The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-12
BURGESS BED-
 TIME STORY
By EXPLORATION W. BURGESS WhitefoOt Tells His Troubles to
 Jimmy Skunk
To ease your mind 'tis often well fFn III Atn1,1. trn,,ltn.. f....aIs. All

To ease your mind 'tis often well To all your troubles freely tell.
 -Whitefoot the Wood Mouse.
 The Black Shadows had crept out from the Purple Hills across the Green Meadow and through the Green Forest. In some parts of the Green Forest it was quite dark. In one of these dark places sat White foot the Wood Mouse. His feelings were quite as dark as his surround ings. Life was no longer thing of joy to little Whitefoot. He was un- happy. He was unhappy because lit- tie Mrs Whitefoot had driven him away from their new home and he didn't know why. No, sir; he hadn't the least idea why. His feelings were hurt
 As he sat there in one of the black est of the Black Shadows he saw at a little distance two white spots moving. The two spots moved to- gether and were coming toward him. They would move off to the right little and stop. Then they would move off to the left little and stop. Then they would come straight ahead.
 Whitefoot understood at once the
 
 Jimmy skunk thought Whitefoot. 'The biggest white spot is the white stripe on his back and the smallest white spot is the white tip of his tail. The rest of him is so black that in the Black Shadows I can see nothing but those white spots. l think I will climb up out of Jimmy's reach"
 So Whitefoot climbed up on Q stump and sat perfectly still. watch ing those white spots draw nearer and nearer. When they were close to the foot of the stump on which Whitefoot sat he could make out the whole of Jimmy Skunk. Hello. Jimmy Skunk" said Whitefoot
 Hello. yourself" replied Jimmy. stopping and looking up at White foot You startled me. I didn't know you were anywhere about"
 Whitefoot chuckled. "I don't want people to know that I am about" said he. What are you doing over here?"
 Looking for fat beetles" replied Jimmy briefly. Have you seen ary?
 q had one for my supper" replied Whitefoot.
 Jimmy looked interested. "Where did you find it." he demanded eagerly.
 That's telling" retorted White foot. T like a fat beetle myself once in awhile. and if I should tell you where to look for them l am afraid that I would not find any myself after you get through"
 Jimmy grinned good naturedly. You know, he usually Is good na- tured. As a matter of fact, he wasn't very hungry and he really didn't care whether or not he found any fat beetles just then. How is the world using you. whitefoot?" he asked.
 At that question the memory of all his troubles returned to Whitefoot. I'm unhappy" said he.
 "Fie. fife. fife! The idea of being unhappy at this time of year" cried Jimmy. What is the matter with you?''
 Whitefoot hesitated for moment or two. Then, because he just had to tell some one. he poured out all his troubles to Jimmy Skunk. He told him all about little Mrs. Whitefoot and how happy they had been in building their new home. He told Jimmy how Mrs. Whitefoot had met him at the door and refused to allow him to enter that new home. and how she had told him to go away and stay away, and how he didn't under stand it at all. q don't know why she treats me so," whimpered White foot.
 A slow grin crept across the face of Jimmy Skunk. q do," said he. At least I can guess. Take my ad- vice and stop worrying. Have good time. It will all come out right in the end"
 Copyright. 192, by T. W. Burgess)