The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-07
LITTLE STORIES FOR BEDTIME.
Peter Tells What He Saw and Is Laughed At
Copyright T. W. Burgess)
Copyright. 1915. by T. w. Burgess)
By THORNTON w. BURGESS.

BY ThOhNTON w. BURGESS.
The very first chance Peter Rab.
bit got he slipped up to the Old
Orchard at break or day SO as 20 be
on hand when the feathered folks
awoke. lie was anxious 20 tell how
he had seen Sooty the Swift fall
down the chimney OF Farmer
Browns house. lie felt sure that
no one else had seen II and SO he
was sure IL would be hews--sad
news. but news just the same. You
know. there is no one more eager
TO tell news than Peter Rabbit.
Then, too, Peter wanted 10 ask ques-
lions. He wanted TO find out more
about Sooty. and he knew that no
one would know as much about him
as his feathered comrades and
neighbors.
The first person Peter met was
Jenny Wren. Peters eyes brighten
ed. Jenny Wren was the one bird
OF all those livint in the Old Or.
chsrd from whom he could get the
most information. You see. Jenny
Wren Is a great gossip. and what
she doesn't know about her neigh.
bors and their affairs is hardly
worth knowing. At least that is
what she thinks.
"Oh. Jenny Wren, DO you know
what has happened 10 Sooty the
Swift" cried Peter as soon as
Jenny was near enough.
NO" cried Jenny, hurrying 10 a
branch just over Peters head. 81
didn't know anything had hap
pened. what has,"
The most dreadful thing" REPLIED
Peter The other evening. when
was watching him. he few over
Farmer Browns house. Then some
thing happened 10 him. I don't
seem n fy any more. He just fut.
tered his wings as II he couldn't use
them any more and dropped straight
down. The worst OF IL is he was
right over the chimney and he fell
right down inside II. waited and
waited, but he didn't come out again.
He's probably lying down there now
dead. Isn't 1t dreadful? and what
do you suppose could have hap.
pened 10 him up there in the air?
Jenny Wren stared very hard al
Peter. as II 10 make sure that he
was in earnest When she saw
that he was she turned her head
away with queer little gasp and
began 10 shake all over Az hrst
Peter thought that she was crying,
ITS dreadfully sad. isn't ~" said
he
Jenny Wren shook harder than
ever. Excuse me-" said she. THE
news has quite overcome me. I'll
be back In a minute. The other
birds ought 10 know II. and | want
them 10 hear II right from you be
cause you are the one who saw It
happen"
She few away. but in very
short time she was back with all
the other birds OF the Old Orchard,
Welcome Robin, Winsome Blue.
bird Skinner the Swallow, Chippy
the Sparrow. Goldie the Oriole.
Drummer the Woodpecker. and
many more Peter has some sad
news TO tell" said she and turned
AWAY her head
What Is it?" cried all the birds
together
SO Peter told his sad story all
over again, and he felt very import.
ant. as most people do who bear
news. whether 81 be bad or good.
As Peter finished one by one the
birds turned away their heads and
began TO shake all over. just az
Jenny Wren had done. He had ex-
pected that the other birds would
feel badly when they learned what
had happened to Sooty, but he had
not expected that they would feel
as badly as they seemed to. They
must have thought a great deal of
Sooty." thought Peter. and his own
eyes filed with tears.