Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-04
WHEN THEY NET HIM THEY HELD
THEIR HEADS VERY HIGH.

seen the set OF his stout jaws with
their long shar-,, teeth and had had
chance TO see how strong he is theH
decided that he was quite able TO take
| care of himself and took care NOT 70
get near enough to him for MIN TO
pei iroId of them. II the truth he
told they were afraid to pick a quarrel
with him, although they would not au-
nit this for the world
Instead they pretended that ne was
quite beneath them. When they met
him they held their heads very hish
and pretended not to see HIM at an.
They told every one that Digger was
a very common person who could Go
nothing but dig in the ground, and
every chance they had they would
sneer at him. II Digger minded this
he never showed ii. He just minded
his own business. but ii was noticed
Granny or RedGy Fox he never stepped
out of their way. No. sir; he never
stepped aside for them so much as
an inch ON the other hand, they
| always stepped aside for him.
| one day Granny Fox met Digger
! some distance from home. 1t was very
/ unusual to find him so far from his
! own doorstep. AS usual Granny Fox
| stepped aside for him. Then she sat
down a little way off to watch him.
Digger paid no attention to her. He
| went about his business, which hap
pened to be the finding of a humble
pee s nest at tiiaI tllnt
had taken it into his funny head that
he would like taste of honey.
Did You ever seen sch homely.
clumsy fellow" said Granny Fox to
Blacky the Crow. who happened to be
near. but loud enough for Digger To
| hear. His running is joke. His legs
are so short that ] wonder he doesn't
bump his nose when he tries to run.
| And did you ever in all your life see
| such shape? He looks as il Old
ut her
| hattened him out. l should think he
would be ashamed to be seen. i don't
wonder he seldom comes out in the
/ daytime. l wouldn't if I were in his
| place. I don't know what you think.
but l think that he is a disgrace TO the
Green Meadows. ] wouldn't say so to
him. but that is what l think. j notice
that no one but Old Man Coyote has
much to do with him
Now. Digger had heard every word
| of this and he had seen the sneerinE
| look in Granny's eyes, but he took no
n notice. He went on about his business.
which was looking for a humble bees
nest. and to have seen him you never
would have suspected that he knew
that he was being made fun of. He
went this way and that way with his
| nose to the ground. and all the time
without seeming to do so he was get
! ting nearer and nearer to Granny Fox
| If Granny noticed il she didn't mind,
She knew that when he got near
enough 10 De DANG foIS sue SoIiu
out of his reach with couple or
bounds. and to move before she had
to would be to lead Blacky the Grow
to think that she was afraid, and this
would never do.
Now what was in DigGers head |
don't know. Il may be that he had
il in mind to get near enough to
Granny to run at her and show BlackE
that she was afraid of him. Whatever
he was planning TO do never Will
be known. for not far from where
Granny was sitting he made discoN-
erey It was what he had been look
ing fora humble bees nest. Digger
looked at old Granny Fox, who prompt
~ turned her back him. Then he
chuckled and there was a CLEAN OF
mischief in his eyes. lie took one more
look at old Granny Fox and then pull
ed open that nest ard greedily ate the
honey.
or course. those bees came pouring
out mad clear through. They did their
best to sting Digger. but his thick
skin and coat protected him so that
he didn't mind them a bit. Then some
of them saw Granny Fox and in less
time than ii takes to tell it they We're
all about her and all over her. With a
veil Granny started for home. and the
last Blacky and Digger saw of her
she WAS running as If the ground
burned her feet.