The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-20
LittIe Stories For Bedtime
Peter Rabbit Doubts His Ears
(By THORNTON BURGEssl


 HEAR me, dear me, such a time as
 Peter Rabbit was having! Ever
 since he had discovered Old MT. Toad sitting in the highest of the little holes in the wall of the pit which Farmer Browns Boy had dug in his garden Peter had been doubting his own senses. First he couldn't and wouldn't believe that he saw what his eyes told him he saw-Old MT. Toad sitting in that little hole: He couldn't and wouldn't believe it, because he couldn't think of any possible way for Old Mir. Toad to get where he seemed to be. It was only after he had talked with Old Mir. Toad and had watched him catch bug which foolishly stopped to look in at the little hole where Old MT. Toad was sitting and had heard MT, Toad smack his lips as that bug disappeared, that Peter finally was forced to believe that he was awake and his eyes were not playing him tricks.
 But when he told Old Mir. Mir. Toad that he had gone almost crazy trying to find out who had made those little holes in one of which Old MT. Toad had re- piled, II did" Peter began to doubt his own ears, just as he had doubted his own eyes.
 "What's that?" he asked, a little sharply.
 '"I did" said Old MT. Toad second time, and in his beautiful eyes there was a twinkle which Peter couldn't see and which made him more beautiful than ever.
 "You did what?" asked Peter, look ing at Old Mir. Toad very hard.
 II made these little holes which have puzzled you so," replied Old Mir. Toad, and chuckled deep down in his throat.
 "Mr. Toad" said Peter, you and I are old friends, and hope we always will be friends. When I found that you had tumbled into this pit did my best to get help to get you out. When I failed and came back to tell you what I had been doing you disappeared. I've worried about ever since. When l saw you in that hole where you are now sit ting I thought my eyes were playing me tricks. really did. Even now it is very hard for me to believe that you are really there, because l don't see how it is possible that you could get there unless you have got a tunnel down from the surface. If you had wings I might understand it. But now, as an old friend I ask you not to try to joke with me by telling me that you made all those little holes. You just COULDN'T have made them, that's all. I know you well enough to know that you couldn't climb these straight walls to save your life. So it is perfectly clear that you couldn't have made these little holes, because you couldn't have climbed to where they are. Please be honest with me and tell me truly who did make these holes"
 Old MT. Toad saw that Peter was very much in earnest. Peter" said he, do you remember that once on a time I told you thot if you would turn your back on me for a few minutes l would disappear and wouldn't go away or crawl under anything to do it, and you didn't believe I could do it, be- cause you didn't see how I possibly could do itT
 "Yes," replied Peter.
 II did it, didn't IT" continued Old Mir. Toad.
 les, Teplleu eleE dsdlA3 lOOhAhB q wee bit shamefaced at the memory.
 Well, then why can't you believe me now when I say that made these holes?" asked Old Mir. Toad.
 Will you cross your heart and say that it is true?" Peter asked.
 Old Mir. Toad solemnly crossed his heart. It's as true as it is that you are sitting over there looking at me, said he. II made every one of these holes, and before I got out of here I expect to make more. Now, do you be- lieve me-"
 'Yes-s," replied Peter slowly, doing his best to believe what seemed impos- sible to believe. "Yes, I believe you but" he added, after a pause, it will be ever so much easier to believe you if you will tell me how you made them, and how you ever got up where you are now"
 Next Story: Old Mir. Toad Is An Engineer.