Evening star., 1943-04-19
Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON w. BURGESS,

"Phew! Seems like old times
doesn't it, Nanny?" painted Danny
Meadow Mouse as, safe under the
pile of old rails in Farmer Browns
barnyard, they listened to Black
Pussy's growl OF disappointment as
she felt around for them with a
black paw. Then he chuckled. II
feel as If life had begun all over
again, Nanny" said he. sIt was too
tame In that barn"
But 1t was very nice not to have
to worry all the time" replied Nanny
timidly.
80 1t was, so it was" Danny
answered. But if we lived that way
long we wouldn't be worth flip OF
my tail for looking out for our
selves in time of danger. You know
it is only by using them that wits
are kept sharp. And then. what q
place to bring up children that barn
would be! Why. they never would
learn anything here. Every one tc
his own place and our place is or
the grass of the beautiful Greer
Meadows, under the blue sky. Now
we've got to give that pesky black
troublemaker the slip. There is one
thing sure and that is that. we have
learned a lot about Black Pussy
since we have been up here. She'll
sit and watch the place where we
ran in and never once think that
u,o ~ W 1oo1yo cov,,a NJ bo,. rr,o,, Got
ting away from here is going to be
easy"
For a while Danny and Nanny
kept perfectly still, resting and get
ting their breath. Then, taking care
not to make the teeniest, weeniest
sound, Danny peeped out. Just as
he expected, there sat Black Pussy
with her eyes fixed on the place
where Danny and Nanny had dis
appeared under the pile of old rails.
Down inside Danny chuckled. Then
he signaled Nanny and they tiptoed
Where trey could tiptoe and craNled
where they had to crawl, until they
reached the other side of the pile
of old rails, and not once did they
make a sound to reach the ears of
Black Pussy.
Danny peeped out. The way seemed
clear and he boldly scampered out,
Nanny right at his heels. Both
laughed as they thought of Black
Pussy patiently watching on the
other side Of that pile of rails.
Straight to the nearest fence they
scampered, for Danny had learned
when he was very young that it is
along fences that tall weeds and
bushes grow and grass is not cut,
but grows tall. Then, when cold
weather comes they fall over and
make a matted tangle under which
a Meadow Mouse often can travel
far without once being seen by
Watchful eyes above.
1t was a long journey they had
before them. Danny knew that it
wouldn't have seemed long to you or
to me, but to such little folks as
Danny and Nanny Meadow Mouse
it was very long journey, indeed.
So they wisely decided not to hurry
too fast. In fact, they stopped to
rest very, very often. They would
scamper along few feet, then stop
under cover of mass of old dead
grass while Danny looked and
listened and looked to make sure
that the way was clear for the next
run.
1t was at one of these times, while
they were resting, that there was
a sudden snufing sound that sent
cold shivers all over them. 1t was
Bowser the Hound who happened
along just then and stopped to sniff
in the very patch of grass under
which they were hiding. You know
it Is Bowser's way to sniff at every
thing as he goes along.
quick" cried Danny, and darted
out from under the grass and into
little hole among the roots of g
tree; Nanny followed, and there they
painted with excitement as Bowsel
clumsily tried to dig them out and
couldn't because of the roots. Bow
ser. didn't really want them; he just
tried to catch them for the fun o1
1t, and when he fould he couldn't he
soon gave up. and trotted of. A:
soon as they were sure he was ou,
Of the way they started on.
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