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Burgess</title> +<style title="Standard Format" type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify } +body.marginalia { margin: 4em 2em 4em 10em; text-align: justify } + +div { margin: 2em 0em } +div.frontpage { margin: 4em 0em } +div.contents { margin: 2em 0em } +div.colophon { margin: 4em 0em; font-size: 80% } +div.footnotes { margin: 2em 0em } +div.figure-caption { margin: 1em 0em; text-align: center; font-size: 80% } +div.epigraph { margin: 0em 0em 1em 10em; font-size: small; } +div.sp { margin: 1em 0em 1em 2em; text-align: left } +div.speaker { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; text-align: left; + font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0em } +div.stage { margin: 1em 0em; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic } +span.stage { font-weight: normal; font-style: italic } +div.lg { margin: 1em 0em 1em 2em } +div.eg { margin: 1em -1em; padding: 1ex 1em; font-size: 80%; + color: black; background-color: #eee } +.marginnote { margin: 0em 0em 0em -12em; width: 10em; float: left; font-size: 80%} + +p.pubdate { margin: 4em 0em; text-indent: 0em } +p.dateline { margin: 1ex 0em; text-align: right } +p.salute { margin: 1ex 0em; } +p.signed { margin: 1ex 0em; text-align: right } +p.byline { margin: 1ex 0em; } +/* indent verse continuation lines 4em */ +p.l { margin: 0em 0em 0em 4em; text-align: left; + text-indent: -4em } + +hr.doublepage { margin: 4em 0em; height: 5px } +hr.page { margin: 4em 0em } + +.display { margin: 2em 4em } +blockquote { margin: 2em 4em } + +h1.pg { text-align: center; } +h4.pg { text-align: center; } +h1.author { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 173% } +h1.title { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 207% } +h1 { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 173% } +h2, h1.sub { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 144% } +h3, h2.sub { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 120% } +h4, h3.sub { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 100% } + +h4.sub, h5.sub, h6.sub { margin-top: 1em; font-size: smaller } + +ol, ul.dgp { margin: 2em 0em } +ul.simple { margin: 2em 0em; list-style-type: none } +ul.toc { margin: 2em 0em; list-style-type: none } +li { margin: 1em 0em } +dt { font-weight: bold; } +ul.toc li { margin: 0em } + +pre { font-size: 8pt; } + +span.title { font-style: italic } +span.name-ship { font-style: italic } +span.footnoteref { vertical-align: super; font-size: 60% } +span.code { font-family: monospace; font-size: 110%; } + +dl { } +dl dt { } +dl dd { margin: 0em 0em 0em 4em } + +dl.footnote { font-size: 80% } +dl.footnote dt { font-weight: normal; text-align: right; + float: left; width: 3em } +dl.footnote dd { margin: 0em 0em 1ex 4em } + +ul.dgp-castlist { margin: 0em; list-style-type: none } +li.dgp-castitem { margin: 0em; } +table.dgp-castgroup { margin: 0em; } +ul.dgp-castgroup { margin: 0em; list-style-type: none; + padding-right: 2em; border-right: solid black 2px; } +caption.dgp-castgroup-head { caption-side: right; width: 50%; text-align: left; + vertical-align: middle; padding-left: 2em; } +.dgp-roledesc { font-style: italic } +.dgp-set { font-style: italic } + +th { padding: 0em 1em } +td { padding: 0em 1em } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14375 ***</div> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Adventures of Grandfather Frog, by +Thornton W. Burgess, Illustrated by Harrison Cady</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full"> + +<div class="text"> +<div class="front"> + +<div class="div"> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<img src="images/image1.jpg" alt="Front Cover."></p> +</div> + +<div class="div"> +<h2>The Adventures of Grandfather Frog</h2> +<h2 class="sub">by Thornton W. Burgess</h2> + +<p>Author of <i>The Adventures of Reddy Fox</i>, +<i>Old Mother West Wind</i>, etc.</p> + +<p><em>With Illustrations by +HARRISON CADY</em></p> + +<p>The Bedtime Story-Books</p> + +<h6>Boston<br> +Little, Brown, and Company</h6> + +</div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="div"> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<img src="images/image2.png" alt=""Have a nice nap?" inquired Jerry, with a broad grin."></p> +<p style="text-align: center">"Have a nice nap?" inquired Jerry, with a broad grin.</p> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="div" id="toc"><a name="toc_1"></a><h2>Contents</h2><ul class="toc"> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_1">Contents</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_2">List of Illustrations</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_3">Billy Mink Finds Little Joe Otter</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_4">Longlegs The Blue Heron Receives Callers</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_5">Longlegs Visits The Smiling Pool</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_6">The Patience Of Longlegs The Blue Heron</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_7">Grandfather Frog Jumps Just In Time</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_8">Longlegs And Whitetail Quarrel</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_9">Grandfather Frog's Big Mouth Gets Him In Trouble</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_10">Spotty The Turtle Plays Doctor</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_11">Old Mr. Toad Visits Grandfather Frog</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_12">Grandfather Frog Starts Out To See The Great World</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_13">Grandfather Frog Is Stubborn</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_14">Grandfather Frog Keeps On</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_15">Danny Meadow Mouse Feels Responsible</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_16">Grandfather Frog Has A Strange Ride</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_17">Grandfather Frog Gives Up Hope</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_18">The Merry Little Breezes Work Hard</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_19">Striped Chipmunk Cuts The String</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_20">Grandfather Frog Hurries Away</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_21">Grandfather Frog Jumps Into More Trouble</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_22">Grandfather Frog Loses Heart</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_23">The Merry Little Breezes Try To Comfort Grandfather Frog</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_24">Grandfather Frog's Troubles Grow</a></li> +<li style="margin: 0em 0em;"><a href="#toc_25">The Dear Old Smiling Pool Once More</a></li> +</ul></div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_2"></a> +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> + +<p>"Have a nice nap?" inquired Jerry, with a broad grin</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Longlegs. "I believe I have an errand up that way"</p> + +<p>As soon as they saw Grandfather Frog, they began to laugh, too</p> + +<p>"You won't see much of the Great World if you jump like that every +time you get a scare," said Danny</p> + +<p>He seized the other end of the string and began to pull</p> + +<p>"That's just what i'm afraid of!" croaked Grandfather Frog</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="body"> + +<hr /> + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_3"></a> +<h2>Billy Mink Finds Little Joe Otter</h2> + +<p>Billy Mink ran around the edge +of the Smiling Pool and turned +down by the Laughing Brook. +His eyes twinkled with mischief, and he +hurried as only Billy can. As he passed +Jerry Muskrat's house, Jerry saw him.</p> + +<p>"Hi, Billy Mink! Where are you going +in such a hurry this fine morning?" +he called.</p> + +<p>"To find Little Joe Otter. Have you +seen anything of him?" replied Billy.</p> + +<p>"No," said Jerry. "He's probably + +down to the Big River fishing. I heard +him say last night that he was going."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," said Billy Mink, and without +waiting to say more he was off like a +little brown flash.</p> + +<p>Jerry watched him out of sight. +"Hump!" exclaimed Jerry. "Billy +Mink is in a terrible hurry this morning. +Now I wonder what he is so anxious to +find Little Joe Otter for. When they get +their heads together, it is usually for +some mischief."</p> + +<p>Jerry climbed to the top of his house +and looked over the Smiling Pool in the +direction from which Billy Mink had +just come. Almost at once he saw Grandfather +Frog fast asleep on his big green +lily-pad. The legs of a foolish green fly +were sticking out of one corner of his big +mouth. Jerry couldn't help laughing, +for Grandfather Frog certainly did look +funny.</p> + + +<p>"He's had a good breakfast this +morning, and his full stomach has made +him sleepy," thought Jerry. "But he's +getting careless in his old age. He certainly +is getting careless. The idea of +going to sleep right out in plain sight like +that!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly a new thought popped into +his head. "Billy Mink saw him, and +that is why he is so anxious to find Little +Joe Otter. He is planning to play some +trick on Grandfather Frog as sure as +pollywogs have tails!" exclaimed Jerry. +Then his eyes began to twinkle as he +added: "I think I'll have some fun myself."</p> + +<p>Without another word Jerry slipped +down into the water and swam over to +the big green lily-pad of Grandfather +Frog. Then he hit the water a smart +blow with his tail. Grandfather Frog's +big goggly eyes flew open, and he was just + +about to make a frightened plunge into +the Smiling Pool when he saw Jerry.</p> + +<p>"Have a nice nap?" inquired Jerry, +with a broad grin.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't asleep!" protested Grandfather +Frog indignantly. "I was just +thinking."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it a rather dangerous +plan to think so long with your +eyes closed?" asked Jerry.</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe I did just doze off," +admitted Grandfather Frog sheepishly.</p> + +<p>"Maybe you did," replied Jerry. +"Now listen." Then Jerry whispered +in Grandfather Frog's ear, and both +chuckled as if they were enjoying some +joke, for they are great friends, you know. +Afterward Jerry swam back to his house, +and Grandfather Frog closed his eyes so as +to look just as he did when he was asleep.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Billy Mink had hurried +down the Laughing Brook. Half-way to + +the Big River he met Little Joe Otter +bringing home a big fish, for you know +Little Joe is a great fisherman. Billy +Mink hastened to tell him how Grandfather +Frog had fallen fast asleep on his +big green lily-pad.</p> + +<p>"It's a splendid chance to have some +fun with Grandfather Frog and give him +a great scare," concluded Billy.</p> + +<p>Little Joe Otter put his fish down and +grinned. He likes to play pranks almost +as well as he likes to go fishing.</p> + +<p>"What can we do?" said he.</p> + +<p>"I've thought of a plan," replied +Billy. "Do you happen to know where +we can find Longlegs the Blue Heron?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Little Joe. "I saw him +fishing not five minutes ago."</p> + +<p>Then Billy told Little Joe his plan, +and laughing and giggling, the two little +scamps hurried off to find Longlegs the +Blue Heron.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_4"></a> + +<h2>Longlegs The Blue Heron Receives Callers</h2> + + +<p>Longlegs the Blue Heron +felt decidedly out of sorts. It +was a beautiful morning, too +beautiful for any one to be feeling that +way. Indeed, it was the same beautiful +morning in which Grandfather Frog had +caught so many foolish green flies.