Evening star., 1942-05-02
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS

| 1t is a proven fact, my dear.
| Who looks beyond will miss what's near
That was the way it was with
Reddy Fox. 1t was really too funny,
only there was no one there to
appreciate the Joke. There sat
Reddy Fox so intently watching
something in the distance that he
hadn't eyes for anything else, and
right under his very own tail lay
little Mite Meadow Mouse, hardly
daring to breathe. Now. there is
nothing under the sun that Reddy
would rather have to eat than
tender young Meadow Mouse, and
here he was almost sitting ON one
without knowing it. In watching
and wishing for something that he
couldn't get, Reddy was missing
something which he might have
had, which is thing often done
by a great many people. However.
it was a good thing for little Mite,
and goes to prove how often the
loss of one is the gain of another.
Now, the thing that was interest
ing Reddy so much was nothing
more nor less than the queer way
in which Peter Rabbit was hopping
this way and that way, first to
one side Of the Lone Little Path
that comes down across the Green
Meadows, then to the other side.
He hoped over to every extra thick
bunch of grass. Every few hops he
sat up very straight to look and lis
ten. That was why Reddy sat still
right where he was. He knew that
the minute he tried to creep nearer
to Peter he would be seen, for it was
clear that Peter was unusually
watchful.
HE acts as if he was trying to
find something" thought Reddy. Il
wonder if he has any new babies
and has lost one" He smacked his
lips at the thought. and little
Mite shivered at the sound
Yes sir, he certainly is trying
to find something. Now I must
find out what it Is. Hello
here come the Merry Little Breezes!
They know almost all that goes on
on the Green Meadows, and prob
ably they know what Peter is doing.
III see what I can find out from
them
Now, as you all know, Reddy Fox
is wonderfully sly and clever. He
knew that if he should ask right
out what Peter was doing, the Merry
Little Breezes would be quite likely
to refuse to tell him. So as they
came nearer Reddy Fox pretended
that he was just resting. His eyes
were half closed, and you would
never have guessed that he was in
the least interested in what was
going on around him. The Merry
Little Breezes were in hurry, and
were going right past, but Reddy's
long, soft, red fur was too much
of a temptation. They just had to
stop for minute to rumple it up.
Reddy grinned.
That feels pretty nice on hot
day." said he. Il wish you would
stay and cool me off,
1--WE cant!" said one thoughtless
Little Breeze We've got too much
to do. We are trying to help Danny
Meadow Mouse"
'Oh replied Reddy. That's diff
ferent. I wouldn't keep you for the
world If Danny needs your help. I
didn't suppose Danny needed help
from any one"
He does,' returned the thought
less Little Breeze. He needs every
body's help. You see, one Of his
babies has run away and Is lost.
We are trying to find it for him"
"I suppose that is what Peter
Rabbit is doing, too" said Reddy,
yawning lazily, and quite as If he
wasn't at all interested.
Yes" replied the thoughtless
Little Breeze. You know, Peter
and Danny are very good friends.
Now, we must hurry on, for we want
to find that little lost Mouse If we
can"
With that the Merry Little
Breezes danced away Reddy
watched them, all the time grinning
wickedly. You see, he had found
out what he wanted to know
80 Danny Meadow Mouse has
some babies! My, my, but that
sounds good to mel" he exclaimed
Il think I will join in this search.
I would like to find that lost baby
myself. I certainly would! Reddy
smacked his lips as he said this,
and poor little Mite shook all over
at the sound.
Then Reddy started off in the di-
rection of Peter Rabbit. You see,
he suspected that Peter must have
some reason for looking over there.