Evening star., 1941-12-29

Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON w. BURGE

Peter Rabbit was very happy. At
first he couldn't think why he felt
so happy. He just did, that was
all. His heart was full of happi-
ness, so full that it fairly bubbled
over. 1t seemed to Peter that never
had the dear Old Brier Patch looked
so beautiful. The ground was COW
cred with soft snow and Peter Won
dered If ever before there was snow
so white and pure and altogether
lovely. 1t had made even the ugliest
old bramble bush so beautiful that
Peter held his breath as he looked
at it. The Green Meadows were
white, such a glistening, sparkling
white that it was hard to believe
that they ever had been green.
Way over beyond only the pine
trees and the spruce trees and the
hemlock trees retained their green
needles that no one should forget
that this was still the Green Forest,
and even these were all powdered
with white and were more beautiful
than ever as a million little sparkles
flashed in the rays Of jolly. round,
bright Mr.. Sun, just beginning his
daily climb in the blue, blue sky.
"Dee-dee-dee! Happy New Year,
Peter Rabbit. Happy New Year!
Dee-dee-dee!" called merry voice.
Peter looked up to see Tommy
Tit the Chickadee hanging down
from a branch of the ugliest old
bramble- bush, which was now so
beautiful, and Tommy Tit looked as
happy as Peter felt. Peter jumped
straight up in the air and kicked his
long heels together That's it,"
he cried excitedly. Il had forgotten
all about it. but that's it! That's
why I feel so happy"
whats it?" asked Tommy Tit.
just as if he didn't know.
why, New Year Day, of course!'
cried Peter. Everybody must be
happy on New Year Day because
everybody wishes good wishes and
good wishes make happiness. uust
hurry and leave my good wi< es
with all my friends, and III begin
with you I wish you very, very
happy new year, Tommy Tit"
'Dee-dee-dee! Thank you, Peter
Rabbit. Dee ee-chickadee!" re-
piled Tommy Tit, and laughed a
merry laugh as he watched Peter
scampering toward the Green Forest.
On the way there he stuck his
head in at Jimmy Skunk's door
Happy New Year." he shouted
TOO cold, altogether too cold
grumbled sleepy voice way down
below. Peter laughed "Its just
like Jimmy to say that, but he
doesn't mean 1t at ALL" thought
Peter as he hurried on. In the far
corner of the Old Orchard he poked
his head in at Johnny Chuck's door
and shouted Happy New Yearl''
but he didn't wait for a reply be-
cause he knew that Johnny was fast
asleep, and would stay asleep all
winter. But he felt better for hav-
ing left his good wishes there, for
he and Johnny are great friends.
Down in the Green Forest Peter
heard a harsh voice screaming
Thief" He hurried in that direc-
ton. Happy New Year, Sammy
Jay!" he shouted.
"Thi-." Sammy stopped right
in the middle Of a scream. Peter
looked up at him and smiled Sam
my started to scream again, and
then looked foolish, and finally
grinned sheepishly. Il wish you the
same" said he, and screamed no
more.
SO all the bright day Peter hurried
around leaving his good wishes. He
left them with Unc' Billy Possum
and Bobby Coon and Prickly Porky
the Porcupine. He even poked his
head out Of hollow log and shouted
them at Reddy Fox, who happened
along-that was why Peter was in
the hollow log-and Reddy actually
changed his mind about trying to
catch Peter that day. and politely
wished Peter the best year of his
life, for you know Reddy can be very
polite when he pleases
Late that afternoon Peter once
more sat in the dear Old Brier
Patch, and his heart fairly bubbled
over with happiness II believe that
wishing happiness for others is the
surest way of getting happiness for
ones self" thought Peter
And you know and I know that
Peter was just exactly right.