</p> + +<p>Jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun was smiling +his broadest. The Merry Little Breezes +of Old Mother West Wind were dancing +happily here and there over the Green +Meadows, looking for some good turn to +do for others. The little feathered people +to whom Old Mother Nature has given +the great blessing of music in their throats +were pouring out their sweetest songs. + +So it seemed as if there was no good +reason why Longlegs should feel out of +sorts. The fact is the trouble with Longlegs +was an empty stomach. Yes, Sir, +that is what ailed Longlegs the Blue +Heron that sunshiny morning. You +know it is hard work to be hungry and +happy at the same time.</p> + +<p>So Longlegs stood on the edge of a +shallow little pool in the Laughing +Brook, grumbling to himself. Just a +little while before, he had seen Little Joe +Otter carrying home a big fish, and this +had made him hungrier and more out of +sorts than ever. In the first place it +made him envious, and envy, you know, +always stirs up bad feelings. He knew +perfectly well that Little Joe had got +that fish by boldly chasing it until he +caught it, for Little Joe can swim even +faster than a fish. But Longlegs chose +to try to make himself think that it was + +all luck. Moreover, he wanted to blame +some one for his own lack of success, as +most people who fail do. So when Little +Joe had called out: "Hi, Longlegs, what +luck this fine morning?" Longlegs just +pretended not to hear. But when Little +Joe was out of sight and hearing, he +began to grumble to himself.</p> + +<p>"No wonder I have no luck with that +fellow racing up and down the Laughing +Brook," said he. "He isn't content to +catch what he wants himself, but frightens +the rest of the fish so that an honest +fisherman like me has no chance at all. +I don't see what Old Mother Nature was +thinking of when she gave him a liking +for fish. He and Billy Mink are just two +worthless little scamps, born to make +trouble for other people."</p> + +<p>He was still grumbling when these two +same little scamps poked their heads out +of the grass on the other side of the little + +pool. "You look happy, Longlegs. +Must be that you have had a good +breakfast," said Little Joe, nudging Billy +Mink.</p> + +<p>Longlegs snapped his great bill angrily. +"What are you doing here, spoiling +my fishing?" he demanded. +"Haven't you got the Big River and all +the rest of the Laughing Brook to fool +around in? This is my pool, and I'll +thank you to keep away!"</p> + +<p>Billy Mink chuckled so that Longlegs +heard him, and that didn't improve his +temper a bit. But before he could say +anything more, Little Joe Otter spoke.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said he, "we beg your pardon. +We just happen to know that Grandfather +Frog is sound asleep, and we thought that +if you hadn't had good luck this morning, +you might like to know about it. As long +as you think so ill of us, we'll just run +over and tell Blackcap the Night Heron."</p> + + +<p>Little Joe turned as if to start off in +search of Blackcap at once. "Hold on +a minute!" called Longlegs, and tried to +make his voice sound pleasant, a difficult +thing to do, because, you know, his +voice is very harsh and disagreeable. +"The truth is, I haven't had a mouthful +of breakfast and to be hungry is apt to +make me cross. Where did you say +Grandfather Frog is?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't say," replied Little Joe, +"but if you really want to know, he is +sitting on his big green lily-pad in the +Smiling Pool fast asleep right in plain +sight."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Longlegs. "I +believe I have an errand up that way, +now I think of it. I believe I'll just go +over and have a look at him. I have +never seen him asleep."</p> +</div> + +<p style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image3.png" alt='"Thank you," said Longlegs. "I believe I have an errand up that way." Page 10.'></p> +<p style="text-align: center">"Thank you," said Longlegs. "I believe I have an errand +up that way." <em>Page 10</em>.</p> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_5"></a> + +<h2>Longlegs Visits The Smiling Pool</h2> + + +<p>Longlegs the Blue Heron +watched Billy Mink and Little +Joe Otter disappear down the +Laughing Brook. As long as they were +in sight, he sat without moving, his +head drawn down between his shoulders +just as if he had nothing more important +to think about than a morning nap. But +if you had been near enough to have seen +his keen eyes, you would never have +suspected him of even thinking of a nap. +Just as soon as he felt sure that the two +little brown-coated scamps were out of +sight, he stretched his long neck up until +he was almost twice as tall as he had +been a minute before. He looked this + +way and that way to make sure that no +danger was near, spread his great wings, +flapped heavily up into the air, and then, +with his head once more tucked back +between his shoulders and his long legs +straight out behind him, he flew out over +the Green Meadows, and making a big +circle, headed straight for the Smiling +Pool.</p> + +<p>All this time Billy Mink and Little +Joe Otter had not been so far away as +Longlegs supposed. They had been +hiding where they could watch him, and +the instant he spread his wings, they +started back up the Laughing Brook +towards the Smiling Pool to see what +would happen there. You see they +knew perfectly well that Longlegs was +flying up to the Smiling Pool in the hope +that he could catch Grandfather Frog +for his breakfast. They didn't really +mean that any harm should come to + +Grandfather Frog, but they meant that +he should have a great fright. You see, +they were like a great many other people, +so heedless and thoughtless that they +thought it fun to frighten others.</p> + +<p>"Of course we'll waken Grandfather +Frog in time for him to get away with +nothing more than a great scare," said +Little Joe Otter, as they hurried along. +"It will be such fun to see his big goggly +eyes pop out when he opens them and +sees Longlegs just ready to gobble him +up! And won't Longlegs be hopping +mad when we cheat him out of the +breakfast he is so sure he is going to +have!"</p> + +<p>They reached the Smiling Pool before +Longlegs, who had taken a roundabout +way, and they hid among the bulrushes +where they could see and not be seen.</p> + +<p>"There's the old fellow just as I left +him, fast asleep," whispered Billy Mink.</p> + + +<p>Sure enough, there on his big green +lily-pad sat Grandfather Frog with his +eyes shut. At least, they seemed to be +shut. And over on top of his big house +sat Jerry Muskrat. Jerry seemed to be +too busy opening a fresh-water clam to +notice anything else; but the truth is +he was watching all that was going on. +You see, he had suspected that Billy +Mink was going to play some trick on +Grandfather Frog, so he had warned +him. When he had seen Longlegs coming +towards the Smiling Pool, he had +given Grandfather Frog another warning, +and he knew that now he was only +pretending to be asleep.</p> + +<p>Straight up to the Smiling Pool came +Longlegs the Blue Heron, and on the +very edge of it, among the bulrushes, +he dropped his long legs and stood with +his toes in the water, his long neck +stretched up so that he could look all + +over the Smiling Pool. There, just as +Little Joe Otter had said, sat Grandfather +Frog on his big green lily-pad, +fast asleep. At least, he seemed to be +fast asleep. The eyes of Longlegs +sparkled with hunger and the thought +of what a splendid breakfast Grandfather +Frog would make. Very slowly, +putting each foot down as carefully as +he knew how, Longlegs began to walk +along the shore so as to get opposite +the big green lily-pad where Grandfather +Frog was sitting. And over in +the bulrushes on the other side, Little +Joe Otter and Billy Mink nudged each +other and clapped their hands over their +mouths to keep from laughing aloud.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_6"></a> +<h2>The Patience Of Longlegs The Blue Heron</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">Patience often wins the day</p> +<p class="l">When over-haste has lost the way.</p> +</div> + + +<p>If there is one virtue which Longlegs +the Heron possesses above another +it is patience. Yes, Sir, Longlegs +certainly has got patience. He believes +that if a thing is worth having, it is worth +waiting for, and that if he waits long +enough, he is sure to get it. Perhaps that +is because he has been a fisherman all +his life, and his father and his grandfather +were fishermen. You know a +fisherman without patience rarely catches +anything. Of course Billy Mink and +Little Joe Otter laugh at this and say + +that it isn't so, but the truth is they +sometimes go hungry when they wouldn't +if they had a little of the patience of +Longlegs.</p> + +<p>Now Grandfather Frog is another who +is very, very patient. He can sit still +the longest time waiting for something +to come to him. Indeed, he can sit perfectly +still so long, and Longlegs can +stand perfectly still so long, that Jerry +Muskrat and Billy Mink and Little Joe +Otter have had many long disputes as to +which of the two can keep still the +longest.</p> + +<p>"He will make a splendid breakfast," +thought Longlegs, as very, very carefully +he walked along the edge of the +Smiling Pool so as to get right opposite +Grandfather Frog. There he stopped +and looked very hard at Grandfather +Frog. Yes, he certainly must be asleep, +for his eyes were closed. Longlegs + +chuckled to himself right down inside +without making a sound, and got ready +to wade out so as to get within reach.</p> + +<p>Now all the time Grandfather Frog +was doing some quiet chuckling himself. +You see, he wasn't asleep at all. He was +just pretending to be asleep, and all the +time he was watching Longlegs out of a +corner of one of his big goggly eyes. +Very, very slowly and carefully, so as +not to make the teeniest, weeniest sound, +Longlegs lifted one foot to wade out into +the Smiling Pool. Grandfather Frog +pretended to yawn and opened his big +goggly eyes. Longlegs stood on one +foot without moving so much as a feather. +Grandfather Frog yawned again, nodded +as if he were too sleepy to keep awake, +and half closed his eyes. Longlegs +waited and waited. Then, little by +little, so slowly that if you had been +there you would hardly have seen him + +move, he drew his long neck down until +his head rested on his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I guess I must wait until he falls +sound asleep again," said Longlegs to +himself.</p> + +<p>But Grandfather Frog didn't go to +sleep. He would nod and nod and then, +just when Longlegs would make up his +mind that this time he really was asleep, +open would pop Grandfather Frog's eyes. +So all the long morning Longlegs stood +on one foot without moving, watching +and waiting and growing hungrier and +hungrier, and all the long morning Grandfather +Frog sat on his big green lily-pad, +pretending that he was oh, so sleepy, +and all the time having such a comfortable +sun-bath and rest, for very +early he had had a good breakfast of +foolish green flies.</p> + +<p>Over in the bulrushes on the other side +of the Smiling Pool two little scamps in + +brown bathing suits waited and watched +for the great fright they had planned +for Grandfather Frog, when they had +sent Longlegs to try to catch him. +They were Billy Mink and Little Joe +Otter. At first they laughed to themselves +and nudged each other at the +thought of the trick they had played. +Then, as nothing happened, they began +to grow tired and uneasy. You see they +do not possess patience. Finally they +gave up in disgust and stole away to +find some more exciting sport. Grandfather +Frog saw them go and chuckled +harder than ever to himself.