Evening star., 1938-02-14
Bedtime Stories
D. THORNTON W R1rRGEss

HErER RABBIT was quite ex-
- cited. It often is exciting to
meet friends when and where
you haven't expected to meet
them. Peter had done lust this.
Johnny Chuck was the first one.
Peter had supposed Johnny to be so
sound asleep that he wouldn't awaken
Tor several weeks, not until sweet
Mistress Spring had arrived. I'M
agine how surprised Peter was to see
Johnny sitting on his doorstep.
And then he found another sleeper.
striped Chipmunk. out. The foot
prints OF Jimmy Skunk hadn't been
SO much OF surprise, for Peter knew
hat Jimmy doesn't sleep as soundlv
as some of the others and is likely
70 appear for brief periods during
mild spells. Last of all, ever in the
Green Forest Peter had met Bobby
Coon, and this was surprise.
Let me see" said Peter. thinking
aloud, there are seven sleepers and
I've seen three Of them this very day
and the tracks Of fourth. I wonder
about the other three"
Those must be-" began Bobby
Coon.
FILTER the Bat, Nimbleheels the
Jumping Mouse and Buster Bear"
Peter interrupted.
Bobby shook his head. Haven't
seen any Of them" said he. IF they
have sense they will stay abed even
Il they wake up. I'm going back to
my hollow tree and I'll stay there
until winter really is over. Don't
know what any one wants to stay
awake for in winter"
And don't know why anybody
wants to waste 50 much time Sleep
ing" declared Peter. I'm going to
look for Buster Bear"
you won't find him." said Bobby
Coon.
Peter didn't find him, nor did he
dnd any trace Of him. Therefore he
concluded that Buster was still
asleep, or 1T least hadn't come out.
His great footprints couldn't pos
eibly remain unseen. He was right.
Buster was asleep. He would be one
Of the first Of the sleepers to awaken
In the spring. but this wasn't spring
and Buster still slept. Nimbleheels
ehe Jumping Mouse and Filter the
Bat also slept. Anyway, Peter didn't
know where to look for them.
In his wandering about looking for
signs Of Buster Bear it was quite
Nike Peter to forget everything else.
Sometimes he has what is called
single-track mind, mind that has
room for only one line of thought.
just now 1t was Buster Bear and
the possibility that he was awake.
DO Peter forgot to be watchful. Yes,
sir. Peter forgot to be watchful, and
that was too important q matter ever
20 forget. He found that out pres
entity
There was no sound to give him
&he least warning. Perhaps from the
corner Of an eye he saw a moving
shadow. Perhaps it was just an i'm
pulse without real reason. Anyway,
Peter suddenly made a jump to one
Cde and instantly lodged again. He
didn't know who or what he was
lodging from when he lodged, but
. second later he knew. Yes. sir, he
knew then. It was Hooty the Great
Horned Owl. There had been no
sound from Hooty's great wings when
he had made that first sweep, and
There was none now, but there were
ether sounds. Yes, sir, there were
other sounds, and they were not
pleasant sounds, not to Peter, anyway.
There was kissing and swapping
Of . great hooked beak. Hooty was
n bad temper. He had been sure
Of Peter, very sure indeed. He hadn't
expected Peter to Jump and dodge.
~ "IIl get you," he Missed, and with a
surprisingly quick turn for such a big
bird, and he so surprised Peter that
he barely lodged in time. It was a
close call. 4 yerv close call.