Evening star., 1917-06-03
LIIILESoRlEs
%rBEDTlnE
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
Copyright, 1917. by 7. W. Burgess.)
Chubby Makes a PrickIy Ac-
quamtance.

1t really was a very beautiful day. a
day when everybody should have beer
happy. But always there is some un-
happiness even on the loveliest days
Chubby, tho disobedient baby of Reddy
Fox and Mrs. Reddy. was not happy
She was very unhappy. In fact, she
was very, very miserable. She haon'
dreamed that any one could be so mlser-
able. There she was lost In the Green
Forest, SO frightened that 1t seemed to
her that her heart was In her throat
most of the time, and all because she
had been headstrong and willful and had
disobeyed her mother by going out OF
sight of home when she had been
charged not to.
The great world she had been so anx-
ious to see no longer seemed a wonder.
full place. 1t was dreadful place nlieo
with dreadful people. There was Peter
Rabbit, who thumped the ground SO
fiercely. How it would have tickled
Peter could he have known that some
one actually thought him herce. AND
there was Chatterer the Red Squlrrel;
said such horrid things to her. And
there was Jimmy Skunk, who preached
to her when she didn't want preaching.
but sympathy No. Chubby didn't like
the great wortd AT All, Hof lhe peopAe
in the great world.
When Chubby left the old house In
which Jimmy Skunk had disappeared to
resume the nap she had broken by need
lessly trying to find a hiding place
there without first making sure that 1t
very much ashamed. She didn't know
where she was going any more than
she had known before All she could
think of was to get away from that
NNNk kka~ tt3n
Red Squirrel still followed. jeerinE and
scolding at her. but now she took no
notice Of him. After a little he gave
it up. 1t was no longer fun. So she
learned that the best way to get rid
Of unpleasant people is to take no no
tice Of them.
When Chatterer gave up and went
about his business the Green Forest
once more became very still save Tor
now and then the signing Of pine
and beech leaves. This stiffness was
almost harder to bear than the noisy
tongue of Chatterer. because 1t made
Chubby feel so very, very much alone.
as she hurried on. She was sure that
she never, never would see home or
father and mother or her sisters and
brothers again. She was sure that all
there was for her to do was to run on
Abruptly. Chubby stopped. She
stopped so suddenly that one little
black foot was lifted for a step. Just
ahead of her there was the strangest
noise. 1t was rustling sound very
different from any sound Chubby had
heard before. With her eyes popping
right out of her head with fear and
wonder Chubby stood staring straight
ahead and it seemed to her that this
time her heart had come up clear into
her mouth. She was too frightened to to
run, so she just stood perfectly still
and stared toward the place from
which that strange, fearsome SOUND
seemed to come.
In a moment or two there came from
behind a little hemlock tree the
strangest creature. Chubby almost
thought she must be having a bad
dream 1t was very much bigger than
she and there wasn't much shape to 1t:
1t was just walking mass OF hair and
what looked like very long and sharp
thorns pointing all ways. 1t was
Prickly Porky the Porcupine.
Chubby gave little gasp and turned
n