Evening star., 1937-06-19
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w, BURGESS.
Pray. always keep an open mind,
And never to the truth be blind.
Old Mother Nature

K EEPING an open mind isn't at all
easy, especially when the facts
are more or less hidden or difficult to
fnd We are likely to be prejudiced.
1t was so with Farmer Andrews. More
than 100 Of his chickens had been
killed in one night. He had seen a
Fox around that night Therefore he
at once made up his mind that the
Fox was the killer and he scoffed at
the suggestion that he might be mis-
taken. Always he had believed that
Foxes lived chiefly on poultry, game
birds and Rabbits, and therefore 1t
would be better if there were no Foxes
Now, Farmer Browns Boy knew
that this was not true. He knew that
Foxes have very definite place in
the world, and that more often than
not the good they do offsets, and fire.
quently more than offsets, the mis-
chief they DO. He had to admit that
the evidence in this case was very
much against Reddy Fox and Mrs.
Reddy, or both, but he wasn't satisfied
that a Fox was guilty. So he did some
looking around, and what he discov-
cred sent him back home and to the
Old Pasture. When he approached
the home of Reddy there was no one
to be seen. He hadn't expected there
would be. If those Foxes had been at
home they had discovered his
approach and either slipped away or
were down inside.
But 1t wasn't to see them that he
had come. He at once began q search
OF the ground around that home. He
found few hen feathers, but they
were old ones that had been there a
long time. Moreover, they were not
from the same kind Of hens that
Farmer Andrews kept. Presently he
gave 4 little exclamation and picked
up something. A moment or so later
he made another find. Several times
he picked up things and put them in
= pocket. Finally he started for home
and he was whistling He likes to
whistle when he feels particularly
happy over something.
That afternoon he paid another
call on Neighbor Andrews. The latter
greeted him with grin. "Well, Mr..
Detective" said he, have you found
the criminal?"
ut wasn't one. but several. At
least 1t probably was several. Do you
mind If dig an opening under your
hen house, one just big enough to see
what can md under there with 4
rake?"
mot At all, 10 long as you I'LL up the
hole aftervard," replied Mr.. Andrews.
He followed Farmer Browns Boy to
the hen house and looked on with
rather = quizzical smile as the hole
was dug. As soon as the hole was big
enough to admit q rake Farmer
Browns Boy lay nat down and, push
ing the rake under Is far as possible,
drew it back. It brought out nothing
but some chips and dirt and two or
three feathers. Farmer Browns Boy
looked disappointed. He tried again.
"Ha! thought as muchw he ex-
claimed. He had raked out the half
eaten body OF chicken.
Mr.. Andrews looked surprised and
= bit puzzled, but said nothing, and
Farmer Browns Boy continued to
rake under the hen house. When he
was satisfied he had brought out the
bodies Of two more chickens and more
feathers.
Nov" said he, II want to crawl
under the barn. He had his hashlight
with him. When at last he emerged
he had two more small dead chickens.
He laid these beside the others. Then
from his pocket he took the things he
had picked up near the home OF
Reddy Fox and put these with the
chickens. Lastly he brought from
behind = stack what remained Of a
Rat that had been killed and partly
eaten. Then he looked up at Mr..
Andrews
Rats" said Farmer Browns Boy.
They are your chicken killers, not
Reddy Fox or Mrs. Reddy. You'll
admit that no Fox could possibly get
under the hen house through the
small holes 1T each end. You know
as well As do that no Fox could have
taken chickens under tho barn, but
would have carried them OF. That
skull and those bones and feet there
are Of Rats and found them around
the dep Of Reddy Fox, up In our Old
Pasture. You have seen Fox around
your barn. He was over here to catch
Rats, not chickens. There's the
proof"
1T does look that way, but it's hard
to helieve avra>d Nsi~hhor Avdr.~.