OCR Text |
Show CHILDREN'S STORY By . THORNTON V. BURGESS JOHNNY CHUCK DISCOVERS A GREAT TRUTH Whoever' honest with himself With others will be honest too. Remember this where'er you go And whatsoever you may do. flllEN Johnny Chuck reached v home he was so tired that for a while he even forgot that he was hungry. You know It was a long way from the other side of the Old Orchard down to that far corner for one so fat and stiff nnd sore as Johnny Chuck. At first Polly Chuck would have nothing to do with him. But when after a nap Johnny caiw out to get something to cat site saw how stiff nnd lame he was and she saw how re had been torn by the tooth of Reddy Fox. She had heard all about that fight from Sammy Jay nnd down deep In her heart she was proud of Johnny Chuck. Now as she saw his wounds she was filled with pity. Very softly she sidled up to Johnny nnd gently licked his wounds. She didn't say a word, just licked and licked, oh so tenderly. With every touch of her tongue, Johnny Chuck felt his nnger because she had refused to go nwny with him melt away. At last there wasn't a bit left. Never had clover tasted so sweet and delicious. Never had U . "Home Is the Very Best Place In All the Great World," Continued Johnny Chuck. the rustle of leaves In the trees sounded so pleasant. Never had tli sky looked so blue or the fleecy clouds so white. Johnny sighed. It was a sigh of happiness and contentment con-tentment I'm glad I'm home." he said. "So am I," replied Polly softly. "Home Is the very best place In all the Croat World," continued Johnny Chuck. "Of course." replied Polly. "I've known that ever since we've had a hnn.-e." "And this home of ours Is the safest and best home that ever was." said Johnny. "I wouldn't trade It for nny other home anywhere In nil the Great World." Polly Chuck smiled wisely, but she said nothing niid after a minute or two, Johnny continued. "Von mustn't believe, my dear, all that Is told you of the wonderful things of the Great World." he said. "It has nothing, nothing nt all to equal the peace nnd comfort nnd safety of our own home here." Once more Johnny sighed nnd ns before It was a sigh of pure happiness, happi-ness, lie had made a great discovery, dis-covery, lie had discovered that the secret of happiness Is contentment, and that contentment Is to be found within, and not without one's self. So despite his stiffness and lanv-ness lanv-ness nnd soreness. Johnny Chuck was happy, and being happy, there was no room for had temper. Sud denly It came over hint that he was glad that Polly Chuck had refused to go away with him when he bad Insisted on looking for a new home, and he told her so. Polly made no reply, but went right on licking Johnny Chuck's wounds, and In every touch of her tongue was love and Johnny knew It. Presently when he had satisfied his hunger he lay down for another nap and beside him Polly Chuck sat up straight and kept wi.tch. And when Johnny Chuck awoke they rubbed noses, which Is the Chuck way of kissing, and each knew that i the old home hetw the roots of the old apple tree In the far corner of the (tld Orchard was twice as dear as It bad been before Johnny Chuck went nwny to seek n new home. 1533. tiy T. W. lliiru.-m WNU Sirvlre. |