Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-05

any plan. And at last Mr.. Meadow
Mouse announced that he would have
to think of one himself. So he sat
down and looked very wise, while
Chirpy Cricket fiddled for him. be-
cause Mr. Meadow Mouse explained
that his wits always worked better
when somebody made music for him.
Chirpy Cricket hddred and tiddled
and hddled. Now and then he paused
to ask Mr. Meadow Mouse how his
wits were working. And each time
that he inquired, Mr.: Meadow Mouse
assured him that his wits were work
ing very spryly and he expected to
have all idea any moment.
Well, the whole night passed in
that fashion. Toward morning Mr..
Meadow Mouse murmured that he
was too hungry to do any more
thinking. He said he was going into
the fields to find something to eat.
But he promised to set his wits to
working again the following evening.
So Chirpy agreed to meet Mr..
Meadow Mouse at dusk and fiddle
for him some more.
Then Chirpy hurriedly gathered
some blades of grass and carried
them home with him. For he was
hungry too. And when the day
came he spent it between doing and
nibbling the grassland hoping that
Mr.. Meadow Mouse wouldn't forget
his promise.
But Mr.. Meadow Mouse didn't
forget. He was on hand bright and
early at dusk, waiting for Chirpy
when he came crawling out of his
hole in the twilight.
Chirpy mad scarcely settled himself
and begun his fddling when Simon
Screecher's wall hoated over the Or
chard. And when he heard it Chirpy
couldn't help jumping. He jumped
right over Mr.. Meadow Mouse and
hid under the fence. And he wouldn't
come out for a long time, though
Mr. Meadow Mouse called and called
to him that he didn't believe there
was really any danger, it was so
early in the evening.
When Chirpy finally did creep out
from under the fence he told Mr.
Meadow Mouse that he couldn't do
any more fddling that night.
Simon Screecher has upset me"
he said. II don't feel cheerful. And
l can't play single note unless I'm
in good spirits"
my wits seem to be working to-
night, even without music" Mr. !
Meadow Mouse informed him with
a knowing air. You're worried. l
can see that. Now, the thing for
you to do is to stop worrying your
self and get Simon Screecher to do
it. Let Simon >shiver and shake"
"How can l do that" Chirpy
asked him. II hope you can tell
me; for l certainly don't know of
a way"
Didn't you notice his cry a little
while ago?' Mr.. M0dow Mouse
asked. Didn't you notice how his
voice trembled?"
"Yes" Chirpy said, yes! Now
that you speak of it, remember that
his voice shook a good deal.'
"Ah" Mr. Meadow Mouse ex-
claimed. Something had frightened
him. Now, you had just begun to
fiddle before he cried out. And
there's no doubt in my mind that
your music scared Simon Screecher
So all you need do to feel safe from
him is to fiddle a plenty every night.
If you do that you'll have him so
worried he'll never trouble you"
Chirpy Cricket felt so happy all
at once that he began lively tune.
And sure enough! Simon Screecher
squalled almost Immediately. II
That proves it." Mr.. Meadow
Mouse exclaimed. And then he said
good evening and ran off to the place
where Farmer Green had been
oats, feeling very we'll
pleased with himself.
Chirpy Cricket took pains to fol-
ow Mr.. Meadow Mouse's advice.
And neither Simon Screecher-nor
lis cousin Solomon Owl-troubled
~hirpy all the rest of the summer.
He fddled the nights away with
more pleasure than ever before. And
" the time fall came all his neigh
,ors agreed that he had done even |
more than his part to make the sum-
ner gay for everybody.
The End II