New Britain herald., 1930-12-24
I|bUR1N;Ss BED1lfE S1oR!ESl| 1R5cE,;E-;7z----=l <. 77N
 N@&z5 czzz> 1};H: 12};sHSEG42> E<>4 R 1as G&SSs;:S2 z! StSSs:$;

value Of play and lives up 10 his l belief. There is nothing lazy about Little Joe Otter. No, sir, there is nothing lazy about him. lie ls great traveller and a good proyider for his family but at the same time | he likes 10 play and always finds tme for a little fun
 l t Was Christmas morning. Little l Joe didn't know that it Was Christ mas, for the little people CT the I Green Forys- and ii, Green Mead 1 ows know nothing Of Christmas. All ! LuiIe Joe know was that for some unknown reason h. felt in the very . best ot spirits this fine morning. It vas bright and cold. In the air v.rz good cheer and happiness. H. l-1t 1T lu every breath he drew.
 "Eo-e do-. ra.yE-a-d"o" cried Tommy Tit. sHin@Iu- from the lip or 4 birch t"IS above him. its d uua day. Little Joe Uuer.'
 Ill is SO raoUaa L.i.I. Joe. "I hope yoa are rs.liu- us happy as yoa looA"
 "T am" r5nljel Tommy Tt-. T don't know why. bat l teI as if everybody must bc happy and joy ous to4ul Bl.cEy tho Crow sounds u5 # I.a feels Tho 4-a- way 1 guess it Is iu the air"
 l. was true. Black Was cavlus of in Juc distance, Ald. though his yolc4 Was just as harsh as ever, t..r- uu- ia t som-ta'aE that su-- -.at.5 that BlH,hy was feeling in tlg best of spirits. "it must be in .-.u air." G.c.5r.d Little Joe. feel like having some jun. Is there any open water down the Laughing Brook. Tommy Tie" l have been on a long journey. far rom these paris, and haven't been back Ions enough 10 find out how things are.'
 Tommy Tits eyes twiuhIed. T .,uow wt.a. you want" he cried. You want 10 go sliding. Or coarse, tH-r. is some open water in the Laughing Brook. There always is over ig tla bt- spring half way 10 i.e Smiling Tool ard t0e aaaE there ou one side is Jus- u- steep as
 - usad 10 he,"
 Little Joe cnuckled, Thank you, Toumy." said h.. "NOu have Eusas- ,l il. There ls TO better fun than sliding, l think I will go over there and make me a slippery sllde,'
 Away went Little Joo making a queor track through inc snow. You sec. lis legs are very short and when nr hogndeI along h. made a print O. tho fuu length of his long body aud the mark of luis tail be- sla.s. Tommy Tit li"" after ulm. lie wanted to z,7 tua 'un f. h. CouIdo't share a t- WMa J4.,.o Joe reached '.. op.u na1.r l.. wasted Ho due. N.-rt 70 tao -op ol tra bank at tae -n apc-t place ho WcGt stretched aI.n~elt flHt or 1la stomach with his er3u- logs gol4.I back aloa- his sides 10 ha out of the way, gave d mighty kick with his hind faot and a#ar ha went down the bank TO- ward the coli-.oolin- black wat.r. He didn't go varE fast. for 'uo snow Was -omtwrar so.t and ae ha4 10 ra-- .- ou, Of the vay When le rrhad tha water Ao sid ito t
 .l df snpear.i iu spI'e os his oau Nam coot Tommy Tn sav5r-t. II. couldn't help it.
 'Isut that water drcadtully -0ld?" crlad Tommy Tit as Little JCa's head popped out.
 Tt isn't cold at all" replied Little Joe as he climbed out and hurried around up the bank to the place where ha had kicked of be- tor-. That vas true 50 far as Little Joe Was concerned; that water didn't seem cold co him. H. kicked of aE.!n and down h. went once