THE CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 40, 17 December 1920, Page 12

THE CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

MATER'S LETTER BON. Mater invites children to send in stories for this column, or correspondence which will be replied to through these columns. All matter to be clearly written in ink, on one side of the paper only. Name, age, and address, must be always given, and correspondence directed to "Mater," care of Editor, "The Digger," Box 310, Invercargill. JOHNNY FIELDMOUSE AND IIIS CONVERSION. Johnny EieJdfouse peeked cautiou'sly from between the evenly spaced bars of the corn crib and listened for some little time. The moon was just coming up full, round and mellow, and the only sound that fell upon liis keen ears was the shrill, constant song of the peepers that came from tho creek and meadow soma distance away, and that seemed to grow louder as each minute pa-ssed. Ile lifted a little bag containing some twenty or thirty kernels of shellcom that he had gathered up from the floor, and laid it upon one of the many narrow strips that formed the side walls of the crib, and again looked out to see that no one was in sight. Ile then gave the bag a suddcn shove that sent it tumbling to the earth some distance" below, and it was with no little difficulty that Johnny himself rnanaged to squeeze through, for he had just partaken of a hearty dinner. The openin.g that had so spaciously received him several hours before now seemed so sma.ll, but he finally worked his way through, tearing several buttons from his vest as he did so. He hung for an instant from the lowest board he cculd find, and another second found him landed safely right on top of the bag of corn. Shonldering his plunder he crossed the lane into the orchard and quietly and as swiftly as his burden would allow, hastened toward lrome. He was nearly to the opposite side when a strange thing happened tlia-t sent an icy chill down his back and caused a lump to rise in his throat as large as any kernel of corn that he carried. From somewhere close at hand crfme a groan that seemed to fairly shake the very ground beneath his feet. It was more than he could stand. Dropping the bag of corn in his fright he ran toward the lane, and had gone but a little way when another terrific groan fell upon the still night air. He looked back for an instant, and as he did so ran right into Br'er Rabbit with such force that he fell sprawling to tue earth. "I — I beg your pardon," he said at last after regaining his feet and partial composure, "but I didn't see you!" "Oh, that's all right," replied Br'er Rabbit. "I hope you didn't hurt yourself. You seem to be terribly excited over some thing." His little friend then related. what had happened and how he had lost his bag of corn. "Well," said Br'er Rabbit, "we'Il get that later on. I'll help you look for it. The noise that you heard was Mr Squealie groaning. I guess lie's pretty sick. He frightened me nearly out of my wits, but I finally got up courage enough to mvestigate. "I've just been down to the creek after Doctor Turtle, but it'.s hard to tell when he will come along. You know how slow he is. Why, he's been practising medicine for the past forty years and he's lost every case excepting one, and he won that one only because old Mr Snail was so slow in getting sick from acute indigestion. Mr Snail ate some Paris green by mistake one spring, and it was fully two weeks before he was taken seriously ill. I went for Doctor Turtle myself as soon as I learned what had happened, and he managed t'o reach his bedside in time to save him. Tliere's a good chance for some bright young doctor in this locality. Let's waik over to the fence and see if the Doctor is in sight yet." Sure enough, the old Doctor was coming some distance down the lane. "We might as well sit and wait patient. ly until he gets here," said Br'er Rabbit. Presently Doctor Turtle wabbled up to where they were sitting, and after a few words the three started across the orchard. It was some time before they reached the home of Mr Squealie, and long before they arrived they could lxear him moaning. "Well, sir, what seems to be the trouble?" asked Doctor Turtle when they finally stood by his side. ^ Ile was lying on the floorf a pitiable sight, and the tears came to Johnny's eves, for he saw that Ihe poor fellow wa# in great pain. He was a massive bulk

that seemed more like a mountain to little Jchnny. "Well, I guess it's the same old trouble. Doctor," he finally said between groaxis. That right foot of mine is terribly inflamed again and every joint in my body is sore." "He has the gout," whispered Br'er Rabbit to Johnny. "What's the gout?" asked Johnny. "Why, it's the resuit of indiscreet eating. He lives on too rich food and over. eats. I've been after him a long time to cut down on his ealing, and take more exercise, but he simplv will not do it, and you can see the resuit." "I don't know as I can do mucli to help you," spoke up the Doctor. "The matter lies Avholly with yourself. You must f'ast for a while and take more exercise as boou as you are able to move about. You've been livirg too high again, and 1 can't do a thing for you as long as you continue to abuse yourself in this manner." Mr Squealie only moaned again and said: "I'll promise to do better, Doctor."' They left him and walked back to the lane together. "He'll he all right again in a few da-ys, if he'll only do his part," said Dr. Turtle. "Oh, yes," said Br'er Rabbit to Johnny. promised to help you find your bag of corn, didn't I? We'll go back and look for it now." "Never mind," said Johnny. "I've decided to fast for a while." And the three disapp,eared down the lane together toward home.