The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-20
BURGESS BED-
 TIME STORY
FOUR FAST GROWING LITTLE
 WORRIES


 WORRIES
 The more In worry you must pay.
 Whitefoot the Wood Mouse,
 My, my, my, how fast babies do grow! Especially is this true of Mouse babies. It seemed to White foot the Wood Mouse that those four babies of his actually grew between bites. It wasn't any time at all be- fore they were so big that they were beginning to be impatient to get out in the Great World. When Mtg. Whitefoot had first shown them to him they had been four sonirming, helpless mites. They were Mr. and Mrs. Whitefoot's first babies, and of course no such babies had ever lived before. At least that Is what White foot and Mrs. Whitefoot thought.
 For while Whtefoot did not worry about them at all. Probably Mrs Whitefoot did. Being a mother. she would have found something to worry about anyway. That is the way with mothers. But Whitefoot felt that they were quite as safe in that snug little home In the built over cid nest of Melody the Wood Thrush, so what was there to worry about
 ANpN ehdt lHcy were DIX GnOuRn to be lively and impatient to get out Whitefoot found that each of the Tour was separate worry. Now, one worry Is bad enough, but here were four worries and each one growing every day. Mrs. Whitefoot grew thin and every day looked more worried. It was no small task to find food enough for those fast growing young sters. She was afraid to leave them for fear something would happen to them. yet she had to go hunt for food. When she was with them she worried for fear they were not get ting enough to eat. When she was away from them she worried twice as much for fear they would get into | trouble.
 One evening Whitefoot came hurry 1 ing back home to find that Mrs. Whitefoot had gone in search of food and the most venturesome of those babies was outside, sitting on the roof of his home and staring about with curiosity and wonder in his soft eyes. He was a handsome little fellow. Whitefoots heart swellcd with pride as he saw him. Then fear ciCtched at his heart. That little rascal had no business to be out there. Supposing he had been seen, | " AhA~SAoVt cNauPuECQ up the lltIle tree as fast as he could and sent that yenturesome youngster back into the house in a hurry.
 1 But hardly was Whitefoot's back turned when another slipped out and up on the roof of that snug little house. Mrs. Whitefoot came home and found him there and sent him inside in hurry. He didn't like it. He didn't like 1t a bit. He was tired of staying in that little room. He wanted to get outside and stretch his legs. He wanted to be where he | could run and jump. So did the three ether babies. They cried and fretted | and iussed. They wanted to see the Great World
 Then Whitefoot and Mrs. Whitefoot kEcw that the time had come when | they must take tho four youngsters outside and teach them all those things which Wood Mouse must know in order to live long in the Great World.
 Oh. deari" sighed little Mrs Whftefoot. T wish they didn't grow so fast.
 When they were so tiny and help less l at least knew where they were all the time. Now I do not dare turn my head for fear that when I turn it back one will be missing. Love is beautiful and wonderful thing. but 1t certainly does bring worries with 1t. Yes, sir. 1t cer- talply does bring worries with it. The more you love, the moro you worry. Whitefoot you must take these youngsters in hand at once and teach them the things they must know"
 tcopyrisht. 1922. by T. ". Pursess,.
 TAe next storys "wood Mouse Lessons"