Evening star., 1942-01-08
Bedtime Stories
BY THOENTON w. BURGESS

ny OAN W. A>SSsA.~S~s
Peter RABBIT had been very much
excited wien he had seen poor,
helpless Ms. Grouse carried away
by Farmer Browns Boy. When he
had led Farmer Browns Boy to the
place where Mrs. Grouse was prls-
oner under the hard, icy snow crust
he had supposed that when he broke
through Mrs. Grouse would
promptly 1y away. He hadn't
dreamed tlat she was too weak to
fly. And % when she had been
picked up and carried OF Peter
hadn't known what to think. Some
how he felt quite sure that no harm
would COM to her, for ever since
he had see1 Tommy Tit the Chicka-
dee eat from the hand Of Farmer
Browns Boz Peter had thought more
kindly of rim. And then, too, dur
ing these nard times when 1000
was so hare to find Farmer Browns
Boy had eft cabbage leaves and
turnips ari carrots where Peter
Rabbit could find them. No, he
couldn't beleve that any harm was
going to cone to Mrs. Grouse and
he said as much to every one who
repeated tc him the dreadful, talse
story Sammy Jay had told OF how
Mrs. Groue had been killed and
taken home by Farmer Browns Boy
for his diner.
But whel one day went by and
then another and another without
any sign O, Mrs. Grouse and when
Tommy Tit; had made several trips
I'D to Fa mer Browns dooryard
and report.d that he saw nothing
of Mrs. CRUISE, although he looked
everywhere Peter began to nave
doubts. Yes, sir, Peter began TO
have doubts. He even went up to
the doorya'd himself one moonlit
night without any result save 10
have a terrible scare when BoWser
the Hound surprised him and drove
him into tie old stone wall on the
edge of the Old Orchard.
Every day Sammy Jay hunted up
Peter and said unpleasant things.
What did tell you?" said Sammy
with a wicked chuckle. What did
I tell you, Peter Rabbit? If Mrs.
Grouse hasn't been killed and eaten,
where is size? What has become OF
her? Tell ne that"
OF cours. Peter couldn't. 1t was
what he wanted to know himself.
All he couli say was Il don't believe
it and you haven't any business to
IT,! sush dreadful stories when
YOU don't know any more about 1t
than do; so there, Sammy Jay!"
Sammy you'd fly away. laughing
a harsh, unpleasant laugh. 1t
always tic,les him to tease Peter
and make him feel uncomfortable.
And Peter did feel uncomfortable
You see,' a spite Of himself, that
little doute kept growing and grow
ing. He jlst couldn't help it. Peter
wouldn't larm anybody for the
world and he wouldn't bring harm
to anybod' not even to Reddy or
Old Granny Fox unless it was to
save his own life, and yet he had
reason enough to wish them harm,
for they hid given him enough ter
rible frigk S to have made any kind
of bad wisles excusable. But Peter
isn't that kind. And now he was
beginning to blame himself for
having lee Farmer Browns boy to
the place where Mrs. Grouse had
been a prisoner.
"She M ght have got out some
other way." said Peter to himself,
though right down in his heart he
felt sure that she couldn't have.
"Oh, dear, I wish knew what had
become of her. I don't believe any
harm has come to her and yet-and
yet-dear me. 1 just don't know
what to believe"
Gust think the best Of every one:
n Se Helps h1 i,lks tya's Try TO 'S % their best.
And 'meri their evil ways.
TWAS tommy Tit speaking and
you know Tommy practices what
he preacfes. Peter sighed. I'm
trying to, Tommy; I'm trying to!
But what do you suppose has be-
come of lfrs. Grouse? Sometimes
I think sic is safe and sometimes
I think-veu, I don't know what to
think. In full of doubts" said
Peter.
Dee, de, think the best, Peter!
Think the best That's what do"
And with his Tommy Tit flew over
the Old Orchard.