Evening star., 1942-03-07
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.


Old Man Coyote lay in hiding on
one side of the pile of brush under
which Peter Rabbit had found
safety, and Old Man Coyote was
chuckling, and his chuckle was a
wicked chuckle. You see, Old Man
Coyote had made up his mind that
he would have Peter Rabbit for his
dinner, but Reddy and Granny Fox
had made up their minds that they
would have Peter for dinner, and
Redtail the Hawk had made up his
mind that he would have Peter for
dinner. Not one of them asked
Peter how he felt about it.
At first Reddy and Granny Fox
and Redtail had quarrel as to who
should have Peter. Then Old Man
Coyote had come along and re-
minded them that as they hadn't
caught Peter yet he didn't belong
to any of them. He pointed out
how foolish it was to quarrel and
how much better it would be to
agree on some plan by which at
least one of them could be sure of
Peter. Then he told of his plan,
which was that each from a hiding
place should watch one side of the
pile OF brush. When he thought
the way was clear Peter would come
out to get something to eat. He was
just as likely to come out on one
side as another, and so each had an
equal chance with the others.
Now, this seemed perfectly fair
and the others agreed Old Man
Coyote allowed the others to choose
where they would watch, and he
took the side that was left after
they had chosen. Redtail the Hawk
chose the side nearest the Green
Meadows and the dear Old Briar
Patch and smiled a selfish smile.
. Peter will be sure to come out
this side, because it is nearest to
the dear Old Briar Patch" thought
he. After all had chosen they pre-
tended to go away SO as to fool
Peter Rabbit, and then they stole
back and hid, each on one side of
IIle OlQ DTuSn pie.
Now. Old Man Coyote is very.
very sly and crafty, more sly and
crafty than even old Granny Fox.
That was why he lay chuckling to
himself. He was chuckling because
the others were so sure that they
had an equal chance with him to
catch Peter Rabbit. The plan did
look perfectly fair, but it wasn't
quite SO fair as it looked
Peter Is badly frightened"
thought Old Man Coyote, and he
won't come out until after dark.
Redtail the Hawk cannot see in the
dark, so when the black shadows be-
gin to creep through the Green
Forest, Redtail will give up and go
home to sleep. I will make a little
noise on this side SO that Peter will
be afraid to come out here, and
then I will softly steal around to
the side where Redtail has been
watching and Peter will be almost
sure to run right into my mouth.
II he should 60 out on one of the
other sides and be caught by Reddy
or Granny Fox he will be mine just
the same, for they are afraid of me
and 1 can take him away from
them. 1 surely am going to have
Peter Rabbit for my dinner"
1t was because of these thoughts
that Old Man Coyote lay chuckling
that wicked chuckle, and every time
he peeped out and saw Redtail the
Hawk sitting perfectly still on a
branch OF a tree on the other side
of the pile of brush he wanted to
laugh right out. He didn't even
mind the screaming of Blacky the
Crow, who had seen what was going
on and was so excited that he
couldn't keep his tongue still. His
cousin, Sammy Jay, had heard him
and had come hurrying on. Between
them they were making a great
as they always do when they
see Old Man Coyote or Reddv or
Grenny Fox or Redtail the Hawk.
But this time Old Man Coyote
didn't care, because he knew that
as long as they made such a fuss
Peter Rabbit would stay where he
was, and that was just what he
wanted so long as daylight lasted.
When night came Blacky and
Sammy would fly away. So Old Man
Coyote only chuckled at the fuss
they made, though Redtail snapped
his bill at them and Reddv and
Granny glared at them angrily.