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_7"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Jumps Just In Time</h2> + + +<p>Back and forth over the Green +Meadows sailed Whitetail the +Marsh Hawk. Like Longlegs the +Blue Heron, he was hungry. His sharp +eyes peered down among the grasses, +looking for something to eat, but some +good fairy seemed to have warned the +very little people who live there that +Whitetail was out hunting. Perhaps it +was one of Old Mother West Wind's +children, the Merry Little Breezes. You +know they are always flitting about trying +to do some one a good turn.</p> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">They love to dance and romp and play</p> +<p class="l">From dawn to dusk the livelong day,</p> +<p class="l">But more than this they love to find</p> +<p class="l">A chance to do some favor kind.</p> +</div> + + + +<p>Anyway, little Mr. Green Snake +seemed to know that Whitetail was out +hunting and managed to keep out of +sight. Danny Meadow Mouse wasn't to +be found. Only a few foolish grasshoppers +rewarded his patient search, +and these only served to make him feel +hungrier than ever. But old Whitetail +has a great deal of persistence, and in +spite of his bad luck, he kept at his +hunting, back and forth, back and forth, +until he had been all over the Green +Meadows. At last he made up his mind +that he was wasting time there.</p> + +<p>"I'll just have a look over at the +Smiling Pool, and if there is nothing +there, I'll take a turn or two along the +Big River," thought he and straightway +started for the Smiling Pool. Long +before he reached it, his keen eyes saw +Longlegs the Blue Heron standing motionless +on the edge of it, and he knew + +by the looks of Longlegs that he was +watching something which he hoped to +catch.</p> + +<p>"If it's a fish," thought Whitetail, +"it will do me no good, for I am no +fisherman. But if it's a Frog—well, +Frogs are not as good eating as fat +Meadow Mice, but they are very filling."</p> + +<p>With that he hurried a little faster, +and then he saw what Longlegs was +watching so intently. It was, as you +know, Grandfather Frog sitting on his +big green lily-pad. Old Whitetail gave +a great sigh of satisfaction. Grandfather +Frog certainly would be very +filling, very filling, indeed.</p> + +<p>Now Longlegs the Blue Heron was so +intently watching Grandfather Frog that +he saw nothing else, and Grandfather +Frog was so busy watching Longlegs +that he quite forgot that there might be +other dangers. Besides, his back was + +toward old Whitetail. Of course Whitetail +saw this, and it made him almost +chuckle aloud. Ever so many times he +had tried to catch Grandfather Frog, +but always Grandfather Frog had seen +him long before he could get near him.</p> + +<p>Now, with all his keen sight, old +Whitetail had failed to see some one else +who was sitting right in plain sight. He +had failed because his mind was so full +of Grandfather Frog and Longlegs that +he forgot to look around, as he usually +does. Just skimming the tops of the bulrushes +he sailed swiftly out over the +Smiling Pool and reached down with +his great, cruel claws to clutch Grandfather +Frog, who sat there pretending to +be asleep, but all the time watching +Longlegs and deep down inside chuckling +to think how he was fooling Longlegs.</p> + +<p>Slap! That was the tail of Jerry +Muskrat hitting the water. Grandfather + +Frog knew what that meant—danger! +He didn't know what the danger was, +and he didn't wait to find out. There +would be time enough for that later. +When Jerry Muskrat slapped the water +with his tail that way, danger was very +near indeed. With a frightened "Chugarum!" +Grandfather Frog dived head +first into the Smiling Pool, and so close +was old Whitetail that the water was +splashed right in his face. He clutched +frantically with his great claws, but all +he got was a piece of the big green lily-pad +on which Grandfather Frog had +been sitting, and of course this was of +no use for an empty stomach.</p> + +<p>With a scream of disappointment and +anger, he whirled in the air and made +straight for Jerry Muskrat. But Jerry +just laughed in the most provoking way +and ducked under water.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_8"></a> + +<h2>Longlegs And Whitetail Quarrel</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">"You did!" "I didn't! I didn't!" "You did!"</p> +<p class="l">Such a terrible fuss when Grandfather hid!</p> +</div> + + +<p>You see Longlegs the Blue Heron +had stood very patiently on one +foot all the long morning waiting +for Grandfather Frog to go to sleep on +his big green lily-pad. He had felt sure +he was to have Grandfather Frog for his +breakfast and lunch, for he had had no +breakfast, and it was now lunch time. +He was so hungry that it seemed to him +that the sides of his stomach certainly +would fall in because there was nothing +to hold them up, and then, without any +warning at all, old Whitetail the Marsh + +Hawk had glided out across the Smiling +Pool with his great claws stretched out +to clutch Grandfather Frog, and Grandfather +Frog had dived into the Smiling +Pool with a great splash just in the very +nick of time.</p> + +<p>Now is there anything in the world so +hard on the temper as to lose a good meal +when you are very, very, very hungry? +Of course Longlegs didn't really have +that good meal, but he had thought that +he was surely going to have it. So when +Grandfather Frog splashed into the +Smiling Pool, of course Longlegs lost +his temper altogether. His yellow eyes +seemed to grow even more yellow.</p> + +<p>"You robber! You thief!" he +screamed harshly at old Whitetail.</p> + +<p>Now old Whitetail was just as hungry +as Longlegs, and he had come even +nearer to catching Grandfather Frog. +He is even quicker tempered than Longlegs. + +He had whirled like a flash on +Jerry Muskrat, but Jerry had just +laughed in the most provoking manner +and ducked under water. This had made +old Whitetail angrier than ever, and +then to be called bad names—robber +and thief! It was more than any self-respecting +Hawk could stand. Yes, Sir, +it certainly was! He fairly shook with +rage as he turned in the air once more +and made straight for Longlegs the Blue +Heron.</p> + +<p>"I'm no more robber and thief than +you are!" he shrieked.</p> + +<p>"You frightened away my Frog!" +screamed Longlegs.</p> + +<p>"I didn't!"</p> + +<p>"You did!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't! It wasn't your Frog; it +was mine!"</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" said Grandfather Frog +to Jerry Muskrat, as they peeped out + +from under some lily-pads. "I didn't +know I belonged to anybody. I really +didn't. Did you?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Jerry, his eyes sparkling +with excitement as he watched Longlegs +and Whitetail, "it's news to me."</p> + +<p>"You're too lazy to hunt like honest +people!" taunted old Whitetail, as he +wheeled around Longlegs, watching for a +chance to strike with his great, cruel +claws.</p> + +<p>"I'm too honest to take the food out +of other people's mouths!" retorted +Longlegs, dancing around so as always +to face Whitetail, one of his great, broad +wings held in front of him like a shield, +and his long, strong bill ready to strike.</p> + +<p>Every feather on Whitetail's head was +standing erect with rage, and he looked +very fierce and terrible. At last he saw +a chance, or thought he did, and shot +down. But all he got was a feather from + +that great wing which Longlegs kept in +front of him, and before he could get +away, that long bill had struck him twice, +so that he screamed with pain. So they +fought and fought, till the ground was +covered with feathers, and they were too +tired to fight any longer. Then, slowly +and painfully, old Whitetail flew away +over the Green Meadows, and with torn +and ragged wings, Longlegs flew heavily +down the Laughing Brook towards the +Big River, and both were sore and stiff +and still hungry.</p> + +<p>"Dear me! Dear me! What a terrible +thing and how useless anger is," +said Grandfather Frog, as he climbed +back on his big green lily-pad in the +warm sunshine.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_9"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog's Big Mouth Gets Him In Trouble</h2> + + +<p>Grandfather Frog has a +great big mouth. You know +that. Everybody does. His +friends of the Smiling Pool, the Laughing +Brook, and the Green Meadows have +teased Grandfather Frog a great deal +about the size of his mouth, but he +hasn't minded in the least, not the very +least. You see, he learned a long time +ago that a big mouth is very handy for +catching foolish green flies, especially +when two happen to come along together. +So he is rather proud of his big +mouth, just as he is of his goggly eyes.</p> + +<p>But once in a while his big mouth gets +him into trouble. It's a way big mouths + +have. It holds so much that it makes +him greedy sometimes. He stuffs it full +after his stomach already has all that it +can hold, and then of course he can't +swallow. Then Grandfather Frog looks +very foolish and silly and undignified, +and everybody calls him a greedy fellow +who is old enough to know better and +who ought to be ashamed of himself. +Perhaps he is, but he never says so, and +he is almost sure to do the same thing +over again the first chance he has.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that one morning +when Grandfather Frog had had a very +good breakfast of foolish green flies and +really didn't need another single thing +to eat, who should come along but Little +Joe Otter, who had been down to the +Big River fishing. He had eaten all he +could hold, and he was taking the rest +of his catch to a secret hiding-place up +the Laughing Brook.</p> + + +<p>Now Grandfather Frog is very fond +of fish for a change, and when he saw +those that Little Joe Otter had, his eyes +glistened, and in spite of his full stomach +his mouth watered.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Grandfather Frog! +Have you had your breakfast yet?" +called Little Joe Otter.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog wanted to say no, +but he always tells the truth. "Ye-e-s," +he replied. "I've had my breakfast, +such as it was. Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, for no reason in particular. I +just thought that if you hadn't, you +might like a fish. But as long as you +have breakfasted, of course you don't +want one," said Little Joe, his bright +eyes beginning to twinkle. He held the +fish out so that Grandfather Frog could +see just how plump and nice they were.</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" exclaimed Grandfather +Frog. "Those certainly are very nice + +fish, very nice fish indeed. It is very nice +of you to think of a poor old fellow like +me, and I—er—well, I might find +room for just a little teeny, weeny one, if +you can spare it."</p> + +<p>Little Joe Otter knows all about +Grandfather Frog's greediness. He +looked at Grandfather Frog's white and +yellow waistcoat and saw how it was +already stuffed full to bursting. The +twinkle in his eyes grew more mischievous +than ever as he said: "Of course +I can. But I wouldn't think of giving +such an old friend a teeny, weeny one."</p> + +<p>With that, Little Joe picked out the +biggest fish he had and tossed it over to +Grandfather Frog. It landed close by +his nose with a great splash, and it was +almost half as big as Grandfather Frog +himself. It was plump and looked so +tempting that Grandfather Frog forgot +all about his full stomach. He even + +forgot to be polite and thank Little Joe +Otter. He just opened his great mouth +and seized the fish. Yes, Sir, that is just +what he did. Almost before you could +wink an eye, the fish had started down +Grandfather Frog's throat head first.