Evening star., 1942-03-25
Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON w. BURGESS
Who makes an enemy . friend
To fear and worry puts An end.

Who makes an enemy . friend
To fear and worry puts an end.
Little Joe Otter found this out
when he took Grandfather Frogs
advice. He wouldn't have admitted
that he was afraid of Buster Bear.
No one ever likes to admit being
afraid, least of all Little Joe Otter.
And, really, Little Joe has . great
deal Of courage. There are very few
Of the little people of the Green
Forest or the Green Meadows who
would willingly quarrel with Little
Joe Otter, for Little Joe Is . great
fighter when he has to fight. AS for
all those who live in or along the
Laughing Brook. or in the Smiling
Pool, they let Little Joe have his
own way in everything.
Now, having your own way too
much Is . bad thing. It Is apt to
make one selfish, thoughtless Of
other people, and very hard to get
along with. Little Joe Otter had
his way too much. Grandfather
Frog knew 1t, and shook his head
very soberly when Little Joe had
been disrespectful to him. "Too bad.
Too bad. Too bad. Chugarum! 1t
is too bad that such fine young fell
low as Little Joe Otter should spoil
q good disposition by such selfish
heedlessness. Too bad" said he.
So, though he didn't let on that 1t
was 50, Grandfather Frog really was
delighted when he heard how Bus
ter Bear had been too smart for
Little Joe Otter. It tickled him so
that he had hard work to keep q
straight face. But he did, and was
as grave and solemn as you please
as he advised Little Joe always to
make friends with any one who was
bigger and stronger and smarter
than he. That was good common
sense advice, but Little Joe just
shifted and went of. declaring that
he would get even with Buster Bear
yet. Now, Little Joe Is good natured
and full Of fun, as q rule. and after
he had reached home and his tenn
per had cooled OIL little he began
to see the joke on himself-how,
when he had worked 50 hard to
frighten the fish in the pools Of the
Laughing Brook so that Buster Bear
should not catch any. he had all the
time been driving them right into
Busters paws. BY and by he grinned.
It was little sheepish grin at first.
but at last it grew into q laugh.
II believe" said Little Joe, as he
wiped the tears of laughter from
his eyes, that Grandfather Frog is
right, and that the best thing can
do is to make friends with Buster
Bear. I'll try 1t tomorrow morning."
So, very early the next morning,
Little Joe Otter went to the best
fishing pool he knew Of on the
Laughing Brook, and there he
caught the biggest trout he could
find. 1t was so big and fat that it
made Little Joe's mouth water. for
you know fat trout are his favorite
food. But he didn't take so much rs
one bite. Instead, he carefully laid
1t on an old log where Buster Bear
would be sure to see 1t II he should
come along that way. Then he hid
nearby where he could watch. Bus
ter was late that morning. It seemed
to Little Joe that he never would
come. Once he nearly lost the fish.
He had turned his head for just a
minute. and when he looked back
again the trout was nowhere to be
seen. Buster couldn't have stolen
up and taken it. because such q big
fellow couldn't possibly have gotten
out Of sight again.
Little Joe darted over to the log
and looked over on the other side.
There was the fat trout. and there
also was Little Joe's smallest cousin.
Shadow the Weasel, who is a great
thief and altogether bad. Little Joe
sprang at him angrily. but Shadow
was too quick. and darted away.
Little Joe put the fish back on the
log and waited. This time he didn't
take his eyes Oh it. At last, when
he was almost ready to give up. he
saw Buster Bear stunning along
toward the Laughing Brook. Sud-
denly Buster stopped and sniffed.
One Of the Merry Little Breezes had
carried the scent of that fat trout
over to him. Then he came straight
over to where the fish lay, his nose
wrinkling and his eyes twinkling
with pleasure.
"'Now, I wonder who was so
thoughtful as to leave this fine
breakfast for me?" he said out loud.
Me" said Little Joe Otter. in a
rather faint voice. Il caught 1t
especially for you"
Thank you" replied Buster, and
his eyes twinkled more than ever.
II think we are going to be friends"
"I-hope So" replied Little Joe.
"and that you will forget the tricks
I played on you"