Evening star., 1942-04-06
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON W. BURGEss

1t isn't very often that Chatterer
the Red Squirrel knows fear. That
Is one reason that he is 50 often
impudent and saucy. But once In
while great fear takes possession
of him, as when he knows that
Shadow the Weasel is looking for
him. You see, he knows that Shadow
can go wherever he can 60. There
are very few of the little people of
the Green Forest and the Green
Meadows who do not know fear at
some time or other, but 1t comes to
Chatterer as seldom as to any one
because he is very sure of himself
and his ability to hide or run away
from danger.
But now, as he chung to a little
branch near the top of a tall pine
tree In the Green Forest and looked
down at the big. sharp teeth of
Buster Bear drawing nearer and
nearer, and listening to the deep,
angry growls that made his hair
stand on end, Chatterer was too
frightened to think. If only he had
kept his tongue still instead of say
ing hateful things to Buster Bear!
If only he had known that Buster
could climb tree! If only he had
chosen tree near enough to other
trees for him to Jump across! But he
had said hateful things he had
chosen 20 sit In a tree which stood
quite by itself, and Buster Bear
could climb. Chatterer was in the
worst kind Of trouble and there was
no one to blame but himself. That
is usually the case with those who
get into trouble.
Nearer and nearer came Buster
Bear and deeper and angrier sound
ed his voice. Chatterer gave little,
frightened gasp and looked this way
and looked that way. What should
he do? What could he do? The
ground seemed such a terrible dis
tance below. If only he had wings
like Sammy Jay! But he hadn't.
"Gr-r-r-r!" growled Buster Bear.
"I'll teach you manners! I'll teach
you to treat your betters with re-
spect! I'll swallow you whole, that's
what I'll do. Gr-r-r-r-r!"
"Oh!" cried Chatterer.
"Gr-r-r-r-rl I'll eat you all up
to the last hair on your tall"
growled Buster, scrambling a little
nearer.
oh! Oil" cried Chatterer and
ran out to the very tip of the little
branch to which he had been cling
ing. Now If Chatterer had only
known 1t Buster Bear couldn't reach
him way up there because the tree
was too small at the top for such
big fellow as Buster. But Chat
terer didn't think of that. He gave
one more frightened look down at
those big teeth, then he shut his
eyes and jumped-jumped straight
out for the faraway ground!
1t was long, long, long way down
to the ground and it certainly looked
as If SUCH a little fellow as Chatterer
must be killed by such jump. But
Chatterer had learned from Old
Mother Nature that she had given
him certain things to help him at
Just such times and one of them is
the power to spread himself very
fiat. He did it now He spread
his arms and legs out just as far
as he could and that kept him
from falling as fast and as hard
as he otherwise would have. because
being spread out so fat that way
the air held him up a little. And
then there was his tail. that funny
little tail he is so fond of jerking
when he scolds. This helped him.
too. 1t helped him keep his balance
and keep from turning over and
over.
Down, down, down he sailed and
landed on his feet. OF course, he
hit the ground pretty hard and for
Just a second he quite lost his
breath. But it~was only for a sec
ond and then he was scurrying off
as fast as frightened squirrel could.
Buster Bear watched him and
grinned.
Il didn't catch him that time" he
growled, but I guess I gave him
a good fright and taught him a
leSSny"