Evening star., 1917-09-06
LI1IILE90RlEs L1I
@rBEDTInE
BY THORNTON W. BURGESS.
Copyright, 1917, by T. ". Burgess.1
Big Tom Is Apologize.

7 To be apol get-ic means to express
regret; to say that you are sorry for
some trouble you may have caused
others. or for hurting the feelings of
another. Usually one who is apollo
Setlc tries TO explain his actions. This
| was the case with Big Tom Gobbler
the morning after the second invita-
tion Of Keddy Fox. Mrs. Gobbler said
nothing. She left all the talking to
| Big Tom.
You remember that Reddy Fox had
told Big Tom that he. Reddy. would
call an hour after sun-up to show the
way to the finest dust bath in the Green
Forest. Reddy had been hunting all
night without much success, but he
hadnt minded that much because all
| the time he was thinking of what
feast he would have on Big Tom or
Mrs Gobbler If they Were stupid enough
10 accept his invitation to go with him
to lind that dust bath. That they would
be stupid enough he hadn't a doubt be-
cause he judged them by what he had
learned of Farmer Browns hens, who
are very stupid indeed. To be sure
Big Tom and Mrs. Gobbler were not
hens. but they were feathered crea-
lures who live on the ground mostly
just like the hens. and so somehow
Reddy couldn't think of them as being
Being awake all night Reddy didn't
have to worry about oversleeping.
When it was most time for jolly. round
Eeis and been 10 his daH G ms eb n5an IN
the blue. blue sky Reddy sat where he
could watch for the first sign Of Mr..
Sun, BY and by over in the east the
sky began to grow lighter and lighter.
Then above the edge of the world ap-
peared jolly. round, red Mr.. Sun. Red
dy wondered, as he had wondered many
times. why it was that Mr.. Sun was
so much bigger when he first got up
than later in the day. He waited until
Mr.. Sun was well started on his climb
up in, the blue. blue sky and then
est where Big Tom GobbIer and Mrs.
Gobbler had spent the night.
They Were sitting just where he had
left them the night before and Reddy
at the thought of the great feast he
felt sure he would have that morning.
Good morning. Mr.. and Mrs. Cob
bier" said he briskly- Did YOU ever
see a finer morning? | trust you pass
ed a pleasant night"
Very pleasant, Brer Fox. very pleas
ant" replied Big Tom. yawning as if
he had just awakened. Il hope you
II certainly did, was Reddy's prompt
response. II am glad to see you look
| ing SO fresh this morning. / am on
| my way to keep that appointment L
| told you OF last night and it will give
| me the greatest pleasure in the world
| if you and Mrs. Gobbler will walk with
| me as far as an old road where you
| can take your dust bath. Shall we
| start a once?"
Big Tom cleared his throat as If a
| trife embarrassed. IF you'll excuse
us" said he. II don't think Mrs. Cob
| bier and I will 60 with you this morn
| ing Brer Fox. The fact is we have
been over there and had our dust bath
| and we are very, very much obliged
| to you for telling us about that place.
! Indeed we are, Brer Fox. You see it
Happens that we are very early risers.
We were awake an hour before sun
up and while out looking for break
oil
We couldn't resist the temptation to
take q dust bath then. l hope this
hasn't put you out at all, Brer Fox,
but as you said You had an appoint
ment and would be coming this way |
don't suppose it has"
mot at all. Not at all" replied Red
dy. trying to speak cordially although
inside he was fairly boiling with rage
and disappointment. for YOU see he
hadn't any appointment. He had just
made that up.