early noon
But it 's a bitter medicine sometimes . '' Bumper spent a quiet , restful night after Dr. Crane had removed the trouble that was causing his sickness ; but he was very weak and faint , and he slept long after the birds were up and singing . He was a little afraid at first to eat anything when he finally crawled from his hole in the decayed tree branch ; but , recognizing some sweet birch trees , he ate moderately of the leaves and bark . This seemed to put new life in him , and by early noon he felt quite himself again . Rusty the Blackbird , who had taken quite an interest in him , brought him the cheering news that his country cousins were living in a burrow a few miles back in the thick woods . `` Take this deer trail back about a mile , and you 'll find them , '' he said . `` You ca n't miss their home .