Good evening.
Welcome to Dreamtime Stories with Jackie.
Tonight,
We're going to continue with the book that we started called The Adventures of Bob White by Thornton W.
Burgess.
I love that author.
He was very popular in the early 1900s and one of his most popular books is about Peter Rabbit.
Now in chapter one,
Which we read last time,
Bob White was going to get a visit from Peter Rabbit.
And now we will start chapter two.
So snuggle down in your bed and get your blankets just so.
Lump up your pillow and here we go.
Bob White has visitors.
Bob White,
Bob White,
I bid the world good cheer.
Bob White,
Bob White,
I whistle loud and clear.
That very same morning,
Bob White had taken it into his head to come over to live not very far from the dear old Briar Patch where Peter Rabbit lives.
Of course,
Peter didn't know that Bob had come over there to live.
For that matter,
I doubt if Bob White knew it himself.
He just happened over that way,
Liked it.
And so finally,
He made up his mind to look about there for a place to make his home.
Now,
Peter Rabbit had known Bob White for a long time.
Peter,
In his roaming about,
Had met Bob a number of times and they had passed the time of day.
Whenever Peter had heard Bob whistling within a reasonable distance,
He had made it a point to call on him.
Bob is such a cheery fellow that somehow Peter always felt better for just a word or two with him.
So,
When Bob began to whistle that spring morning,
Peter hurried over,
Lippity,
Lippity,
Lip,
To call.
He didn't have far to go for Bob was sitting on a fence post just a little way from the dear old Briar Patch.
Good morning,
Said Peter.
You seem to be very cheerful this morning.
Why not,
Replied Bob White.
I'm always cheerful.
It's the only way to get along in this world.
It must be that you don't have much to worry about,
Retorted Peter.
Now,
If you had to run for your life as often as I have to,
Perhaps you wouldn't find it so easy to be always cheerful.
Bob White's bright little eyes twinkled.
The trouble with a lot of people is that they think that no one has worries but themselves,
He said.
Now,
There is Ready Fox coming this way.
What do you suppose he is coming for?
For me,
Exclaimed Peter,
Promptly preparing to scamper back to the old Briar Patch.
Nothing of the kind,
Replied Bob White.
Don't think you are so important,
Peter.
He doesn't know you are over here at all.
He has heard me whistling and he's coming to see if he can't give me a little surprise.
It's me and not you he is after.
What's your hurry,
Peter?
I think I better be going.
I'll call again when you haven't other visitors,
Shouted Peter over his shoulder.
Hardly had Peter reached the dear old Briar Patch when Ready Fox reached the fence where Bob White was sitting.
Good morning,
He said,
Trying to make his voice sound as pleasant as he could.
I'm glad to see you over here.
I heard you whistling and hurried over here to welcome you.
I hope you will like here so well that you will make your home here.
That is very nice of you,
Replied Bob White,
His eyes twinkling more than ever,
For he knew why Ready hoped he would make his home there.
He knew that Ready hoped to find that home and make a good dinner on Quail someday.
It is very pleasant over here and I don't know,
But I will stay.
Everybody seems so very neighborly.
Peter Rabbit has just called.
Ready looked about him in a very sly way,
But with a hungry look in his eyes as he said,
Peter always is neighborly.
Is he anywhere about now?
I should like to pay my respects to him.
No,
Replied Bob White.
Peter left in something of a hurry.
Hello,
Here comes old man Coyote.
People certainly are neighborly here.
Why,
What's your hurry,
Ready?
I have some important matters to attend to over in the green forest,
Replied Ready.
With a hasty glance in the direction of old man Coyote.
I hope I'll see you often,
Bob White.
Oh,
I hope so,
Replied Bob White politely and then added under his breath,
But I hope I see you first.
So that ends chapter two and come back soon and we'll find out in chapter three when Bob decides to build a home.
Have a good night's sleep.
This is Jackie.
See you soon.
