Evening star., 1938-12-02
Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON W. BURGESS

BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
With tail between his legs and
head hanging In shame. Bowser the
Hound crept along at the heels Of
Farmer Browns Boy. He crept along
on three legs. the foot Yowler the
Bobcat had bitten being too sore to
use. As he limped along he whim-
pered, partly because he was 50 sore
and lame, partly because he was so
ashamed Of having been 50 badly
beaten in fight with q cat, and
partly because he knew that he had
done wrong in stealing away by
himself to hunt, ard deserved to be
punished.
But his master thought that Bow
ser had been punished quite enough
already. Gently he bathed Bowser's
wounds and on the worst of them
put ointment to help heal them.
And as he worked, Farmer Browns
Boy talked to Bowser.
You see what comes of disobedi-
ence," said he severely, and Bowser
hung his head. You knew that you
had no business to 60 hunting by
yourself. You sneaked away to do 1t.
Yes, sir, you sneaked away for that
hunt. Now see what you've got
the worst torn skin you ever have
had in all your life. I'm sorry, old
fellow, but it serves you just right.
Had you stayed at home where you
belonged this wouldn't have hap
pened."
All the time Bowser watched his
masters face with such a sorrowful
look in his eyes that it was impossible
to scold him more. It was very clear
that BowSer was both ashamed and
sorry. Farmer Browns Boy patted
him gently and continued to talk to
him.
What I want to know is, who did
it?" said he.
OF course Bowser couldn't answer.
All he could do was to wag his tail.
Those scratches look to me like
the work of claws and not teeth"
continued Farmer Browns Boy. IF
1t were not for those I should think
you had been in a fight with Old Man
Coyote, though I doubt If you ever
could get near enough to that rascal
to make him fight. It couldn't have
been Buster Bear because you never
in the world would have dared to
face him. I've seen you put your
tail between your legs at the mere
smell of Busters tracks. You look
to me as if two or three cats had
tackled you together"
Now, of course, Bowser couldn't
understand all this, but there was
one word he did understand. At the
word cats" he growled way down
in his throat. Farmer Browns Boy
heard it.
80 that's it, is it," he exclaimed.
Il don't know Of any cats around
here but Black Pussy and you and
Black Pussy are friends. Besides no
cat the size Of Black Pussy could
have clawed you this way. If it was
a cat it was one q lot bigger than
Black Pussy. should say that it
must have been a wild cat. haven't
heard of one around here for years.
I wonder if one has come to the
Green Forest to live. I wonder"
Farmer Browns Boy looked over
toward the Green Forest thought
fully. Then he examined Bowser's
wounds more carefully than before.
Its my guess that you met Yowler
the Bobcat," said he finally That's
my guess, Bowser. And If that is so
we must do something about it.
Yowler is a bad neighbor to have
about. You know those Turkeys
have just got nicely established in
the Green Forest, but I'm afraid
that if Yowler is about there won't
be many of them left by spring. I
didn't think we ever would do any
more hunting, Bowser, but guess We
will. In couple of days when you
are feeling better we'll take a walk
and see what we can discover"
(copyright. 1881