Evening star., 1942-02-12
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.

by ThOkNTON w. bUHGESS.
The very morning that Jimmy
Skunk had decided to go see for
himself this stranger of whom
Sammy Jay and Blacky the Grow
and Unc' Billy Possum told such
strange stories Peter Rabbit had
made up his mind that he just had
to see for himself what was going
on. He had not been into the deep
est part of the Green Forest since
the time when he had found the
strange tracks in the snow. The
truth is Peter had been afraid to go.
But now his curiosity had been
aroused so by what Sammy Jay
and Blacky the Crow had said that
he couldn't keep away any longer.
First he looked for his cousin, Jump
er the Hare. Jumper had not
been afraid when Peter had told
him about those strange tracks, and
he felt sure that Jumper would not
be afraid now. But Jumper was no.
where to be found. In fact, Peter
had not seen him for some time, not
since Sammy Jay had first come
screaming out of the Green Forest
with his story of the big stranger
with the terrible claws.
So Peter had started of by him
self. His heart went pit-a-pat, pit
a-pat, and he sat up to look and
listen so often that it took him
longer than ever before to reach
the pond of Paddy the Beaver deep
IN the Green Forest. Not once had
Peter seen or heard anything to
make him afraid. and by the time he
reached Paddy's pond he had begun
to feel very brave and bold. In
fact he had almost begun to doubt
If there was any such stranger as
Sammy had described.
Then all of a sudden, right on the
shore Of Paddy's pond, Peter saw a
sight that made him quite gasp for
breath. Yes. sir. 1t quite took Peters
breath away. What was it? Why,
it was the meeting between Jimmy
Skunk and the big stranger Sammy
Jay had told about He was very
olSf aoiOO 90 blS DO L bIOW1l
boy, was the stranger and he wore
a black fur coat just as Sammy had
said. And there were the great big
claws, the terrible claws, the most
awful claws that Peter had ever
dreamed of. As soon as he saw them
Peter knew for sure that this
stranger was the one who had made
the big, strange tracks he had found
In the snow in the deepest part of
the Green Forest at the very last of
the winter. And now here was the
great stranger with the terrible
claws walking straight toward
Jimmy Skunk and Jimmy didn't
seem to know it. In fact Jimmy
was resting and he looked very much
as II he were going to take a nap.
Peter wanted to shout and warn
Jimmy. Then he thought of thump-
ing. But he didn't do either. The
fact is Peter didn't quite dare to.
But there was no need for Just
then the stranger stepped on a
stick and it broke with a snap.
Jimmy Skunk turned about. OF
course Peter expected to see Jimmy
run as fast as ever he could. Jimmy
seldom hurries, but he will this
time" thought Peter.
But Peter was wrong. Jimmy did
nothing of the kind. For a minute
he just stared and stared. The big
black stranger kept right on COM
ing. Then, instead of running,
Jimmy went forward to meet him.
Yes, sir, Jimmy Skunk just marched
straight toward the stranger with
his head and tail held high. The
big black stranger stopped and eyed
Jimmy bit doubtfully. Then he
stood up on his hind legs and he
was as tall as Farmer Browns boy.
This made Jimmy stop for a min
ute. Never had he seen any one
but Farmer Browns boy himself
who could stand like that. But it
wouldn't do to let this stranger
think that just because he was big
and had cruel looking claws he
could scare everybody, and so Jimmy
once more marched forward. You
know he really has a great deal of
confidence in that little bag of
scent he always carries with him.
The stranger growled. Jimmy kept
right on. Then what do you think
happened? Why that great, big
stranger began to back awayl Peter
Rabbit could hardly believe his own
eyes.