New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-09-19

Whitefoot the Wood Mouse and
Mrs. Whitefoot and Trader the
Wood Rat had become thoroughly
settled in their homes in the little
sugar-house in the Green Forest.
At first Mr.. and Mrs. Whitefo0t
had rather resented the coming of
Trader the Wood Rat, but Trader
is a pleasant fellow and a good
neighbor, and they had grown to
like him. So the three were getting
along very nicely. There was a Won
derful feeling Of security inside
that little sugar-house. Once inside
they felt absolutely safe. Had not
Yowler the Bobcat and Cubby Bear
tried to get in and failed?
But, Of course, they couldn't
stay inside the little sugar-house
all the time. More and more they
went outside. always ready to ren
back at the least hint of danger.
During the daytime they rarely
went out at all. You know they are
little night-folk. They love the hours
Of darkness. But even more they
love the hours between daylight and
darkness-the hours of dusk. And
they love moonlight nights. When
there was moonlight they would be
out nearly all night.
1t happened one moonlight night
that Whitefoot had strayed a little
farther than usual. For several
nights they had not had a single
scare and so Whitefoot had grown
a little careless. You see, White
foot 10 very like other little folk in
that he needs to be constantly re-
minded of things. He needed to be
reminded that there was danger
lurking ali through the Green For
est. So Whitefoot was running about
carelessly. Instead of keeping in the
Black Shadows he often ran right
out in the moonlit spaces. and this
was very careless thing to do. Mrs.
Whitefoot had warned him several
times that he shouldn't do it.
"Hooty the Owl will get you if
you don't watch out" insisted Mrs
Whitefoot. You know how he
snoops around without making a
sound"
"Pooh!" declared Whitefoot. He
hasn't been around here since we've
lived over here. Don't you worry
about me. / can take care of my
self. ! know what I'm about"
1t wasn't five minutes later that
Whitefoot ran out into a little patch
OF moonlight and began running
about. hunting for sonnet hing to
eat. He was so intent on what he
was doing that he thought of moth
ing else. What it was that warned
him to look back of him all of a
sudden he doesn't know TO this day.
But he did look back and he look
cd back just in time With squea
OF sheer fright he jumped to one
side and dived through little
knothole in an old log that hap
pened TO be lying there. And as he
!. left the ground in that jump some
one else landed ON the very spot he
had Just left. 1t was some one with
black mask on his face and rings
on his tail. OF course, you know
who that was. 1t was Bobby Coon.
Bobby had just happened along
with nothing in particular on his
mind when he caught sight OF
Whitefoot running about in the
moonlight. Now Bobby Coon. like
20 many other people of the Green
Forest and the Green Meadows.
likes Mouse now and then on his
bill-of-fare. If Whitefoot hadn't
happened to turn his head lust
when he did Bobby certainly would
have had him. 1t was a narrow es-
cape-one of the narrowest escapes
Whitefoot had had for long lime.
Mrs. Whitefoot had seen it. She
had been peeping out from the