</p> + +<p>Now you know Grandfather Frog has +no teeth, and so he cannot bite things in +two. He has to swallow them whole. +That is just what he started to do with +the fish. It went all right until the head +reached his stomach. But you can't put +anything more into a thing already full, +and Grandfather Frog's stomach was +packed as full as it could be of foolish +green flies. There the fish stuck, and +gulp and swallow as hard as he could, +Grandfather Frog couldn't make that +fish go a bit farther. Then he tried to +get it out again, but it had gone so far +down his throat that he couldn't get it +back. Grandfather Frog began to choke.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_10"></a> + +<h2>Spotty The Turtle Plays Doctor</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">Greed's a dreadful thing to see,</p> +<p class="l">As everybody will agree.</p> +</div> + + +<p>At first Little Joe Otter, sitting on +the bank of the Smiling Pool, +laughed himself almost sick as he +watched Grandfather Frog trying to +swallow a fish almost as big as himself, +when his white and yellow waistcoat was +already stuffed so full of foolish green +flies that there wasn't room for anything +more. Such greed would have been disgusting, +if it hadn't been so very, very +funny. At least, it was funny at first, +for the fish had stuck, with the tail hanging +out of Grandfather Frog's big mouth. +Grandfather Frog hitched this way and + +hitched that way on his big green lily-pad, +trying his best to swallow. Twice +he tumbled off with a splash into the +Smiling Pool. Each time he scrambled +back again and rolled his great goggly +eyes in silent appeal to Little Joe Otter +to come to his aid.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image4.png" alt="As soon as they saw Grandfather Frog, they began to laugh, too. Page 37."></p> +<p style="text-align: center">As soon as they saw Grandfather Frog, they began to laugh, +too. <em>Page 37.</em></p> + +<p>But Little Joe was laughing so that he +had to hold his sides, and he didn't +understand that Grandfather Frog really +was in trouble. Billy Mink and Jerry +Muskrat came along, and as soon as they +saw Grandfather Frog, they began to +laugh, too. They just laughed and +laughed and laughed until the tears +came. They rolled over and over on the +bank and kicked their heels from sheer +enjoyment. It was the funniest thing +they had seen for a long, long time.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see such greed?" +gasped Billy Mink.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you pull it out and + +start over again?" shouted Little Joe +Otter.</p> + +<p>Now this is just what Grandfather +Frog was trying to do. At least, he was +trying to pull the fish out. He hadn't +the least desire in the world to try +swallowing it again. In fact, he felt just +then as if he never, never wanted to +see another fish so long as he lived. But +Grandfather Frog's hands are not made +for grasping slippery things, and the tail +of a fish is very slippery indeed. He +tried first with one hand, then with the +other, and at last with both. It was of +no use at all. He just couldn't budge +that fish. He couldn't cough it up, +because it had gone too far down for +that. The more he clawed at that +waving tail with his hands, the funnier +he looked, and the harder Little Joe +Otter and Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat +laughed. They made such a noise + +that Spotty the Turtle, who had been +taking a sun-bath on the end of an old +log, slipped into the water and started +to see what it was all about.</p> + +<p>Now Spotty the Turtle is very, very +slow on land, but he is a good swimmer. +He hurried now because he didn't want +to miss the fun. At first he didn't see +Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>"What's the joke?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Little Joe Otter simply pointed to +Grandfather Frog. Little Joe had +laughed so much that he couldn't even +speak. Spotty looked over to the big +green lily-pad and started to laugh too. +Then he saw great tears rolling down +from Grandfather Frog's eyes and heard +little choky sounds. He stopped laughing +and started for Grandfather Frog as +fast as he could swim. He climbed right +up on the big green lily-pad, and reaching +out, grabbed the end of the fish tail in + +his beak-like mouth. Then Spotty the +Turtle settled back and pulled, and +Grandfather Frog settled back and +pulled. Splash! Grandfather Frog had +fallen backward into the Smiling Pool +on one side of the big green lily-pad. +Splash! Spotty the Turtle had fallen +backward into the Smiling Pool on the +opposite side of the big green lily-pad. +And the fish which had caused all the +trouble lay floating on the water.</p> + +<p>"Thank you! Thank you!" gasped +Grandfather Frog, as he feebly crawled +back on the lily-pad. "A minute more, +and I would have choked to death."</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it," replied Spotty +the Turtle.</p> + +<p>"I never, never will," promised Grandfather +Frog.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_11"></a> + +<h2>Old Mr. Toad Visits Grandfather Frog</h2> + + +<p>Grandfather Frog and old +Mr. Toad are cousins. Of course +you know that without being +told. Everybody does. But not everybody +knows that they were born in the +same place. They were. Yes, Sir, they +were. They were born in the Smiling +Pool. Both had long tails and for a +while no legs, and they played and swam +together without ever going on shore. +In fact, when they were babies, they +couldn't live out of the water. And +people who saw them didn't know the +difference between them and called them +by the same names—tadpoles or pollywogs. + +But when they grew old enough +to have legs and get along without tails, +they parted company.</p> + +<p>You see, it was this way: Grandfather +Frog (of course he wasn't grandfather +then) loved the Smiling Pool so well that +he couldn't think of leaving it. He +heard all about the Great World and +what a wonderful place it was, but he +couldn't and wouldn't believe that there +could be any nicer place than the Smiling +Pool, and so he made up his mind that +he would live there always.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Toad could hardly wait to +get rid of his tail before turning his back +on the Smiling Pool and starting out to +see the Great World. Nothing that +Grandfather Frog could say would stop +him, and away Mr. Toad went, when he +was so small that he could hide under a +clover leaf. Grandfather Frog didn't +expect ever to see him again. But he + +did, though it wasn't for a long, long time. +And when he did come back, he had +grown so that Grandfather Frog hardly +knew him at first. And right then and +there began a dispute which they have +kept up ever since: whether it was best +to go out into the Great World or remain +in the home of childhood. Each was sure +that what he had done was best, and +each is sure of it to this day.</p> + +<p>So whenever old Mr. Toad visits +Grandfather Frog, as he does every once +in a while, they are sure to argue and +argue on this same old subject. It was +so on the day that Grandfather Frog +had so nearly choked to death. Old Mr. +Toad had heard about it from one of the +Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother +West Wind and right away had started +for the Smiling Pool to pay his respects +to Grandfather Frog, and to tell him how +glad he was that Spotty the Turtle had + +come along just in time to pull the fish +out of Grandfather Frog's throat.</p> + +<p>Now all day long Grandfather Frog +had had to listen to unpleasant remarks +about his greediness. It was such a +splendid chance to tease him that everybody +around the Smiling Pool took +advantage of it. Grandfather Frog took +it good-naturedly at first, but after a +while it made him cross, and by the time +his cousin, old Mr. Toad, arrived, he +was sulky and just grunted when Mr. +Toad told him how glad he was to find +Grandfather Frog quite recovered.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Toad pretended not to notice +how out of sorts Grandfather Frog was +but kept right on talking.</p> + +<p>"If you had been out in the Great +World as much as I have been, you +would have known that Little Joe Otter +wasn't giving you that fish for nothing," +said he.</p> + + +<p>Grandfather Frog swelled right out +with anger. "Chugarum!" he exclaimed +in his deepest, gruffest voice. +"Chugarum! Go back to your Great +World and learn to mind your own affairs, +Mr. Toad."</p> + +<p>Right away old Mr. Toad began to +swell with anger too. For a whole +minute he glared at Grandfather Frog, +so indignant he couldn't find his tongue. +When he did find it, he said some very +unpleasant things, and right away they +began to dispute.</p> + +<p>"What good are you to anybody but +yourself, never seeing anything of the +Great World and not knowing anything +about what is going on or what other +people are doing?" asked old Mr. Toad.</p> + +<p>"I'm minding my own affairs and not +meddling with things that don't concern +me, as seems to be the way out in the +Great World you are so fond of talking + +about," retorted Grandfather Frog. +"Wise people know enough to be content +with what they have. You've been +out in the Great World ever since you +could hop, and what good has it done +you? Tell me that! You haven't even +a decent suit of clothes to your back." +Grandfather Frog patted his white and +yellow waistcoat as he spoke and looked +admiringly at the reflection of his handsome +green coat in the Smiling Pool.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Toad's eyes snapped, for +you know his suit is very plain and +rough.</p> + +<p>"People who do honest work for their +living have no time to sit about in fine +clothes admiring themselves," he replied +sharply. "I've learned this much out +in the Great World, that lazy people +come to no good end, and I know enough +not to choke myself to death."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog almost choked again, + +he was so angry. You see old Mr. Toad's +remarks were very personal, and nobody +likes personal remarks when they are +unpleasant, especially if they happen to +be true. Grandfather Frog was trying +his best to think of something sharp to +say in reply, when Mr. Redwing, sitting +in the top of the big hickory-tree, shouted: +"Here comes Farmer Brown's boy!"</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog forgot his anger and +began to look anxious. He moved about +uneasily on his big green lily-pad and +got ready to dive into the Smiling Pool, +for he was afraid that Farmer Brown's +boy had a pocketful of stones as he +usually did have when he came over +to the Smiling Pool.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Toad didn't look troubled the +least bit. He didn't even look around +for a hiding-place. He just sat still and +grinned.</p> + +<p>"You'd better watch out, or you'll + +never visit the Smiling Pool again," +called Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>"Oh," replied old Mr. Toad, "I'm +not afraid. Farmer Brown's boy is a +friend of mine. I help him in his garden. +How to make friends is one of the things +the Great World has taught me."</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" said Grandfather Frog. +"I'd have you to know that—"</p> + +<p>But what it was that he was to know +old Mr. Toad never found out, for just +then Grandfather Frog caught sight of +Farmer Brown's boy and without waiting +even to say good-by he dived into +the Smiling Pool.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_12"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Starts Out To See The Great World</h2> + + +<p>Grandfather Frog looked +very solemn as he sat on his big +green lily-pad in the Smiling +Pool. He looked very much as if he had +something on his mind. A foolish green +fly actually brushed Grandfather Frog's +nose and he didn't even notice it. The +fact is he did have something on his +mind. It had been there ever since his +cousin, old Mr. Toad, had called the +day before and they had quarreled as +usual over the question whether it was +best never to leave home or to go out into +the Great World.