Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-05

and shrieked and drove the falling
snow this way and drove it that way
through the Green Forest and over the
Green Meadows and had no pity for
the little people who live there. No,
sir. he had no pity at all. Not one OF
them dared poke nose or toes outside.
At first a few of them didn't mind
Chatterer the Red Squirrel was one.
Curled up in his bed of leaves in hol-
low branch of an old apple tree in the
Old Orchard he was thoroughly COM
Portable In that same hollow branch
was a goodly store of corn and nuts
hidden there for just such time as
this. So it didn't trouble him in the
least how cold or how stormy 1t might
be outside. 1t rather tickled him TO
listen to rough Brother North WIND
boasting of his strength and holiness.
His nose turned up wee bit scornfully
as he mutteredA
Roar and shrek and howl and boast;
Here am as warm as toast!
Rage as long as you may please
j will eat and sleep at ease.
Other folks may frightened be.
But your buster don't scare me.
And this was quite true. Chatterer
wasn't afraid. Why should he De!
There wasn't a single thing to worry
about. He had warmth, comfort ana
plenty to eat, and he didn't need to so
much as poke his nose outside, no mat
ter how long the storm lasted. 10 MS
less fortunate friends and neighbors
Chatterer didn't give so much as a sim
gle thought. If they were in trouble it
was no concern of his. 1t is very apt to
be that way with people. If they have
no troubles of their own they give no
thought to the troubles of others
The harder rough Brother North
Wind blew and the louder the fine icy
particles of snow Kissed through the
bare branches of the trees the more
comforta bic Chatterer felt and the bet
ter grew his opinion of his own wis
dom in laying up a store of food while
the weather was good and food plen-
tiful.
He thinks he is a terrible fellow.
listen to him. chuckled Chatterer
But he doesn't scare me a bit. He may
blow his head off for all l care. 1t
would be very different matter If l
was out where he could get at me, but
I'm not I'm right here, snug and COM
Portable, and for all his hoasting he
can't get at me-and he knows it. That
is the result of using a little sense in
quite like being prepared. When I
chose this home l knew what l was
about. Now let that fellow buster and
brag and blow till he gets tired. l don't
care two flirts of my tail for him. and
I'd like to tell him so"
This idea tickled Chatterer. The more
he thought about it the more it tickled
him. Finally he crept to his little round
doorway and put his head out.
''Whoop" shouted rough Brother
North Wind and dashed a handful of
singing icy snow in Chatterer's face.
Chatterer pulled his head in in "a hurry.
When he could get his breath he had
quite lost his temper.
You think you are smart. don't you?'
he barked angrily, taking care to put
no more than the tip of his nose out
side. you are nothing but a great
big bully. That's what you are,
bully, Just listen to this, Brother
North Wind: / don't care twist of my
whiskers for you or your boasting. You
may scare some folks. but not me.
Howl and roar all you please; you can't
get me. You can't SO much as give me
a bad dream. You can't brighten me,
Brother North Wind, You can't fright
en- mev'
Rough Brother North Wind blew an
angry blast in at Chatterer's little
round doorway and roared:
Beware. beware how you defy
Ny rage and strength If ! but try
III make you wish before the morn
You'd held your tongue ne'er been born!
'Ha, ha, ha! Idle Boosting. Just idle
boasting," cried Chatterer scornfully
and returned to his warm bed to curl
himself UP III comfort.