Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-28
STRANGE ADVENTURES
OF BILLY BUMPUS
THE LESSON
BY Farmer Smith

Here is the picture before you as you
start to read this story; Billy HumpuS
stands with his head in the sand with
Mister Ostrich at his back nibblnG Billy IS
tail.
It was a new experience of Billy, for
Mister ostrich told him that if he buried
his head in the sand. no one could see
him and this is exactly what Billy did, only
he did not expect Mister Ostrich TO nibb!e
his tail.
Billy Bumpus was always noted for his
appetite and the things he ate and, strange
to say, Mister ostrich was noted for HIS
appetite and the things he ate, too. The
goat did not stay long under the sand, for
he needed air and he needed it very badly,
so he pulled his head out of the sand and
looked around for his companion. There
stood Mister Ostrich chewing and chewing.
This made Billy think of his tail and when
he looked at it he discovered that the dinty
little tuft of hair which he admired so
much was gone!
could you see me there with my head
under the sand?" asked Billy, Curiously.
"Of course | couldn't" exclaimed the
Ostrich
"You couldn't? How on earth could you
see my beautiful tail-you just took bite
of hair from il? ?" asked Billy, squirting once
more at his tail
EXCUSE me. | though that was a piece
Vt sage brush You don't mean to tell me
Of you-you disappeared entirely" Mister
ostrich was laughing.
IL must have eVaporatcG-ail but my
tail. But tell me, is 1t really true that II
you bury your head in the sand no one can
see you?" Billy was getting still more in
tCrestcd
IF you can't see others, they can't see
YOU. can they" asked the big fellow.
Il never thought of that" answered Billy.
Say it once more to me so that / may i'm
press it upon my memory.
III you can't see others, they can't see
you" replied the Ostrich. impressively.
Then what did | see when | butted
you?" asked Billy, stl in doubt
"YGu may have seen my legs but you
didn't see ME-"
81. didn't didn't 1?'
"You didn't see the real me--you didn't
sec my eyes" answered Mister Ostrich.
Il guess it's a good thing | didn't, for
! should hate to butt you in the eye--then
you couldn't sec at all" Then he added:
"If you don't want others to see you, sup
pose you let me butt you in both eyes
and then you won't have to poke your
| head in the sand"
"You are "A stupid goat and don't under
stand what ! mean" replied the big fellow
~ guess I have too much sand in my
| eyes to see what you mean" said Billy
| trying to brush the sand off his forehead
| I'm very glad to meet you, whoever you
/ are salu the 'Srlch' startlns 10 move
away
| I'm Billy Bumpus-l thought everybody
| knew me- You must have had your head
| in the sand long time not to have seen
| me around somewhere"
At this Mister Ostrich began to laugh
and laugh and laugh
81 45Ssh you would stick that laugh in
| the "a so | can't hear it," said Billy, al
| Mist, Ostrich moved away.
At that moment there started a noise
| which made Billy stop, 1t was peculiar
| Kissing noise and Billy couldn't tell Just
| where II came from.
| First, the noise was loud and then IL
| seemed to die down the big bird moved
away. Billy went In TO look In the hole
| TO see II the noise had been left there by
Mister Ostrich. Suddenly the noise startsd
up once more and made Billy Oiors curiq'>p
ttaan ever. ~ Z. "a e <. 4!