Evening star., 1941-12-25
Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON w. BURGESS.

Jolly, IOuIlU, bIlkilJ MI. SuIl ulu
his best to make Christmas as
merry in the Green Forest as it was
In the dear Old Brier Patch and
the Old Orchard He sent the
Jolly Little Sunbeams into every
nook and Granny they could get
into to carry Christmas greetings.
They crept under the snow-covered
boughs of pine trees and hemlock
trees as far as they could. They
peeped into every hole they CHANGED
to spy. They did their best to wish
everybody there a merry Christmas.
But some they looked and looked
for in vain. Unc' Billy Possum and
Old Mrs. Possum were snugly tucked
in bed, with their tails wrapped
around them, in their big hollow
tree. They were fast asleep and
dreaming so hard of Christmas in
their old home way down in OF
Virginny that they didn't wake up
at all to find out what it was like
there in the Green Forest. Bobby
Coon in his hollow tree slept just
the same way. So did Buster Bear
on his bed of leaves under the
shelving rock deep in the Green
Forest.
That seems queer way to spend
Christmas. doesn't it? But do you
know it was the incest thing in the
world for the Possums and Bobby
Coon and Buster Bear? You see
none of them like the snow or cold
weather, SO if they had been awake
and had to go out to get something
to eat. like most folks. they wouldn't
have been happy and not the least
little bit merry. AS it was they had
pleasant dreams, and so it really
was a Merry Christmas for them,
though they didn't know it.
But Prickly Porky was awake,
and as he climbed a tree for his
breakfast his dull little eyes almost
sparkled. This was the kind Of
weather he liked. 1t was just like
the weather he used to have in his
old home in the Great Woods up
North Before he began to eat
he stopped to look at the beauty
of Green Forest in its wonderful
sparkling white coat. And, as he
looked, who should come along but
Jumper the Hare. who was also
from the Great Woods. Prlekly
Porky would not have seen him but
Jumper was feeling so very happy
that he was kicking up his heels
and doing other foolish things as
he came jumping along. You see
his coat was just as white as the
snow. and when he sat still he
looked nothing but little heap OF
snow.
"Unk. unk," grunted Prickly
Porky. Whatever has got into you
this day to make you feel so good,
Brother Jumper.
At the sound of his voice Jumper
looked up. Merry Christmas! I
wish you a merry Christmas" he
cried
A slow grin spread over Prickly
Porky's face. why, it is Christ
mas. isn't tt?" he grunted. Il had
forgotten all about it. I wish you
the same. Brother Jumper, and
many like it.
After Jumper the Hare had gone
his way Prickly Porky began his
breakfast, and it seemed TO MN
that he never had enjoyed a break
fast quite so much as that one.
You see. he felt the Christmas
spirit. AS he ate he kept watching
for some one to whom to extend
Christmas wishes Jumper the
Hare had caught him. and now he
wanted to catch some one else
Presently along came Lightfoot the
Deer holding his head proudly and
walking daintily. Merry Christ
mas" grunted Prickly Porky, and
chuckled.
Merry Christmas YOURSELF" re-
piled Lightfoot with a sharp whistle
of surprise.
After he had gone who should
come trotting along but Reddy
Fox. "If he should surprise any OF
the little people about here it would
be ANYTHING but Merry Christmas
for them. I don't know as I want
to wish him anything" muttered
Prickly Porky. Then, perhaps be-
cause he couldn't help 1t for the Joy
in his own heart, he suddenly leaned
down and grunted, Merry Christ
mas. Reddy Fox!" :,
Reddy was too surprised to speak
right away. You see no one else had
wished him Merry Christmas. 1t
was quite a new and strange ex-
perience. He rather liked it. He
never had liked Prickly Porky, and
always snarled at him when he saw
him. Somehow he couldn't snarl
this time. He started to, and then
! prinned instead. "The same to
you." said he, and felt better for
| having said it. 1t must have been
that there was something in the
air that morning to make him fee
so. Somehow he didn't feel like
hunting anybody. When Mrs
Grouse suddenly burst out OF the
snow just in front of him, instead OF
snarling with disappointment be-
cause he had not caught her, nc
surprised himself almost as much
| as he did her by barking:
Merry Christmas, Mrs. Grouse!
And Mrs. Grouse knew by the
sound of his voice that he really
meant it.