Show MR FOX GIVES A SHOW I Mr Fox wanted to lay In a good I supply of chickens and ducks for winI winter winter win win- I ter so ISO he would not have to go 10 out In the cold I It If I could only get them alive and fatten them I could have fresh tresh fat tat hens and ducks and chickens all winter winter winter win win- ter and never leave my warm house said Mr Fox The more he thought about It the themore themore themore more delightful It all seemed until finally he set to work to think of at a aplan aplan aplan plan by which he could get the hens and ducks and chickens into his cellar and lock them up One morning Mr 11 Fox was so happy he could hardly keep his feet on the ground for he had a scheme that he felt sure would bring all the ducks and chickens he ho wanted right into his cellar When Mr 1 Fox Fos reached the road that led to the farm he walked very slowly and kept behind the trees and rocks until he saw Mrs Black Hen and her chicks walking toward him Then he stepped out into the road I Good morning he said Do not be afraid Mrs Black mack lIen Hen I shall never harm you nor any of at the poultry poul poul- poultry poultry try again ag I have given up hunting hunting- and gone Into another business Mrs Black lIen Hen was a a. v vary ry Inquisitive inquisitive inquisitive tive creature and she dearly loved to take to the barnyard a bit of gossip gossip gos gos- sip and this Mr 1 Fox knew Do tell me Mr Fox what you are doing and why you gave up bothering bothering bother bother- ing our farmyard she said Well Nell I thought ht it a cruel business business business busi busi- ness to be in for one thing said bad Mr Fox I wanted to give others others oth oth- ers era pleasure and the best way could I find tind to do this was to go into the show business Show business said Mrs Black lIen Hen What is that Ill show you rou said Mr Fox FOL I have In my cellar some same beautiful pictures pictures pictures pic pic- tures and some music which I will open to all the hens and ducks and chickens or any of at the barnyard folk I for a small admission fee one tee one egg egg egg- I Isn't that cheap enough I should say it was said Mrs Black mack lIen Hen Now to provo prove to you that that I Iam Iam Iam am honest and that It Is not a trick 1 said Mr Fox I 1 will let you and old Mrs Brown Hen lien and old Jerry the duck who is so old no one would caro care caroto caroto to eat him come Into my show free so you can go back to the barnyard and te tell tell l the others whether it Is worth seeing or not Well Nell that is fair tail enough I am sure said Mrs Black lIen Hen thinking how important she would be in the barnyard being the first to bring the news Ill I'll run right home and get old Jerry and old Mrs Brown Hen and leave my children with Mrs White lien Hen Yes dont don't bring the chicks They will only be in the way said Mr Fox They are are- too young to eat anyway he thought Off trotted Mrs Black lIen Hen as fast as her two legs les would carry her herthe the chicks peeping and running after her Oh Mrs Brown lIen Hen I have the most wonderful piece of ot news news news' she he said Mr Fox has given up hunting hunting huntIng hunt- hunt Ing and gone Into the show business Old Mrs Brown lIen Hen listened She had been too old and tough for Mr Fox for a a. long time so she said she would go And old Jerry when he heard the news said he would waddle along with them If It If they come back I shall shan be much surprised said Mrs White Hen who was still young enough to be tempting tempt tempt- ing Mr Fox was waiting for them behind be behind be- be hind ind a rock by the road toad and off oft they trotted to his home In the woods Mrs Black mack Hen thought of at her chicks when she entered the cellar But when she heard the music music Mr Fox had a music box boxt which he wound up as soon as they entered she entered she forgot forgot forgot for for- got her fear Mr Fox had gaily colored pictures on the wall and old Jerry and old Mrs 1 Brown Hen lIen and Mrs Black mack lien Hen decided it was very good and well worth the price of one ono egg to see Mr Fox said he was very glad they liked it it and all he asked was that they tell their friends for tor he did not want to go into the hunting business again and of course he would have to if no one came to see his show When the three returned to the barnyard everybody gathered about to hear about the wonderful show andas andas and andas as Mr Fox had not even tried to harm them the rest of the barnyard fowl hurried to get an egg and be off oft toto toto to toto to the show to see it for themselves It was sunset and still they did not return Old Mrs Brown Hen and old Jerry shook their heads I was wan afraid there was some trick to it said ald old Jerry Old Mr Fox would never give up hunting I think we had better tell Rover When Rover heard their story he Jumped up with a bark that brought the master out of ot the house with ll his gun But nut Rover ran far ahead of him over hills and Into Inlo the woods and right up to Mr Foxs Fox's house and in inless inless inless less time than it takes to tell it he had Mr 1 Fox running for his life and the hens and ducks and chickens were scrambling out of the cellar and over the hill to the barnyard Ill never trust him again said Mrs Black lIen Hen when she heard how Mr Fox had trapped them them and and she never did Copyright 1919 by McClure Newspaper per Syndicate New York City I |