Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-27
BURGESS
BEDTIME
STORIES
Old Jed Thumper Was Right
Being right is gratifying
And extremely satisfying.


The bramble tangle in which Peter
Rabbit and Old Jed Thumper had es-
capped from Reddy Fox was not very
large. Reddy Fox could see all
through it, and so, of course, could
plainly see Peter and Old JED
Thumper. But he knew better than
to try to get in there. Those bram-
bles were too thick for any one as
big as Reddy Fox. He saw how used
up Old Jed Thumper was and he
grinned wickedly.
"That fellow is half starved, and
that means he hasn't got much
strength" mutttered Reddy to him
self. Had he had to run few feet
further I would have caught him.
There isn't anything to eat in that
bramble tangle, and those Rabbits
can't stay there a great while. At
least Old Jed Thumper can't. He will
have to get something to eat. Peter
Rabbit looks plump. He looks as If
he had had plenty to eat. I remem-
Der now that I saw lot of food
down in the Old Briar Patch, left
there by Farmer Browns Boy. OF
course, Peter is strong and can go
without food for some time. I'll just
forget him and watch for Old Jed
Thumper."
So after snarling dreadful threats
at Peter and Old Jed Thumper, Red
dy trotted away. He didn't even
glance back. He went just as if he
was bound for some other place far
away. But the instant he was out OF
sight of Feter and Old Jed Thumper
he turned and swiftly circled around
until he could creep up behind some
bushes where he could watch that
bramble tangle. Then he lay down
on the snow, curled his big bushy
tail around so as, to keep his toes
and his nose warm, fixed his eyes on
that bramble tangle. and prepared
for long wait.
1t took poor Old Jed Thumper some
time to get his breath again. When
he did, he was so tired he shook all
over. Peter felt sorry for him. Yes,
sir, Peter felt truly sorry for him.
He forgot that Old Jed Thumper had
ever been an enemy, and the big
gray Rabbit seemed to have forgot
ten that he ever had disliked Peter.
Common trouble often makes friends
of one.time enemies.
After a while Old Jed Thumper
seemed to be quite himself again,
hack to the dear Old Brian Patch.
ST think it is quite safe for us to
go on now, don't your" asked Peter
very decidedly. NO" said he, 81
DON'T
why not?" demanded Peter
"Reddy Fox is probably over in the
Green Forest by this time"
Don't you believe it," replied Old
Jed Thumper. II know that red rob.
ber He's watching this bramble
tangle this very minute. l don't
know where he is, but he is some
where where he can see this BRAN
BILE tangle. He knows I'm half
starved, and he knows there's moth.
ing to eat in this bramble tangle.
He will just wait for me to come
out. I'm as sure of it as I am that
my ears are long"
Peter didn't really believe it. He
thought it was just the result of the
dreadful fright Old Jed Thumper had
had But somehow he couldn't go
off and leave Old Jed Thumper, so
he stayed and grew more and more
impatient. He was, beginning to get
hungry himself, and he wanted to
get back to the dear Old Briar Patch.
After a long, long time who should
come along but Bowser the Hound.
Bowser had taken it into his head
to visit the Old Pasture. He shifted
in the bramble tangle, but he wasn't
interested in Rabbits. Peter and Old
Jed Thumper watched him go on.
Suddenly there was roar of his
great voice, and out from behind
some bushes sped Reddy Fox with
Bowser after him. Old Jed Thumper
looked at Peter. 81 told you so,'
said he.
Copyright. 1923, by T. w. Burgess)
EI NIL