Evening star., 1942-03-28
Bedtime Stories

Little Joe Otter was fairly burst
ing with excitement. He could hard
ly contain himself. He felt that he
had the greatest news to tell since
Peter Rabbit had first found the
tracks Of Buster Bear In the Great
Forest. He couldn't keep it to him
self a minute longer than he had to.
So he hurried to the Smiling Pool,
where he was sure he would find
Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat and
Grandfather Frog and Spotty the
Turtle, and he hoped that perhaps
some Of the little people who live in
the Green Forest might be there,
too. Sure enough, Peter Rabbit was
there on one side of the Smiling
Pool making faces at Reddy Fox,
who was on the other side, which,
OF course, was not at all nice of
Peter. Mr.. and Mrs. Redwing were
there and Blacky the Crow was Sit
ting in the Big Hickory Tree.
Little Joe Otter swan straight to
the Big Rock and climbed up to the
very highest part. He looked SO ex-
cited and his eyes sparkled so that
every one knew right away that
something had happened.
Hi" cried Billy Mink, "look at
Little Joe Otter! 1t must be that
for once he has been smarter than
Buster Bear"
Little Joe made a good-natured
face at Billy Mink and shook his
head. mo, Billy" said he, you are
wrong, altogether wrong. I don't
believe anybody can be smarter than
Buster Bear
Reddy Fox rolled his lips back in
an unpleasant grin. Don't be too
sure of that" he snapped. I'm not
through with him yet"
"Boaster! Boaster!' cried Peter
Rabbit.
Reddy glared across the Smiling
Pool at Peter. I'm not through
with you, either, Peter Rabbit" he
snarled. You'll find it out one of
these fine days!"
But Peter answered:
Reddy. Reddy. smart and sly,
Couldn't catch . buzsins ny.''
"Chugarum! said Grandfather
Frog in his deepest, gruffest voice.
I'VE know all about that. What we
want to know is. what Lttl Joe
Otter has got on his mind"
ITS news-great news!" cried Lit
tie Joe.
we can tell better how great 1t
is when We hear what it is," replied
Grandfather Frog testify. What
Is it?'
Little Joe Otter looked around at
all the eager faces watching him
and then in the slowest, most pro-
voking way he drawled: Farmer
Browns Boy Is afraid Of Buster
Bear"
For a minute no one said a word
Then Blacky the Grow laughed down
from his perch in the Big Hickory
Tree and looked very hard at Little
Joe as he said:
II don't believe it. I don't believe
4 word Of it. Farmer Browns Boy
isn't afraid Of any one who lives in
the Green Forest or on the Green
Meadows or in the Smiling Pool
and you know it. We are all afraid
Of him."
Little Joe glared back at Blacky
Il don't care whether you believe
it or not, it's true" he retorted.
Then he told how early that very
morning he and Buster Bear had
been fishing together in the Laugh
ing Brook and how Farmer Browns
Boy had been fishing there, too, and
hadn't caught single trout because
they had all been caught or fright
ened before he got there. Then he
told how Farmer Browns Boy had
found footprint Of Buster Bear in
the soft mud, and how he had
stopped fishing right away and
started for home, looking behind
him with fear in his eyes all the
way.
Now. tell me that he isn't
afraid" concluded Little Joe. For
once he knows just how we feel
when he comes prowling around
where we are. Isn't that great
news9 Now we'll get even with
him"
I'll believe 1t when I see it for
myself" snapped Blacky the Crow