Evening star., 1938-12-13


No one from worry Wholly Tree.
Some have such silly worries. Al
least they seem silly to others. They
go about worrying over things that
= perhaps you and I would think not
worth a passing thought. Just there
Is where a certain amount OF un-
fairness lies. The worries OF an
other seem to us foolish, but o1ten
that is because we do not know or
cannot understand just how things
are.
Just take the case of Jumper the
Hare. Jumper was worrying. he
was worrying a great deal. He was
very. very anxious. What about?
About his coat. Yes, sir, Jumper
was Worrying about his winter coat.
It wasn't that his present coat WASH
warm enough. 1t was that. His coat
was thick and warm and comfort
able, but it wasn't the right color.
Now. doesn't it seem silly to allow
the color of ones coat to be cause
of worry? Of course it does. And,
vet, it may not be. One OF the
truest sayings in the world is that
circumstances alter cases. Jumper
had a brown coat and he wanted
white one. But that desire wasn't
from vanity. No, sir, in Jumper S
case the desire for a white coat
wasn't from vanity at all. Jumper
wanted a white coat for safety. so,
Worrying over the color of his coat
wasn't sillv after all, was it?
He explained it all to Peter Rab-
bit one day when Peter had called
him foolish for caring what color
his coat was.
ANY one who wastes time think
ing about how he looks is vain and
foolish" declared Peter. MY coat
isn't pretty, but as long as it is
thick and warm don't care.
white coat would be much finer
looking, but haven't it and am not
likely to get it and don't lose any
sleep worrying about it. There ISN'T
anv more reason why you should
THAT is where you are quite
wrong, Cousin Peter replied Jump
er. 1T isn't that I care a tWltcn
of nv whiskers about the fact that
a white coat is much better looking
than the brown one I now have. l
don't. Of course, it is nice to nave
a good looking coat, but If that was
ali there was to it I wouldn't give
the matter another thought. You
spend most of your time in the dear
Old Briar Patch, or within jumping
distance of a bramble-ta where
you are safe from most of your en-
emies. live here in the Green For
est. and my safety depends on two
things-not being seen by my en-
emies and on my long legs when
I am seen by them.
In summer my brown coat is
just right. In winter when there
is no snow on the ground it is just
right. If there never was any snow
wouldn't give my coat a second
thought. But the ground is going
to be white with snow most of the
winter. 1t always is. And, against
such Whiteness a brown coat shows
up dreadfully. I need white coat
to match the snow. With that I
would have less to worry about. But
here it is the beginning of winter
and my coat is still brown. think
1t is beginning to turn, but sup
posing it doesn't turn. Or supposing
we have lot of snow before it turns.
That is what is worrying me. Does
1t look to you, Cousin Peter, as if
my coat is beginning to turn?"
Peter looked Jumper over care
fully. Il believe it is he replied.
II see a great many white hairs
scattered through it."
Jumper sighed.
''I hope you are right" said he.
'.It seems to me that it is very late
in changing this year, though per-
haps it isn't any later than usual.
I hope there will not be much snow
until I am all white. I am always
terribly anxious at this time of year.
# there is lot of snow before my
coat changes I am in bad fix be-
cause show up so against the snow.
And, if my coat turns before there
is any snow I am quite as badly
off because its whiteness shows up
against the brown of the dead leaves.
You ought to be thankful, Peter, that
you don't have to worry about your
coat"
II am" replied Peter.
Copyright, 1889