The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-12

Paddy the Beaver swan out to his food pile and carefully placed an aspen log in it. Then he sighed and that sigh was a sigh of relief "There!' said he, Now old Jack Frost can come as soon as he pleases and do his worst. I'm ready for him. There Is food enough here to last me even though he stays late next spring. My I was afraid he would catch me before l had finished this job! Yes sir l was. I certainly was. Now l am through and 1t is load off my mind Now all I have to do Is to see that everything else is as it should be and then l will be ready for winter
 Paddy swan over to his house and climbed out on the roof. There he rested for while. He was tired, was Paddy. You see, he had been working very hard indeed. for weeks almost every minute he was awake Paddy never does anything by halves When he works he works with all his might and he plays the same way.
 After a short rest he went slowly and carefully all over the roof of his house. Very, very carefully he looked at every part of 1t. Two or three times he dived to the bottom of his pond and brought up mud to plaster places that didn't quite suit him. Al last he was satisfied.
 q guess if any one will be warm and comfortable and safe this win ter Paddy Is his name.n he ehuekled When Jack Frost freezes this ponG he will freeze the mud on this roof and then when Fowler the Bob Cat comes sneaking over here on the ice he can wear his claws off trying to tear this open without worrying me in the least. Now I'll have look at the damn
 Paddy swan over to his dam. Even more carefully than he had looked over his house he now went over his dam. From end to end on both sides, above water and below he looked it over. He added a few sticks here and there. He brought up mud and put 1t where he thought 1t was needed He was tired for he had been work ing hard for weeks. but he didn't let being tired interfere with the thor oughness of his looking over of that dam. As he worked he talked to him self.
 There mustn't be any weakness ia this dam. Everything I have, even my life, depends on this. I can't be too careful. It never pays to take chances. If there should be a weak place in this dam, and 1t should break the water would run out of my pond and then I would be Tn a pretty mess. My enemies could get to me and 1 should be worried to death all the time. little care and work now may save me great deal of work and worry by and by. I declare, I don't know what to think of people who never look ahead and prepare for the future, but live just day to day.
 It isn't necessary to worry about the future. That Is foolish. I never do that. No, sir, I never do that. Bur l don't believe in letting the future bring any worries with it, that Is. any that can be avoided. And lot can be avoided by the wise. Now Peter Rabbit never knows where his next meal is coming from. No. sir. ne doesn't. But I know where my next meal Is coming from and the next and the next and the next and the next and the next until spring comes again. Peter will go hungry many times, but won't. He has been playing about and having a good time while have been working, but by and by he will be worrying and spending most of his time hunting Tor something to eat while I will be taxing things easy with nothing to worry me. And it will be because I had sense enough to look ahead"
 once more he went the length Of ms dam. Then he slipped Into the water and headed for his house. Now I'm ready for winter" said he as he dived for the under water an trance to his house.
 
 The next story: Jack Frost's Busy Night" Copyright, 1921, by T. w. Burpess,