Evening star., 1942-03-14
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.

ny 1hohN1oN W. DOHNECc'
1t is strange how fast news travels.
There isn't anything that travels
faster. The day after it happened
everybody on the Green Meadows
and in the Green Forest and around
the Smiling Pool knew all about the
joke Buster Bear had played on
Reddy Fox and Granny Fox and
Old Man Coyote. Buster didn't tell
it himself, and you may be very sure
that Reddy and Granny and Old
Man Coyote didn't tell it. Peter
Rabbit didn't tell it, because Peter
was safe in the dear Old Briar Patch
when it happened and didn't know
anything about it until the Merry
Little Breezes of Old Mother West
Wind came dancing that way and
told him about it. 1t must have been
Hooty the Owl who told it. for he
was the only one who saw it.
Anyway. some one told it, and then
whoever heard it told the first one
they met and so 1t spread until
everybody knew about it. Paddy the
Beaver chuckled over 1t as he swan
about in his private pond deep in the
Green Forest. Grandfather Frog
chuckled over it as he sat on his big
green lily-pad in the Smiling Pool,
watching for foolish green flies.
Danny Meadow Mouse chuckled over
it as he scampered along his little
paths under the grass on the Green
Meadows. Johnny Chuck chuckled
as he sat on his doorstep in the far
corner of the Old Orchard. And
quite suddenly all the little people
who had been afraid of Buster Bear
began to feel quite friendly toward
him. You see not one of them loves
Reddy or Granny Fox or Old Man
Coyote.
So Buster Bear as he prowled
about in the Green Forest found
that he was no longer lonesome.
Every one he met was very polite
and said good morning." and hoped
he was feeling very we'll. They all
kept respectful distance from his
great claws. but they didn't run
away and hide as they had been
doing and this made Buster feel a
great deal better and a whole lot
more at home. He began to think
that he would stay in the Green
Forest after all and not go back to
the Great Woods from which he had
come as he had thought of doing.
1t was very pleasant, very pleasant,
indeed. to have some one to speak
to. and. because he really is one of
the best natured fellows In the world.
he began to think how he could
show his neighbors that he really
was their friend and that they had
nothing to fear from him. He was
studying and studying about this
when who should come along but
Jimmy Skunk.
Now, you know, Jimmy isn't afraid
OF ANYBODY and when he saw Buster
Bear In the path in front of him he
didn't even step aside. 1t was Buster
Bear who stepped aside.
Good morning, Jimmy Skunk"
said Buster.
Morning replied Jimmy, rather
GROSSLY.
Il hope you are feeling happy this
fine morning" said Buster, who
wanted some one to talk to.
I'D feel better If I could find
some fat beetles" grumbled Jimmy.
rs that all you need to make you
happy?" asked Buster. Il saw three
only few minutes ago"
"Where?" asked Jimmy eagerly,
and his face frightened and his
voice didn't sound so grumpy.
"Thev ran under that old log and
I guess they're there now" replied
Buster
"Jimmys face fell. The log was
so big that he knew he couldn't
bulge it If he tried all day. He was
just about to do something un-
pleasant when Buster walked over
to the old log. hooked his big claws
into 1t and gave great pull. Over
rolled the log. A dozen fat beetles
started to scurry for another hiding
place. In no time at all they had
found one. 1t was in the stomach
of Jimmy Skunk. He looked up at
the twinkling eyes of Buster Bear.
'It is a fine morning." said he.
II think we are going to be friends"
of course we are" replied Buster
promptly. Let's go look for some
more beetles"