Evening star., 1942-04-29
Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON w. BURGESS.

Danny Meadow Mouse was almost
crazy. Yes, sir, Danny was almost
crazy. So was Nanny Meadow
Mouse. Little Mite, the smallest and
smartest of their four babies, was
nowhere to be found. No one knew
what had become Of him. They
looked in every hiding place they
could think of in the pile of old
cornstalks where their home was,
and they called and called. Then
1t was that either Teeny. Weeny or
Midget, don't know which, told
Danny how Mite had said that some
day he would slip away and see the
Great World, and how Mite often
had slipped out from under the
cornstalks and explored Danny's
private little paths for a little way,
although he had been forbidden to.
Then Danny was sure that little
Mite had run away, and though he
wouldn't have had Nanny know it
for the world. he didn't have the
least bit of hope of ever seeing Mite
again. You see, he knew all about
the sharp eyes Of hungry neighbors
all the time watching for careless
Meadow Mice, and he knew that
little Mite didn't know how to fool
them.
So Danny told Nanny not to worry
and that he would go look for Mite
and bring him home Nanny said
that she would try not to worry,
but, Of course, she couldn't help
worrying some. In fact, she worried
terribly, but she tried to hide it from
Danny as he started off to look for
the lost baby. Now, Danny hadn't
the least idea where to look. He
knew that probably little Mite had
started of along one of the private
little paths, but there we're many,
very many private little paths. and,
of course, Danny didn't have the
least idea which one to take. SO he
ran along one. then another and
another, all the time calling in his
funny little squeaky voice for Mite.
Every few steps he would stop to
listen for q reply. But not once did
he hear a reply. The reason was
that he was going in quite a differ
ent direction from the one taken
by his lost baby.
,"Oh, dear, If only I could be in
several places at the same time!"
cried Danny. And then he thought
Of something. Why not get help?
OF course, that was the thing to do.
He would run over to the dear Old
Briar Patch and ask Peter Rabbit
to help hunt for little lost Mite. To
think is to do with Danny Meadow
Mouse, and he started right away
for the dear Old Briar Patch. He
was all out Of breath when he found
Peter Rabbit. Peter shook his head
reprovingly.
Don't you know that you ought
not to run 50 on a hot day." asked
he.
"Yes," painted Danny. "but I Just
had to. Oh, Peter, will you help
me find my little Mite?"
Peter looked at Danny very hard.
Whats that?" said he, putting
hand behind an ear. as If to make
ou4C VI 1lC0l lAA6 0CtNA.
Please. please don't waste any
time, Peter, but hurry and help me
find my lost baby!" begged Danny.
Peter looked more puzzled than
ever. your little Mite! Your baby!
What under the sun are you talking
about. Danny Meadow Mouse? Are
you crazy2" he demanded.
Then for the hrst time Danny re-
membered that Peter knew nothing
about Nanny or the family Of four
beautiful babies-Teeny, Weeny,
Midget and Mite. He had kept his
secret 30 well that no one knew
anything about 1t. Now the secret
was out, for Peter wouldn't be able
to keep 1t to save him, no matter
how hard he might try. Danny
sighed. Then he told Peter all
about it. Peter listened with eyes
wide open with surprise. When
Danny reached the part about little
Mite and how he had run away.
Peter patted him gently on the
shoulder. II
Don't you worry. Danny" said
he. We'll nnd him all right. I
know all about 1t. You remember
how last year my little Pete was
lost7 But he came out safe and
sound, and 50 will Mite. Now. I'm
going to start right away to look
for him. You go back and look
among your private little paths
and I'll hurry around outside. II
he has come outside some one will
be sure to have seen him"
With that of started Peter, lip
perty -lipperty-lip, to help look for
little Mite Meadow Mouse.