Evening star., 1942-01-22
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w, BURGEs


To gossip is to talk about other
people and what they are doing or
what they have done or what they
are going to do. Peter Rabbit and
WinSome Bluebird were gossiping
in the dear Old Briar Patch. Win
some sat in a little cherry tree and
right under him sat Peter. Win
some had just arrived from way
down South to spread the glad news
that Mistress Spring was on her
way and would soon reach the
Green Meadows, the Green Forest
and the Smiling Pool. You see,
Winsome is the herald of Mistress
Spring and keeps just little way
ahead of her. When the little mead
ow and forest people first see his
beautiful blue coat, or hear his soft,
sweet whistle, they know that Mis-
treSs Spring is surely on the way
and not very far behind, and then
great joy fills their hearts. First
comes gentle Sister South Wind to
prepare the way, then WinSome
Bluebird and after him beautiful
Mistress Spring.
Peter Rabbit was brimful of Curl
osity, just as he always is. You see,
it was long time since he had last
seen Winsome Bluebird and all the
other birds who had gone to the far
away South when the leaves began
to drop in the fall and, of course, he
wanted to know all about his old
friends and neighborS, how they
were, what they had been doing and
when they were coming back. And
Winsome wanted to know all about
how Peter and Reddy Fox and all
the other little people who hadn't t
gone to the beautiful South had
spent the long winter. So there was
a great deal to talk about. Yes, in
deed, there was a very great deal
to talk about. Winsome felt that he
ought to be flying about over the
Green Meadows and the Green For
est, where other little people could
see him and hear him and so know
that he had arrived, but he had
travelled a very, very great distance
and he was tired, and so he sat and
rested, and while he rested he gos-
siped with Peter Rabbit.
"Is or Mistah Buzzard on his way
here?" asked Peter eagerly.
Not yet" replied Winsome. "He
won't start until after he is sure
that Mistress Spring has got here"
replied Winsome.
Peter looked a little disappointed,
for there is nothing that he enjoys
more than to watch Mistah Buz-
zard sail around and round, way,
way up in the blue, blue sky. He is
rather fond of OF Mistah Buzzard,
is Peter Rabbit, for big as he is
Mistah Buzzard never offers to hurt
any of the very little people, not
even little Danny Meadow Mouse.
why isn't he starting right away?"
he asked.
well, you see," replied Winsome
'MiStah Buzzard doesn't like the
cold"
But it isn't cold now!" inter-
rupted Peter. why, this isn't cold
at all You ought to have been
here when it really was cold-when
the Smiling Pool and the Laugh
ing Brook were covered with ice
and the Green Meadows and the
Green Forest were all white with
snow, and poor Mrs. Grouse was q
prisoner under the hard, icy crust.
Then it was cold. Why, this isn't
cold at ALL"
Winsome Bluebird ruff1ed up his
feathers just little. 1t was al
most like a shiver. This is cold
enough for mel" said he. Tell me
about poor Mrs. Grouse, Peter. Did
she get out?"
You tell me about OF Mistah
Buzzard first, and how he spends
the winter, and then I'll tell you
about poor Mrs. Grouse" replied
Peter.
"All right" said Winsome. There
isn't great deal to tell, but I'll
do the best I can"