The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-09-10
WATCH YOUR STEP!
Peter Rabbits Near Blunder De-
scribed in Thrift Story Writ
ten Expressly for Government
Savings Organization.
BY T~horton W. BURGESS.

H\NATCH your step, Peter Rab-
w bit, Watch your step,"
shouted Happy Jack Squirrel excited
ly as he leaned down from a branch OF
a hickory tree and jerked his tail as
il he were trying to break it off.
Peter RABBIT stopped short and sat
up with a most surprised look on his
face. why should | watch my step"
he demanded, and stared all about
him to see what could have so excited
Happy Jack. Why should | watch
my step? What ails you anyway,
Happy Jack SQUIRREL"
Seeing that Peter had stopped, Hap.
py Jack gave a little sigh. THANK
goodness" said he, you didn't do it."
Life Tree In Danger.
Didn't do what?" demanded Peter
looking more puzzled than ever.
Didn't step on that little tree I
planted for my great-great-ever-so-
great grandchildren" replied Happy
Jack promptly. "If you had stepped on it
of it. This is a queer world. Nc matter
how thrifty a person may be. the care
iessnesS o! someone else may make that
thrift useless"
While. Happy Jack was talking Peter
Rabbit had continued to stare about him
more puzzled than ever: Il don't see any
he. Are you crazy, Happy Jack?'
No. I'm not crazy" retorted Happy
Jack. Look right down in front OF YOU
under your nose: Do you see that little
ieaves? 'e"'
Peter looked down and nodded. yes"
i'll ha ~ 500 IL What nj ;tpt
That's a young hickory-tree." declared
Happy Jack II planted a hiekory-nut
great-ever-so-great grandchildren. Some
day. II careless people like you don't step
on 1t. that will be a big tree like the one
/ am sitting in. which was pla nted by my
own NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. grand.
father.
Must Think Of the Future, Too.
Peter turned up his wobbly little nose
scornfully.. DO you mean to tell me.
Harry Jack Squirrel. that you are worry
ing about a tree that you won't live to
see grow up. and from which you won't
get SO much as one lonesome NUT" he
demanded.
am thinking about" retorted Happy Jack
sharply. 'The trouble with you thrift
less people is that you never look ahead.
You think only of the present, and that is
pure selfishness. You don't give a thought
to those who will come after you. You
Siiiiln oity - jun ski LII SouI ChlIuTeH
and their children will have to scramble
for a living and take what they can find.
My great-grea,-ever so-great grandfather
planted this very tree | am sitting in and
a lot Of others that and my family might
be sure Of having plenty to eat. My
grandfather and my father planted trees.
and each fall | do the same thing. That
SOFT Of thing is thrift. Peter Rabbit"
Agar Peter Rabbit scratched a long
ear with a long hindfoot and the puzzled
look returned to his face. II thought"
said he. that thrift is just saving
things"
The Best Kind Of Thrift.
THAT is one kind of thrift. That is.
il ie II the things saved are to be used
hes. kind of thrift is saving a thing and
then putting it where it will increase.
That is an Investment. saved that nut
last fall and planted it. Already it has
begun to grow, and some day there will
be thousands of sweet hickory nuts from
j Ia, that hat ONE one That is there viii if you
Il won't interrupted Peter hastily.
and backed away a little farther.
That nut Was an invest ment" added
"In-vest-ment." repeated Peter rolling
his tongue around the big word as if he
enjoyed ii. "ln-vest-mcnt | never have
known the meaning of that word until
now
Probably you never heard 1t before"
said Happy Jack drlly.
He Learns of Thrift Stamps.
II have too heard it before retorted
Peter. ~ heard it this Very morning.
Farmer Browns boy Was over by the
dear old Briar-pateh aud heard him
tel another boy that Thrift stamps,
whatever they arr, are the best invest
ment in the world for boys and girls.
| and that he hoped that every boy and
girl in the whole country would buy at
least one Thrift Stamp every week. He
said they ought to for their own good
and the good Of their country. | don't
know anything about Thrift Stamps, but
ii thAy are an Investment it must BE-
that they grow. Anyway Farmer
Browns boy was terribly in earnest"
Happy Jack Squirrel chuckled happily.
"Of course they must grow. said he.
For myself | prefer hickory-n nuts. but
probably that's because | am a Squirrel.
SO there are Thrift Stamps. That is tho
pest news I've heard for a long time. II
they keep on some day these humans
will be as wise as 4 Squirrel. Thrift
Stamps, That's great. /. hope every boy
and girl will buy q Thrift Stamp. Well.
can't stop to gossip any longer. So
long. Peter. And for goodness sake do
watch your step"