Evening star., 1942-01-16
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.

ny lhONNION W. 0UhOESOs
Jumper the Hare had meant to
60 to the place deep in the Green
Forest where Peter Rabbit had seen
those strange, great big tracks, and
see them for himself the very night
after Peter had told him about them.
But there was no moon that night,
and you know it Is very, very dark
deep in the Green Forest when there
is no moon. OF course, it would be
hard work; very hard work, indeed,
to find those tracks in the dark. So
Jumper wisely decided not to go
until the next night. But the next
day and the next night 1t rained,
and it is very uncomfortable going
about in the wet unless you have
waterproof coat like Jerry Muskrat
or Billy Mink or Little Joe Otter. So
Jumper the Hare made himself as
comfortable as he could under
thick hemlock tree and watched the
rain fall and the snow melt. and
tried to be as patient as he could.
When it stopped raining there
was very little snow left. Its OF
no use to go now" thought Jumper,
because the snow has melted, and,
of course. the tracks melted, too.
l guess will have to wait for some
more snow
So he waited and waited. but, you
see. it was almost spring time, and
it began to look as il there wasn't
going to be any more snow Every
day Peter Rabbit came up to find
out if Jumper had been to look for
the tracks. and every day he was
disappointed. OF course, he ought
not to have been. for he knew very
we'll that it would have been a waste
OF time for Jumper to have gone way
of there to the deepest part Of the
Green Forest to look for tracks
when there was no snow; but Peter
thought that there might be q little
patch left with track in There
Just might be. you know.
And every day Peter teaSed Jumper
to tell him who he thought might
have made those tracks. But
Jumper wouldn't No. sir, he
wouldn't. He would just shake his
head and say: when I see those
tracks myself and know for sure,
then I will tell you. and not before,
Cousin Peter" And Peter had to
be content with this.
Then one day it showed. . lovely
light. fluffy snow, q beautiful snow
in which to make tracks. Jumper
decided to 60 that very night, for
the snow might melt the next day.
He invited Peter to go along. But
Peter shook his head.
No" said he. mo, I won't 60
this time. It's too far, and besides,
Cousin Jumper, your legs are so
much longer than mine that never,
never could keep up with you. I've
seen those great, strange tracks
once. and I guess that will do"
All right replied Jumper. and
hid q smile. You see, he knew that
while 1t was true that Peter couldn't
keep up with him II he ran fast. that
wasn't the real reason. He knew
perfectly well that Peter was afraid.
but he was too polite to say 80 to
Peter. So of he started for the
deepest part Of the Green Forest, the
part which Peter had found 20 still
and lonesome. But Jumper didn't
mind this as Peter had. You see, he
was used to 1t in the Great Woods
where he had been born and had
lived before coming down to the
Green Forest. In fact, he rather
liked it. 1t made him think Of his
old home. You know, very few OF us
are afraid Of the things We are used
to. 1t is strange things that frighten
us. And that Is just the way 1t was
with Peter Rabbit.
All that night Jumper the Hare
hoped this way and hoped that
way through the deepest part OF
the Green Forest. but not once did
he f1nd one Of the strange tracks
that Peter Rabbit had told about.
He must have seen them" thought
Jumper. because he told about
ClicM JuSt ~ Ie1AcuiOcI 0coia8
them in the Great Woods. He
certainly must have seen them.
At last he gave 1t up and started
back for the place where he had
left Peter Rabbit. Peter was wait
ing for him. did you find them?"
cried Peter as soon as he saw
Jumper"
NO" said Jumper. II didn't ind
them. Tell me about them again,
Peter" And Peter did.
A@Ikl-( ran "A n PA1-(