Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-24

He never will forget it as long as he
lives. Such things one never does for
get.
1t all came about through that dread
full habit which Peter has of poking his
wabbly little nose into places where it
has no business to be. He had known
perfectly well that he had no business
in Farmer Browns garden. But he
have a look around there and see what
was growing there. Then happened
just what is almost sure to happen
when you yield to one temptation-it
other. Once in that garden of Farmer
Browns Peter simply couldn't resist
the temptation to sample the green
things growing there. And this is how
1t happened that without knowing it
at the time Peter ate some cabbage
leaves which had been poisoned to kill
the worms which threatened to eat up
the plants.
Before Peter got back to the dear
Old Brier Patch his wrong doing had
found him out. as wrong doing always
will. The poison from those cabbage
leaves had made Peter so sick that it
was all he could do to get to the dear
Old Brier Patch and once there he felt
as II he didn't much care what hap
pened. He was very sick rabbit. was
Peter. 1t was then that Sammy Jay
discovered what had happened, and at
once spread the news all over the Green
and the Old Orchard and around the
Smiling Pool. and it was then that
Peters friends and neighbors showed
how true they were.
OF course, Peter didn't know any
thing about this. After the pain in his
stomach stopped he fell asleep When
he awoke he felt very much better, only
for some reason which he couldn't un-
derstand he couldn't use his long, stout
hind legs. There was no pain in them,
A -
do was just twitch them a little. 1t
frightened Peter terribly. He was
afraid he never would be able to use
them again, and If he couldn't what
should he do? So Peter was very, very
miserable as he lay in his bed in the
heart Of the dear Old Brier Patch that
bright afternoon. For him there was no
brightness in it. Everything was all
dark. That was because his thoughts
were so dark. Suddenly something
dropped right down In front of him. It
was tender young corn plant. Then a
couple more fell. Peters curiosity chas-
ed away all the dark thoughts
That's funny" said he, aloud who
ever heard of corn plants raining down
out of the SKYE"
He looked up to see a pair of sharp
eyes twinkling down at him from the
top of little tree. Cav, cav, caw"
said harsh voice. very pleasant in
spite of Its harshness IT heard Won
the tenderest young corn in Farmer
Browns cornf1eld. l hope you are feel
ing better"
Before Peter could recover from his
surprise that such a mischiefmaker as
Blacky the Crow should be SO thought
full, another voice broke in
Are you feeling better, Peter?" it
asked. Everybody Is so sorry to hear
that you are sick. Hurry up and get
well SO that 1 can quarrel with YOU,
You know l can't do that while you
are sick"
Peter had to smile in spite of him.
self; for this was SO like Sammy jaw.
who. you know. is not bad at heart at
all. He was trying to get his wits to-
gether so as to say something nice in
reply when from somewhere among the
brambles close by there burst forth
beautiful song. When 1t ended Brownie
the Thrush hoped out in sight
II couldn't think of a thing to bring
you, Peter" said he. shyly, 80 1 came
over to sing to you. Shall I sing
AGAIN."
please do. I just love your song"
cried Peter. And while Brownie poured
out his beautiful song a great happi-
ness stole over Peter.
ut is worth while to be sick Just to
find out what true friends ! have" he
whispered to himself. And as yet,
though he didn't suspect 1t. he had only
just begun to find out how much his
friends thought of him.