Evening star., 1932-12-20
D1O AA'AA ~ ". Burgaa
Lively Times at the Pool.
Who never plays himself doth cheat
Nor can he hope old age to beat.
Little Joe Otter.

LEEK, smooth. rolling through
the water in line, one behind an
other, Mrs. Otter and her two
~ children, the family of Little Joe
Otter, swan into the Smiling
Pool where the Laughing Brook leaves
it on its way to the Big River. Straight
to the Big Rock on which Little Joe
with Jerry Muskrat, they swan and
climbed up. Jerry somewhat hastily
dived and then floated halfway be-
tween the Big Rock and the bank.
What is your hurry?" demanded
you?"
Moo. OF course not" replied Jerry.
trying to make his voice sound bold
and convincing and failing utterly be-
cause, you know. his voice is squeaky
at best. 1T just struck me that the
Big Rock would be bit crowded. How
do you do. Mrs. Otter?"
Mrs. Otter stopped to touch her nose
to the nose of Little Joe. Each of the
young Offers did the same thing. Then
Mrs. Otter looked down at Jerry. I'm
very well, thank you. I hope you are
the same" said she.
You look as young as ever" declared
Jerry, trying to be gallant. You don't
look day older than your children"
Il don't feel any older" declared
Mrs. Otter. why should I? enjoy
good romp and slide as much as they
do
DO you mean to say that you still
go gliding?" demanded Jerry.
"Of course Why not? Little Joe
slides with U.s. 1t Is great fun. tell
while and make a slippery slide. Then
you can join U.s." replied Mrs Otter.
No thanks. I've something better
to do with my time than to spend it
in any such silly way" retorted Jerry.
Little Joe Otter shook his head.
you're getting old. Jerry" said he:
IF you had slippery slide and used
keep young. hope you never, grow too
old to enjoy romp and good time"
II don't believe you ever will" de-
clared Mrs. Otter. What do you say,
my dear. to starting a slippery slide
over on that bank where it is steepest? =?
1t looks like good place to me-"
1T is, my dear / had slide there
once long ago, before / met you" re-
piled Little Joe. We'll go over and
| have a look at the old place. Come on"
No second invitation was needed. 1t
was a question of who was in the water
first, and the two young Otters, who
would soon be as big as their parents,
were right at their tails. How they
could shoot through the water! Jerry
Muskrat wouldn't have admitted it, but
! he did envy them their ability to swim.
They scrambled out where the bank
was low and hurried to the steepest
! part. Here is where my old slide used
! to be-" said Little Joe.
There are some sticks and a stone
/ or two in the way. Well have to get
rid of those" said Mrs. Otter, and
carefully working down the steep bank,
picked up one Of the sticks and car
ried it off to one side. In jif1y the
others were helping.
"One would think they were doing
something important and worth while =
muttered Jerry Muskrat as he watcho i
them. Truth to tell. Jerry was not a.
all pleased at the coming of Little Joe
and his family. He foresaw that the
Smiling Pool would no longer be the
quiet. peaceful placed he loved while
the Otter family remained.
Here We go!" cried Little Joe. and
pushing himself from the top Of the
bank with his hind feet. slid plop into
the water. He didn't 90 very fast, for