Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-28
BURGESS
BEDTIME
STORIES
Farmer Browns Boy Plans for the
Chucl<s.

Farmer Browns Boy Plans for the
Chucks.
There is no JOY that's greater than
In aid of other folks to plan.
Farmer Browns Boy.
If Johnny Chuck could have heard
and understood what Farmer Brown
said about drowning him out, he
would have been very uneasy. But
Johnny Chuck didn't hear, and he
wouldn't have understood if he had
heard, so Johnny didn't worry. But
Farmer Browns Boy worried. Yes,
sir, Farmer Browns Boy worried.
You see, he knew just how his father
felt. He knew that if when the corn
was up those Chucks ate much of it,
FARMER Brown would insist that
something be done to those Chucks.
He would insist that they be
drowned out, or shot, or trapped.
Farmer Browns Boy couldn't blame
his father much for feeling that
way.
"Of course" said Farmer Browns
Boy to himself, II can trap those
let them go where they will do no
harm. But they have worked hard
to make this new home and it seems
pity to upset all their plans. Then,
too, I like to-see them around. 1
wish I could talk to them and tell
them that they mustn't go in that
cornfield. There is plenty of food
for them on the other side Of the
Long Lane, and we will never miss
the clover and grass ehere. I JUST
can't bear to think of bothering
them"
For several days Farmer Browns
Boy kept thinking about Johnny and
Polly Chuck, and trying to think of
some way of keeping them from
being disturbed. But for the life OF
him he couldn't think of a thing he
could do. He used to go down every
day to visit them, and they soon be-
came so used to MIN that they would
allow him 10 come very near before
they disappeared inside their home.
The cornfield had been plowed and
narrowed, but it was not yet time to
put in the corn. 1t was while he
was down near the Chuck home look
ing over the cornfield that a great
idea came TO him.
Farmer Browns Boy began to
whistle, a way he has Of doing when
he is happy. IT have itr' said he to
himself. Il have it! Chucks are very
fond of beans. They love young
bean plants! They are also very fond
of squash plants. I'll plant some
squashes and some beans just for
them. These will grow very nicely
between rows of young corn, and
Polly and Johnny Chuck won't both.
er the corn when they can get those
other things. That's what I'll do,
I'll plant a garden for Johnny and
Polly Chuck
My, wouldn't Johnny and Polly
Chuck have been tickled had they
known what Farmer Browns Boy
was, planning to do! But of course
they didn't know, and of course
Farmer Browns Boy couldn't tell
them. In fact, Farmer Browns Boy
didn't tell anybody, not even Farmer
Brown himself. You see, he didn't
want to be laughed at.
So he quietly got together some
seeds and waited for planting time
And all the time he kept thinking
how delighted Johnny and Polly
Chuck. would be.
at will be the first garden they
have ever had planted just for
them" thought he. "It will be the
first time they have ever had such
things to eat without stealing them.
They probably will think they are
stealing them this time, but they
don't be. I guess I will add a few
cabbage plants, though I don't sup
pose they'll let them get big enough
to amount to anything. anyway,
they will give them a taste. I just
know that those Chucks and I are
going to be great friends before
the summer is over"