Evening star., 1942-02-18
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON W. BURGESS.

BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
The most surprising thing about
the meeting of Buster Bear with the
other little people of the Green
Forest was that he was introduced
by Jumper the Hare. Now you
know, Jumper the Hare is very, very,
timid. Everybody knows that. He
Is so timid that some people say he
is afraid of his own shadow. OF
course, this isn't true, but it is true
that he is very, very timid. SO no
one could understand how it hap
pened that he dared to introduce
Buster Bear. In fact, he didn't seem
any more afraid of Buster than were
Jimmy Skunk and Prickly Porky the
Porcupine But every one knows
why they are not afraid; Jimmy has
little bag of scent and Prickly
Porky has thousand little spears to
make other people, even those a
great deal bigger than they are.
respect them.
But jumper the Hare has nothing
of the kind. He has nothing with
which to win respect save his long
legs, and as he uses those to. run
away with, of course, he never wins
respect with them, for you know
people who run away are seldom
respected. So it was that when
Jumper appeared not in the least
afraid of Buster Bear and intro
duced him as a friend, the other
little people, most of whom were
frightened almost to death, couldn't
understand it at all. Peter Rabbit
wasn't there at the time, but, Of
course, he heard of it, and it puzzled
him more than it did any one else.
He is timid himself; is Peter Rabbit.
but he isn't as timid as his big cousin
Jumper. And yet here was he him
self having little cold chills of fright
at the very thought of those great
claws of Buster Bear. while Jumper
was not afraid at all. 1t was too
much for Peter, and the first chance
he got he asked Jumper about it.
Jumper smiled. why" said he.
Buster Bear comes from the Great
Woods where I came from. and I
know all about him and he knows
all about me. So we are friends"
Peter scratched his head thought
fully. Somehow he didn't under
stand any better tran before
Aren't you afraid of those great
big, cruel claws?" he asked.
Jumper shook his head NO"
said he Why should I be afraid
of them?"
Because they can tear you all to
pieces!" yelled Peter promptly.
But they cant!" cried Jumper
happily. That is just what they
can't do. and that is why I am not
afraid"
II don't see why they can't" per-
sisted Peter.
Because they can't catch mel"
Jumper made a long jump, a very
long jump, twice as long a jump as
Peter could make, as if to show why
those cruel claws could not catch
him. Peter began to see what
Jumper the Hare meant.
"You mean you are not afraid Of
Buster Bear because you think
Buster cannot catch you; is that it?"
Asked Peter.
Jumper nodded his head 50 fast
that he made his long ears flop.
That's just it!" said he Buster
Bear can't catch me. I know it and
he knows it, and so he doesn't waste
any time trying. Instead we are
very good friends. The only things
to be safraidrgof in this world are
things you know may hurt you. no
matter how sharp you watch out.
Now. am afraid Of Granny Fox and
Old Man Coyote because they are
so sly and swift that I am never sure
that I am safe from them. But
Buster Bear is not swift enough or
sly enough to make me afraid.
When you have known Buster as
long as I have you will know that
he isn't half so terrible as he looks.
and that he really can be very nice
and no end OF fun. I'm not afraid
of Buster because I've learned how
to keep out of his way, and when
you've learned the same thing you
won't be afraid either"
Peter looked. as if he would like
to believe it, but found it a little
more than he could quite credit.