Certainly it's true" declared little
Mr.. Garter Snake. who had come along
to answer questions. Just ask Old
Mother Nature If you can't take my
word for it,"
'Tf he is willing to leave it to Old
Mother Nature 1t must be true" de-
clared Jimmy Skunk. HAS anybody
got anything else against him."
He steals eggs and the young from
NO such thing" retorted little Mr..
Garter Snake. hotly. Did you ever
see me do it?''
"Noo-o." replied Chippy. slowly. but
I've seen your cousin, Mr.. Black Snake.
do it. and I supposed all snakes did"
We'll. you should never judge any
body by what their relatives do. 1t
isn't fair, retorted little Mr.. Garter
Snake. II never eat eggs or young
birds. so there"
What do you eato" demanded Peter
Rabbit.
He eats little Toads,' spoke up old
Mr.. Toad.
and little Frogs" added GRANDPA
Their Frog. grufHy.
Everybody looked at little Mr.. Gar
ter Snake. He nodded his head 81 do
when ! can catch Them" he replied.
and I eat little fishes he added.
But Is Ihdt any reason why SnOulQn I
be member of your band? Sammy
Jay and Chatterer steal eggs and young
birds. and so does Blacky the Grow.
know. because I've seen them do it.
Reddy Fox and Billy Mink catch young
mice and rabbits when they can. So
does Hooty the Owl I think that is
| worse than catching little toads and
frogs ] only do it to live. If they can
be members. why can't To-
"Ah reckons yo' can" declared inc
Billy Possum. 'Ah reckons yo' has
just as much right to be member as
the rest of venus All moves that
We-uns admit li'l Mr.. Garter Snake to
the band. He cert'nly is one of or
Mother Natures li'r people same as the
rest of US. What do yo' alls say?"
Everybody said yes-that is, every
body but Old Mr.. Toad and Grand
father Frog. And this is how little Mr..
Garter Snake was admitted to the band
r. w. Clark. justice of the peace of
Summers county. West Virginia, COM
mitted suicide by blowing off his head
with shotgun. He had been a great
sufferer from rheumatism.