Evening star., 1942-02-02
Bedtime Stories


After Jimmy Skunk had pulled
over the big piece Of bark and
found Old Mr.. Toad under 1t instead
Of the fat beetles he had expected
he had started on down the Crooked
Little Path and as he ambled along
slowly he chuckled. You see, he was
thinking of what a hurry Mr.. Toad
had been in as soon as he had heard
that Nh. Blacksnake had walked
from his long winters sleep and had
asked after Mr.. Toad. 1t had been
funny, indeed, to see Mr.. Toad try
to hurry.
Suddenly Jimmy stopped chuck
ling. Then he stopped ambling
along the Crooked Little Path. He
turned around and looked back
and as he did so he scratched his
head thoughtfully. He had just
happened to think that Old Mr..
Toad had gone up the Crooked Lit
tie Path when he had left in such
hurry, and it was up the Crooked
Little Path that Mr.. Blacksnake
had shown himself that morning.
IF he's still up there" thought
Jimmy, "Old Mr.. Toad Is hopping
right straight into trouble, the very
worse kind OF trouble. How stupid
of him not to have asked me where
Mr.. Blacksnake was! Well, it's none
Of my business. I guess I'll go on"
But he had gone on down the
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when he stopped again. You see.
Jimmy is really very kirld-hearted
little fellow and somehow he didn't
like to think Of what might happen
to Old Mr.. Toad.
II hate to go way back there"
he grumbled, for you know he Is
naturally rather lazy. "Still the
Green Meadows wouldn't be quite
the same without Old Mr.. Toad. I
should miss him If anything hap
pened to him. I suppose it would
be partly my fault, too, for If I
hadn't pulled over that piece of
bark he probably would have stayed
there the rest of the day and been
safe"
Maybe he won't meet Mr.. Black
snake" said a little voice inside Of
Jimmy.
And maybe he WILL" said Jimmy
right out loud. And with that he
started back up the Crooked Little
Path and, strange to say, Jimmy
hurried. You know, 1t isn't often
that Jimmy Skunk hurries for any,
thing or any one.
He had just reached turn in the
Crooked Little Path when who
should run right plump into him
but poor Old Mr.. Toad! He gave a
frightened squeal and fell right over
on his back and kicked foolishly
as he tried to get back on his feet
again. But he was all out of breath
and so frightened and tired that all
he could do was to kick and kick.
He hadn't seen Jimmy at all for he
had been looking behind him. and
he didn't even know who 1t was he
had run into.
Right behind him came Mr.. Black
snake. OF course he saw Jimmy.
and he stopped short and hissed
angrily.
What are you going to do to Mr..
Toad?" demanded Jimmy.
None Of your business!" Missed
Mr.. Blacksnake. Get out Of my
way or you'll be sorry"
Jimmy Skunk Just laughed and
stepped in front Of poor Old Mr..
Toad. Mr.. Blacksnake coiled him
self up in the path and darted his
tongue out at Jimmy in the most
impudent way. He tried to make
himself look very fierce. Then he
Jumped, straight at Jimmy Skunk
with his mouth wide open, but he
took great care not to jump far
enough to reach Jimmy. You see,
he was Just trying to scare Jimmy.
But Jimmy didn't scare. He sud-
denly gritted his teeth in a way
not at all pleasant to hear and
started for Mr.. Blacksnake. Mr..
Blacksnake didn't wait. No, sir, he
didn't wait. He suddenly turned
and glided back up the Crooked
Little Path, Kissing angrily. Jimmy
followed him little way and he
kept right on going.