Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-05-11
WOODCRAFT STOIES
FOR LITTLE CHILDREN
Sixth Story.
By l.. Roy Ferris.


Gentle Dove had gone to bed She had sounded her
last lonesome call before flying the old dead elm and
nesng close to her mate sound asleep dreaming
lOf wheat fields of golden grain.
Robin Redbreast, who hates own up that he is
Iseepy-ike little boy when company comes-sang one
more little erky song and before he quite thru
had passed into Dreamand dreaming of fat fishing
And Brother Rabbit who loyes play out moonlight
nights decided stay home and sleep for the had
gone behind cloud and N.Y. but awfully dark He
hadn't gotten sleep when call frightened him until his
little fur shook but Bunny Flying Squirrel who pass
ling said You silly goose don't you know screech owl
when you hear it?" OF that put Brother Rabbit
his ease So he laid his ears fiat on his back and went to
sleep Bunny Flying Squirrel who loves climb up into
and his wings and sail down and hit with thump
ION the top of fellow who hasn't camped
much and who had forgotten say his prayers after his
dear mother had told him to do just though being
in the woods would excuse felow-well Bunny set
lis wings to play the trick he noticed something dark slip
round the of the tent where the camp boy and his
ad kept their provisions.
"Oh, N.Y." whispered Bunny to Brother Terrapin who
passing, "Dd you see something's"
Brother Terrapn who thought he did but wasn't quite
whispered, "Be quiet"
Just about that time DR.. Owl lit a tree the
and started to give his familiar CALL Who who, who
are you, that is always answered by of his knfoks
way off in the woods. He had hardly said the first who
before his sharp eyes, that made to mice with at
night, got glimpse of something moving about in the
provision tent. 1t doesn't take much to collect crowd
like real people when house is fire Slim Wea
sefs cousin Bother Nuskra who going to dig roots,
dozen other little night prowing animals, stopped
to what the matter. 1t is funny, but Flying
Squirrel the only squirrel that leaves its bed to
for food at night and both Red Squirrel and Gray
Squirrel slept all through the excitement
Bunny Flying Squirrel could stand it no longer and
aing down toward the tent where the camp boy slept
hit with thump against the side of the tent, but the boy
and his father slept soundly all through the clatter
DR. Owl who wanted to help called and called until
his negbbors flew over to see what was up.
Whip -poor-wi who always turns around every time
she calls "whip-poor-will" turned around often she
grew dizzy.
The Mocking Bird who had awakened sang as only
mocing bird sing to lu fellow to sleep; that may
have been the the camp boy and his dad slept
through it all.
When the camp boy went to the provision tent the
morning after the bacon for breakfast he back
with queer look his face, for when fellow is kind
and good to everybody it hurts for any to do him
"a trick.
81 don't believe Brother and Sister MuSkrat stole it
for they have grown tame since we came. They eat
all the scraps we have left Brother Coon and Possum
such fine fellows since fed them and know they
wouldn't do it. Slim Weasel is dead-and- -but-what
funny looking tracks here in the mud"
Sure enough, there they were Just like he had only
legs he had put his right hind foot down in the track
his right front foot had made and his left feet the
it funny fellows tracks always give him away
Also there red hairs and that proved without
doubt that Red Fox the thief The camp boy got
down his knees and after looking the tracks over
marked "You sly rascal, going to fgure-four
for you. Sister Opossum grinned for she felt sure
there would be some fun.