</p> + +<p>Right in the midst of their quarrel + +along had come Farmer Brown's boy. +Now Grandfather Frog is afraid of +Farmer Brown's boy, so when he appeared, +Grandfather Frog stopped arguing +with old Mr. Toad and with a great +splash dived into the Smiling Pool and +hid under a lily-pad. There he stayed +and watched his cousin, old Mr. Toad, +grinning in the most provoking way, for +he wasn't afraid of Farmer Brown's boy. +In fact, he had boasted that they were +friends. Grandfather Frog had thought +that this was just an idle boast, but when +he saw Farmer Brown's boy tickle old +Mr. Toad under his chin with a straw, +while Mr. Toad sat perfectly still and +seemed to enjoy it, he knew that it was +true.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog had not come out of +his hiding-place until after old Mr. Toad +had gone back across the Green Meadows +and Farmer Brown's boy had gone + +home for his supper. Then Grandfather +Frog had climbed back on his big green +lily-pad and had sat there half the night +without once leading the chorus of the +Smiling Pool with his great deep bass +voice as he usually did. He was thinking, +thinking very hard. And now, this +bright, sunshiny morning, he was still +thinking.</p> + +<p>The fact is Grandfather Frog was beginning +to wonder if perhaps, after all, +Mr. Toad was right. If the Great World +had taught him how to make friends with +Farmer Brown's boy, there really must +be some things worth learning there. +Not for the world would Grandfather +Frog have admitted to old Mr. Toad or +to any one else that there was anything +for him to learn, for you know he is very +old and by his friends is accounted very +wise. But right down in his heart he +was beginning to think that perhaps + +there were some things which he couldn't +learn in the Smiling Pool. So he sat and +thought and thought. Suddenly he made +up his mind.</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" said he. "I'll do it!"</p> + +<p>"Do what?" asked Jerry Muskrat, +who happened to be swimming past.</p> + +<p>"I'll go out and see for myself what +this Great World my cousin, old Mr. +Toad, is so fond of talking about is like," +replied Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>"Don't you do it," advised Jerry +Muskrat. "Don't you do anything so +foolish as that. You're too old, much +too old, Grandfather Frog, to go out into +the Great World."</p> + +<p>Now few old people like to be told +that they are too old to do what they +please, and Grandfather Frog is no different +from others. "You just mind your +own affairs, Jerry Muskrat," he retorted +sharply. "I guess I know what is best + +for me without being told. If my cousin, +old Mr. Toad, can take care of himself +out in the Great World, I can. He isn't +half so spry as I am. I'm going, and +that is all there is about it!"</p> + +<p>With that Grandfather Frog dived +into the Smiling Pool, swam across to a +place where the bank was low, and without +once looking back started across the +Green Meadows to see the Great World.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_13"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Is Stubborn</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">"Fee, fi, fe, fum!</p> +<p class="l">Chug, chug, chugarum!"</p> +</div> + + +<p>Grandfather actually had +started out to see the Great +World. Yes, Sir, he had turned +his back on the Smiling Pool, and nothing +that Jerry Muskrat could say made the +least bit of difference. Grandfather Frog +had made up his mind, and when he does +that, it is just a waste of time and +breath for any one to try to make him +change it. You see Grandfather Frog +is stubborn. Yes, that is just the word—stubborn. +He would see for himself +what this Great World was that his +cousin, old Mr. Toad, talked so much + +about and said was so much better than +the Smiling Pool where Grandfather Frog +had spent his whole life.</p> + +<p>"If old Mr. Toad can take care of +himself, I can take care of myself out in +the Great World," said Grandfather +Frog, to himself as, with great jumps, +he started out on to the Green Meadows. +"I guess he isn't any smarter than +I am! He isn't half so spry as I am, +and I can jump three times as far as he +can. I'll see for myself what this Great +World is like, and then I'll go back to +the Smiling Pool and stay there the rest +of my life. Chugarum, how warm it is!"</p> + +<p>It was warm. Jolly, round, bright Mr. +Sun was smiling his broadest and pouring +his warmest rays down on the Green +Meadows. The Merry Little Breezes of +Old Mother West Wind were taking a +nap. You see, they had played so hard +early in the morning that they were + +tired. So there was nobody and nothing +to cool Grandfather Frog, and he just +grew warmer and warmer with every +jump. He began to grow thirsty, and +how he did long for a plunge in the dear, +cool Smiling Pool! But he was stubborn. +He wouldn't turn back, no matter how +uncomfortable he felt. He <em>would</em> see +the Great World if it killed him. So he +kept right on, jump, jump, jump, jump.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog had been up the +Laughing Brook and down the Laughing +Brook, where he could swim when he +grew tired of traveling on the bank, and +where he could cool off whenever he +became too warm, but never before had +he been very far away from water, and +he found this a very different matter. +At first he had made great jumps, for +that is what his long legs were given him +for; but the long grass bothered him, +and after a little the jumps grew shorter + +and shorter and shorter, and with every +jump he puffed and puffed and presently +began to grunt. You see he never +before had made more than a few jumps +at a time without resting, and his legs +grew tired in a very little while.</p> + +<p>Now if Grandfather Frog had known +as much about the Green Meadows as +the little people who live there all the +time do, he would have taken the Lone +Little Path, where the going was easy. +But he didn't. He just started right +out without knowing where he was going, +and of course the way was hard, very +hard indeed. The grass was so tall that +he couldn't see over it, and the ground +was so rough that it hurt his tender feet, +which were used to the soft, mossy bank +of the Smiling Pool. He had gone only a +little way before he wished with all his +might that he had never thought of seeing +the Great World. But he had said + +that he was going to and he would, so +he kept right on—jump, jump, rest, +jump, jump, jump, rest, jump, and then +a long rest.</p> + +<p>It was during one of these rests that +he heard footsteps, and then a dreadful +sound that made cold chills run all over +him. Sniff, sniff, sniff! It was coming +nearer. Grandfather Frog flattened himself +down as close to the ground as he +could get. But it was of no use, no use +at all. The sniffing came nearer and +nearer, and then right over him stood +Bowser the Hound! Bowser looked just +as surprised as he felt. He put out one +paw and turned Grandfather Frog over on +his back. Grandfather Frog struggled to +his feet and made two frightened jumps.</p> + +<p>"Bow, wow!" cried Bowser and rolled +him over again. Bowser thought it +great fun, but Grandfather Frog thought +that his last day had come.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_14"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Keeps On</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">Grandfather Frog is old and wise,</p> +<p class="l">But even age is foolish.</p> +<p class="l">I'm sure you'll all agree with me</p> +<p class="l">His stubbornness was mulish.</p> +</div> + + +<p>That his very last day had come +Grandfather Frog was sure. He +didn't have the least doubt about +it. Here he was at the mercy of Bowser +the Hound out on the Green Meadows +far from the dear, safe Smiling Pool. +Every time he moved, Bowser flipped +him over on his back and danced around +him, barking with joy. Every minute +Grandfather Frog expected to feel Bowser's +terrible teeth, and he grew cold at +the thought. When he found that he + +couldn't get away, he just lay still. He +was too tired and frightened to do much +of anything else, anyway.</p> + +<p>Now when he lay still, he spoiled Bowser's +fun, for it was seeing him jump and +kick his long legs that tickled Bowser so. +Bowser tossed him up in the air two +or three times, but Grandfather Frog +simply lay where he fell without moving.</p> + +<p>"Bow, wow, wow!" cried Bowser, in +his great deep voice. Grandfather Frog +didn't so much as blink his great goggly +eyes. Bowser sniffed him all over.</p> + +<p>"I guess I've frightened him to death," +said Bowser, talking to himself. "I +didn't mean to do that. I just wanted +to have some fun with him." With that, +Bowser took one more sniff and then +trotted off to try to find something more +exciting. You see, he hadn't had the +least intention in the world of really +hurting Grandfather Frog.</p> + + +<p>Grandfather Frog kept perfectly still +until he was sure that Bowser was nowhere +near. Then he gave a great sigh +of relief and crawled under a big mullein +leaf to rest, and think things over.</p> + +<p>"Chugarum, that was a terrible experience; +it was, indeed!" said he to +himself, shivering at the very thought +of what he had been through. "Nothing +like that ever happened to me in the +Smiling Pool. I've always said that the +Smiling Pool is a better place in which +to live than is the Great World, and now +I know it. The question is, what had I +best do now?"</p> + +<p>Now right down in his heart Grandfather +Frog knew the answer. Of course +the best thing to do was to go straight +back to the Smiling Pool as fast as he +could. But Grandfather Frog is stubborn. +Yes, Sir, he certainly is stubborn. +And stubbornness is often just another + +name for foolishness. He had told Jerry +Muskrat that he was going out to see +the Great World. Now if he went back, +Jerry would laugh at him.</p> + +<p>"I won't!" said Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>"What won't you do?" asked a voice +so close to him that Grandfather Frog +made a long jump before he thought. +You see, at the Smiling Pool he always +jumped at the least hint of danger, and +because one jump always took him into +the water, he was always safe. But +there was no water here, and that jump +took him right out where anybody passing +could see him. Then he turned +around to see who had startled him so. +It was Danny Meadow Mouse.</p> + +<p>"I won't go back to the Smiling Pool +until I have seen the Great World," +replied Grandfather Frog gruffly.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image5.png" alt=""You won't see much of the Great World if you jump like that every time you get a scare," said Danny. Page 62."></p> +<p style="text-align: center">"You won't see much of the Great World if you jump like +that every time you get a scare," said Danny. <em>Page 62.</em></p> + +<p>"You won't see much of the Great +World if you jump like that every time + +you get a scare," said Danny, shaking +his head. "No, Sir, you won't see much +of the Great World, because one of these +times you'll jump right into the claws of +old Whitetail the Marsh Hawk, or his +cousin Redtail, or Reddy Fox. You +take my advice, Grandfather Frog, and +go straight back to the Smiling Pool. +You don't know enough about the Great +World to take care of yourself."</p> + +<p>But Grandfather Frog was set in his +ways, and nothing that Danny Meadow +Mouse could say changed his mind in +the least. "I started out to see the +Great World, and I'm going to keep +right on," said he.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Danny at last. "If +you will, I suppose you will. I'll go a +little way with you just to get you +started right."