Evening star., 1922-06-21
LI1IILESoR!Es
%BEDTImE
The Surprise.
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
Surprises sometimes are 90 great
You're tempted to believe In fate.

surprises sometimes are 30 great
You're tempted to believe IN fate.
-Whitefoot the Wood Mouse.
"Sh-h-h." said little Mrs. Whitefoot
again as Whitefoot the Wood Mouse
entered the snug little room OF the
house they had built in tho old nest
of Melody the Wood Thrush. White
foot hesitated. In the first place, IL
was dark in there. In the second place.
he had the feeling that somehow that
little bedroom seemed crowded. 1t
hadn't been that way the last time
he was there. Mrs. Whitefoot was
right in front OF him and she seemed
very much excited about something.
Presently she crowded to one side.
Come here and look" said she.
Whitefoot looked. In the middle of
soft bed of moss was a squirming
At first that was all that Whitefoot
could make out.
Isn't this the most wonderful sur
prise that ever was?" whispered lit
tie Mrs. Whitefoot. Aren't they dar-
,ings? Aren't you proud Of them?"
By this time Whitefoot had made
out that that squirning mass Of legs
and heads was composed of baby mice.
He counted them. There were four.
Whose are they. and what are they
doing here" Whitefoot asked in q
queer voice.
why, you old stupid. they are
yours-yours and mine" declared lit
ever see such beautiful babies? Now.
guess you understand why I kept
you away from here
Whitefoot shook his head. NO"
said he, II don't understand at all.
don't see yet what you drove me away
for"
Why. you blessed old dear. there
wasn't room for you when those ba-
bies came. ! had to have all the room
there was. 1t wouldn't have done to
have had you running in and out and
disturbing them when they were so
tiny. l had to be alone with them.
and that is why made you go off and
live by yourself I am so proud Of
them don't know what to do. Aren't
you proud. Whitefoot? Aren't you
the proudest Wood Mouse in all the
Green Forest?'
OF course. Whitefoot should have
promptly said that he was. but the
truth is Whitefoot wasn't proud at
all. You see. he was SO surprised that
he hadn't yet had time to feel that
they were really his. In fact, just
then he felt wee bit jealous Of the m
1t came over him that they would take
all the time and attention of little
MrS. "nltefoot. SO WhitefOOt didn't
answer that question. He simply sat
and stared at those four squirming
babies.
Finally. little Mrs. whitefoot gem
tly pushed him out and followed him.
'Of course" said she. there isn't
room for you to stay here now. You
will have to sleep in your old home.
because there isn't room in here for
both of US and the babies. too"
Whitefoot's heart sank. He had
thought that he was to stay and that
.verything would be just as 1t had
been before. Cant 1 come over here
my more?" he asked rather tfmidly.
What a foolish question:" cried
little Mrs. Whitefoot. "Of course,
you can. You will have to help take
care Of these babies. Just as soon as
they are big enough you will have to
help teach them how to hunt for food
and how to watch out for danger.
and all the things that . wise Wood
Mouse knows. Why, they couldn't get
along without you. Neither. could l."
she added softly.
At that Whitefoot felt better. And
suddenly there was q queer swelling
in his heart It was the beginning Of
pride-pride IN those wonderful babies.
You have given me the best sur
prise that ever was, my dear" said
Whitefoot softly. Now, I think /
will go and look for some supper"
Copyright. 1922. by T. W. Burgesp.)