Evening star., 1942-01-31
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.

ny InohN ION w. DOhuESSs
If is a very little word to look
at, but the biggest word you have
ever seen doesn't begin to have SC
much meaning as little 'if" II
Jimmy Skunk hadn't ambled down
the Crooked Little Path just when
he did; If he hadn't been looking
for fat beetles; if he hadn't seen
that big piece of bark at one side
and decided to pull it over; if ii
hadn't been for all these ifs, why
Old Mr.. Toad wouldn't have made
the mistake he did and you wouldn't
have had this story. But Jimmy
Skunk did amble down the Crooked
Little Path, he did look for beetles
and he did pull over that big piece
of bark. And when he pulled ii
over he found Old Mr. Toad there,
and Old Mr.. Toad had just walked
from his long winter sleep. He
had crept under that piece of bark
because he wanted to keep out of
sight until he felt a little more
awake before he started out to find
something to eat.
But when. Jimmy Skunk told him
that he had seen Mr.. Blacksnake
that very morning and that Mr.
Blacksnake had asked after Old
Mr.. Toad, the very last bit of sleepi-
ness left Old Mr.. Toad. Yes, sir,
he was wide awake right away.
You see, he knew why Mr.. Black
snake had asked after him. He
knew that Mr.. Blacksnake had been
asleep all winter and that he must
be very hungry, and he knew that
Mr.. Blacksnake had fondness for
toads. He turned quite pale when
he heard that Mr.. Blacksnake had
asked after him, and right then
he made his first mistake. He was
in such hurry to get away from
that neighborhood that he forgot to
ask Jimmy Skunk just where he had
seen Mr.. Blacksnake. He hardly
waited long enough to say good-by
to Jimmy Skunk, but started off
just as fast as he could go.
Now, it just happened that Old
Mr.. Toad started up the Crooked
Little Path, and 1t just happened
that Mr.. Blacksnake was coming
down the Crooked Little Path. Now
when people are very much afraid
they almost always seem to think
that danger is behind instead OF
in front of them. 1t was so with
Old Mr.. Toad. Instead of watch
ing out in front as he hoped along
he kept watching over his shoulder
and that was his second mistake
He was so sure that Mr.. Blacksnake
was somewhere behind him that he
didn't look to see where he was 60
ing, and you know that people who
don't leok to see where they are
going are almost sure to 60 head
first right into trouble.
Old Mr.. Toad went hopping up
the Crooked Little Path as fast as
he could, which wasn't very fast
because he never can hop very fast
and just now he was weak, because
of his long winters sleep and be-
cause he hadn't yet got the kinks
out Of his legs. And all the time
he kept looking behind for Mr.
Blacksnake. Presently. he came to
a turn in the Crooked Little Path
and as he hurried around 1t he
almost ran into Mr.. Blacksnake
himself. 1t was a question which
was the most surprised. For just
a wee second they stared at each
other. Then Mr.. Blacksnake's eyes
began to sparkle.
Good morning, Mr.. Toad; isn't
this a beautiful morning? I was
just thinking about you" said he
But poor Old Mr.. Toad didn't
say good morning. He didn't say
anything. He couldn't. because he
was too frightened. He just gave
a frightened little squeal, turned
around and started down the
Crooked Little Path twice as fast
as he mad come up. Mr.. Black
snake grinned and started after
him, not very fast, because, you
know, ne had just walked UP and
he didn't feel very lively yet. Be-
sides, he knew that he wouldn't
have to run very fast to catch Old
Mr.. Toad, and he thought the ex-
ercise would do him good
And this is how it happened that
beautiful spring morning that jolly
bright Mr.. Sun looking down from
the blue sky and smiling to see
how happy everybody seemed, sud-
denly discovered that there was one
of the little meadow people who
wasn't happy, but instead was ter
ribly, terribly unhappy. 1t was Old
Mr.. Toad hopping down the Crooked
Little Path for his life.