Evening star., 1942-02-13
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.

ny AHoAhNAOEN W. DCAs0Goos
Peter Rabbit could hardly believe
what he had seen-the big black
stranger, with the great terrible
claws. backing away from Jimmy
Skunk. and Jimmy acting just as if
he was in the habit of meeting this
stranger every day and making him
get out Of his way. And yet he
knew that Jimmy never had seen
him before. Peter always had had
a great deal of respect for Jimmy
Skunk. He knew that Jimmy just
laughed at Reddy Fox, although
Reddy is ever so much bigger than
he, and he knew that Bowser the
Hound always turned aside if he
happened to meet Jimmy. But he
really had not thought that Jimmy
would dare to treat this great
stranger so, and if he hadn't seen it
himself he wouldn't have believed
it because-well, because he couldn't
have believed it.
Peter was full of wonder and
excitement as he turned away to tell
all whom he should meet what he
had seen. He didn't know who the
stranger was. Never had he seen
any one like him in the Green
Forest. The very thought of him
made Peter shake with fright, even
if Jimmy Skunk should say that
there was nothing to be afraid Of,
and Peter knew that this is just
what Jimmy would say when he met
him. Presently as he hurried, lip
perty-lipperty-lip, through the
Green Forest he met his cousin.
Jumper the Hare.
"Oh, Jumper! Cousin Jumper!
I've seen him." cried Peter just as
soon as he was near enough to make
himself heard.
Jumper sat up and looked at Peter
curiously. "Supposing you tell me
whom you've seen," said he, quite
as if he had no particular interest
in the matter.
"Why, the stranger! The great
big stranger who made those tracks
in the snow I told you about and
whom you tried to find and couldn't
I saw him just a few minutes ago!
Who do you suppose he is, and do
you suppose he has come to the
Green Forest to stay?" cried Peter.
talking so fast that the words just
tumbled out.
How should I know" replied
Jumper, the Hare. Suppose you
tell me something about him. What
does he look like?"
well, he's big" began Peter. Hes
bigger than any one else in the
Green Forest. Why, he's as big as
Farmer Browns boy! He wears a
black fur coat. He stands on two
legs and he walks on four legs,
and he hasn't any tail"
Jumper yawned just as If he
wasn't the least bit interested. "I've
heard all that before from Sammy
JAY" said he.
"And don't you believe it?" cried
Peter.
Jumper the Hare smiled at Peter.
and Peter knew right away by that
smile that his big cousin had been
teasing him. "Yes," said he, II
believe it because-well, because I
have seen him myself"
"You have?" cried Peter, "and do
you really know who he is?"
Jumper nodded. YES" said he.
"he's an old acquaintance of mine"
"Who?" demanded Peter, his eyes
popping out with excitement. Tell
me quick, who is hep"
Hes some one I used to know
when I lived in the Great Woods
before I came to live in the Green
Forest on the edge of the Green
Meadows" replied Jumper, speaking
so slowly that Peter thought he
would never get it out.
But what's his name? Do tell
me his name, Cousin Jumper" i'm
plored Peter.
His name" replied Jumper slowly,
very slowly. while Peter held his
breath and leaned forward with eyes
and ears and mouth wide open.
His name is -"
''Is what?" cried Peter.
"Is Buster Bear" replied Jumper
the Hare.