New Britain herald., 1928-02-13
By Thornton W. Burgess

0y Thornton W. Burgess
 Old Man Coyote Saves Peters Life We know not always what we do 'Tis sometimes we'll that this is true.
 Mother West Wind.
 Psese Rabbit thought his troubles were over when he had escaped from the spring hole where he had broken through the ice. When he had been struggling there in the icy water he had felt sure that If only he could get. out he would be quite safe and there would be nothing to worry about. But now he was dis covering that his troubles were not over by any means.
 You see, when he first got safely onto the bank he sat down to rest. He had struggled 50 hard there in the water that he felt now as if he Just must sit quietly for . while. But Peter was . wet rabbit. My good ness. what . wet rabbit Peter was! And 1t was a cold day. Peter's teeth chsttered as they had never chat tered before. He shook all over with the cold, and almost at once he be- gaa to feel stiff. He just had to move.
 se h. hopped along slowly and he kept feeling colder and colder and more and more miserable. He could think Of nothing but how miserable he felt. And the more he thought about it the more miserable he felt. You know, it almost always works that way. And so he kept hopping more and more slowly, because he had made himself think he was too miserable to hop any faster. Yes. sir, that was just the way of it. The result was that Peter really was in 8 very bad way. He was in real danger of being frozen to death. Had he been dry he would have beeA all right. But, as you know, he Was anything but dry.
 He had gone only a little way when he stopped to rest and pity himself. As he sat there shivering and shaking and pitying himself tho sharp voice of Sammy Jay rang out on the frosty air. Sammy Jay was not far away. Sammy was scream ing. and what he was screaming was Thief! Thief! Thief" Peter prick ed up his ears. When Sammy Jay screams Thief. it is well to prick up one's cars. Peter knew that Sam my was watching some one and that that some one was Old Man Coyote. sammy has certain peculiar way of screaming Thief" when he sees Old Man Coyote.
 Peters heart gave bound. This was no place for him, with Old Man Coyote anywhere near. The bound of Peters heart kept right on down to his heels and they bounded too. Away went Peter. forgetting that he waS cold and tired and stiff. He had TO room for thought of anvthln but Old Man Coyote.
 Hell find my trail as sure as the world" thought Peter Eve got [, get to a place of safety before he can catch me-"
 Looking back over his shoulder a few minutes later. Peter discovered his worst fears realized. There va. Old Man Coyote. and Old Man Coy. ote is fast runner. He can outrur Peter Rabbit. Peters one chance for life was to reach bramble-t tan gle or a hollow log or hole, wher' Old Man Coyote could not get a him. The nearest place of safet, vas certain hollow log. It was fo this that Peter was heading.
 Lipperty y-liprerty-lip went Peter Rolling his eyes back, he saw tha Old Man Coyote was gaining. Woult lie be able 10 reach that old log he fore Old Man Coyote would be nea enough to catch him? There was th log just ahead. Old Man Coyot saw it too and he knew just wha Peter had In mind He had beel running fast before. but now he ral still faster. Peter couldn't run an faster So Peter did the thing tha le can do best-he dodged. II dodged just as old Man Coyote over ran him. But he stopped and turne with astonishing quickness. ono more Peter lodged And then. wit g final rush. he popped into tha hollow log and was safe.