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," replied Grandfather +Frog. "Let's start right away."</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_15"></a> + +<h2>Danny Meadow Mouse Feels Responsible</h2> + + +<p>Responsible is a great big word. +But it is just as big in its meaning +as it is in its looks, and that +is the way words should be, I think, don't +you? Anyway, re-spon-sible is the way +Danny Meadow Mouse felt when he +found Grandfather Frog out on the +Green Meadows so far from the Smiling +Pool and so stubborn that he would keep +on to see the Great World instead of +going back to his big green lily-pad in the +Smiling Pool, where he could take care +of himself. You remember Peter Rabbit +felt re-spon-sible when he brought little +Miss Fuzzy tail down from the Old Pasture + +to the dear Old Briar-patch. He +felt that it was his business to see to it +that no harm came to her, and that is +just the way Danny Meadow Mouse +felt about Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>You see, Danny knew that if Grandfather +Frog was going to jump like that +every time he was frightened, he wouldn't +get very far in the Great World. It +might be the right thing to do in the +Smiling Pool, where the friendly water +would hide him from his enemies, but +it was just the wrong thing to do on the +Green Meadows or in the Green Forest. +Danny had learned, when a very tiny +fellow, that there the only safe thing to +do when danger was near was to sit perfectly +still and hardly breathe.</p> + +<p>Now Danny Meadow Mouse is fond +of Grandfather Frog, and he couldn't +bear to think that something dreadful +might happen to him. So when he + +found that he couldn't get Grandfather +Frog to go back to the Smiling Pool, he +made up his mind that he just <em>had</em> to go +along with Grandfather Frog to try to +keep him out of danger. Yes, Sir, he +just <em>had</em> to do it. He felt re-spon-sible +for Grandfather Frog's safety. So here +they were, Danny Meadow Mouse running +ahead, anxious and worried and +watching sharply for signs of danger, +and Grandfather Frog puffing along behind, +bound to see the Great World +which his cousin, old Mr. Toad, said +was a better place to live in than the +Smiling Pool.</p> + +<p>Now Danny has a great many private +little paths under the grass all over the +Green Meadows, and along these he can +scamper ever so fast without once showing +himself to those who may be looking +for him. Of course he started to take +Grandfather Frog along one of these + +little paths. But Grandfather Frog +doesn't walk or run; he jumps. There +wasn't room in Danny's little paths for +jumping, as they soon found out. +Grandfather Frog simply couldn't follow +Danny along those little paths. Danny +sat down to think, and puckered his +brows anxiously. He was more worried +than ever. It was very clear that Grandfather +Frog would have to travel out +in the open, where there was room for +him to jump, and where also he would +be right out in plain sight of all who +happened along. Once more Danny +urged him to go back to the Smiling Pool, +but he might just as well have talked to +a stick or a stone. Grandfather Frog +had started out to see the Great World, +and he was going to see it.</p> + +<p>Danny sighed. "If you will, you +will, I suppose," said he, "and I guess +the only place you can travel in any + +comfort is the Lone Little Path. It is +dangerous, very dangerous, but I guess +you will have to do it."</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" replied Grandfather +Frog, "I'm not afraid. You show me +the Lone Little Path and then go about +your business, Danny Meadow Mouse."</p> + +<p>So Danny led the way to the Lone +Little Path, and Grandfather Frog sighed +with relief, for here he could jump without +getting all tangled up in long grass +and without hurting his tender feet on +sharp stubble where the grass had been +cut. But Danny felt more worried than +ever. He wouldn't leave Grandfather +Frog because, you know, he felt re-spon-sible +for him, and at the same time he +was terribly afraid, for he felt sure that +some of their enemies would see them. +He wanted to go back, but he kept right +on, and that shows just what a brave +little fellow Danny Meadow Mouse was.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_16"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Has A Strange Ride</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">A thousand things may happen to,</p> +<p class="l">Ten thousand things befall,</p> +<p class="l">The traveler who careless is,</p> +<p class="l">Or thinks he knows it all.</p> +</div> + + +<p>Grandfather Frog, jumping +along behind Danny Meadow +Mouse up the Lone Little Path, +was beginning to think that Danny was +the most timid and easiest frightened of +all the little meadow people of his acquaintance. +Danny kept as much under +the grass that overhung the Lone Little +Path as he could. When there were +perfectly bare places, Danny looked this +way and looked that way anxiously and +then scampered across as fast as he could + +make his little legs go. When he was +safely across, he would wait for Grandfather +Frog. If a shadow passed over +the grass, Danny would duck under the +nearest leaf and hold his breath.</p> + +<p>"Foolish!" muttered Grandfather +Frog. "Foolish, foolish to be so afraid! +Now, I'm not afraid until I see something +to be afraid of. Time enough then. +What's the good of looking for trouble +all the time? Now, here I am out in +the Great World, and I'm not afraid. +And here's Danny Meadow Mouse, who +has lived here all his life, acting as if he +expected something dreadful to happen +any minute. Pooh! How very, very +foolish!"</p> + +<p>Now Grandfather Frog is old and in +the Smiling Pool he is accounted very, +very wise. But the wisest sometimes +become foolish when they think that +they know all there is to know. It was + +so with Grandfather Frog. It was he +who was foolish and not Danny Meadow +Mouse. You see Danny knew all the +dangers on the Green Meadows, and how +many sharp eyes were all the time +watching for him. He had long ago +learned that the only way to feel safe +was to feel afraid. You see, then he +was watching for danger every minute, +and so he wasn't likely to be surprised +by his hungry enemies.</p> + +<p>So while Grandfather Frog was looking +down on Danny for being so timid, +Danny was really doing the wisest thing. +More than that, he was really very, very +brave. He was showing Grandfather +Frog the way up the Lone Little Path to +see the Great World, when he himself +would never, never have thought of +traveling anywhere but along his own +secret little paths, just because Grandfather +Frog couldn't jump anywhere + +excepting where the way was fairly clear, +as in the Lone Little Path, and Danny +was afraid that unless Grandfather Frog +had some one with him to watch out for +him, he would surely come to a sad end.</p> + +<p>The farther they went with nothing +happening, the more foolish Danny's +timid way of running and hiding seemed +to Grandfather Frog, and he was just +about to tell Danny just what he thought, +when Danny dived into the long grass +and warned Grandfather Frog to do +the same. But Grandfather Frog didn't.</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" said he, "I don't see +anything to be afraid of, and I'm not +going to hide until I do."</p> + +<p>So he sat still right where he was, in +the middle of the Lone Little Path, looking +this way and that way, and seeing +nothing to be afraid of. And just then +around a turn in the Lone Little Path +came—who do you think? Why + +Farmer Brown's boy! He saw Grandfather +Frog and with a whoop of joy +he sprang for him. Grandfather Frog +gave a frightened croak and jumped, +but he was too late. Before he could +jump again Farmer Brown's boy had +him by his long hind-legs.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha!" shouted Farmer Brown's +boy, "I believe this is the very old chap +I have tried so often to catch in the +Smiling Pool. These legs of yours will +be mighty fine eating, Mr. Frog. They +will, indeed."</p> + +<p>With that he tied Grandfather Frog's +legs together and went on his way across +the Green Meadows with poor old Grandfather +Frog dangling from the end of a +string. It was a strange ride and a most +uncomfortable one, and with all his +might Grandfather Frog wished he had +never thought of going out into the +Great World.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_17"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Gives Up Hope</h2> + + +<p>With his legs tied together, hanging +head down from the end of +a string, Grandfather Frog was +being carried he knew not where by +Farmer Brown's boy. It was dreadful. +Half-way across the Green Meadows the +Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West +Wind came dancing along. At first they +didn't see Grandfather Frog, but presently +one of them, rushing up to tease +Farmer Brown's boy by blowing off his +hat, caught sight of Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>Now the Merry Little Breezes are +great friends of Grandfather Frog. +Many, many times they have blown +foolish green flies over to him as he sat + +on his big green lily-pad, and they are +very fond of him. So when this one +caught sight of him in such a dreadful +position, he forgot all about teasing +Farmer Brown's boy. He raced away +to tell the other Merry Little Breezes. +For a minute they were perfectly still. +They forgot all about being merry.</p> + +<p>"It's awful, just perfectly awful!" +cried one.</p> + +<p>"We must do something to help +Grandfather Frog!" cried another.</p> + +<p>"Of course we must," said a third.</p> + +<p>"But what can we do?" asked a +fourth.</p> + +<p>Nobody replied. They just thought +and thought and thought. Finally the +first one spoke. "We might try to +comfort him a little," said he.</p> + +<p>"Of course we will do that!" they +shouted all together.</p> + +<p>"And if we throw dust in the face of + +Farmer Brown's boy and steal his hat, +perhaps he will put Grandfather Frog +down," continued the Merry Little +Breeze.</p> + +<p>"The very thing!" the others cried, +dancing about with excitement.</p> + +<p>"Then we can rush about and tell all +Grandfather Frog's friends what has +happened to him and where he is. Perhaps +some of them can help us," the +Little Breeze continued.</p> + +<p>They wasted no more time talking, +but raced after Farmer Brown's boy as +fast as they could go. One of them, who +was faster than the others, ran ahead +and whispered in Grandfather Frog's ear +that they were coming to help him. But +poor old Grandfather Frog couldn't be +comforted. He couldn't see what there +was that the Merry Little Breezes could +do. His legs smarted where the string +cut into the skin, and his head ached, + +for you know he was hanging head down. +No, Sir, Grandfather Frog couldn't be +comforted. He was in a terrible fix, and +he couldn't see any way out of it. He +hadn't the least bit of hope left. And +all the time Farmer Brown's boy was +trudging along, whistling merrily. You +see, it didn't occur to him to think how +Grandfather Frog must be suffering and +how terribly frightened he must be. +He wasn't cruel. No, indeed, Farmer +Brown's boy wasn't cruel. That is, he +didn't mean to be cruel. He was just +thoughtless, like a great many other +boys, and girls too.</p> + +<p>So he went whistling on his way until +he reached the Long Lane leading from +the Green Meadows up to Farmer +Brown's dooryard. No sooner was he +in the Long Lane than something happened. +A great cloud of dust and leaves +and tiny sticks was dashed in his face + +and nearly choked him. Dirt got in his +eyes. His hat was snatched from his +head and went sailing over into the +garden. He dropped Grandfather Frog +and felt for his handkerchief to wipe the +dirt from his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Phew!" exclaimed Farmer Brown's +boy, as he started after his hat. "It's +funny where that wind came from so +suddenly!"