Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 1, Number 11, DeMotte, Jasper County, 6 October 1932 — THE BEDTIME STORY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE BEDTIME STORY

THE QUACKS GROW UNEASY PETER RABBIT doesn’t like the very hot weather of midsummer any more than you or I do. He cannot go to the seashore or the mountains as we can, and just think, he has to wear a fur coat all the time; Of course in this respect Peter is not worse off than a lot of his neighbors. In fact none of them likes the very hot weather. So with the coming of the first cool days id September new life seemed to fill Peter. He loves the fall. Next to the spring he likes the fall best. But for two things he thinks he might even like it the best of all the year. Those two things are the parting with old friends who are leaving for the far away sunny Southland, or who are preparing to sleep

"What Are You So Glad About?” Demanded Mr. Quack.

all winter, and the fact that the fall brings the dreadful hunting season when men with terrible guns delight in spreading terror and suffering over the Green Meadows, through the Green Forest, along the Laughing Brook, around the Smiling Pool, up in the Old Pasture and even deep in the Great Woods. The fall is a busy time for Peter. You see there are so many friends to say good-by to that he is afraid that

By THORNTON W. BURGESS

some will slip away before he sees them. The first of the cool days had already come and Peter knew by things he saw that it would not be long before many of his feathered friends started on their long journey. Everywhere he saw them in flocks now instead of in pairs, as he saw them in the spring. They were making up parties for the long journey, for they prefer to travel in this way. It is quite necessary, because you know there are so many young birds for whom this will be the first time to make the long journey, and they must be shown the way by the older birds. Then it always is much pleasanter to travel with company. A great party of blackbirds flying over the Old Brier Patch reminded Peter that it was quite likely that certain other friends would soon be starting, among others, the Quack family, who had spent this summer in the pond of Paddy the Beaver. So the first chance he got Peter hurried over to Paddy’s Pond deep in the Green Forest. He was half afraid that they might have left already, and he half hoped that they might decide to stay all winter. When he got there he found Mr. and Mrs. Quack and the ten young Quacks, now as big as their father and mother, still there. “Oh, I’m so glad!” cried Peter. “What are you so glad about?” demanded Mr. Quack, swimming in close to where Peter was sitting on the bank. “That you are still here,” replied Peter. “I was afraid you might have gone away. Are you going to take that terrible journey again this year, Mr. Quack?” “Certainly,” replied Mr. Quack. “What else, can I do?” “Why, stay here all winter the same as I do,” replied Peter. “And what would we do when all the water has turned to ice, stupid?” demanded Mr. Quack. Peter looked foolish. “I hadn’t thought of that,” said he. “Of course you have to go where the water doesn’t freeze. Just the same I think it is dreadful that you have to take that terrible journey.” “It wouldn’t be so had if it were not for the hunters with terrible guns,” replied Mr. Quack. “We don’t mind the journey; it is the terrible guns. Have you seen any hunters near the Old Brier Patch yet?” Mr. Quack asked this anxiously. “No.” replied Peter. “This cool weather is sure to bring them out,” replied Mr. Quack uneasily “I almost wish we had started earlier, but we have been so happy here this summer that I cannot bear to leave until we have to. What’s that?” .Mr. Quack started nervously and stretched his head up to listen. All the other ducks did the same thing. It was only the snapping of a twig under Buster Bear’s feet, and in a moment he appeared. At once the ducks dropped their

heads and began swimming about again, for they did not fear Buster Bear. But it was very clear that they were uneasy, very uneasy, indeed, especially Mr. and Mrs. Quack. The young Quacks had had no experience with hunters, but they were uneasy, too. The truth is they were anxious to try their wings. They were looking forward to that long journey as something very wonderful. They were anxious to be on their way. Something inside was urging them to start for their beautiful Southland. It is often that way with the young. They did not fear because they did not know. (©, 1932, by T.W. Burgess.)--WNU Service.