The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-18
Little Stories For Bedtime
sy THORNTON V. BURaEss

Farmer Browns Boy Saves Old Mir.
 Toad
 When they regret a thoughtless deed,
 A thing you'd undo if you could, Just watch your chance to make amends
 By doing something that is good. ENARBER BROWNS boy had acted
 on impulse when he had grabbed
 the tail of Digger the Badger and tried to pull him out of his hole. To act vOn impulse is to do something without stopping to think. It had been just that way with Farmer Browns boy. He had been so anxious to get better acquainted with Digger the Badger that when he saw him dis appearing is that hole in the ground he had brabbed Digger's tail without stopping to think that he was doing the very thing that would make it all the harder to become acquainted with igger. N
 When he was forced to let so of Digger's tail and Digger had quite dis appeared he had time to think and right away he was sorry for what he had done. He moppeds his face with his handkerchief, for he had pulled so hard that he was very hot.
 Now, what did I do that for?' he demanded of no one in particular, un- less it was himself. I've frightened that fellow so that he never will forget it, and he always will look on me as an enemy unless I can do something to show him that I really didn't mean any harm, and how can ever do that I don't know. My but he is strong. If any one had told me that l couldn't pull him out of his hole 1 would have laughed at him. I don't see now why I didn't pull his tail off. It must be fastened clear up to bis head. l hope it isn't dreadfully sore. I declare, I'm ashamed of myself. That's what am. Now he'll be all the time watching out for me, and I'm afraid never will have chance Ito make friends with him. That's what comes of not stopping to think. What a lot of trouble thought lessness makes in this world"
 Farmer Browns boy started on across the Green Meadows in brown study. He was still wishing that he hadn't been so thoughtless. He was thinking go hard that he took no notice of any thing. Suddenly he heard a tiny scream. It was a scream of fright. There was no doubt about that. He looked this way and he looked that way, but he saw nothing unusual. He. stopped with puzzled look on his good-natured freckled face. Then he heard that tiny scream again, and this time he was sure that it came from the ground just ahead of him. Ha, there was some thing moving there!
 As I live, it is my old friend, MT. Toad :" exclaimed Farmer Browns boy. My goodness, how he is hopping! l didn't suppose the old fellow could go so fast. Now what ails him?"
 Just then something darted from behind a clump of grass right at Old Mir. Toad's heels. It was Bluffer the Adder, one of the snake family. In a twinkling he had hold of Old Mir. Toad, and once more MT. Toad screamed. It was very clear unless something was done very quickly Old Mir. Toad would no more work in Farmer Browns gar den. Farmer Browns boy looked around for a stick or a stone, but there was none near. Then he ran forward with a yell. Bluffer the Adder had been so intent on catching Old MT. Toad that he had not heard or seen Farmer Browns boy. At the sound of that yell he let go of Old Mir. Toad and at once coiled to defend himself, missing angrily. Old MT. Toad didn't stop to see what would happen! He hopped and hopped and hopped, mak- ing surprisingly long jumps. He wanted to get away from there as quickly as he could. It was no place for him, and he knew it.
 Farmer Browns boy took one good look at Bluffer the Adder and then he started after Old Mir. Toad. In few strides he had caught up with him. Then what do you think he did? Why, he caught Old Mir. Toad and put him in his pocket. Yes, sir, that is just what he did. .-
 I'll take you along up to the gar