Part 7 (1/2)

”Ah ht Unc' Billy, as he trotted on

XXII

UNC' BILLY POSSUM SEES MANY BACKS

Unc' Billy Possum was very sober as he hurried down the Lone Little Path to Johnny Chuck's house He was very sober indeed, and that is very unusual for Unc' Billy Possu hi on his doorstep when Unc' Billy Possu down the Lone Little Path As soon as Johnny saw him, he turned his back squarely towards Unc' Billy and pretended to be veryway off in the other direction Unc'

Billy came to a stop about two feet behind Johnny Chuck

”A-hem!” said Unc' Billy

Johnny Chuck sat there without ,” said Unc' Billy in his pleasantest voice

Instead of replying, Johnny Chuck suddenly kicked up his heels and disappeared inside his house Unc' Billy scratched his head with one hand and then with the other, and all the ti After a while he started on Pretty soon he ca all by himself He didn't know that Unc'

Billy was about until Unc' Billy said: ”Good , Brer Meadow Mouse”

Now Danny had always been delighted to see Unc' Billy Possum and to have a chat with hi no sooner did Danny hear Unc' Billy's voice than he turned his back to Unc' Billy

This was more than Unc' Billy could stand He reached out to take Danny Meadow Mouse by the ear to turn hiuessed what Unc' Billy ht under the long grass, and hunt as he would Unc' Billy couldn't find hiave it up and went on down to the S Pool There Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat were at play They saw Unc' Billy co Pool there sat the three little sca Rock, but all he could see was their backs

”hello, yo'alls!” shouted Unc' Billy

Splash!+ All three had dived into the Sh Unc' Billy waited and waited, he didn't see one of the turned his back to hih Unc' Billy tried and tried to , wherever he went, Unc' Billy saw only the backs of his friends, and none of them seemed to see him at all So he went home to his hollow tree in the Green Forest early that day to try and study out what it all meant

XXIII

UNC' BILLY POSSUM CONSULTS OL' MISTAH BUZZARD

Ol' Mistah Buzzard has very sharp eyes nobody has sharper eyes than he

Swinging 'round and 'round and 'round and 'round in great circles way up in the blue, blue sky, so high that so but a little speck, he looks down and sees everything going on in the Green Meadows and a great deal that goes on in the Green Forest There is very little that Ol' Mistah Buzzard misses So all the day that Unc' Billy Possuh the Green Forest and finding everybody's back turned to hi fit to kill himself You see he knew all about Bobby coon's visit to all the little meadow and forest people, and how Bobby had whispered in the ear of each that Unc' Billy Possum was partly to blame for all the trouble they had had lately

Ol' Mistah Buzzard watched Unc' Billy go home and sit doith his chin in his hands and study and study, just as if he had so on his mind By and by Unc' Billy looked up in the sky where Ol' Mistah Buzzard was sailing 'round and 'round Then Unc' Billy hopped up hty spry

”Ah reckon Unc' Billy 'lows he'll make me a visit,” said Ol' Mistah Buzzard with a chuckle, as he slid down, down out of the sky to the tall dead tree in the Green Forest, which is his favorite roosting-place He hadn't been there long when Unc' Billy Possu for his health

”Howdy, Mistah Buzzard! Ah cert'nly hopes yo'all feel right smart,” said Unc' Billy

Ol' Mistah Buzzard's eyes twinkled as he replied: ”Ah feel right pert, Brer Possum, thank yo' Ah hopes yo' feel the sa ever bothers yo'”

Unc' Billy grinned, but at the saht, Mistah Buzzard, that's right! Nothing ever does botherhowever he should ask for Ol' Mistah Buzzard's advice and not let hireat deal