Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-11
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PrickIy Perky Wants No
Thanks.
By THORNTON W. BURGESS.
Some people are such awful cranks
PETER RABBIT.


Some people are such awful cranks
PETER RABBIT.
It seemed to Peter Rabbit whole
lifetime before he heard Shade" the
Weasel reply to Prickly Porky's state
ment that that hollow log was MS
home and that he had been in it all
Through the great storm.
THAT being SO, and 1 guess it Is. Tor
I don't see any of your tracks around
there, that old log doesn't interest me-
II can't think of any one who would be
Ia bedfellow with such cross-grained
prickly bundle OF contrariness as you,
$50 won't waste any more time here"
said Shadow.
When Peter heard that his heart
seemed to beat stronger, for it became
filled with hope, and hope is a won
derful strengthened of the heart. He
was still anxious. Shadow might
change his mind. He might hide near
and watch to see If any one came out
of that old log. Not knowing just
where Shadow had gone made things
ious than ever to get out of that old
log. but at the same time he couldn't
afford to take any chances.
So, even after Prickly Perky at last
moved away from the end of the log.
leaving the way open. Peter hesitated.
Then he waited just as long as he
could. He must give Shadow time to
get 50 far away that he couldn't see
that old log. When he couldn't wait
another minute he hoped out and at
once sat up to look this way and that
way and the other way for signs of
danger. There was still fear in his
eyes, and he was ready to jump and
run with all his might at the first
hint of. danger.
Weasel. in the snow. and the mere
sight of them made him tremble. They
crossed the very log he had been a
prisoner in. and he trembled again
as he thought how very near death
had been. He saw where Shadow had
Perky and then where he had gone
OF in long bounds. He knew by those
bounds that Shadow probably had
gone far away and was not hanging
Peter turned to look for Prfckly
Perky the Porcupine.
He had reached the big hemlock
tree which he had half stripped OF
bark and twigs before the storm. and
was sitting in the crotch made by the
You saved my life. Prickly Porky.
and wish could tell you how CRATE
full am to you, but can't. No one
can ever really thank another who
has saved his life" said Peter. 1T
shall always think Of you as one Of
my very best friends. 1t was splen-
did Of you to keep Shadow from get
ting me, and I'll never forget it."
Don't thank me-" grunted Prickly
Porky: Don't want your thanks.
Just didn't want that fellow in my
house. Didn't want you in there,
either. Wouldn't have let him in
there IL you hadn't been there. That's
my house. and no one else has any
business there. Didn't do it for you.
Keep your thanks" Prickly Porky.
still mumbling. started to climb higher.
Peter grinned. WAS there ever
such a crank" he demanded Of no
one at all. He just has to be con-
trary. suppose it is his nature Well,
he won't be thanked. but he can't
stop me from being thankful II ever
have chance to do something for
him nothing can stop me from doing
IT. Now Til get away from here as
fast as my legs will take me. I don't
want to be in the same part of the
Green Forest with Shadow the
weasel No, siree"
Copyright. 1921. BY T. ". Burgess)