The Prescott daily news., 1919-11-24
BY Thornton W. Bruoess.

wasn't that he wanted to move. Good
nc -. mol Moving Is bad enough at
any season, but to have to do II right
In the middle of the harvest season is
enough to drive almost any rightmfnd-
cd thrifty squirrel almost crazy, and
Happy Jack 10 nothing II not thrifty.
But he Just had to do II because. ~ he
explained to Peter Rabbit, II he didn't
he never would know another minute
of peace.
"You know. Peter" said Happy
Jack, II believe in thrift"
Peter wriggled his wobbly little nose
bit scornfully. IF don't know II
1t isn't because l haven't had It ever
lastingly preached to me-" said be.
Heppy Jack took no notice Of
Peters scorn. Eyes, 1T, believe in
thrift" he continued. 1.-THE truly
thrifty person ID the one who viii get
on fastest and faSthsst In life. Think
1t over, Peter. 30 1t was because
am truly thrifty that had to drop
everything else and move right now
in the middle Of my busy season. ]
couldn't afford to risk losing what I've
already got Just for the sake of adding
. little to 1t. Do you think could.
Peter?"
Peter Rabbit scratched one long ear
with long hindfoot. then the other
long ear with the other long hindfoot.
and looked pushed. 81 don't know
what you're talking about. but II you
say it's 80 guess so 1t is." said he.
"Of course It is," retorted Happy
Jack. "You know I've been living in
the attic Of that house over there" He
pointed to house Peter could Just
see through the trees.
Peter looked at the house, then
looked at Happy Jack. you may be
able to stuff lot down me, but you
can't make me swallow that house."
said he.
why men live in that housel'
"Of course they do" replied Happy
Jack, with chuckle bat I'VE been
living there, too Do you see that
limb of tree just touching the roof
Of that house."
Peter odded. well, one day." con-
tinued Happy Jack, 81 ran out on that
limb and on the roof. Then disoov-
cred place where / could gnaw a
hole, and did it." s.
What for?" demanded Peter.
To find out what was inside" re-
piled Happy Jack. When got it big
enough to crawl through | got into
the attic and it was the most wonder
full place. There was the greatest lot
Of stuff UP there you ever saw piles of
old papers, old clothes, old furniture,
boxes-goodness, / couldn't begin to
tell you of all the stuff in that attic.
1t didn't take me long to find out that
nobody ever came up there excepting
once in a great while to put some
more stuff there
So | made nest in a box, a nest
OF paper which tore up and old rags,
and decided to live there. It was the
most comfortable home I've ever had,
and | was looking forward to spend
ing the winter there. 1t was a won
derful place to live. 1t certainly was. :"
Happy Jack said this very wistfully
Then why don't you stay there ?"
demanded Peter
Because I've just discovered it isn't
SAFE" declared Happy Jack. mo. sir.
1t isn't safe, and safety is the first law
OF life, as you very well know"
Again Peter nodded, and Happy
Jack continued: "One night | was
awakened by some one in the attic
1t was boy and he was looking for
something with a lighted match. II
burned close to his fingers and then
he dropped 1t. 1t fell on a piece of
old paper and it blazed right up. That
boy was quick. I'll say that much for
him. He stamped that fire out quick
or than wink Then he went off
down stairs.
The rest OF that night didn't sleep
much. | kept thinking supposing that
match had dropped in one of the big
piles OF paper and he hadn't been able
to stamp 1t out. The Red Terror would
have Just raced through that stuff and
that whole house would have been
arlre In no time. So decided to move.
l couldn't afford to lose ny winter
supply of nuts stored there. to say
nothing OF running the risk Of being
burned to death because of some
Dody's carelessness. Besides, l made
up my mind that had been living
with thriftless people. No one truly
thrifty would ever have allowed such
mass OF old stuff to collect. They
would have sold it for Thrift Stamps
and 80 got some good from 1t. You
know, Peter there isn't anything that
cant be made use of in some way.
4 can't stand thriftlessness. That