Show d A By THORNTON W. W BURGESS THE HOME OF RATTLES THE KINGFISHER HEN Peter Rabbit first heard WHEN that Rattles the Kingfishers Kingfisher's house was vas a hole In tile the ground he didn't believe it No sir Peter didn't believe it He knew that some of his feathered friends built their homes bomes on the ground Mrs Grouse for instance an and Bob BobWhite BobWhite Wl White te and Carol the Meadow Lark but he Just couldn't Imagine a real bird living JIving in the ground Johnny Chuck told him about it nil Til believe it when r I see It declared declared de de- Peter You know a great many people are like Peter in that they tIcy must see a thing in order to believe It So Peter refused to believe that Rattles the tho Kingfisher fisher actually h hY Y fe I II I IV Ii r V i f M L yr ti What Is It You Have Heard Demanded De- De Grandfather Frog makes his home In the ground but buthis buthis his curiosity was aroused and once Peters Peter's curiosity is aroused he tie has no peace and he gives his friends no peace until it has been satisfied So the first chance Peter got he hurled hurrIed hurried hur hur- ried led over to the Smiling Pool He Be knew that Rattles spends most of his time there there-or along the LaughIng LaughIng Laugh Laugh- Ing lag Brook or over by the Big River Ricer and he lie knew that the other people who live there must know something something some some- thing about him Grandfather Frog was sitting on his big green watching for foolish green flies Illes Peter Peter Pe Pe- ter has a great deal of respect for Grandfather Frog who Is accounted account account- ed very old and very ver wise He ne waited waited wait walt ed cd until Grandfather Frog had caught several se foolish Coolish green flies Illes for he had learned by experience that Grandfather Frog was a great deal more likely to answer questions questions questions ques ques- when his stomach was full When he thought that It was wise to o do lo so he ventured a question If II you please Grandfather Frog where does Rattles the Kingfisher make his home as asked ed Peter In his Ws most polite manner I rum Chug I How should I know replied Grandfather Frog gruffly Because you yon are so wise that you know ever everything said Peter No such tiling thing No such thing Nobody knows everything retorted Grandfather Frog still sun speaking gruffly but it was plain to be seen that he was a wee bit flattered Well you know so much that It amounts to the same thing declared declared de de- Glared Peter I have ha heard beard such sucha a queer thing about Rattles the King Fisher that I cant can't believe belleve It ItI I guess It is Just gossip among the theother theother theother other birds who dont don't seem to like Uke Rattles very well What is it you have hn heard demanded demand demanded de de- mand d Grandfather Frog That Rattles makes his home In Ina Ina Ina a hole In the ground replied Peter Well I dont don't see anything hard to believe about that grunted Grandfather Frog Why shouldn't be he live In a n hole in the ground round 7 Why because he Is a a l bird replied replied re reo plied Peter Chatterer the Red Squirrel lives I In a hole In La a n tree doesn't he And AndI f 1 I Happy Jack the Gr Gray y Squirrel builds a nest In the top of a tree I I doesn't he asked Grandfather Frog I i I es Ye replied Peter slowly tryIng try try- Ing to o see what Grandfather Frog II was driving atWell atWell at Well Wen they are not birds they I Iare are animals If they make their I homes In the trees why should not birds make their homes bomes in th the II ground continued Grandfather Frog I i This was too much for Peter 1 I Ino Why shouldn't they There was I no reason why they shouldn't t. t Then t It Is true that Rattles makes his bis home bome in a n hole in the ground I I II I cried Peter I II I Of Ot course It Is true replied Grandfather Frog gruffly There Isn't any reason in the world why j lit It shouldn't t be true Rattles Is ar a n r bird of sense j I j I Where Is It asked Peter I i eagerly II I I That Is none of my business nor norI norIs Jr I Is it any business of yours d do de Hared flared Grandfather Frog I I. I nere vcr I have asked tattles where It Is ani arl 1 I knew I wouldn't tell you I r never pry into other peoples people's se and if it you will take fake my ad as adIce adi i rice Ice you wont won't either Peter Peler Rah nah hit It Is a bad habit No goo good I comes of It Now run away and ond andi j jt i i t attend to your own affairs I want to take talie a nap I Peter knew he had barI learned all aU he tie j could from Crom Grandfather Frog t rog so soi i he thanked him and started off j i l 1932 by T. T W. W Service |