Evening star., 1942-04-28
Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON w. BURGESS.

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To rue it means to be sorry that
you didn't do IT, Little Mite, the
baby OF Danny Meadow Mouse, who
had run away and been caught by
cruel Black Pussy. saw his chance
when the Merry Little Breezes Of
Old Mother West Wind led dog, a
stranger on the Green Meadows. to
where Black Pussy was tormenting
him. That particular dog was par
ticularly fond Of chasing cats. Right
away he saw fun ahead But he
didn't know Black Pussy. She knows
all about dogs Instead of running
she arched her back. swelled her
tail TO several times its natural size,
giared at him with eyes that looked
TO him as II they actually snapped
fire. spit as only Black Pussy can
and started straight for that fool
ish little dog.
Little Mite didn't stop TO see what
happened then. 1t was his chance
the Merry Little Breezes had made
for him, and he took it, He scuttled
out OF sight in the tall grass. He
heard great yelping and 'ki-yi-
VI growing fainter and fainter
across the Green Meadows. He
didn't know that it was the little
dog running as If for his life, fright
ened almost out of his wits by Black
Pussy. He wouldn't have cared II
he had known. All he could think
about was finding safe hiding place
for himself and he struggled through
the tall grass ss fast as ever he could.
Being so little. it was easier for him
than it would have been for any
one larger.
At last Little Mite had to stop to
rest and get his breath. He just had
to. Close beside him was a little
ridge. where the ground had been
pushed up from underneath. 1t
would have looked little to you or
me, but to him 1t looked very big.
He climbed up on 1t and sat down.
When he had rested a little he
started on and because it was easier
going there he ran along the top of
this little ridge. He thought 1t must
lead somewhere, and it did. 1t led
to a little mound and in the little
mound was a little hole. For a long
time Little Mite studied that little
hole. 1t was somebody's doorway.
He felt sure of that. But there
didn't seem to be anybody around.
He peeped inside. 1t was dark and
quiet and looked very safe in there.
Finally he went inside There were
little passages underground, to which
he could see no end. Somehow he
didn't want to get far away from
that little door So he curled up
right on the floor of one Of the little
underground passages close by the
little round doorway through which
he had entered.
He was very tired and soon was
fast asleep. OF course, he had bad
dreams. Who wouldn't after a day
of such terrible adventures? He was
just escaping from a terrible mon
ster, in dream, you know. 1t was
grinding its teeth in frightful way,
and Little Mite didn't know what to
do. Right then, just when the
monster was about to seize him, he
awoke. 1t was lucky, very lucky for
him that he did. That grinding Of
teeth was real and not a dream at
all. Something was coming very
fast along that little passage, and
that something was very angry, to
judge by the sounds. Little Mite
didn't stop to explain that he meant
no harm there. He just scampered
for that little round doorway and
out of it as fas as ever he could.
Then, and not till then, he looked
behind. A queer looking fellow had
thrust his head outside. Mite
couldn't see any eyes at all. He
scolded angrily and the bright sun
shine seemed to make him still more
angry. 1t was very plain to see that
he didn't like the sunshine, and in
minute, still scolding. he lodged
down out of sight.
Little Mite sighed with relief. "I
must have been in his house, though
who he is I don't know" said he to
himself. MY, it's lucky I didn't
sleep second longer!"
OF course, you have guessed whose
house Little Mite had taken nap in.
It was the house of Miner the Mole.