Evening star., 1942-02-11
Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON W. BURGESS.

When at last Unc' Billy Possum
he knew, Of course, that Sammy
Jay and Blacky the Grow and Peter
Rabbit were not crazy, as he had
SO often said they were. Anyway,
If they were why he must be him
self, for hadn't he seen the very
stranger Sammy and Blacky had
told about? If Unc' Billy couldn't
believe what they said he felt sure
he could believe his own eyes. He
just knew his own eyes couldn't
fool him like that.
1t made Unc' Billy shiver every
time he thought OF that stranger
he had seen deep in the Green For
est by the pond of Paddy the
Beaver. He was so big! And he
had such great cruel looking claws!
"Ah-Ah hope he can't climb
trees!" said Unc' Billy.
Now Unc' Billy had spoken aloud,
for he didn't know that any one
was near. So he jumped almost
out Of his skin when a voice said:
who is it you hope can't climb
trees, Unc' Billy?"
Unc' Billy looked down to find
his old friend Jimmy Skunk look
ing up at him. He hesitated a few
minutes. He knew that Jimmy
thought that Sammy Jay and
Blacky the Grow were crazy or else
were telling untrue stories and he
didn't like to tell Jimmy what he
had seen himself. You see he
didn't want to be laughed at or
thought crazy. But he felt that
he just had to tell some one, and
so finally he told Jimmy Skunk all
about it. Jimmy looked at Unc'
Billy very sharply, but Unc' Billy
was so very much In earnest that
Jimmy had to believe that Unc'
Billy really thought he had seen
this terrible stranger. Jimmy never
had heard of such a stranger in
the Green Forest. He couldn't quite
believe there was one even after
Unc' Billy had said so. But he
didn't like to say so. You see, Unc'
Billy was an old friend and he didn't
want to hurt his feelings.
II think I'll go up to the pond of
Paddy the Beaver and see If I can
see anything of this stranger" said
Jimmy.
"Ah wouldn't If All was yo', Br'er
Skunk! Deed All wouldn't! Yo'
don know what he may do to yo'
with those great claws. Nah good
ness, All cert'nly does hope he can't
climb trees!" Unc' Billy looked so
anxious that Jimmy had to turn
his head so as to hide smile.
"I'u 60 ask him If he climbs
trees and then I'll come and let
you know. Unc' Billy" said he.
Now, Unc' Billy knew that Jimmy
Skunk is afraid of nothing and no
body unless it Is Farmer Browns
Boy when he has his terrible gun,
but he also knew that Jimmy had
never seen and had no idea of this
great stranger who had given him
such a fright, and he couldn't be-
lieve that Jimmy would dare ask
him any questions. He watched
Jimmy march of into the Green
Forest and he grinned just a little.
"Br'er Skunk never hurries, but
All reckons Ahu see him hurry
right smart If he meets up with
that stranger" muttered Unc' Billy.
Jimmy Skunk went on until he
came to the pond Of Paddy the
Beaver, which you know Is deep in
the Green Forest. Jimmy was tired
and he sat down to rest. 1t was
very still there. Paddy the Beaver
was nowhere to be seen. Neither
was the stranger. Jimmy grew
sleepy. He made up his mind that
he would take nap before he looked
any further, and he started to find
a nice soft spot to curl up on when
he heard a heavy step behind him.
Jimmy whirled about and there Just
coming out of the bushes was the
stranger of whom Sammy Jay and
Blacky the Crow and Unc' Billy
PoSsum had told, and he was just
as big and just as black and had
just such great cruel claws as they
had said.
Il don't know who you are. but
I'm very glad to meet you." said
Jimmy Skunk politely.