Evening star., 1942-03-13

When you're in trouble don't give up
Despair foolish habit,
Make UP your mind there's some way out;
Remember Peter Rabbit.
Surely no one was ever In a
tighter place than was Peter Rabbit
when Reddy Fox chased him under
the brush pile in the Green Forest
and then Old Man Coyote and
Granny Fox and Reddy Fox and
Redtail the Hawk watched all the
rest of the long day for him to
come out. He couldn't stay there
forever because, you know, there was
nothing to eat and Peter, like most
folks, just has to eat. But Peter has
a great deal of wisdom in his funny
little head, even if he does some
times do very foolish things, and
one Of the wisest things that Peter
does is never TO give up hope. No
matter how bad things may look
for him, Peter always feels sure
that he will find way out, and
that, you know, is the very best
way in the world to look at things.
So when Peter craWled under that
pile of brush and SO escaped Reddy
Fox his first thought was one OF
thankfulness. He didn't know how
he was ever going to get back to the
dear Old Briar Patch, but he was
safe so long as he stayed where
he was, and he was very thankful
for that. AS he squatted there pant
ing for breath, for he had quite lost
it IN dodging Reddy Fox, he heard
Old Man Coyote, Reddy and Granny
Fox, and Red Tail the Hawk plan
ming how they would hide where
each could watch one side of the
old brush pile. He couldn't hear
all the plan, but he heard enough to
know that it wouldn't be safe for
him to put his nose outside for a
long, long time. 1t was bad enough
to have to fool any one of those
sharp-eyed enemies, but to fool all
four at the same time-did ever
poor little rabbit have such a task
before?
After he had rested and quite
got his breath Peter began to look
around to see just what kind OF
place the old brush pile was. He
saw right away that just so long
as he stayed there he was perfectly
safe, for the brush was so thick
that Reddy Fox could never crawl
under it, though he tried his hardest
while he, Peter. being so much
smaller, could get about without
much trouble"
IT'S a regular castle" thought
Peter.
Now Peter didn't know much
about castles. If he had he would
have expected to find somewhere
secret passage. All castles, you
know, have secret passages. ANY,
way, they are supposed to. But
Peter didn't know this, and so when
he came to an old stump right in
the middle of the brush pile and
between the roots of it found
hole he was surprised. But he was
just as much pleased as he was
surprised. He pulled out some of
the leaves and sticks that filled
the doorway and went in. There
was a long hall which was very
dark, and Peter knew by the smell
that it had not been used by any
one for very long time.
It's an old house made by one
of Johnny Chuck's relatives"
thought Peter. Il wonder if there
is a good bedroom where I can take
a nap"
He kept on down the long hall,
and sure enough presently came to
a snug bedroom. He was just about
to make himself comfortable for a
nap when he noticed another hall.
Il wonder where this goes to-"
thought Peter. Il believe III find
out"
So very carefully Peter crept
along the other hall. It was very
much longer than the first one. BY
and by he saw a little daylight
ahead and knew that he was nearly
to a doorway. Like the first door
way, this one was partly closed with
dead leaves and sticks. Peter peeped
out between them. Then his heart
gave a great jump. That doorway
wasn't under the old brush pile at
all 1t was almost under the very
tree in which sat Redtail the Hawk
keeping watch, and it was nearly
hidden by little hemlock tree
growing close by. Peter chuckled, a
still little chuckle, that no one
should hear. Then he stretched
himself out to watch and wait.
When the black shadows began to
creep through the Green Forest
Redtail few away to get Hooty the
Owl TO take his place, for you know
Redtail cannot see at night. Then
very, very carefully Peter pulled
aside the leaves and sticks and tip
toed out, taking care not to make
the teeniest, weeniest sound. AS
soon as he dared he began to run,
Ipperty- -lipperty-hp, and soon was
well on his way to the dear Old