Show i k i SS' SS PETER RABBIT IS SCARED AND THEN GLAD PETER RABBIT had been so Interested in in- inA A in Welcome Robins Robin's story of his long journey from the sunny Southland that he quite forgot every every- everything everything everything thing else He just sat with his eyes fixed on Welcome Robin in the tree I over his head and never once thought about watching out for lor danger The place where Peter was sitting was down in the far corner of the theOld theOld theOld Old Orchard very near the doorstep of an old friend He was back of it and so of course he couldn't see it Now the owner o of that doorstep had been asleep ever since the first cold day of last fall Curled up in his bed in his snug warm little bed bed- bedroom bedroom bedroom room deep down in the ground he had known nothing about what had been going on all those months He had lad known nothing of snow and ice of Jack Frost Frost- and Rough Brother North Wind He had slept through it all But that morning sweet Mis Mis- Mistress Mistress Mistress tress Spring had stopped at his door door- doorway doorway doorway way long enough to call gently down his lis long hallway until she had wak wak- wakened wakened wakened ened him When she heard him stretching and yawning and grum- grum grumling grumbling grumbling bling ling to himself she went on to waken vaken other sleepers For a long time after she had gone one he lay there trying to make makeup up his mind whether to go to sleep again or to get up and have a peep outside I dont don't believe it is' is time to o get up yet he grumbled I dont don't ont believe Ive I've been asleep any anytime anytime time ime at all I How Peter Rabbit would have shouted if he could have heard that But no one heard it because you know now that little grumbler was way down own in his snug bedroom under- under ground round So he kept on grumbling all 11 to himself until right into the midst of his grumbling there broke a sound which caused him to sit With a little scream of fright he be started for the old stone wall very ery still and listen with all his might In a minute he heard it again gain It was the voice of Welcome Robin singing Cheer up I Cheer up Cheer up Cheer Mistress Spring is surely here That settled the matter There was no doubt now about it being time me to get up Still muttering the little ittle grumbler crawled up his long all His legs were stiff from lack of f use When he reached his door- door doorway doorway way vay he sat for a few minutes blink- blink blinking blinking ing ng stupidly When they got used to o the light so that he could see he IE discovered Peter Rabbit sit- sit sitting sitting ting ng back of him His eyes twinkled with mischief Taking the greatest care are not to make the teeniest est st sound he crept up behind Peter just as Welcome Robin ended the story tory of how he nearly lost his life Peter was still thinking about the story tory when the ugliest sounding of ugly gly ugly growls right at his very back made him jump as only he can jump ump With a little scream of sheer fright right he started for the old stone stonewall stonewall stonewall wall without even looking to see who vho had frightened him Peter knows that safety first is the im- im important important thing When he reached the theold theold old Id stone wall where he could dive diven in n between the great stones he turned to see whether whether- it was Reddy fox or Old Man Coyote or Bowser the ic Hound who had so nearly caught him lim His heart was going pit pat with fright What he saw made him blink link hard Over where he had just come ome from was someone rolling over and nd over with laughter Peters Peter's heart eart gave a great leap of gladness Johnny Chuck he shouted and started back as fast as he had come Ill Ill I'll get even with you some day day see ee if I dont don't Johnny Chuck I he heried cried ried as Johnny scrambled to his feet grinning broadly Oh Im I'm so glad lad Jo to f o see you again Johnny When did id you wake up How do you feel Are Arc you going to stay awake now And goodness knows how many more questions Peter would have asked if just then Welcome Robin hadn't warned them that the Hawk was coming that way which sent ent both scrambling into Johnny Chucks Chuck's house |