Evening star., 1942-01-24
Bedtime Stories
by THORNTON w. BURGESS.

ny AnOANAON W. DOksS6CCs
No sooner had Winsoms Bluebird
finished telling how OF Mistah Bug
zard warns his toes on the CHM
neys of the houses in the f&r-away
South than Peter Rabbit was full
Of questions about other friends
who had been spending the long
winter in the land of sunshine.
Where is Little Friend the Song
Sparrow" he asked eagerly.
Little Friend of All is not very
far away" he replied. I'm fact, I
think he will be here in . few days,
Peter. You see. Little Friend loves
the Green Meadows and the Smil-
ing Pool 10 much that he cannot
bear to 60 any further away than
he has to. guess he feels just
as I do. And SO he doesn't 60
way, way down South rs some do,
but just far enough to be comfort
able and to be sure that he will be
able to get enough to eat. heard
him singing only q few days ago,
and he said to tell his friends up
here that he is on his way"
My. but I'll be glad to hear him
again." said Peter with q sigh.
Somehow I always feel better when
I hear the voice Of Little Friend.
I hope nothing will happen to him
on the way"
"Oh, I guess not" replied Win
some Bluebird. You see, every
body loves him 50 that nobody wants
to harm him. He hasn't any beau
tiful suit. He's just the plainest
little fellow. I guess he is just loved
because-why-because he's always
SO CHEEKY and lovable."
"Yes," said Peter, "I guess that's
the reason 1t must be beautiful TO
be loved like that. suppose you've
seen Cheerful Robin this winter"
oh, my, yes! Cheerful and l
have been together = great deal
this winter. He's coming right
along. and II I don't watch out and
get about my business Mistress
Spring will be making him her
herald instead Of me. He looks just
Is fine as ever, and he really Is
very well and in splendid spirits,
considering the hard time he has
had every since he left here"
What do you mean7 Doesn't
Cheerful find enough to eat down
South?" demanded Peter, pricking
up his long ears.
Plenty, plenty!" replied Winsome
Bluebird. ats the way people treat
him down there. Men and boys
are altogether too fond OF Cheer
ful."
Peter looked up quickly to see II
Winsoms was joking, but he didn't
seem to be. Indeed, he seemed to
have q kind of sorrowful look, rs
If thinking Of the hard time Cheer
full Robin had had made him feel
bad. IF they are 80 fond Of him
I should think that Cheerful would
have the best kind of = time" said
Peter.
They are fond of him In the
wrong way" replied Winsoms sadly.
They are fond Of him to eat, and
Cheerful has to be watching out
all the time for dreadful guns. I
wish he had come along up with
me. I won't feel quite easy until
I see him. Don't you think guns
are dreadful things. Peter Rabbit"
Yes, indeed! The most dreadful
things in all the world" replied
Peter promptly. But I didn't sup
pose that Cheerful Robin ever had
anything to fear from them. I don't
see what he goes down South for,
II that is the way they treat him"
He has to get enough to eat"
replied Winsome Bluebird, lust as
I do. II it wasn't for that we
wouldn't either Of US 60, because
you know We love the Green Mead
ows and the Smiling Pool and the
Old Orchard 10. Now, I have sat
here gossiping with you just as
long as can. I must be spreading
the glad news that Mistress Spring
Is coming"
I'll help you" said Peter hap
PLY, and made ready to start right
away for the Green Forest.