Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-30
uI1IILEStoRlES
rbEDTInE
BY THORNTON W. BURGESS.
Peter Calls on Old Mother
Nature.
There's one thing only when in doubt
To do, and that is just find out.

There's one thing only when IN ooupt
To do, and that is just hnd out
Peter Rabbit tried his best to be-
lieye that what Jenny Wren had told
him about a cousin whom he didn't
know wasn't true; that 1t was nothing
but a story. But. do what he would,
he couldn't rid himself of little
doubt He tried to interest himself
in the affairs of the other little people
of the Old Orchard, but it was useless.
You know nothing grows faster than
a little doubt. This particular little
doubt kept growing and growing and
growing. Could it be possible that
Jenny Wren had spoken the truth?
Could it be that he didn't know what
relatives he had or anything about
them? OF course. Old Mother Nature
could tell him all he wanted to know.
and what she told him he would know
10 be true.
Finally that growing doubt. together
with the curiosity which has led Peter
to do SO many queer things. proved
100 much for him and he started for
the Green Forest to look for Old
Mother Nature. 1t didn't take him
long to nnd her. Peter saw right
away that she was very busy. You
know there is no time in all the year
when Old Mother Nature has quite so
much to do as in the spring.
to see Peter and kept right on with
her work. But all the time she was
watching him. and there was a kindly
twinkle in her eyes. Peter fidgeted
about uneasily. At last he found
courage to ask very timidly and very
politely. IF you please, Old Mother
Nature will Won answer snna oneS
! tions?"
! Certainly" said she. II am very
busy. but l guess 1 can talk and work
at the same time. What is 1t you
want to know"
II want to know IL it is true that
there are other members of my family
| besides my cousin. Jumper the Hare,
who lives here in the Green Forest.
and myself" replied Peter.
Old Mother Natures eyes twinkled
more than ever. and it was the most
kindly twinkle you can imagine.
Why, of course. Peter" she replied
| There are several other members.
| DO you mean to tell me that you
didn't know that"
Peter nodded. He looked very hum
BILE and as if he felt little bit fool
ish. as. indeed, he did. Isis it true
| that way down in the Sunny South I
have a cousin who loves to swim ~
stammered Peter.
1T certainly is. Feter." replied Old
Mother Nature. He is called the
Marsh Rabbit and he looks more like
you than any of your other cousins"
Peter guloed as II he were swallow
ing something which went down hard
That is what Jenny Wrenn told me.
and I didn't believe her" said he,
meekly. She said she often had
watched him swimming about like
Jerry Muskrat
! old Mother Nature nodded .o;.a
/ true, quite true said she. He is
quite as much at home in water as on
| land: if anything. little more 50 is
there anything else you want to Know,
| Peter?
peter shifted about uneasi,v and
hesitated What is it. Peter" Old
Mother Nature asked. kindly. There
8 nothing in all the Great World
equal to knowledge. and if l can add
! to your knowledge l will be glad TO"
Peter took heart Tiff you please
Mother Nature. / would like tn ,aarn
all about my family" said he NAV
| come to school to you every dava"
Old Mother Nature laughed tight
out. .Certainly you may. old Mr..
idea. very good idea. Wen have a
lesson over here at sun-up every
morning. Now scamper home. tn, TOO
busy to talk any more todav,
May prlng my cousin. Jumner the
Hare. hf he wants to Gomez" yantured
Peter. as he prepared to obey
Bring MN along and any one else
who wants to learn" ren,ie,I Old
Mother Nature. kindly.
Peter thanked her in his most no-
lite manner and then started for the
dear Old Briar Patch as fa., as he
could go. lipperty-lippertylin
copyright. 1870 by T. ". R,r.