Evening star., 1937-06-09
Bedtime Stories

BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
The foolish risks his life for pride:
The wise is not ashamed to hide
Old Mr.. Toad.
old Mr.. Toad told Taddy, the
plump little Toad, in Farmer
Browns garden that precious lives are
lost every year through foolish, be-
cause needless, facing of danger just
to save pride. Life is the most pre-
cious thing that any one possesses.
To carelessly or deliberately risk it
without cause is without excuse
Just about the time when ordinarily
Taddy would start for home, under a
wide board in shady corner of the
garden, there to spend the day, gen.
tie rain began to fall. Taddy decided
not to go home. This was weather
just to his liking. There really was
nothing to go home for. He could sit
| under an overhanging leaf to rest and
doze when he felt like it and be per-
fectly comfortable, a thing not pos
slble on bright hot day Then when
he again felt hungry he would be
right in the middle of the best hunt
ing ground. Assuredly, it would be a
mistake and foolish to travel way
home.
The gentle rain continued all the
forenoon, and Taddy continued to hop
| about in quest of insects and worms
to satisfy that appetite that somehow
seemed never to remain satisfied for
| more than very short time So it
came to pass that he reached the op-
posite side Of the garden from where
his home was. He never had been
here before. In fact, not since his ar
rival in the garden had be been quite
so far from the wide board in the
shady corner, the board under which
he made his home with Old Mr.. Toad
| and several other young Toads of his
own age.
At last, along about noon, he crept
under the leaves of bean plant to
rest, and there he found Old Mr.. Toad.
The latter was there for the same pur-
pose.
We'll. young fellow. aren't you
long way from home?' inquired Old
Mr.. Toad
mo farther than you are" replied
Taddy somewhat pertly.
True. quite true replied Old Mr..
Toad gravely. But am much older
than you and know better how to take
care of myself. I notice that it has
stopped raining"
Taddy hadn't noticed it, but so 1t
was. OF course, the ground was wet
and the leaves were wet, but no rain
was falling. Peeping out from under
the leaf that sheltered him, Taddy dis
covered that the clouds were moving
away rapidly and he could see a bit
of blue sky.
Il rather think it is going to be hot
pretty soon, and then everything will
dry fast" observed Old Mr.. Toad.
Just then the clouds broke away
from before the face of jolly, round
bright Mr.. Sun and he was smiling
his broadest. Sunbeams even crept
under the plant where Taddy and
Old Mr.. Toad sat. Right then Taddy
knew that if Mr.. Sun continued to
smile this was going to be most
uncomfortable place for any one who
required moist skin in order to be
comfortable. The clouds were scat
tering fast. There was little doubt
that Mr.. Sun was out to stay for the
remainder of the day. Taddy thought
OF that nice wide board in the shady
corner. Sunbeams never could creep
IN under that board. He wished he
were home. He would start at once.
He hoped out into the light and
ollnked, for the light hurt his eyes.
Where are you going?" asked Old
Mr.. Toad.
Home, Of course. Aren't you COM
ing?' replied Taddy.
Certainly not" replied Old Mr..
Toad. DO you think me altogether
foolish?"
"Of course not" replied Taddy. II
just don't see what else there Is to
do"
Hide" said Old Mr.. Toad. Hide
from Mr.. Sun"
I suppise We can do that under
the leaves, but the air is going to be
not Just the same" replied Taddy.
Not where I will be-" said Old Mr..
Toad. mo air will reach me to dry
my skin and make me uncomfort-
able"
Taddy opened his mouth for ques-
ton, but closed it without speaking.
He had discovered that only the head
and shoulders of Old Mr.. Toad were
| above ground. He was sinking into
the loose earth. He was digging hole
| with his hind feet and backing into it
at the same time.
Dig in," said Old Mr.. Toad, snd
disappeared, the earth falling in over
him.