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Show MORI VBOTJ1 SPAM FOOl lty THORNTON W. BURGESS Two folks who look alike may be So unalike that they ne'er agree refer Rabbit Peter Rabbit was quite ex Lt i ?du know Peter had discovered one of Old Mr Toad's nearest relatives It was Spadefoot. tho Toad, who was even then on his way to the Smiling Pool "What is the reason I have never seen Spadefoot before?" asked Peter of Old Mr. Toad. "It is because ho Is such ;i queer fellow," replied Old Mr. Toad. "Ho keeps to himself. He rarely comes out save at night. Ho is great for burying bury-ing himself and sleeping. Ho isn't the least bit sociable. He won't stay here at the Smiling Pool more than two Mm, ' Peter spoke to him. "but Spadefoot paid no attention whatever, days; perhaps he will stay only one day. When he leaves he will go off by himself, and as likely us not I w on't him again this year." Docs ho dig the same way you do?" asked Peter. Old Mr. Toad nodded. "Of course," said he. "It is tho only proper waj to dig. Spadefoot is a bettor digger than I am. He seems to Just sink right into Ihe ground. If it were not raining lo-wouldn't lo-wouldn't be on his way hore now ; he always chooses a ralm nlr;ht to come out here." Just then there was a little splash In the water a short distance from Peter and Mr Toad A moment or two later la-ter a new voice Joined tho Smiling i'ool chorus It was louder than Unvoice Un-voice uf Old Mr. Toad and it was ii"t as sweet. "There he is!" exclaimed Old Mr Toad. "That's Spadefoot! I must -a over and pay my respee.-iJ Old Mr. Toad started to swim In the direction of the new voice and Peter Rabbit hopped along the bank Presently Pres-ently Peter was so close that he could sec Spadefoot despite the fact that there was little light. Spadefoot was sitting on a flat stone close to tho surface sur-face of tho water. Eike his cousin, Old Mr. Toad, he had a music bag In his throat and this was Ravelled out until it was three times the size of his head. Peter spoke to him. but Spadefoot Spade-foot paid no attention Whatever. After Af-ter that Peter held his tongue Iater in the evening he had a chance to talk with Old Mr. Toad again. Of course Peter wanted to know If Spadefoot's babies started in life In the same manner as tho babies of ld Mr Toad, old Mr Todd told him they did "Rut." added Old Mr, Toad, "they seem to me in a great hurry to leave the water. Thoy leave while they still have quite lonr; tails. My children wait until their tails have dls-1 appeared " "Where do they go to?" asked Peter. Pe-ter. "Don't ask me." replied Old Mr. Toad. "I never see them after they leave the Smiling Pool. I suppose they go up where the ground is soft and dig in 1 never did see such folks ' ; to want to be buried as Spadefoot and hlfl family " Old Mr. Toad resumed his singing and Peter could get nothing morn from him. Peter hung around a while watching the comrndb: Hop Toad, and ' Spadefoot. They were much alike, yet quite different Finally Peter decided that there was nothing more to be learned there, so he started for tho dear Old Briar-patch, to tell Mrs. Peter Pe-ter the news. (Copyright. 1022, by T. W. Burgess) The next story: "What Roddy Fox, I Learned by His Nose." |