Evening star., 1931-12-17
Unpleasant Introductions.
IT'S sometimes hard 70 be polite
But II 10 wise as we'll ~ figl1t.
Old Mother NatpfA

Runty, the little Possum, was smart.
There was no question shout that. He
made mistakes. as everybody does, but
he was smart enough 10 prefit by his
mistakes. He didn't make the same
mistake twice. He learned from his
mistakes and didn't forget. Perhaps
that is what mistakes are fof. Mis first
BIZ mistake was when he went 70 slsep
Ia Farmer Browns hen house. But for
that he wouldn't have been found By
Farmer Browns Boy. He didn't con-
slider that he made a mistake BY going
into that hen house He would do It
again If he got the chance, but he
wouldn't go to sleep there again.
cage, but not an unhappy one. 1t had
taken him no time at all TO discover
that this great giant who had caught
and imprisoned him meant him no
harm and was very gentle. He had dis
covered, too, that playing dead didn't
fool Farmer Browns Boy 3 bit. 20 he
stopped trying it. In fact, he and
Farmer Browns Boy had become the
best Of friends. Often he was taken
from his cage, and then he would climb
all over Farmer Browns Boy and inves-
tigate all his pockets. Always he sooner
or later found in one Of them some
tidbit. Then he would take 1t TO one Of
Farmer Browns Boys shoulders and
est It.
Sometimes he was taken into the
house and given the freedom Of the
kitchen. It was great fun to explore
fItfS NnrA IA e1}rr,bAS yrv, int, t1A 1ASS
Of Mother Brown and curled up for 4
nap, and 20 q new friendship was be.
San. He didn't forget the ofesn fefSst
and he often lonted 10 b there, but hA
wasn't unhappy. No indeed. Al wAl
faf from unhappy. He had plenty -
ct without the trotible Of hunting fce
it, ana he had quickly I6asned tA1t "a
his ca9e he was safe. Even 0oulh
when she cot the chance D1adt r,aSsy
came and giared Ia At him laA wss uf.
afraid, for she could not harm him
there.
Then one day Farmer Browns Boy
introduced him to Bowser the Hound.
He held Runty in one hand, while he
patted Bowser's head with the other
and Bowser wagged his tail and smelled
Runty all over. 1t was most unpleas-
ant introduction for Runty. He was
been? But he was polite. He didn't try
to get away.
"Bowsef," said Farmer Browns Boy.
'this 10 new member Of the family
and you are TO treat him as such. n
ever he gets out Of his cage and you
find him you are not to hurt him. Do
you understand?"
Bowser wagged his tail as Il to say he
understood. He did understand. OF
course, he didn't understand the words
but ne did understand from the way
Farmer Browns BOY spoke and the vay
he petted Runty that here was some one
his master was fond Of, and that was
enough. From that time on he would
no more think Of hurting Runty than
he would OF hurting one of the chickens.
Then Farmer Browns Boy called Flip
the Terrier and another unpleasant in
PRODUCTION followed. Flip was Of q DIFF.
ferent disposition. He was kxcitahle,
He shifted Runty all over and then he
began to bark and dance about. which
was his way of begging his master to
put Runty down on the ground ana let
him Chase him. Farmer Browns Boy
spoke to him sharply.
quiet, Flip!" he commanded. "Lie
down. SIR"
Flip meekly crouched at his masters
feet, rolling puzzled eyes up at him.
Farmer Browns Boy stopped ana held
Runty close to F1ip's nose, ali the time
stroking him and talking in a low tone.
After that he put Runty on Flip's back.
Flip trernbled all over. He didn't know
what to make Of it. He turned his head
to look at this queer little fellow on his
back and then up at hts master Farmer
Browns Boy patted him ON the head.
Good dog" said he.
Flip understood this. Once more he
was commanded to lie down, and Nunty
was placed between his paws, right