New Britain herald., 1928-08-27
Old Man Coyote Changes His Mind
BY Thornton W. Burgess
Discretion is to wisdom kin:
Indeed it is the latter's twin.

Discretion is to wisdom kin:
Indeed it is the latter's twin,
old Mother Nature
Old Man Coyote is broadminded,
You might not think it but he Is.
He doesn't believe in being too set
in his ways. In other words, he can
change his mind, and does change
his mind whenever occasion sug-
gests that a change of mind is WIS
dom. Perhaps that is one reason
Why Old Man Coyote has managed
TO keep out of trouble.
1t happened that Old Man Coy
ote was hunting over in the Green
Forest Luck hadn't been very good.
Perhaps / should say that luck
hadn't been good at all. Though he
lad walked as softly as onl. Old
Man Coyote can walk. thouI he
had used that wonderful nose OF his
as Old Mother Nature intended he
should use it. though he had kept
his eyes and his ears wide open, he
hadn't caught SO much as mouse.
Il wonder what the matter is
df CuIlI Htlt, any way illutt'lNA -
Man Coyote. Il haven't seen so
much as 4 good-sized beetle. If
things keep on like this Mrs. Coy
ote and l will have to move. We
can't live on nothing. No, sir, We
can't live on nothing. l haven't even
smelled a Mouse
1t was just a few minutes after
this that Old Man Coyote stopped
short in his tracks. His ears We're
pricked forward. His eyes cleaned.
His head was lifted as he tested the
air with that wonderful nose of his.
There was something up ahead of
him, something alive. He was sure
Of it, Those sharp ears OF his had
caught the sound OF a rusting in the
leaves. Those keen eyes of his had
caught Just a shadoWy glimpse OF
something moving. What was It"
That was what Old Man Coyote was
trying TO discover
Now, unfortunately the wind had
shifted lust a miuut" before. II had
been blowing in his face. which is
the way Old Man Coyote likes TO
have it blow. When It docs this il
brings to him the scent Of what
ever may be a little way ahead OF
him. But now the wind was blow
ing from behind him, which made
his nose quite useless, so . as
things ahead of him We're toGroru-
Cd. Il was most provoking. II the
wind had remained blowing in his
face his nose would soon have told
him who or what it was that had
caught the attention of his ears
and eyes.
Old Man COYOTE stood rigid That
is, he stood mo'ionless. He was
waiting. He knew that sooner or
later he would hear or see some
thing. Just as he had before. Sure
enough. in a moment or two there
vas d faint rustling ahead Of HIM,
iust wee bit TO one side. Then in
the deep shadow he saw something
hound forward and disappear. II
vas only a littlA gray form that he
got q glimpse cf and that gllmps"
vas a very fleeing one. His first
thought was that il was one OF the
Iearly grown children OF Jumper
the Hare, and that very thought
made the water stand III the cor
ners of his mouth. Crouching Low
he moved forward quickly. Agar
he caught a glimpse Of that moving
form and he crept forward a swift
~ and silently as only Old Mar
Coyote can. In a moment or two h
was within jun ping distance. II.
couldn't make out what il was hu
he could see a gray form crouCheE
as II in hiding behind an old log
Old Man Coyotes eyes eleamef
with fierce desire. He drew hi
hind feet in for a rush and spring
He was sure of A good meal now.
Just then the tickle wind change
again Once more it blew in hi
face. That wind had changed NJ
more quickly than Old Man coIot'
now changed his mind. His mouff