Evening star., 1942-01-03

Bedtime Stories
Nv THORNTON W. BURGESS.

by THORNTON w. bU1uLsS.
Peter Rabbit had tried to break
through the hard, icy snow crust
under which poor Mrs. Grouse was
held prisoner. At last he had MADE
up his mind that there was only
one who could break through that
crust and set Mrs. Grouse free, and
that one was Farmer Browns boy.
Right away, without stopping to
think of what might happen to him.
self, Peter had started of to try to |
get Farmer Browns boy. Yes, sir,
he had started to get the very one
of whom he was most afraid. That |
was Just like Peter. You know. he
is impul-sive. That's big word.
but 1t tells Just exactly what Peter
is. It means doing things without
stopping to think Of what may
happen, and you know that Is Peter
all over.
So the very minute he thought OF
Farmer Browns boy he kicked his
heels together and started of. lip
perty, lipperty, lip, as fast as ne
could 20 to get him. He didn't have
the least idea in the world how he
was going to get him. or course,
he couldn't talk to him and tell him
what he wanted, because Farmer
Browns boy wouldn't understand
him. But this didn't worry Peter.
Little things like that never DO
worry Peter. Mrs. Grouse needed
help, and Farmer Browns boy was
the only one who could help her,
and so Peter must get him.
He hurried up through the old
Orchard and peeped out over the
old stone wall into Farmer Browns
dooryard. There, just as he had
hoped. was Farmer Browns boy at
work by the wood pile. He didn't see
Peter. although Peter had hoped
out in plain sight. Peter didn't
know lust what to do. He didn't
dare 20 any nearer. Then. because
he didn't know what else to do, he
! thumped as only Peter can thump.
Farmer Browns boy heard that
thump and looked up. OF course he
was surprised, very much surprised
to see Peter way up there In his
dooryard.
"Hello!" exclaimed Farmer
Browns boy. whats brought you
way up here? 1t must be that food
is scarce this icy weather and you've
come up to knaw the bark from our
young fruit trees. We can't have
that even II you are hungry. MI.
Rabbit. suppose l ought to get
nv gun and shoot you, but I can't
do that Just because you are hum
gry. expect would get into mis-
chief, too, If I was hungry ana
couldn't find anything to eat. l
guess Ill just chase you back where
you belong and give you something
to keep you out Of mischief.
With that Farmer Browns boy
went into the barn. In q few min
utes he came out with . few cabbage
leaves. a turnip and a carrot and
started toward Peter. Peter hoped
back over the old stone wall and
Farmer Browns boy followed. Peter
kept Just q little way ahead. and
what do YOU think he did? Why, he
ran on three legs, as II the other
had been hurt. Now, Farmer
Browns boy really Is very tender
hearted. although many Of the little
forest and meadow people don'
know 1t. When he saw Peter limp
ing along he felt sorry, oh, 30 sorry
, for Peter.
You poor little rascal" said Far
] mer Browns boy. Il ought to catcf
{ you and keep you safe until you
b. leg is well. If don't, Reddy Fo'
. will be sure to catch you, and tina
5 will be the end Of you"
With that Farmer Browns bo,
hurried faster. as fast as he could o.
such slippery going. But Peter jus
:, kept out of reach. and 80 at last the
came to the Green Forest and tn
place where Mrs. Grouse was q pris
!. oner. Peter thumped hard thre
tmies to let her know that no wa
. back, and then he put down the foo
he had been holding up and scam
pered of q little way and sat up t
see what Farmer Browns boy voul
do He loked at Peter as If h
couldn't quite believe what he saw
You scamp!" he shouted. Il be
lieve you have just been foohng m
all the time" and tossed the carrc
toward Peter.
:. And just that minute Farme
Browns boy heard something.
was a faint tap. tap from almot
under his feet. You see, poor Mr.
Grouse was still feebly trying
peck a way out. Farmer Brown
boy forgot all about Peter.
"Hello!" he exclaimed. There
some one In trouble here" An
with his heavy boots he very care
fully began to break the hard. il
crust.