Dreamtime Stories For Children: Ch 20, Bob White

Tonight Farmer Brown's boy saves the injured Bob White bird from the hunter with his terrible gun. The hunter tries to bargain with the boy to hand over the bird, but the lad cares too much for the bird and vows to nurse him back to health. These woodland tales from the beloved author, Thornton W. Burgess, are laced with gentle real lessons of nature as his cast of lovable critters explore their world. In this Bob White book, you will also come across other characters from Mr. Burgess's stories, such as Reddy and Granny Fox. I am reading their story too, here on Insight Timer, with Dreamtime Stories with Jacqui. How much fun all these wee forest creatures have! I hope you enjoy their encounters as much as I do. So snuggle down into your blankets and get ready for another chapter to lull you into dreamtime. It is a soothing way to get sleepy, for both big and little folks! Get your blankets just right, fluff up your pillow, and come along with me into the Great Green Meadow.

Transcript

Good evening and welcome to Dreamtime Stories with Jackie. We are continuing our story with the Bob White family. And last we were together for chapter 19. One of the little bobwhite birds had gotten shot by a hunter. And was very, Very wounded and sad and without water and really thinking that he had given up all hope. So we're going to continue and find out what happens to the wee little bird. But first. . . May I invite you to snuggle down in your blankets and get nice and cozy for a big sleep. After our story. Chapter 20 Farmer Brown's boy speaks his mind. You cannot always surely tell. If things will be ill or things will be well. When the poor, Suffering, Wounded little Bob White crawled under the fence, He didn't know it, But he had crawled right onto the land of Farmer Brown. Where there was a sign that warned all hunters to keep off, That no shooting would be allowed there. And when he looked up and saw right in front of him one of those two-legged creatures, Like the one with the terrible fire stick, And at once he had given up all hope. He had been too sick at heart and suffering to much recognize former Brown's boy. But that is just who it was. You see, Farmer Brown's boy had been so anxious for fear that some hunter would come on over to his father's land in spite of the signs that he had gone down on the green meadows just as soon as he had eaten his breakfast. He had seen the hunter on the land of Farmer Jones next door and had heard him shoot. Oh, With all his heart, Armor Brown's boy had hoped that the hunter had missed. Now, As he looked down, And he saw the poor, Suffering little bird. He knew that the hunter had not missed. And fierce anger swelled in his heart. He quite forgot that he himself used to hunt with a terrible gun before he had learned to know and love the little people of the green meadows, The green forest, And the old pasture. He stooped and very tenderly lifted the little Bob White, Who closed his eyes and was sure that now all would soon be over for him. Oh, You poor little thing, You poor, Poor little thing, Said Barmer Brown's boy as he looked at the torn and broken wing. Then he looked across at the hunter, And he scowled savagely. Just then the hunter saw him and at once started towards him. You see, The hunter thought that perhaps if he offered Farmer Brown's boy some money he would allow him to hunt on Farmer Brown's land. He knew that it was where Bob White and all of his family had flown to. When he reached the fence, He saw the little bob white bird in the hands of Farmer Brown's boy. Hello, Exclaimed the hunter in surprise. I guess that's my bird. I guess it's nothing of the sort, Retorted Farmer Brown's boy. Oh, Yes it is, Replied the hunter. I shot it a little while ago, But it got away from me. Oh, Thank you very much to hand it over to me, Young man. You'll do nothing of the sort, " retorted Farmer Brown's boy. It may be the bird you shot. More shame to you. But it isn't yours. It's mine. I found it on our land, And it belongs to me if it belongs to anyone. Now the hunter was tempted to reply sharply. But remembering that he wanted to get this boy's permission to hunt on Farmer Brown's land. He bit the angry reply off short and said instead, Why don't you wring its little neck? If you'll get your father to let me shoot on your land, I'll kill another one for you and then you will have a fine dinner. Farmer Brown's boy grew red in the face. Don't you dare put your foot on this side of the fence, He cried. I'd have you know, These Bob Whites are my very best friends. They've worked for me all summer long. Do you suppose I'm going to let any harm come to them now if I can help it? No way. Look how this poor little thing is suffering. And you call it sport. Bah! The law lets you hunt them. But it's a bad law. It's a horrible law. If they did any harm, It would be different. But instead of doing harm, They work for us all summer long. And then when the crops which they have helped us save are harvested, We turn around and allow them to be shot. But they can't be shot on my land, And the sooner you get away, The better I will like it. Instead of getting angry, The hunter laughed good-naturally. Alright, I'll keep off your land, Sonny. But you needn't get so excited. They're only birds, And we're made to be shot. No more than you or I were, Retorted Farmer Brown's boy. And they've got feelings just as you and I have. This poor little thing is trembling like a leaf in my hand. I'm not going to wring its neck. I'm gonna try and cure it. But this Farmer Brown's boy turned his back on the hunter and started for home. The poor little Bob White understood nothing and he had no more hope than before. Oh, Goodness gracious, How hard that must be for that poor little injured bird. Thank goodness Farmer Brown's boy came along. So snuggle down in your bed. And get yourself all ready for sleepy time. And come back really soon for chapter 21. As we read what happened to the little Bob White bird. Thanks for listening, This is Jackie.