Evening star., 1940-07-18
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS

BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
When old Granny Fox laid down
the chicken she was bringing home
to Reddy Fox to try to catch Peter
Rabbit she had meant to 60 right
back and get it as soon as she had
caught Peter. Then or Mistah Buzz
zard had dropped down out Of the
blue sky and startled her so that
she had jumped. OF course Peter
Rabbit saw her when she jumped,
and of he went. liperty- -uperty-l lip,
az fast as he could 60.
Old Granny Fox was so angry
that she hopped up and down. She
tore up the grass and ground with
her long white teeth. She was
smart enough to know that or Mis-
tab Buzzard had taken that way to
warn Peter Rabbit, but all she could
do was scold OF Mistah Buzzard,
and that didn't do her much good
for In q few minutes he was so far
up in the blue, blue sky that he
couldn't hear a word she was saying.
My, my, but old Granny Fox GER
tainly was angry! If she hadn't been
SO angry she might have seen john
ny Chuck lying fiat as he could
make himself behind a big clump OF
grass.
Johnny Chuck was scared. Yes,
indeed, JOHNNY Chuck was dreadfully
scared. He had once fought Reddy
Fox and whipped him, but he knew
that old Granny Fox would be too
much for him. So 1t was with
great relief that Johnny Chuck saw
her stop tearing up grass and trot
over to see how Reddy Fox was get
ting along. Then Johnny Chuck
crept along until he was far enough
off to run. How he did run! He
was all out of breath when he
reached home, and so tired that he
just dropped down on his doorstep
and painted.
Serves me right for having so
much curiosity" said Johnny Chuck
to himself.
Reddy Fox looked up as old Gram
ny Fox came hurrying up. Reddy
had been shot by Farmer Browns
boy and he was so stih and sore
that he couldn't walk. He was
weak and very hungry. But he felt
sure that old Granny Fox would
bring him something nice for his
breakfast, and as soon as he heard
footsteps his mouth began to water.
did you bring me something nice,
Granny?" asked Reddy Fox.
Now old Granny Fox had been
so put out by the scare she had had
and by her failure to catch Peter
Rabbit that she had forgotten all
about the chicken she had left up on
the hill. When Reddy spoke she
remembered it, and the thought of
having to 60 way. back after 1t didn't
improve her temper a bit.
moi" she snapped. Il haven't!
You don't deserve any breakfast
anyway. If you had any gump-
tion"-that's the word Granny Fox
used, gumption-" if you had any
gumption at all you wouldn't have
gotten in trouble, and could get
your own breakfast"
Reddy Fox didn't know what
gumption meant, but he did know
that he was very, very hungry, and
do what he could he couldn't keep
back a couple of big tears of dis
appointment. Grany Fox saw them.
There. there Reddy! Don't cry.
I've got a fine, fat chicken for you
up on the hill, and I'll run back and
get it." said Granny Fox.
So of she started up the hill to
the place where she had left the
chicken when she started to try to
catch Peter Rabbit. When she got
there there wasn't any chicken.
No, sir, there was no chicken at
ADJUST a few feathers. GRANNY
Fox could, hardly believe her own
eyes. She looked this way and she
looked that way, but there was no
chicken, just few feathers. Old
Granny Fox flew into greater rage
than before.