Evening star., 1938-05-26
Little Stories for Bedtime.
Bv THORNTON W. BURGESS.

DETER RABBIT often wondered
L what had become Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Ouack, but Jerry Muskrat kept his
secret so well that finally Peter gave
up trying to find it out and after
while he quite forgot ali about Mr..
and Mrs. Quack. You see 1t was the
beautiful springtime and there was so
much going on in the Green Forest
and on the Green Meadows that Peter
was busy every waking minute trying
to keep track Of the new arrivals from
the sunny Southland, and of what the
earlier arrivals were doing. The talk
on all sides was of homes and home
buildings, and Peters lively curiosity
kept him on the jump trying to find
out just where the homes OF his
neighbors were. So it was that he
quite forgot about Mr.. and Mrs.
Quack. Indeed, being so busy else
where, he didn't even visit the Smiling
Pool for many days.
One afternoon as he sat IN the
dear old Brier Patch listening to the
sweet song of Carol the Meadow Lark,
and feeling just a wee bit provoked to
think that so far Carol had been
smart enough to keep secret the place
where Mrs. Carol was building a nest,
a sudden thought popped into his
head. He hadn't seen Paddy the
Beaver since the coming OF Jack Frost
in the fall No, sir. he hadn't seen
Paddy, and he hadn't heard from him.
He didn't even know If Paddy had
lived through the winter. The fact
is there had been so much to do and
see nearer home that he hadn't once
thought of visiting Padyd's pond deep
in the Green Forest.
"I'll do it this very night" declared
Peter right out loud.
do what?" asked Mrs. Peter sus-
piciously.
"Oh, just visit an old friend Of
mine" replied Peter lightly.
You are doing altogether too much
visiting, Peter Rabbit" declared little
Mrs Peter, with a decided toss Of her
little brown head. You are away so
much that pretty soon you'll forget
you've got home. I don't see what
has got into you"
II guess it's the spring fever" re-
piled Peter quite meekly. Seems as
if I Just can't sit still these days. As
Unc' Billy Possum would say:
If yo' would know just how All feels,
De itch of spring am in nah heels.
And that's just about the way of it.
I suppose it's the same feeling that
makes the birds sing, but as 1 can't
sing have to
Keep a-moving, keep a-moving, keep
a-moving mighty strong!
Keep a-moving, keep a-moving, keep
a-moving right along!"
Little Mrs Peter shifted. "One Of
these days when you are away from
home you'll keep a-moving right along
straight into trouble just as sure as
you're long -eared. long-legged, COT
ton-tailed bundle of curiosity" said
she. And to that Peter couldn't find
word to say.
But that didn't prevent him from
starting for the Green Forest that
very afternoon. The way was clear,
and once in the Green Forest he knew
of plenty of hiding places should he
meet with any one looking for a
Rabbit dinner And it happened he
met with no adventures at all. and
just as jolly. round red Mr.. Sun was
beginning to slip down behind the
Purple Hills for the night Peter
reached the pond of Paddy the Beaver.
There was Paddy's house out in the
water just as he remembered it. Yes,
and there was Paddy himself SWIM
ming with a stick Of wood in his
mouth.
Hello, Paddy!" cried Peter hap
PLY.
Paddy kept right on swimming until
he reached the end of his dam. There
he climbed out of the water. Hello,
yourself" said he quietly, as he pre-
pared to strip the bark from the stick,
for you know that is what he lives on.
Whats the news over here?"
asked Peter.
mo special news excepting that
I've got some new neighbors." replied
Paddy.
whats that?" cried Peter. his long
ears twitching with curiosity. who
are your new neighbors? Do I know
then?"
Just at that very instant he heard