The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-06-15

Buffer the Adder knows this. He
has proved II more than once. He
doesn't believe in giving up Just be-
cause he has failed once. He had
tried his very best TO blum Farmer
Browns Boy into thinking him very
ugly. fierce, and dangerous. To
blum. you know. is TO try TO make
other people think you are what
you are not Buzztall the Rather
or Pilot the Copperhead, two mem
bers OF the snake family who are
very, very dangerous. could not pos
sibly look any more fierce and dan
gerous than did Buffer the Adder
as he Kissed and struck at Farmer
Browns Boy. so that ne almost sue
ceeded In making him afraid Had
you been there and seen him you
never. never would have guessed
that Buffer himself was the one
who was afraid He was He was
very much afraid But he believes
in putting on a bold front, and so
be made himself look as savage
and ugly and dangerous as he knew
how, and this was very savage and
ugly and dangerous indeed And
all the time IL was just a blum. for
Buffer is quite harmless TO all ex-
cept Old Mr.. Toad and his chill.
dren.
When Farmer Browns Boy saw
that Buffer didn't open his mouth
when he struck at the coat waved
at him he knew right away that
Buffer was just pretending and that
there was nothing 10 fear from him.
So then he decided that he would
do a little bluflng himself He
would pretend that he was going
10 kill Buffer You see. he didn't
have the least idea OF the truth that
Buffer was even then in terrible
fear. He certainly didn't look IL.
II Farmer Browns Boy had ever
suspected this he wouldn't have
done anything TO increase that fear.
for he is one OF the best hearted
boys in the world But he thought
that Buffer wasn't afraid and he
wanted 10 see Just how bold and
brave Buffer could be.
With one foot he loosened a little
clod OF earth. Picking this up h
threw il at Buffer. He didn't thin
il would hurt him. and he wante
10 see IL II would take all the igh
ont OF him and make him run. TIL
little clod OF earth hit Buffer, and
IL did take all the fight out OF him
But he didn't run. No, sir. he didn't
run Instead he opened his mouth
as If gasping for breath; he twist
ed and turned as II in great pair
Then for a minute he was quite 81
but for his tail, which wrggl
feebly and still more feebly II
Just as that feebly moving tail 60
still Buffer rolled over on his b
and there he lay without mott
He no longer looked fierce and ug
His body was no longer pulled e
and his head and neck were
longer spread out Instead OF leo
ing dangerous he was the mo
harmless looking thing ever We
for there is nothing more harmle
looking than a dead snake.
oh" cried Farmer Browns Boy
II didn't mean TO kill him. didn't
mean to hurt him. There mus, have
been stone in that little clod Of
earth. and didn't know it. |
wouldn't have killed him FOR the
world. know now that he vas
perfectly harmless, and he had just
as much right 10 live a. | have.
What a stupid. great brute ! am
First | brighten Digger the Badge
when wanted to make friends with
him, and then J kill perfectly
harmless snake when didn't mean
70 do anything OF the kind
He walked close 20 Buffer and
touched him with the toe Of one
shoe. There was no sign Of life
He stopped down and picked Buffer
IN by the tail. The body swung