Evening star., 1921-03-21
| (|BuRGEss BEDr!1lf STORIES
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A Meeting in the Green
Forest.
BY THORNTON W. BURGESS.
'Gainst tooth and claw I'll always pit
clever tongue and ready wit.

neuuy
Mrs Buster Bear was not welcome
in the Green Forest. OF this there
could be no doubt. When Reddy Fox
suggested that meeting Of all the
little forest people be called to see
what could be done about it. Sammy
Jay and Blacky the Crow at once
offered to invite all the others to at
tend. 1t was agreed that the meet
ing should be at sun-up the next
morning at certain tall pine tree In
the Green Forest close by the Laugh
! ing Brook.
Sammy and Blacky at once started
out to carry word Of the meeting all
through the Green Forest, over the
Green Meadows. through the Old Or
fore the day ended everybody knew
Of the meeting and what 1t was to
be for.
1t doesn't interest me-" said Danny
Meadow Mouse when he heard of it.
| Buster Bear doesn't hunt on the
Green Meadows and Mrs Buster isn't
likely to. so why should 1 worry"
Nearly all the little people living
on the Green Meadows felt the same
way. Only Peter Rabbit in the dear
ing could have kept Peter from that
meeting. Old Man Coyote and old
Granny Fox left the Old Pasture
early to be on hand. Several Of the
little people OF the Old Orchard went
just for the excitement 1t really
how many bears chose to live In the
Green Forest. but they didn't want
to miss anything going on. But to
those living in the Green Forest the
coming of Mrs. Bear meant "a great
deal. and the only one who wasn't
h <pf1 MI tyaA 1t
! up was Paddy the Beaver. Paddy
preferred to remain in his pond,
where he was safe.
Sitting on rocks in the Laughing
Brook were Billy Mink. Little Joe
Otter and Jerry Muskrat Granny
sat under the tall pine tree. Chat
/ terer the Red Squirrel and Happy
| Jack the. Gray Squirrel were up in
the tall pine tree. Bobby Coon and
Unc' Billy Possum were in another
tree close by. So was Prickly Pork
! Mouse peeped out from a hole in a
| tall dead stump. Peter Rabbit and
Jumper the Hare squatted under a
pile Of brush Mrs. Grouse. Sammy
Jay. Blacky the Crow. Tommy Tit the
| Chickadee. Drummer the Wood
+ pecker ands.s lot more of the feath-
| cred folk sat about in the trees near
enough to see and hear everything.
! Even Hootv the Owl was there.
| Lightfoot the Deer stood in thicket.
a worried look in his big soft eyes.
| When he was sure that every one
who was coming was on hand, Reddy
Fox spoke. Friends" said he.
Don't call me friend" growled Old
Man Coyote. I'm no friend Of yours.
| And I'm sure I'm not" sputtered
! Mrs. Grouse from her perch in the tall
pine tree. -,.,..--...-
| Nor mew barked Jack Squirrel.
"Ah reckons All just as soon yo'
didn't call me that" said Unc' Billy
| PosSum softly.
! Reddy saw at once that he had made
! a mistake. and he hastily corrected it
| 'Neighbors." said he. you have heard
! of the coming Of this strange Bear to
! the Green Forest. Some of you have
| seen her. so it isn't necessary for any
! one to take just my word for it that
| she is living here"
'It is a good thing it isn't necessary
| I. for one. wouldn't take your word
| Tor anything" snickered Chatterer the
| Red Squirrel.
Reddy pretended not to hear. 81