Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-01
LI1IILESoRIEs
&BEDTInE
By THORNTON w. BURGESS.
Copyright, 1915. BY T. ". BurgessD
Old Mr.. Toad Takes a Mes
sage to Peter.

Old Mr.. Toad sat on top OF the old
stump just inside the dear Old Brier
Patch watching Granny Fox. She was
doing just as little Mrs. Peter had said.
just hanging around. She would go
away for a little while and then she
would come back. A shrewd twinkle
crept into Old Mr. Toad's eyes a. he
watched.
TT looks to me as II Granny has
something on her mind" said he to
himself. "of course. little Mrs. Peter
is so afraid OF Granny that she won't
believe anything but bad Of her. She
thinks that Granny is hanging around
hero for nothing. but tho chance of
catching Peter. because she knows
that he IL sick and so cannot run But
If that was what Granny has In mind
she never would keep in plain sight;
she would hide. wish the old lady
would come near enough for me- to
speak to her"
have known the wish Of Old Mr.. Toad.
for just then she started straight
toward the old stump on which he was
sitting. OF course. she didn't know
didn't even know that he was any
where about. But the result was just
as IL she had. for she kept right on
until she was Just on the edge Of the
How do you do, Granny Toxr You
look as II you might have something
on your m in. said s ga M Mr.. To sss,.d
for she had not suspected that any one
was near. She recognized Old Mr..
Toad's voice and looked every0here
for him except In the right place You
aAA annn0aa6 That of eOnrU4- hA
was on the ground. Old NE. load
chuckIed. I've gone up in the world
since you saw mo last" said hD'4nd
Then Granny looked up and saw him
and Mr.. Toad saw that z was e very
good -netured , krtn. 1sT.- e ssa9az
to see the day when / would iooE up
to you. Nh Toad"
Old Mr.. Toad eonstssred On fway
for . minute. trying TO ded,de e
seemed to mean, and then DECIDED that
she didn't. Tive been wondsrfngS said
he, what brings you over to the Old
you wouldn't believe mo e nahou1d
tell you" replied Granny.
ives: would" replied osd MNfGosA.
well, it's all on account of Peter
Rabbit replied Granny Fox.
. %Huhr ., snapped p, d,s Ga Mr. Toad = can
but you don't understan0c persiyted
Granny Fox. TITS because 7 hsasd that
he Is sick"
he is sick and so you thought you
might be able to catch him." Mr.. Toad's
eyes twinkled. but Granny didn't see
the twinkle.
and her voice was sharp and indis-
nant. 'TI-Well. I told you you
wouldn't believe me-" she ended.
lamely.
We'll. came over here to IND out
how he Is and-and to send him word
that I am sorry he is sick" Old Granny
Fox talked rather fast. as II little
ashamed of such soft heartedness. But
though I've hung around here ever so
long ! haven't seen any one to ask
about Peter or to take my message TO
him. Have you seen him and 10 he
Old Mr.. Toad looked straight Into
Granny's eyes and he saw that she
really meant all that she had said
A kindly look came into his own beau
very sick. or rather he has been very
sick. but he is better now and will
soon be well again"
I'm glad of that" exclaimed Granny
Fox 1--WE been dreadfully worried
I feel that II is perfectly right for me
to try to catch him. but when he is
sick 1T is a very different matter. 1
wish you would tell him for me that
am sorry that he is sick and that l
hope he will soon be well again. Tell
him that he will have nothing TO worry
bout from me until he is quite himself
again IL wanted to bring him some
thing and so / left young Meadow
Mouse at the entrance to one of his
little paths. I knew he wouldn't eat
II he might understand that l really AN.
sorry for him and-and wanted to do
something for him." Granny looked a
little confused.
.I understand" replied Old Mr. Toad.
Mrs. Peter found that mouse and
guessed why it had been left there.
think Peter will understand. / GER
tainly will take your message to him
and I'm sure it will make him feel
better"
II did. When Peter got that message
he thought it one of the very incest
Of all the nice things which had hap
nened since he was taken sick.