Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-11

So, altogether. Jumper had little to
complain of. He found plenty to eat,
such as it was, a little tender bark and
buds, which were within reach by
sitting UP very straight or even stand
ing on his hind legs when necessary.
1t was very simple fare, but there was
all he needed and SO he had no COM
plant.
One day it popped into his head that
he hadn't seen certain old friend for
some time. He had seen most of his
other friends. his cousin, Peter Rabbit;
Mrs. Grouse, Happy Jack Squirrel, Chat
tererj the Red Squirrel. Drummer the
Woodpecker, Tommy Tit the Chickadee,
and Prickly Porky the Porcupine. OF
his enemies he had seen rather more
than enough. But there was one old
friend whom he had quite forgotten to
think of since the winter had set in
until now. 1t was Lightfoot the Deer.
Let me think" muttered Jumper,
with one hand on his forehead. Where
would Lightfoot be likely to stay in
having lately? He'll be where he can
get enough to eat and where he will
have shelter to keep him warm. Ha!
J. know the very place. l wouldn't be
a bit surprised IL he is there. 1 be-
lieve I'll go straight over there now
and make him a call"
So Jumper turned toward the heart
of the Green Forest, and because he
was thinking of Lightfoot and how
pleasant it would be to see him once
more he forgot to watch out al sharply
as usual. This is how it happened that
he didn't see a certain gray form Slip
ping from tree to tree behind him.
keeping out of sight as much as pos
sible. bat all the time drawing nearer
and nearer to Jumper 1t was Old Man
Coyote, and his eyes cleaned with
hunger and eagerEess and cunning. AS
softly as shadow, now running swift
| ly from one tree to another, now crawl
| ing on his stomach, he followed Jump
| er. and as the distance between them
grew less and less Old Man Coyote
grinned and licked his lips and his
mouth watered.
But Jumper knew nothing about this
OF course. II was very careless of him
not to be watching. and not at all like
him, for he Is such a timid fellow that
usually he suspects danger where no
danger is. But his head was SO filled
with the thought of calling on Light
foot the Deer that for the time being
| he forgot everything else. BY and by
he came to path in the snow. 1t was
q deep path, for the snow was deep and
this path had been made by some one
I who could not walk on the crust as
could Jumper and the other little peo-
lple--sone one who was heavy and whose
feet cut through almost TO the ground
Jumper chuckled
| Just as ! thought" said he. and fol-
| lowed the path. 1t wound this way
and that way among the young trees,
and. looking up. Jumper saw where
here and there tender young twigs had
| been bitten off.
| He did not jump down into the path,
but hoped along on the crust beside
| II. Presently 1t branched. He kept to
the right. and after a little this led
| him to a place where paths seemed to
run in every direction. Jumper sat up
and scratched his head, as IL that might
help him decide which one to take. But
II didn't. and he was still sitting there.
wondering which way to go. when, over
by some thick. low hemlock trees he
saw what looked for all the world like
/ bare brown branches sticking out of
4 the snow, only as he looked they moved
Jumper thumped the hard snow crust
! lightly. Instantly a beautiful head ap-
peared above the snow and on 1t were
those bare brown branches. They were
| the horns of Lightfoot the Deed, who
had been taking nap In the shelter
of the hemlock trees.
I've come to mako you q call" cried
jumper.