Evening star., 1932-12-09

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Y VERY carefully Farmer Browns
8 s' I: ss,sss ssaas a;as ss s.@ss' sss:s
which Bobby Coon had hidden.
As yet Bobby didn't know who
had found him. He had heard the ap-
preaching footsteps and had been sure
that 1t was the trapper whose trap was
now fast to his right fore leg and that
this was to be the end OF him But he
was so used up from his long, terrible
journey, dragging that cruel trap, and
from suffering, that he was past caring
much. He didn't even look up at first.
You poor little chap" said Farmer
Browns Boy in a plying tone.
Then Bobby did LOOK up and when
he saw that freckled face he knew it
instantly, and for the first time he
began to feel little hope. This was
friend of long standing. a friend who
had helped him more than once before.
Farmer Browns Boy pressed the
branches aside and reaching down
touched Bobby with gentle fingers. He
took care to do this where Bobby would
have no chance to bite. But Bobby
didn't want to bite. There was that
in that gentle touch that soothed and
made him certain that here was one
who would help If he could So Bobby
didn't even growl. Farmer Browns Boy
turned Bobby over SO that he could
see just where that dreadful trap was,
and when he had a clear view of that
swollen leg with the cruel steel jaws
still biting into it, look of anger min
gled with the pity in his eyes.
IF knew who set that trap would
tell him a few things" muttered
Farmer Browns Boy "Yes, sir; would
&,lI t,;v fax oil he tn
human, cruel things in the world,
steel trap Is the worst. I wish that
trapper had his fingers in there and
couldn't get the things off 1t might
mage him do a little thinking. How
it is that lot of people seem to think
that animals haven't any feeling is
something I never could understand
and never will. This little fellow must
have suffered terribly. not only from
pain. but from fear and the feeling OF
help,essness Yet I know lot of feb
lows who think trapping is fun. They
call it sport. Sport! How do they get
that way? I wish that every steel trap
was in the bottom Of tDn nc"ap. " is
bad enough when they visit their traps
every day and put Que OF lneir sulferl.l5
and misery those caught, but when
they allow their victims to suffer for
two or three DAYS because they are too
lazy or thoughtless to make the round
of their traps every morning, they
ought to be made to suffer themselves.
Thank goodness happened over here
this morning"
He slipped on pair Of leather gloves,
for Bobby's teeth are sharp, and he
feared that Bobby might not under
stand, and in his fright and pain try
to bite. But Bobby didn't once offer
to. You see, he did understand. He
was lifted and carried out into the open
and very gently put down again. Then
Farmer Browns Boy quickly removed
that cruel trap. Bobby WINGED, but
that was all. Fortunately, that swol-
len leg was numb, so that he was hard
ly aware when those dreadful jaws
| were released.
The leg was badly swollen and the
flesh torn where the steel jaws had
bitten into it, but the bone was not
broken Farmer Browns Boy made sure
of this and was relieved. But it was
bad enough as it was. It was a dread
ful-looking leg. Bobby reached out and
began to lick It, Farmer Browns Boy
stood looking down at him for a mo-
ment. He shook his head.
"It won't do to leave you like this"
he decided. Mature is wonderful in
healing, but that leg needs to be
treated to give her chance. Besides,
you never could climb that tree to your
home in the condition you are in now.
| I'm going to take you home with me
and keep you until that leg is we'll"
| He took his coat of, wrapped 1t
around Bobby and picked him up, and