The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-30


 At Johnny Chuck's whistle Polly Chuck promtly started to join him in the heart Of the Old Briar- patch. Of course, it was no easier for her to get through Peter Rabbits little paths than 1t had been for Johnny. and by the time she arrived she had quite lost her temper. In the first place, she had been badly frightened when Reddy Fox had dug open their home. She had not been afraid for herself, but for the babies. Then in trying to set to Johnny she had been scratched by the brambies and this had not made her feel any better-natured.
 What Is itT' she snapped. What have you called mo over here for7'
 ITO show you this old house which my great-great-grand dug long, long ago." replied Johnny mildly. T think it is just what we need until we can get a better one."
 Polly Chuck looked at the tumbied- down doorway. half choked with dead leaves, and promptly turned up her little black nose. T wouldn't live in such a house." she declared,
 But we have got to have a house right away for the babies" said Johnny, looking a little crestfallen. 'It may not be very good house, but it means safety for the babies. Never in the world will Reddy Fox get in here"
 And never in the world will we be able to get out to get food without tearing our coats all to pieces" snapped Polly.
 Meanwhile the baby Chucks, who, because they wore small, had had no difficulty in following their mother along Peter Rabbits private little paths, had been exploring down in- side tho old house. Tt is a splendid old house down inside" declared one of the babies. poking his funny little head out of the doorway.
 His mother sniffed, but . moment later she followed hims down inside. She was gone so long that Johnny began to think something must have happened to her. W..en she did ap- pear again she seemed to have for gotten that she had said that that old house would not do at all.
 For goodness sake, Jonhhy Chuck, what are you sitting around for?" she demanded. Why don't you get to work! However do you expect we arc going to make this fit place to ing? Clean out this doorway"
 Polly Chuch disappeared down in- side again. Johnny's eye twinkled. but he wisely said notL.ag and went to work. In almost no time at all he had cleaned out all those dead leaves and presently the yellow sand began to fly out of the doorway. Meanwhile Polly Chuck was at work. She had discovered that there was q back hallway that led out towards tha edge of the dear Old Briar-patch. Of course there had been a secret back door there when Grandfather Chuck had made this his home. But this had been blocked up long ago. Polly now wont to work to dig that back hall out to the edge of z. dear old Briar- patch. She intended to have a secret entrance there. All tho sand she pushed behind her and this sand Johnny Chuck was expected to push on out of the entrace in tie heart of the Old Briar-patch.
 My, how Johnny and Polly did work! They didin't waste . minute. Meanwhile Peter Rabb.. sat around ard looked on. Peter was just a lit- tic bit luncomfurtable in his mind. You knoy it was he who had shown Johnny Chuck that old house and hs wasn't at all sure what Mrs. Peter would say when she knew of 1t. e wright, 1922, by T. ". Bursess.)
 The next story: Peter Gets Scolding,"