New Britain herald., 1928-07-11
Whitey Has a, Pleasant Surprise.
 By Thornton w. Burgess. Fear turns to joy when least expect.

Whitey Has a Pleasant Surprise.
 By Thornton w. Burgess.
 Fear turns to joy when least expect
 ed,
 Or cen its presence Is suspected.
 Mrs. Peter Rabbit.
 whitey. the little white son of Peter Rabbit, had felt so elated over his own smartness in staining his white coat with mud, that it was doubly hard for him now when he realized it had all been in vain. You see, a heavy shower had washed his coat as white as 1t had ever been. Moreover Whitehall the Marsh Hawk had almost at once discover ed him in that bramble-tangle. So poor little Whitey felt all his cour age oozing right out of his toes. He just didn't dare move. You see, he was no better off at night than in the daytime. That white coat was bound to make him easily seen at any time of day or night.
 "Oh dear" thought Whitey, "I wish I had done what Mother want d me to do. and stayed in the dear old Briar- patch. I don't see what was given white coat for anyway What shall l do now? There isn't enough to eat in this bramhle tan gle and l shall have to get out and cat. l wish l knew more about this Old Pasture. ] wonder how far l shall have to go to get to the next mble-tangla."
 He saw jolly, round, red Mir Sun go to bed behind the Purple Hills. he watched the Black Shadows come creeping out across the Old Pasture, and finally down across the Green Meadows. He saw the twinkling little stars come out. He heard Old Man Coyote still farther away. From over in the Green For est came the hooting of Hooty the Great Horned Owl. These sounds sent little shivers all over Whitey.
 T just don't dare leave this hramble-tangle.' he kept saving ever and over 10 himself. "I just don't dare do it. Oh dear, what shall I doo'
 That was the most uncomforta ble night that Whitey had eyer had in his short life. If was uncomfortable because Of his worry He wished himself back in the dear old Briar- patch, yet he didn't dare go back. Once Old Man Coyote came trotting down the cowpath right past the little bramblo-ta angle. He was in 8 hurry and he didn't stop to look into that bramhIe-tangle But his very presence gave Whitey fright Later in the night Lightfoot the Deer passed. Whitey didn't know who it was. for he had never seen Iightfoot The mere size of Light foot made il seem dreadful 10 little Whltcy and the latter's heart went rtt-a pat pit-arat. with fright. He bacanl" 90 nervous that every little sound made him jump inside. He was hclnesick. l's. sir h" was fomesick II. certainly did want his mother
 At last he heard hcsitatins foot steps coming along towards the lit- file bramhls-tangle. Every moment or two the sound would stop. Pres ontiv he had the worst fright of the night. The sound of those foot steps had ceased right on the very edge of the bra anble-tangle. When he heard that sound again. t vas inside the bramble-tangle Whtay didn't kno" what 10 do. Very wisely, he did nothing In q moment there was faint. very faint thump. Such relief as that sound was 10 Whitey, No one but q Rabbit could thump like that. H. thump.d back. The response was immediate with still another thunp. Whitey had sat up to thump. Now there vas a sud- den little rush. and there was Little Mrs. Peter, Whitey's mother You should have seen them rub noses.
 My dear, my dear. I thought [ never would find you cried Little Mrs. Peter. Why did you run away? Didn't I tell you that the dear Old Briar patch was the safest