Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-01
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS,

Ever since 1t was light enough
to see at all Blacky the Grow had
been sitting in the top of the tallest
tree on the edge of the Green
Forest nearest to Farmer Browns
house, and never for an instant
had he taken his eyes from Farmer
Browns back door. What was he
watching for? Why, for Farmer
Browns Boy to come out on his
way to milk the cows. Meanwhile.
Sammy Jay was slipping silently
through the Green Forest looking
Tor Buster Bear, so that when the
time came he could let his cousin,
Blacky the Grow, know just where
Buster was.
It was all part of Blacky's plan
to find out if it was true that
Farmer Browns Boy really was
afraid of Buster Bear. He and
Sammy would make a great fuss
there on the edge of the Green
Forest, and when Farmer Browns
boy came to find out what it was
about they and all the other little
people who were hiding near would
see what would happen. Blacky
didn't have the least doubt that
Farmer Browns Boy would come.
He had called him that way many
times before, sometimes when there
really was something going on and
sometimes just for a joke. You
see, Blacky had found out a long
time before that Farmer Browns
Boy is like a great many other little
people-he has a great deal of
curiosity.
BY and by the back door of
Farmer Browns house opened and
out stepped Farmer Browns Boy.
In each hand he carried a milk
pail. Right away Blackey began to
scream at the top Of his lungs
Cav, cav, caw!" shouted Blacky.
Cav, cav, caw!" And all the time
he flew about among the trees near
the edge of the Green Forest, as
if so excited that he couldn't keep
still. Farmer Browns Boy looked
over there as If he wondered what
all the fuss was about, as, indeed
he did, but he didn't start to go
over and see. No sir, he started
straight for the barn.
Blacky didn't know what to make
of it. You see, smart as he is and
shrewd as he is, Blacky doesn't
know anything about the meaning
of duty. You see, he never has to
work, excepting to get enough to
started for the barn instead of for
the Green Forest, Blacky didn't
know what to make of it. He
screamed harder and louder than
ever, until his voice grew so hoarse
he couldn't scream any more, but
Farmer Browns Boy kept right on
to the barn.
I'D like to know what you're
making such a fuss about, Mr..
Crow, but first I've got to feed the
cows and milk them" said ne.
Now, all this time the other little
people of the Green Forest and
the Green Meadows had been hid
ing where they could see all that
went on. When Farmer Browns
Boy disappeared in the barn Chat
terer the Red Squirrel snickered
right out loud. "Ha, ha, ha! This
is a great plan of yours, Blacky
Ha. ha, hal" he shouted. Blacky
couldn't find a word to say. He
just hung his head, which is some
thing Blacky seldom does.
Perhaps if we wait until he comes
out again he will come over here"
said Sammy Jay, who had joined
Blackey. So it was decided to wait.
It seemed as if Farmer Browns Boy
would never come out, but at last
he did. Blacky and Sammy Jay at
once began to scream and make all
the, fuss they could. Farmer
Browns BOY took the two pals of
milk into the house, then out he
came and started straight for the
Green Forest. He was so curious to
know what it all meant that he
wouldn't wait another minute.
Now, there was some one else with
a great deal of curiosity. He had
heard the screaming Of Blacky the
Crow and Sammy Jay and he had
listened until he couldn't stand it
another minute. He just had to
know what it was all about. SO at
the same time Farmer Browns Boy
started for the Green Forest this
other listener started toward where
Blacky and, Sammy were making
such a racket. He walked very
softly, so as not to make a sound. 1t
was Buster Bear.