The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-20
LITTLE STORIES FOR BEDTIME
Reddy Fox Brags.
By ThoRNEo4 " p -


What slender. trim Miss sviftoot
thought OF Reddy Fox as side by
side they rested in the Odd Pasture
and Reddy todd her how beautiful
she was only soc herself can tel.
What she thought Of him later she
did not tell. but that Is another
story. OF one thing Reddy felt GER
tain and that vas that she didn't
oislike him II she bad dishked
him she would have run away. for
rhe had proved that she Was swifter
Of foo< than be once or twice Red
dy thought that be had seen some
thing like admiration In her eyes as
The looked at him. Az least be liked
AdmirAtion in her eyes as she looked
a. him AT least he liked 10 ,hink
that this IL what Is was
Perhaps II was this look In her
eyss that started him 10 Dragging or
perhaps IL was what Miss Swiftfoot
said when he told her how beautiful
he thought her and abe had replied
that he was focling and had 80
tended not 10 believe he really
meant n
| You are very handsome yourself
and you look very strong and brave"
said Miss Sxiftfoot. after Rsddy had
insisted that be had meant every
word be mad said Right away
Reddy's tongue was loos4ned and he
began 70 brag. which you know Is IN
boast A little nattery will always
start Reddy Dragging II Is a failing
OF Reddy which Old Granny FOX
never succeeded IN curing him OF.
xltho she tried her best to from The
time he was a little fellow
"A Dragging tongue will soon or lAts
Lea9 atratEkat- 10 trouble sp=a= aa
fate
IL an old saying OF Granny's tina,
Reddy had heard more times than he
cared tn remember YET. In suite Of
the fact that be had many times
proved II 10 be true TO bis own dis
comfort. he never could let chALce
&c brag 20 by. II was a habit be
simply couldn't break himself Of
Perhaps ne never really tried. or per
haps he really fooled himself Voc
know most Of us like 10 be well
thought Of. Reddy especially wanted
Ia be well thought % By beautiful
Miss Swifrfoot. When she said tha'
he was handsome and looked ven
strong and brave be Fwellef riShr
up. Yes. sir. Reddy swelled risL'
up His vanity was tickled.
I'm fairly strong ssi1 ne, try,n.
To appear modest. and | don't know
OF any one I'm afraid Of
OF course. this wasn't true. x,
vas afraid Of Old Man Coyote and
Buster Bear and Bowser the Hour
and Jimmy Skunk and Priokly
Porky the Porcupine. Perhaps h
forgot these or perhaps he mean
that he want afraid they evei
would hurt him because Re W.
tmart enough TO keep out OF hsil
way. This was true enough But a.
for facing any one Of them II 4
quarrel Reddy wouldn't dare 70 foi
minute.
i've lived all my life here IN The
Old Pasture and over yonder on tn
Green Meadows and In the Greer
Forest and everybody KNOWS me AM
Ia afraid OF me-" he continued. ~ ell
ing up a little more mo other Fo'
dares come over here to hunt"
i've seen the tracks OF anothri
Fox over IN the Green Forest sal,
Miss Swiftfoot softly.
Whats that?" exclaimed Reddy
the hair ON his neck bristllng The
he laughed -Oh. I know" said r.
Those wire tho tracks OF ole
Granny For take care Of her"
He said inis with a very grand 1ir
] wonder what Granny ~ouid have
rsid II size had heard him. have
an idea that she would have laughes
night out. What Dc you think?
yes" continued Reddy. Il t4iu
thtt ~ nps i'zg peyy fnng ~ .ypg
you know. and she h getting old ao,
feeble. tell her she has nothin
7 10 worry sDout so long as I am herr
1 TO look out for her. she need neye
= worry for fear she'll go hungry. sh'
> knows won't allow any one else Oh
? cur hunting grounds That Is III
Sdded hastily a. Miss swif;foo