</p> + +<p>But you know and I know that it was +the Merry Little Breezes working together +who made up that sudden wind. +And Grandfather Frog ought to have +known it too, but he didn't. You see +the dust had got in his nose and eyes +just as it had in those of Farmer Brown's +boy, and he was so frightened and confused +that he couldn't think. So he +lay just where Farmer Brown's boy +dropped him, and he didn't have any +more hope than before.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_18"></a> + +<h2>The Merry Little Breezes Work Hard</h2> + + +<p>The Merry Little Breezes almost +shouted aloud with delight when +they saw Farmer Brown's boy +drop Grandfather Frog to feel for his +handkerchief and wipe out the dust +which they had thrown in his eyes. Then +he had to climb the fence and chase his +hat through the garden. They would +let him almost get his hands on it and +then, just as he thought that he surely +had it, they would snatch it away. It +was great fun for the Merry Little +Breezes. But they were not doing it for +fun. No, indeed, they were not doing +it for fun! They were doing it to lead +Farmer Brown's boy away from Grandfather +Frog.</p> + + +<p>Just as soon as they dared, they +dropped the hat and then separated and +rushed away in all directions across the +Green Meadows, over to the Green +Forest, and down to the Smiling Pool. +What were they going for? Why, to +hunt for some of Grandfather Frog's +friends and ask their help. You see, the +Merry Little Breezes could make Farmer +Brown's boy drop Grandfather Frog, +but they couldn't untie a knot or cut a +string, and this is just what had got to +be done to set Grandfather Frog free, +for his hind-legs were tied together. So +now they were looking for some one with +sharp teeth, who thought enough of +Grandfather Frog to come and help him.</p> + +<p>One thought of Striped Chipmunk and +started for the old stone wall to look for +him. Another went in search of Danny +Meadow Mouse. A third headed for the +dear Old Briar-patch after Peter Rabbit. + +A fourth remembered Jimmy Skunk +and how he had once set Blacky the +Crow free from a snare. A fifth remembered +what sharp teeth Happy Jack +Squirrel has and hurried over to the +Green Forest to look for him. A sixth +started straight for the Smiling Pool to +tell Jerry Muskrat. And every one of +them raced as fast as he could.</p> + +<p>All this time Grandfather Frog was +without hope. Yes, Sir, poor old Grandfather +Frog was wholly in despair. You +see, he didn't know what the Merry +Little Breezes were trying to do, and he +was so frightened and confused that he +couldn't think. When Farmer Brown's +boy dropped him, he lay right where he +fell for a few minutes. Then, right close +at hand, he saw an old board. Without +really thinking, he tried to get to it, for +there looked as if there might be room +for him to hide under it. It was hard + +work, for you know his long hind-legs, +which he uses for jumping, were tied together. +The best he could do was to +crawl and wriggle and pull himself along. +Just as Farmer Brown's boy started to +climb the fence back into the Long Lane, +his hat in his hand, Grandfather Frog +reached the old board and crawled under +it.</p> + +<p>Now when the Merry Little Breezes +had thrown the dust in Farmer Brown's +boy's face and snatched his hat, he had +dropped Grandfather Frog in such a +hurry that he didn't notice just where he +did drop him, so now he didn't know +the exact place to look for him. But he +knew pretty near, and he hadn't the +least doubt but that he would find him. +He had just started to look when the +dinner horn sounded. Farmer Brown's +boy hesitated. He was hungry. If he +was late, he might lose his dinner. He + +could come back later to look for Grandfather +Frog, for with his legs tied Grandfather +Frog couldn't get far. So, with a +last look to make sure of the place, +Farmer Brown's boy started for the +house.</p> + +<p>If the Merry Little Breezes had known +this, they would have felt ever so much +better. But they didn't. So they hurried +as fast as ever they could to find +Grandfather Frog's friends and worked +until they were almost too tired to move, +for it seemed as if every single one of +Grandfather Frog's friends had taken +that particular day to go away from +home. So while Farmer Brown's boy +ate his dinner, and Grandfather Frog +lay hiding under the old board in the +Long Lane, the Merry Little Breezes +did their best to find help for him.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_19"></a> + +<h2>Striped Chipmunk Cuts The String</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">"Hippy hop! Flippy flop! All on a summer day</p> +<p class="l">My mother turned me from the house and sent me out to play!"</p> +</div> + + +<p>Striped Chipmunk knew perfectly +well that that was just +nonsense, but Striped Chipmunk +learned a long time ago that when you +are just bubbling right over with good +feeling, there is fun in saying and doing +foolish things, and that is just how he +was feeling. So he ran along the old +rail fence on one side of the Long Lane, +saying foolish things and cutting up +foolish capers just because he felt so +good, and all the time seeing all that + +those bright little eyes of his could take +in.</p> + +<p>Now Striped Chipmunk and the +Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother +West Wind are great friends, very great +friends, indeed. Almost every morning +they have a grand frolic together. But +this morning the Merry Little Breezes +hadn't come over to the old stone wall +where Striped Chipmunk makes his +home. Anyway, they hadn't come at +the usual time. Striped Chipmunk had +waited a little while and then, because +he was feeling so good, he had decided +to take a run down the Long Lane to +see if anything new had happened there. +That is how it happened that when +one of the Merry Little Breezes did go +to look for him, and was terribly anxious +to ask him to come to the help of +Grandfather Frog, he was nowhere to +be found.</p> + + +<p>But Striped Chipmunk didn't know +anything about that. He scampered +along the top rails of the old fence, +jumped up on top of a post, and sat up +to wash his face and hands, for Striped +Chipmunk is very neat and cannot +bear to be the least bit dirty. He looked +up and winked at Ol' Mistah Buzzard, +sailing round and round way, way up +in the blue, blue sky. He chased his +own tail round and round until he +nearly fell off of the post. He made +a wry face in the direction of Redtail +the Hawk, whom he could see sitting +in the top of a tall tree way over on the +Green Meadows. He scolded Bowser +the Hound, who happened to come trotting +up the Long Lane, and didn't stop +scolding until Bowser was out of sight. +Then he kicked up his heels and whisked +along the old fence again.</p> + +<p>Half-way across a shaky old rail, he + +suddenly stopped. His bright eyes had +seen something that filled him with +curiosity, quite as much curiosity as +Peter Rabbit would have had. It was +a piece of string. Yes, Sir, it was a +piece of string. Now Striped Chipmunk +often had found pieces of string, +so there was nothing particularly interesting +in the string itself. What did +interest him and make him very curious +was the fact that this piece of string +kept moving. Every few seconds it +gave a little jerk. Whoever heard of +a piece of string moving all by itself? +Certainly Striped Chipmunk never had. +He couldn't understand it.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes he watched it from +the top rail of the old fence. Then he +scurried down to the ground and, a +few steps at a time, stopping to watch +sharply between each little run, he +drew nearer and nearer to that queer + +acting string. It gave him a funny +feeling inside to see a string acting like +that, so he was very careful not to get +too near. He looked at it from one +side, then ran around and looked at it +from the other side. At last he got +where he could see that one end of the +string was under an old board, and then +he began to understand. Of course there +was somebody hiding under that old +board and jerking the string.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image6.png" alt="He seized the other end of the string and began to pull. Page 88."></p> +<p style="text-align: center">He seized the other end of the string and began to pull. +<em>Page 88.</em></p> + +<p>Striped Chipmunk sat down and +scratched his head thoughtfully. Whoever +was pulling that string couldn't +be very big, or they would never have +been able to crawl under that old board, +therefore he needn't be afraid. A gleam +of mischief twinkled in Striped Chipmunk's +eyes. He seized the other end +of the string and began to pull. Such a +jerking and yanking as began right +away! But he held on and pulled + +harder. Then out from under the old +board appeared the queer webbed feet +of Grandfather Frog tied together. +Striped Chipmunk was so surprised that +he let go of the string and nearly fell +over backward.</p> + +<p>"Why, Grandfather Frog, what under +the sun are you doing here?" he shouted.</p> + +<p>When Striped Chipmunk let go of the +string, Grandfather Frog promptly drew +his feet back under the old board, but +when he heard Striped Chipmunk's voice, +he slowly and painfully crawled out. He +told how he had been caught and tied +by Farmer Brown's boy and finally +dropped near the old board. He told +how terribly frightened he was, and how +sore his legs were. Striped Chipmunk +didn't wait for him to finish. In a flash +he was at work with his sharp teeth +and had cut the cruel string before +Grandfather Frog had finished his story.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_20"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Hurries Away</h2> + + +<p>When Striped Chipmunk cut the +string that bound the long legs +of Grandfather Frog together, +Grandfather Frog was so relieved that +he hardly knew what to do. Of course +he thanked Striped Chipmunk over and +over again. Striped Chipmunk said that +it was nothing, just nothing at all, and +that he was very glad indeed to help +Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>"We folks who live out in the Great +World have to help one another," said +Striped Chipmunk, "because we never +know when we may need help ourselves. +Now you take my advice, Grandfather +Frog, and go back to the Smiling Pool + +as fast as you can. The Great World is +no place for an old fellow like you, because +you don't know how to take care +of yourself."</p> + +<p>Now when he said that, Striped Chipmunk +made a great mistake. Old people +never like to be told that they are old +or that they do not know all there is to +know. Grandfather Frog straightened +up and tried to look very dignified.</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" said he, "I'd have +you to know, Striped Chipmunk, that +people were coming to me for advice +before you were born. It was just an +accident that Farmer Brown's boy caught +me, and I'd like to see him do it again. +Yes, Sir, I'd like to see him do it again!"</p> + +<p>Dear me, dear me! Grandfather Frog +was boasting. If he had been safe at +home in the Smiling Pool, there might +have been some excuse for boasting, but +way over here in the Long Lane, not + +even knowing the way back to the +Smiling Pool, it was foolish, very foolish +indeed. No one knew that better than +Striped Chipmunk, but he has a great +deal of respect for Grandfather Frog, +and he knew too that Grandfather Frog +was feeling very much out of sorts and +very much mortified to think that he +had been caught in such a scrape, so he +put a hand over his mouth to hide a +smile as he said:</p> + +<p>"Of course he isn't going to catch you +again. I know how wise and smart you +are, but you look to me very tired, and +there are so many dangers out here in +the Great World that it seems to me +that the very best thing you can do is +to go back to the Smiling Pool."