Show BEDTIME E 71 T I 1 M E STORY S T 0 0 r iff by THORNTON IV BURGESS if you should meet with mr toad you scarce would give him half the road I 1 wonder it if be more fair it if you should meet with buster bear PROBABLY you would indeed I 1 suspect that you would give him all the road and the funny part is that it is quite likely that buster would be quite as polite and would give you all the road the fact is that big as he is and strong as he is and fierce as he looks buster bear is very shy and bashful little as old mr toad is he would hardly more than hop out of the way of your feet while big as mr bear is he even let et you see him if he saw you first that is one difference between old mr toad and buster bear and of course as you know there are a great many other differences but in one thing they are very much alike yes sir old mr toad and buster bear are very much alike in one thing can you guess what it is well it is in their fondness for ants old mr toad is just as fond of ants as jimmy skunk is of fat beetles so is buster bear and that is how it happened that buster N mitt T 4 he was watching a little ant bill and snapping up t try ery ry ant that came along bear came to invite old mr toad to dine with him buster had that lonesome feeling again and was wishing he had some one to talk to him when just ahead of him he saw old mr toad watching something very intently every once in a while he would lean forward run his long tongue out like a flash and then smack his lips as if something tasted oh so good he was so busy with what he was doing that he see buster bear and he hear him you know buster big as he is can walk without making the teeniest tenniest tee niest wee niest sound buster tip tiptoed toed a little bit nearer until he could see just what old mr toad was doing he was W watching a little ant hill and snapping up every ant that came along buster nodded his head approvingly im glad to see that you have such good taste mr toad said he in his deep grumbly voice old mr toad gave a frightened little scream and fell right over on his back kicking his legs feebly in the most foolish way he looked so funny that buster bear just had to laugh he help it and because his laugh was grumbly like his voice old mr toad was more frightened than ever seeing you eat makes me hungry too continued buster this sent cold shivers all over mr toad for he was sure that buster meant to eat him how would you like to dine with me today went on buster pretending not to notice how frightened mr toad was it must be very slow work catching ants one at a time what do you say to taking dinner with me old mr toad struggled to find his voice for he felt that he must be polite 1 I I 1 1 I dont feel hungry any more said he faintly 1 I I 1 think if you will excuse me mr bear ill be moving along than I 1 will go along with you said buster who was just aching to have some one to talk to poor old mr toad this was too much for him he have strength enough to turn over and get on his feet again he was sure now that buster bear meant to eat him when he got ready perhaps buster would be better pleased if that invitation to dinner was accepted it was of no use to even try to run away and as for trying to hide under anything why there was nothing to hide under that buster bear could not pull over and catch him 1 I ive changed my mind ill be very pleased to dine with you mr bear said old mr toad i in n a voice he meant to sound very brave but which was so faint that buster bear cocked his head on one side in order to hear better 0 T W burgess Bur gesa service |