Thornton W. Burgess (1874 – 1965) was an Americanconservationist and author of children's stories featuring the wildlife of his native Massachusetts—Peter Cottontail, Jimmy Skunk, Grandfather Frog, etc. His first book was Old Mother West Wind (1910). Following its success, he wrote a syndicated daily newspaper column, "Bedtime Stories", which appeared without interruption from 1912 to 1960. His output comprises over 15,000 stories collected in over 170 books.
A sample from "Billy Mink's Swimming Party" in Old Mother West Wind:
Just then Billy Mink saw a little brown head swimming along one edge of the Smiling Pool.
"Hello, Jerry Muskrat!" shouted Billy Mink.
"Hello your own self, Billy Mink," shouted Jerry Muskrat. "Come in and have a swim; the water's fine!"
"Good," said Billy Mink. "We'll have a swimming party."
So Billy Mink called all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind, who were playing with the flowers on the bank, and sent them to find Little Joe Otter and invite him to come to the swimming party. Pretty soon back came the Little Breezes, and with them came Little Joe Otter.
External links
The Thornton W. Burgess Society (http://www.thorntonburgess.org/)
Text of Old Mother West Wind (http://www.boop.org/jan/omww/)
Etexts by Burgess (http://www.gutenberg.org/author/Thornton+Burgess) from Project Gutenberg
The Thornton W. Burgess Society is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1976 to carry on the pioneering conservation work of author/naturalist
Burgess, who was born and grew up in Sandwich, MA., went on to achieve national and international recognition for his children’s stories that teach lessons of conservation and love of wildlife.
The Thornton W. Burgess Museum on the shores of Shawme Pond on Water Street (Rte 130) in Sandwich village and the Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen at 6 Discovery Hill Road (off Rte.
Feeds |
Contact