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Show THE CHILDREN'S STORY By THORNTON W. BURGESS THE days were growing shorter aud the nights cooler. The leaves of the Green Korest, except those on the pine and the spruce and the hemlock trees, were turning red and yellow and brown and dropping to carpet the ground and rustle beneath unwary feet. As often as possible Peter Rabbit Rab-bit slipped over to the pond of Paddy the Beaver to see if Mr. and Mrs. Quack and the ten young Quacks were stili there, and each time he found them growing more and more uneasy He knew that it would take very little to start them on their long journey to spend the coming winter in the far away Southland the sight of other "Good-by and Good Luck!" Cried Peter Pe-ter and Paddy the Beaver Together. ducks flying overhead or a sudden fright. Just at dusk every evening they flew over to the Big River to feed among the rushes there, Mr. Quack leading. His wing, which had been broken by shot from a terrible gun in the spring, was as sound and strong as ever. In fact, Mr. Quack was quite himself, big, strong and handsome. As for the young Quacks, they were full grown now and eager to try their wings in long flights and to see the Great World. Very early every morning they returned to the pond of Paddy the Beaver deep in the Green Forest to spend the day resting, sleeping and perhaps playing a little. At least, the young Quacks played. One afternoon Peter slipped away from the dear Old Brier Patch over to the Green Forest and hurried straight to the pond of Paddy the Beaver. Peter had something on his-mind. his-mind. Just by chance he had peeped out of the dear. Old Brier Patch in time to see a man passing, and under one arm he carried a terrible gun. There was no doubt about that. Peter knows a terrible gun when he sees it. He watched the man out of sight and lie disappeared in the direction of the Big River. Right away Peter thought of the Quack family. Just supposing that hunter should be hiding near where the Quacks usually ate their evening meal! Peter shivered a little at the thought of what might happen. Mr. and Mrs. Quack ought to be warned and there was no one to do it but himself. Peter started early enough, but as is his way he had to stop ever so many times to look at things which aroused his curiosity. When he had satislled it he would scamper lippertydipperty lip as fast as he could until something else stopped him. So i was almost the Quack dinner time when at last. ipu'le out of breath, he reached the edge of the pond of Paddy the Beaver. He was greatly relieved to see all the Quack family still there. "Oh," he panted. "I'm just in time." "Just in time for what?" asked Mr. Quack. "To warn you that it. Isn't safe for you to go to the Big River tonight," cried Peter. 'T saw a hunter with a terrible gun going that way this after noon and he may be there yet." If Peter expected that his news would excite the Quack family, he was mistaken, very, much mistaken. .In fact, it wasn't news at all. "We saw a hunter over there last night, and so we knew that the time has come for us to go," explained Mr. Quack. "We're ever so much obliged to you, Peter, for trying to warn us, and we're glad you've come In time to say good by. Perhaps we'll see you again next spring. Take care of yourself and don't let Reddy Fox catch you." "Good-by "Good-by and good luck," cried Peter and Paddy the Beaver together. Mr. Quack swam out to the head of his flock. Very faintly from far away there came the bang of a gun. As if this was a signal, Mr. Quack shot into the air, and behind him rose all the other Quacks. These was a shrill sound of whistling wings, which grew fainter and fainter until It could no longer be heard. High in the air twelve black specks grew smaller and smaller aud then disappeared. Mr. and Mrs. Quack and their ten children had started on their long, terrible -journey to the faraway Southland. Peter felt a lump In his throat. " do hope nothing will happen to them," he said in a husky voice. "If it were not for the hunters with terrible guns, nothing- would, for Mr. Quack Is smart enough to keep them from all other dangers and he has brought his children up to mind. They're as well trained a lot of young ducks as ever I've seen, and I've seen a great many," replied Paddy. "But I dread those terrible guns," he added. (. 1932. by T. W. Burgess.) WNU Service. |