The Detroit times., 1916-03-28
LITTLE STORIES FOR BEDTIME
Farmer Browns Boy Visits Smiling Pool
Copyright T. W. BurgessD
BY THORNTON W. BURGESS.

~ iA' AfANN IT n UNf AhA 49,.
Welcome Robin singing IN the Old
Orchard quite as soon as Peter Rap
BIT had. and that song OF Cheer
up cheer up Cheer up Cheer
up, Cheerl" had awakened quite as
much gladness in his heart as II had
In Peters heart II meant that Mis-
tress Spring really had arrived, and
thar meant that over i'm the Green
Forest and down in the Green
Meadows there would soon be- shy
blue and just as shy white violets
10 look for and other flowers almost
If not quite as sweet and lovely. II
meant that his feathered friends
would soon be busy house hunting
and building II meant that his
little friends in fur would also be
doing something very similar II they
had not already done so II meant
that soon there would be a million
lovely things 20 see and million
joyous sounds TO hear
SO the sound OF Welcome Robin S
voice made the heart of Farmer
Browns Boy even more happy than
it was before, so that just as Wei.
come Robin just had 90 sing Farmer
Browns Boy just had TO whistle.
When his work was finished Il
seemed to Farmer Browns Boy that
something was calling him. calling
him 10 get out on the Green Mead
ows or over in the Green Forest and
share in the happiness Of all the
little people there SO presently he
decided that he would go down to
the Smiling Pool 20 find out how
Jerry Muskrat was and il Grand
father Frog was awake yet and II
the sweet singers of the Smiling
Pool had begun their wonderful
spring chorus vet.
Down the Crooked Little Path
across the Green Meadows no
tramped. and as he drew near the
Smiling Pool he stopped whistliug.
lest the sound should brighten some
OF the little people there He was
still some distance from the smiling
Pool when ont OF il sprang big
bird. and on swift vhislling wing
flew away In the direction OF the
Big River Farmer Browns Bog
stopped and watched until the bird
had disappea ed. and on his face
Was alook Of great surprise
"As / live that was duck" he
exclaimed THAT is the first time
I've ever known Wild duck 10 be
in the Smiling Pool wonder what
under the sun could have brought
her over here"
Just then there was q distant bang
in the direction OF The Big River
Farmer Browns BOY scowled, and
II made his face very angry looking.
That's IT," ne mutterod Hunters
are shooting the ducks on their way
north. and have driven the poor
things TO look for any little mud
hole where they can get "a little
rest Probably that duck has been
shot al SO many times on the Blk
River that she felt safer over here
in the Smiling Poo, little as-it is.
Farmer Browns Boy had guessed
exactly right as You and know. ana
As Peter Rabbit and Jerry Muskrai
knew. IT'S a shame. a downright
shame. that any one should want 10
shoot birds ON their way 10 their
nesting grounds and that tho Law
should let them II they do want to-
Some people haven't amy hearts
they're AN stomache hope that
follow who shot just now over there
on the Big River didn't hit any
thing. and ] visit that gun Of his
might have kicked a little sense OF
what is right and fair into his head.
but OF course il didn't
He grinncd at the idea, and then
he continued his way toward the
Smiling Pool He hoped he might
find another duck there AMI he ap-
preached the Smiling Pool very
very carefully
But when he reached a point
where no. could see all over the
Smiling Pool there was no one 10
hc seen save Jerry Muskrat sitting
on the Big Rock and Peter Rabbit
on tho bank on the other side Farm
or Browns BOY smiled when he saN
them.
Hello. Jerry Muskrat'' said no
Il wonder how h!'c OF carrot
would taste to yous"
He felt in his pocket and brought
out a couple Of carrots one he put
on a little tussock in the water
where he knew Jerry would find -
The other he tossed across the Smil.
ing Pool whore he felt sure Peter
would find IL.
Presently 10 noticed two or three
feathers on the water close 60 the
edge of the bank Mrs Quack had
left them there II believe that was
a Mallard Duck said be as he
etndicd them IL know what I'll do.
fll go straight back home and get
wheat and corn. and pat it
-1JT on the edge Of the Smiling
Toi Perhaps she will come back
an aad g."
AMI This is Just what Farmer
Hatu Boy did
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