Dreamtime Stories For Children: Ch 21, Bob White

Tonight let's join Farmer Brown's boy as he rescues the injured Bob White bird from the dreadful hunter with the gun. He gently plucks him from the dirt, holds him softly in his hands and soothes the poor frightened little injured Bob White bird before mending his wing. These woodland tales from the beloved author, Thornton W. Burgess, are laced with gentle lessons of nature as his cast of critters explore their world. In this Bob White book, you will also come across other characters from Mr. Burgess's other 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! 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. I'm so glad you're here. For a bedtime story. We are reading The Adventures of Bob White. And last, We join them in chapter 20. Poor little Bob White. One of the baby birds had gotten shot by a hunter. And the hunter tried to get him back from Farmer Brown's boy. Yeah, But that wasn't gonna happen. Farmer Brown's boy. Wanted to save the little bird. So tonight we're going to read chapter 21. So snuggle down in your bed. Get your covers just the way you like them. And we'll begin chapter 21. What happened to the little Bob White? With his eyes tightly closed because of the terror in his heart. The little Bob White was being carried by Farmer Brown's boy. Very tender was the way in which he was handled, And after a while they began to take a little comfort in the warmth of the boy's hand. Once in a while, Farmer Brown's boy. Would gently smooth the feathers of the little head and say, Poor little chap. Straight home went Farmer Brown's boy. Very, Very gently, He bathed the wounds of the little bobwhite. And then as gently as he could, He put the broken bones of the wing back in place and bound them up with little strips of thin wood to keep them from slipping. It hurt dreadfully, And the little Bob White didn't know what it all meant, But he had suffered so much already that a little more just didn't matter. And he didn't so much as peep. When it was all over, He was put into a box with a bed of soft, Clean hay, A little dish of water, Which he could reach, By just stretching out his head a little bit. And a handful of wheat, And then he was left alone. He was too sick and weary to want to do anything but squat down in that bed of hay and rest. He was still afraid of what might happen to him. But it was not such a great fear as before. And there had been something gentle and comforting in the touch of Farmer Brown's boy. He didn't understand at all what those strange wrappings were about his body. But a lot of the ache and the pain had gone from the broken wing. So he drank gratefully of the water. For he had been burning with thirst. And then he settled himself down as comfortably as possible. And in no time he was sound asleep. Yes, Sir, He was sound asleep. You see, He was so worn out with fright and pain that he just couldn't keep his eyes open. Ever so many times during the day, Farmer Brown's boy came to see how he was getting along. And he was so very gentle and whistled to him so softly. That his little heart no longer went pit-a-pat with fear. The next morning, The little Bob White felt so much better that he was up bright and early and made a good breakfast of the wheat left for him on the floor. But it seemed very strange for him to not be able to move his wings. He couldn't lift them even the tiniest little bit. Because you see, Farmer Brown's boy had bound them to his sides with strips of cloth so that he couldn't even try to fly. This was so that the broken wing might get well and strong again. Now, Of course, The little Bob White bird had lived outdoors all of his life, And Farmer Brown's boy knew that he never could be quite happy in the house. So he made a little wire pen in the hen yard. And in one end, He made the nicest little shelter. Of pine boughs under which the little bobwhite could hide. He put a little dish of clean water in the pen and he scattered wheat on the ground. And then he put the little bobwhite bird in there. As soon as he was left quite alone, The little Bob White ran all about to see what his new home was like. You see, There was nothing the matter with his legs. I can't get out, He thought. When he had been all around the pen, He also thought. But neither can anyone get in. So I am safe. And that is something to be thankful for. This two-legged creature is not at all like the one with the terrible fire stick. And I am beginning to like him. I haven't got to fear Reddy Fox or Old Man Coyote or Red-Tailed Hawk. I guess that really I am a lot better off than if I were out on the green meadows unable to fly. Perhaps when my wing gets well, I will be allowed to go. I wonder where my father and mother and brothers and sisters are. And if any of them were hurt by that terrible fire stick. So snuggle down in your bed. And come back soon for chapter 22 and we'll see how well that little bird heals and maybe he'll be able to rejoin his family. Good night now. This is Jackie sending you so many hugs.