Evening star., 1921-02-18


1t is no sign I'm fckle.
To promptly change when he is wrong
No one should ever stick1e.
Happy Jack Squirrel.
Peter Rabbit turned his head to hide
grin as Happy Jack the Gray Squir-
rel started to climb the big hollow
tree in which Bobby Coon had made
his home for a long time. Peter didn't
want Happy Jack to see that grin.
You see, Peter was making use of
Happy Jack to find out something he
couldn't find out for himself, but he
knew that If Happy Jack suspected
anything of the kind he would re-
fuse to go on.
Peter wanted to know If Bobby
Coon was still asleep in that hollow
tree. 1t was just curiosity, plain curl
osity. 1t really was no business of
Peters whether Bobby Coon was in
there alseep or not: But he wanted to
know and he couldn't climb that tree
to find out. 80 he had artfully suggest
ed to Happy Jack, without really say
Ing so. that there was some doubt if
Bobby Coon would ever again poke
his head out of that doorway high
that Bobby Coon might not be in that
house at all. Happy Jack had declared
that he would go up and see.
So it was that as Happy Jack climb
ed the tree Peter Rabbit erinned and
thought himself very smart. AS you
know Happy Jack Squirrel rs a splen-
did climber and in almost no time
at all he was half way up that tree
Then he stopped and began to jerk his
big. broad tail, way he has when he
Peter waited for him to go on But
Happy Jack didn't go on. That Is. he
didn't go on up to that hole which was
the entrance to Bobby Coons house.
He went partly around the trunk of
the tree and up to branch. On this
he seated himself with his back to the
trunk.
What's tfe matter" demanded
Peter Rabbit.
Nothing is the matter" replied
"Then why don't you go on and find
out if Bobby Coon is in there?" cried
Peter Rabbit
Because I've changed my mind" re-
piled Happy Jack.
What for?" demanded Peter.
Because It's none OF my business.
and none Of your business. whether
or not Bobby Coon is in there asleep"
retortod Happy Jack.
You mean you've got cold fcet."
jeered Peter.
What do you mean by cold feet?"
demanded Happy Jack sharply.
II mean you are afraid to go in there.
You're afraid, that's what you are!' re-
torted Peter Rabbit
mo such thing! I'm not afraid" re-
torted Happy Jack angri1y.
Yes. you are: you're afraid!' re-
peated Peter. IF you were not afraid
you would go right in there and find
out il Bobby Coon is there"
we're in my place. but some people
haven't any scllge OF honor" retortpd
Happy Jack. THAT is Bobby Coons
house and no one else has a right to
go in it. know I wouldn't like it IL
any one came poking about in my
house while l was asleep. No one has
a right to enter the house Of another
unless invited to-"
Peter thought of how he had been
In Johnny Chucks house and Jimmy
! Chunks house while they slept. and
| in spite Of himself he had feeling
| of shame. But he didn't let Happy
Jack know that.
III Bobby Coon is asleep he never
| will know anything about it. so what
! harm is thcre?" said Peter.
mo harm to Bobby" retorted Happy
Jack, but lot OF harm to me.
| would lose my self-respect, and /
would rather have my self-respect
| than satisfy idle curiosity
"Huh!' said Peter Rabbit, but he
didn't say it loud iough for Happy
| Jack to hear. The fact Is. Peter know
| that Happy Jack was right.
Copyright, 1921. by I. w. Burgess)