Evening star., 1942-04-30
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.

Peter Rabbit hoped up the Lone
Little Path brim full of news that
Danny Meadow Mouse had family.
He fairly ached for some one to
| come along to whom he could tell it.
Peter Just loves to tell news. But
no one did come along and Peter
kept on, all the time watching out
ever so sharp for a little wee, lost
Meadow Mouse. Way over on the
Green Meadows he heard a fright
ened yelping growing fainter and
fainter. He sat up as high as he
could to look and way of IN the
distance he saw a black-and-white
dog running so fast that his ears
happed. His tail was between his
legs and he was crying "ki-yi-yi,
ki-yi-ki!" at the top Of his voice.
Wonder what ails him." thought
Peter. Serves him right anyway.
He had no business down here on
our Green Meadows. I never could
understand what possible good dog
is anyway. He is always poking ms
nose in and making trouble for the
rest of us. There comes the Merry
Little Breezes and perhaps they
know what 1t is about" sure
enough there came the Merry Little
Breezes of Old Mother West Wind
dancing over the tops of the grasses.
They were coming from the direc-
ton of the little dog and they
seemed to be very merry and happy
about something. AS soon as they
saw Peter they danced over to him.
Whats the matter with that
little dog?" demanded Peter.
He met Black Pussy and he
didn't like the meeting. In fact.
Black Pussy has frightened him
most to death and that Is why he is
running so fast" they replied.
Peter grinned. I'm glad that
Black Pussy is of some use," said
he, though for my part I had
about as soon have the dog around
as her. Now I wish something or
somebody would come along and
give her just as bad scare as she
has given that little dog. BY the
way, have you heard the news?"
What news?" asked the Merry
Little Breezes, looking at Peter sus-
piciously. You see Peters news
sometimes proved to be no news
at all
"Why, about Danny Meadow
Mouse! He has wife and family!
Peter fairly shouted it.
Instantly the Merry Little Breezes
crowded about Peter and demanded
to know how he knew, and said that
they didn't believe it because they
didn't see how Danny could have
kept it secret from them so long.
.'It is sol" Peter was just wee bit
provoked to think that they should
doubt his word. Danny told me so
himself. More than that he told
me that one Of his babies had run
away and is lost. He's out hunting
for it now, and so am /" Peter
made ready to move on.
The minute Peter mentioned the
lost baby Meadow Mouse the Merry
Little Breezes became very much
excited.
THAT Is just who Black Pussy
caught" declared one.
Peter looked startled. What is
that you said?" he cried.
Then the Merry Little Breezes
told him how they had found Black
Pussy tQrmenting a wee, terribly
frightened Meadow Mouse and how
they led the little black-and-white
dog to where Black Pussy was just
in time to save the wee Mouse, who
ran away and hid while Black Pussy
was chasing the dog. %e----- -'-
But where is he now?" asked
Peter.
The Merry Little Breezes shook
their heads. 1--WE don't know" they
confessed. I'VE followed Black
Pussy to see the fun and when we
got back the little Mouse was no.
where about, although we hunted
everywhere. If we had known he
was Danny's baby we wouldn't hcve
left him at all. Well have to make
up now by helping in the hunt"
THAT will be splendid" cried
Peter happily.
And with that they all scattered
to hunt for little Mite, the lost baby
of Danny Meadow Mouse.