Evening star., 1942-03-16
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.

Dy AhO4sAN4OfN we 1S4se.SSe
II you should meet with Mr.. Toad
i " wonder il "ySH you'd Be Be- more more fair
II you should meet With Buster Bearf
Probably you would. Indeed, I
suspect that you would give him
all the road. And the funny part
Is that 1t is quite likely that Buster
would be quite as polite and would
give you all the road. The fact is
that, big as he Is and strong as he
is and fierce as he looks, Buster Bear
Is very shy and bashful. Little as
Old Mr.. Toad Is he would hardly
more than hop out OF the way OF
your feet, while big as Mr.. Bear is
he wouldn't even let you see him If
he saw you firSt.
That is one difference between
Old Mr. Toad and Buster Bear,
and of course as you know there
are q great many other differences.
But in one thing they are very much
alike. Yes, sir, Old Mr.. Toad and
Buster Bear are very much alike in
one thing. Can you guess what it is?
Well, 1t is in their fondness for
ants. Old Mr.. Toad is just as fond
OF ants as Jimmy Skunk Is OF fat
beetles. So is Buster Bear, and that
is how it happened that Buster Bear
came to invite Old Mr.. Toad to
dine with him.
Buster had that lonesome feeling
again and was wishing he had some
one to talk to him when Just ahead
of him he saw Old MIR. Toad watch
ing something very intently. Every
once In o while he would lean for
ward, run his long tongue out like
a fash and then smack his lips as
If something tasted oh, so good!
He was so busy with what he was
doing that he didn't see Buster
Bear, and he didn't hear him. You
know Buster, big as he Is, can walk
without making the teeniest, ween-
lest sound. Buster tip-toed little
bit nearer until he could see just
what Old Mr.. Toad was doing. He
was watching a little ant hill and
swapping up every ant that came
along. Buster nodded his head ap-
provingly.
I'm glad to see that you have
such good taste, Mr.. Toad" said he
In his deep. grumbly-rumbly voice.
Old Mr.. Toad gave q frightened
little scream and fell right over on
his back, kicking his legs feebly in
the most foolish way. He looked 80
funny that Buster Bear Just had
to laugh. He couldn't help it. And
because his laugh was grumbly-
rumbly like his voice Old Mr.. Toad
was more frightened than ever.
Seeing you eat makes me hun
CRY, too," continued Buster. This
sent cold shiverS all over Mr.. Toad,
for he was sure that Buster meant
to eat him.
How would you like to dine with
me today?" went on Buster, pre-
tending not to notice how fright
ened Mr.. Toad was. 1T must be
very slow work catching ants one
at time. What do you say to tax
ing dinner with me?"
Old Mr.. Toad struggled to find his
voice, for he felt that he must be
polite.
TIL don't feel hungry any
more" said he family. II think
If you will excuse me, Mr.. Bear, I'll
be moving along"
Then I will go along with you"
said Buster, who was just aching to
have some one to talk to.
Poor Old Mr.. Toad This was too
much for him. He didn't have
strength enough to turn over and
get on his feet again. He was sure
now that Buster Bear meant to
eat him when he got ready. Per-
haps Buster would be better pleased
If that invitation to dinner was ac-
cepted. It was of no use to even try
TO run away, and as for trying to
hide under Anything-why there
was nothing to hide under that
Buster Bear could not pull over and
catch him.
1--we changed my mind: III be
very pleased TO dine with you, Mr..
Bear" said Old Mr.. Toad in q voice
meant to sound very brave, but
which was 50 faint that Buster Bear
cooked his head on one side in order
to hear better.