The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-19
BURGESS BED
TIME STORIES
FARMER BRowN's BOY DOES
SOME THINKING
Where e'er 1 am, what e'er do
To right and self 1 will be true.
Farmer Browns Boy.
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS

To right and self 1 will be true.
Farmer Browns Boy.
Farmer Browns boy sat on the
bank of the Big River in a brown
study. That means that he was
thinking very hard. Blacky the Crow
sat in the top of tall tree a short
distance away and watched him.
Blacky was silent now and there was
knowing look in his shrewd little
eyes. In calling Farmer Browns
boy over there he had done all he
could, and he was quite satisfied to
leave the matter to Farmer Browns
boy.
"A hunter has made that blind to
shoot Black Ducks FROM" thought
Farmer Browns boy "and he has
been batting them in here by scat
tering corn for them. Black Ducks
are about the smartest Ducks that
fly, but IL they have been coming in
here every evening and finding corn
and no sign of danger they probably
have got SO that they think 1t per-
fectly safe here and come straight
in without being at all suspicious.
Tonight, or some night soon. that
hunter will be waiting for them.
Il guess the law that permits hunt
ing Ducks is all right. but there
ought to be a law against batting
them in. That isn't hunting. No,
sir. that isn't hunting. If this land
was my fathers / would know what
to do. ! would put up a sign, saying
that this was private property and
no shooting was allowed. But it
isn't my fathers land and that hunt
er has a perfect right to shoot here.
He has just as much right here as
l have. I wish / could stop him,
but l don't see how I can"
A frown puckered the freckled face
of Farmer Browns boy. You see he
was thinking very hard, and when he
does that he Is very apt to frown.
Il suppose" he muttered, 81 can tear
down his blind. He wouldn't know
who did II. But that wouldn't do
much good; he would build another.
Besides, 1t wouldn't be right. He has
perfect right to make blind here
and having made II 1t is his and I
haven't any right to touch 1T. i won't
do a thing j haven't right 10 do.
That wouldn't be honest. I've got
to think of some other way Of saving
those Ducks"
The frown on his freckled face
grew deeper. and for long time, he
sat without moving. Suddenly his
face cleared and he Jumped to his
feet. He began to chuckle. Il have
IT." he exclaimed. iii do a little
shooting myself" Then he chuckled
again and started for home. Pres
emily he began to whistle. a way he
has when he is in good spirits.
Blacky the Crow watched him go
and Blacky was well satisfied. He
didn't know what Farmer Browns
boy was planning to do, but he had
feeling he was planning to do
something and that all would be we'll.
Perhaps Blacky wouldn't have felt 80
sure could he have understood wha.
Farmer browns boy had said about
doing a little shooting himself
AS 1t was. Blacky flew off about
his own business, quite satisfied that
now all would be well and he need
worry no more about those Ducks.
None Of the little people OF the
Green Forest and the Green Meadows
knew Farmer Browns boy better
than did Blacky the Crow. None
knew better than. he that Tarmer
Browns boy was their best friend.
at is all right now" chuckied
Blacky. 1T Is all right now" And
as the CHEEKY whistle of Farmer
Browns boy floated back to him on
the Merry Little Breezes he re-
peated 1t: ut Is all right nova"
Copyright, 1921. by T. w. Burgess.)
The next story-"Blacky Gets =
Dreadful Shock"