see it clearly

What Happened To Unc' Billy Possum

By Thornton W. Burgess

Reddy Fox had called Unc' Billy Possum a coward. Now that is a very dreadful thing to call anyone. No one respects a coward and no one likes a coward. But Unc' Billy Possum had just grinned as he dropped down from the tree beside Reddy Fox and invited Reddy to wait for Bowser the Hound who was coming down the hill. Reddy didn't know what to do. There was Bowser in plain sight and Reddy was afraid, very much afraid. But if he should run before Unc' Billy Possum did, he would prove that he was the coward. And of course all the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows would know all about it, for Peter Rabbit and Jimmy Skunk had heard Unc' Billy and at that very minute were watching from safe hiding places.

"Bow, wow, wow!" roared Bowser the Hound in his deepest voice.

Reddy shivered and began to back away. Unc' Billy just grinned. "What makes yo' alls so uneasy?" he asked.

"Bow, wow, wow!" roared Bowser again and began to run straight toward them with his mouth wide open.

Reddy could stand it no longer. "I -- I -- I really would like to stay with you, Mr. Possum, but Granny Fox is waiting for me and I simple cannot stay any longer. Granny wouldn't like it," Reddy shouted the last words over his shoulder as he started for the Green Meadows at the top of his speed.

"Now who's a coward?" shouted Peter Rabbit and Jimmy Skunk together. Reddy Fox gritted his teeth, but he kept right on running. He didn't even turn to see what became of Unc' Billy Possum.

Now when Reddy started to run Unc' Billy might have climbed a tree, but he didn't. What do you think he did? Why he just fell over in a heap right in front of Bowser the Hound! Jimmy Skunk almost stopped breathing when he saw him fall and Peter Rabbit clasped both hands over his eyes as Bowser the Hound stopped by Unc' Billy Possum. He didn't want to see what was going to happen to Unc' Billy.

Bowser the Hound stopped and sniffed at Unc' Billy. "Who's this? Who's this?" said Bowser, for he had never seen Unc' Billy Possum before.

Unc' Bill lay there just as if he were dead. Yes, Sir, there didn't seem to be any life in Unc' Billy at all. He lay there with his eyes closed and just as limp as a rag. Bowser rolled him over and pulled him this way and pushed him that way, but still Unc' Billy didn't move.

"Huh! Must have frightened him to death," said Bowser. "I'll go on and teach that Reddy Fox a lesson and then I'll come back and take this fellow home to show my master."

So with one more sniff Bowser the Hound started on after Reddy Fox. Peter Rabbit and Jimmy Skunk came out of their hiding places adn stood looking down at Unc' Billy.

"Poor old Uncle Billy," said Peter Rabbit and shed a few tears.

"Don't drop salt water all over my nice clothes," said a voice as Peter wiped his eyes.

Peter was so startled that he almost knocked Jimmy Skunk over. There lay Unc' Billy grinning at him and slowly winking one eye.

"Did yo' see me fool him? asked Unc' Billy as he scrambled to his feet. And to this day Bowser the Hound wonders what became of Unc' Billy Possum.