The Detroit times., 1916-03-28

Muskrat.
Peter Rabbit just couldn't 20 back
to the dear Old Brier Patch. lie
just had 10 know II Mrs. Quack
would come back 10 the Smiling
Pool lie had seen Farmer Brown $
Boy come there second time and
! scatter wheat and corn among the
I brown stalks Of last summer S
PUSHES. and he had guessed why
Farmer Browns Boy had done this.
He had guessed that they had been
put there especially for Mrs Quack.
and II she should come back as she
/ had promised 90 he wanted 10 be on
hand when she found those good
things to eat and hear what she
would say.
SO Peter stayed over near the
Smiling Pool and hoped with all his
might that Reddy Fox or old Man
Coyote would not take il into his
head 10 come hunting over there AS
luck would have il, neither OF them
did, and Peter had a very pleasant
time. gossiping with Jerry Muskrat.
listening go the sweet voices OF un-
seen singers in the Smiling Pool. the
hylas, which some people call frogs
and eating the carrot which Farmer
Browns Boy had left for him.
jUtfy- round rcd nnfr. Sun was just
getting ready 10 go TO bed behind
the Purple Hills when Mrs. Quack
returned The first Peter knew Of
her coming was the whistle of her
" ines as she passed over him Sew
eral times she circled around high
over the Smiling Pool. and Peter
SIMPLY stared in opcnmouthed ad
miration at he speed with which
She Acw II didn't seem possible
that one so big could move through
tho air so fast. Twice she set her
wings and seemed TO just slide down
almost 20 The surface of the Smil
ing Pool. only 10 once more sci her
stout wings in motion and circle
around again II was very clear
that she was terribly nervous and
suspicious. The third time she land
rcd In The water With splash and
sat perfectly stil with her head
stretched mp looking and listening
With all her might
IT'S all right. There's nothing to
be- afraid Of said Jerry Musl1rat.
care YOU sure?' asked Mrs. Quack
anxiously 1--WE leen fooled TOO OF.
ten by mon with their terrible guns
To ever feel absolutely sure that one
ISN'T hiding and waiting 10 shoot
me As she spoke she swan about
ncryously
Peter Rabbit and I have been
here ever since YOU left. and guess
we ought to know" replied Jerry
Nuskrat rather shortly There
hasn't been anybody near heie eX-
cepiing Farmer Browns Boy. and
Nc told YOU he wouldn't hurt you
he brought us each carrot
pefrSRabhii broke in eagerly
Just the same. wouldn't trust
HIM replied Mrs. Quack Where
is ne now?"
"Ile left ever so long ago. and he
-won be- back tonight" declared Pc
ter confidently
II hope not said Mrs Quack
with sigh did you hear the
bang of hat terrible gun just after
LEFT here2"
Yes. replied Jerry Mushrat
"Was il hred al YOU"
Mrs Quack nodded and held mp
cne wing. Peter and Jerry could
see that one cf the long feathers
was missing. II thought Was ny
ins high enough to be safe" said
she bnt when | reached the Big
River mere was a bang from The
bushes ON the bank. and something
cut that feather ont OF my wing
aud | felt sharp pain in my side
u made me feel quite III for a while,
and the place is very sore now, but
I guess I'm lucky that It was no
worse. II is very hard work 10 know
just how far those terrible guns can
throw things at you. Next time !
will fly higher
-'itt'ti iivrt-- have Yoti been since you
lefi u.s. asked Peters
Right in the middle of the Big
River" replied Mrs. Quack 1T was
the only safe place. didn't dare 20
near either shore. and I'm nearly
starved. / haven't had mouthful
eat today"
Peter opened his mouth to tell
rr OF the wheat and corn left by
FARMER Browns Soy. and then clos.
20 again lie would let her hnd
for herself II he told her about
{. she might suspect a trick and re-
use 10 30 near the place. lie never
Had seen any None SO suspicious. not
,epen Old Man Coyote. Nut ne
couldn't lNasuo hereafter all she had
been through 80 i've kept SUN and
waited Ne was learning, was Peter
Rabbit bic Was leaInine erea
deal about Mrs Quack -
&c.. .Nf