Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-06
BILLY PLAYS DEAD
By Farmer Smith

Bow-wow-wow
January. February and March Opossum
looked down from the top of the pers!mmon
tree to see what all the racket was about
Mamma, mamma! Look at all those
funny things down there" January was I
holding on to his mother as hard as he y
could. while all the other eleven opossums
were holding as tightly as they could too :
zone OF those THINGS down there 10
Billy Bumpus. the goat and the other
THING down there is Rover. the dog. !
like Billy Bumpus; he would not hurt
flea. He eats cans, newspapers and such
things. while my dears, Rover Is likely to
eat us If he gets a chance / want you TO
know your friends as well as your enemies
In the meantime Billy and Rover were
having a fine time down below talking
about the weather
Gold, isn't it?" started Billy.
II should say So" answered Rover. But
tell me- how did you come to let those fat
opossums get away from you? DO you
mean to tell me that there is one single
thing in all this world YOC will not or
cannot eat?'
"The opossums were dead when l found
DEAD! Look at them up in that tree,
DO you mean to tell me that they are dead
now?'
they were playing 'possum. You see
opossums die and come to life again.
wish l were an opossum, sometimes SAID
Billy.
why" asked Rover. s.1
Never ask why. / wish that word had
never been put in the Goatville dictionary
said Billy. "G wish were an opossum be-
cause then / could fool my wife"
"Your wife would be an opossum too Z
suggested Rover.
II hadn't thought Of that. Anyway,
must be very nice feeling to own your
own home and not have to pay rent
do Mrs. Opossum carries all her baDee
with her wherever she goes. 1t saves car
fare See"
Rover had to laugh at this as he said;
How funny you are!" IA
Funny! Who said I was funny
Well, all animals have their character
istics. ! mean, things that show their true
characters. You are funny; Mrs. Opossum :
plays dead. The fox is smart and the
bear is surly," answered Rover.
What does surly mean?" asked Billyl
1T means cross. Did you ever hear any
body say cross as n bear,?" =.
Yes. yes. think my good wife sald
something like that to me once. But say
/ think I'll go home and play 'possum iou
call in about an hour and see what nap
pens" said Billy as he trotted off.
Billy trotted home. He thought no one
was In when he arrived, as he didn't hear
any noises. He lay down on the moor o.
the dining room and waited. He decided no
would not play dead until he heard his wlie
coming. He waited and he waited untii ~
finally heard a noise and then he stuck M
feet up in the air closed his eyes and mads
believe he was dead.
Mrs. Bumpus came In and when she saw
her husband on the floor she thought 10
was asleep. She called TO him and when
he didn't answer she went to look AT MN
There he was. playing dead. 49,
MY poor husband must have starved 70
DEATH" said Mrs. Bumpus out loud Il am
sorry. for now we will have TO bury him ~
the ash heap and put a flower pot over ~.
head. How I shall miss him when j eat
that silver polish tonight"
Billy did not even move an eyelash'
Mrs. Bumpus took on her bonnet any
carefully selected her longest and sharpess
hatpin. Then she went over to Billys nos
and looked at him. His eyes we're closed
They would be open II he were deau ss.
really dead" thought Mrs Rumpus. sns
leaned over and stuck the Nm In Buy
side,
"o-o-oUCH
'You just get up there, Billy. and don't
try 70 play any 'possum game on me.
"How--how did you know i wasnt
deadf" asked Billy meekly.
What did you close your eyes for'
asked Mrs. Bumpuss
II closed my eyes so that would not -
how sorry you were feeling to think YOU
dear Billy was dead"
you Will always be goat-never z.
opossum or a pihk-eyed monkey. Go IN W. ~
kitchen and see what a surprise have W.
your supper. But l am glad you are
dead. You might make the nre fof
while yQu think 0f itr| ~ =.