</p> + +<p>But Grandfather Frog is stubborn, +you know. He had started out to see +the Great World, and he didn't want +the little people of the Green Meadows + +and the Green Forest to think that he +was afraid. The truth is, Grandfather +Frog was more afraid of being laughed +at than he was of the dangers around +him, which shows just how foolish wise +people can be sometimes. So he shook +his head.</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" said he, "I am going +to see the Great World first, and then I +am going back to the Smiling Pool. Do +you happen to know where there is any +water? I am very thirsty."</p> + +<p>Now over on the other side of the Long +Lane was a spring where Farmer Brown's +boy filled his jug with clear cold water +to take with him to the cornfield when +he had to work there. Striped Chipmunk +knew all about that spring, for he +had been there for a drink many times. +So he told Grandfather Frog just where +the spring was and how to get to it. He +even offered to show the way, but Grandfather + +Frog said that he would rather go +alone.</p> + +<p>"Watch out, Grandfather Frog, and +don't fall in, because you might not be +able to get out again," warned Striped +Chipmunk.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog looked up sharply to +see if Striped Chipmunk was making +fun of him. The very idea of any one +thinking that he, who had lived in the +water all his life, couldn't get out when +he pleased! But Striped Chipmunk +looked really in earnest, so Grandfather +Frog swallowed the quick retort on the +tip of his tongue, thanked Striped Chipmunk, +and hurried away to look for the +spring, for he was very, very thirsty. +Besides, he was very, very hot, and he +hurried still faster as he thought of the +cool bath he would have when he found +that spring.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_21"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Jumps Into More Trouble</h2> + + +<p>Some people are heedless and run +into trouble. Some people are stupid +and walk into trouble. Grandfather +Frog was both heedless and stupid +and jumped into trouble. When Striped +Chipmunk told him where the spring +was, it seemed to him that he couldn't +wait to reach it. You see, Grandfather +Frog had spent all his life in the Smiling +Pool, where he could get a drink whenever +he wanted it by just reaching over +the edge of his big green lily-pad. Whenever +he was too warm, all he had to do +was to say "Chugarum!" and dive head +first into the cool water. So he wasn't +used to going a long time without water.</p> + + +<p>Jump, jump, jump! Grandfather Frog +was going as fast as ever he could in the +direction Striped Chipmunk had pointed +out. Every three or four jumps he would +stop for just a wee, wee bit of rest, then +off he would go again, jump, jump, +jump! And each jump was a long one. +Peter Rabbit certainly would have been +envious if he could have seen those long +jumps of Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>At last the ground began to grow +damp. The farther he went, the damper +it grew. Presently it became fairly wet, +and there was a great deal of soft, cool, +wet moss. How good it did feel to +Grandfather Frog's poor tired feet!</p> + +<p>"Must be I'm most there," said +Grandfather Frog to himself, as he +scrambled up on a big mossy hummock, +so as to look around. Right away he +saw a little path from the direction of +the Long Lane. It led straight past the + +very hummock on which Grandfather +Frog was sitting, and he noticed that +where the ground was very soft and wet, +old boards had been laid down. That +puzzled Grandfather Frog a great deal.</p> + +<p>"It's a sure enough path," said he. +"But what under the blue, blue sky does +any one want to spoil it for by putting +those boards there?"</p> + +<p>You see, Grandfather Frog likes the +soft wet mud, and he couldn't understand +how any one, even Farmer Brown's +boy, could prefer a hard dry path. Of +course he never had worn shoes himself, +so he couldn't understand why any one +should want dry feet when they could +just as well have wet ones. He was still +puzzling over it when he heard a sound +that made him nearly lose his balance +and tumble off the hummock. It was a +whistle, the whistle of Farmer Brown's +boy! Grandfather Frog knew it right + +away, because he often had heard it over +by the Smiling Pool. The whistle came +from over in the Long Lane. Farmer +Brown's boy had had his dinner and was +on his way back to look for Grandfather +Frog where he had been dropped.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog actually grinned as +he thought how surprised Farmer +Brown's boy was going to be when he +could find no trace of him. Suddenly +the smile seemed to freeze on Grandfather +Frog's face. That whistle was +coming nearer! Farmer Brown's boy +had left the Long Lane and was coming +along the little path. The truth +is, he was coming for a drink at the +spring, but Grandfather Frog didn't +think of this. He was sure that in some +way Farmer Brown's boy had found out +which way he had gone and was coming +after him. He crouched down as flat +as he could on the big hummock and + +held his breath. Farmer Brown's boy +went straight past. Just a few steps +beyond, he stopped and knelt down. +Peeping through the grass, Grandfather +Frog saw him dip up beautiful clear +water in an old cup and drink. Then +Grandfather Frog knew just where the +spring was.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, Farmer Brown's +boy passed again, still whistling, on his +way to the Long Lane. Grandfather +Frog waited only long enough to be sure +that he had really gone. Then, with +bigger jumps than ever, he started for +the spring. A dozen long jumps, and he +could see the water. Two more jumps +and then a long jump, and he had landed +in the spring with a splash!</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" cried Grandfather +Frog. "How good the water feels!"</p> + +<p>And all the time, Grandfather Frog +had jumped straight into more trouble.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_22"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog Loses Heart</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">Look before you leap;</p> +<p class="l">The water may be deep.</p> +</div> + + +<p>That is the very best kind of +advice, but most people find that +out when it is too late. Grandfather +Frog did. Of course he had heard +that little verse all his life. Indeed, he +had been very fond of saying it to those +who came to the Smiling Pool to ask his +advice. But Grandfather Frog seemed +to have left all his wisdom behind him +when he left the Smiling Pool to go out +into the Great World. You see, it is very +hard work for any one whose advice has +been sought to turn right around and +take advice themselves. So Grandfather + +Frog had been getting into scrapes ever +since he started out on his foolish journey, +and now here he was in still another, +and he had landed in it head first, with +a great splash.</p> + +<p>Of course, when he had seen the cool, +sparkling water of the spring, it had +seemed to him that he just couldn't +wait another second to get into it. He +was so hot and dry and dreadfully thirsty +and uncomfortable! And so—oh, dear +me!—Grandfather Frog didn't look at +all before he leaped. No, Sir, he didn't! +He just dived in with a great long jump. +Oh, how good that water felt! For a +few minutes he couldn't think of anything +else. It was cooler than the water +of the Smiling Pool, because, as you +know, it was a spring. But it felt all the +better for that, and Grandfather Frog +just closed his eyes and floated there in +pure happiness.</p> + + +<p>Presently he opened his eyes to look +around. Then he blinked them rapidly +for a minute or so. He rubbed them to +make sure that he saw aright. His heart +seemed to sink way, way down towards +his toes. "Chugarum!" exclaimed +Grandfather Frog, "Chugarum!" And +after that for a long time he didn't say a +word.</p> + +<p>You see, it was this way. All around +him rose perfectly straight smooth walls. +He could look up and see a little of the +blue, blue sky right overhead and whispering +leaves of trees and bushes. Over +the edge of the smooth straight wall +grasses were bending. But they were so +far above his head, so dreadfully far! +<em>There wasn't any place to climb out!</em> +Grandfather Frog was in a prison! He +didn't understand it at all, but it was so.</p> + +<p>Of course, Farmer Brown's boy could +have told him all about it. A long time + +before Farmer Brown himself had found +that spring, and because the water was +so clear and cold and pure, he had cleared +away all the dirt and rubbish around it. +Then he had knocked the bottom out of +a nice clean barrel and had dug down +where the water bubbled up out of the +sand and had set the barrel down in this +hole and had filled in the bottom with +clean white sand for the water to bubble +up through. About half-way up the +barrel he had cut a little hole for the +water to run out as fast as it bubbled +in at the bottom. Of course the water +never could fill the barrel, because when +it reached that hole, it ran out. This +left a straight, smooth wall up above, a +wall altogether too high for Grandfather +Frog to jump over from the inside.</p> + +<p>Poor old Grandfather Frog! He wished +more than ever that he never, never had +thought of leaving the Smiling Pool to + +see the Great World. Round and round +he swam, but he couldn't see any way out +of it. The little hole where the water +ran out was too small for him to squeeze +through, as he found out by trying and +trying. So far as he could see, he had +just got to stay there all the rest of his +life. Worse still, he knew that Farmer +Brown's boy sometimes came to the +spring for a drink, for he had seen him +do it. That meant that the very next +time he came, he would find Grandfather +Frog, because there was no place to hide. +When Grandfather Frog thought of that, +he just lost heart. Yes, Sir, he just lost +heart. He gave up all hope of ever seeing +the Smiling Pool again, and two big +tears ran out of his big goggly eyes.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_23"></a> + +<h2>The Merry Little Breezes Try To Comfort Grandfather Frog</h2> + + +<p>When the Merry Little Breezes +of Old Mother West Wind had +left Grandfather Frog in the +Long Lane where Farmer Brown's boy +had dropped him, and had hurried as +fast as ever they could to try to find +some of his friends to help him, not one +of them had been successful. No one was +at home, and no one was in any of the +places where they usually were to be +found. The Merry Little Breezes looked +and looked. Then, one by one, they +sadly turned back to the Long Lane. +They felt so badly that they just hated +to go back where they had left Grandfather +Frog.</p> + + +<p>When they got there, they found +Striped Chipmunk, who now was scolding +Farmer Brown's boy as fast as his +tongue could go.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" cried the Merry +Little Breezes excitedly.</p> + +<p>Striped Chipmunk stopped scolding +long enough to point to Farmer Brown's +boy, who was hunting in the grass for +some trace of Grandfather Frog.</p> + +<p>"We don't mean him, you stupid! We +can see him for ourselves. Where's +Grandfather Frog?" cried the Merry +Little Breezes, all speaking at once.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Striped Chipmunk, +"and what's more, I don't care!"</p> + +<p>Now this wasn't true, for Striped Chipmunk +isn't that kind. It was mostly +talk, and the Merry Little Breezes knew +it. They knew that Striped Chipmunk +really thinks a great deal of Grandfather +Frog, just as they do. So they pretended + +not to notice what he said or how put +out he seemed. After a while, he told +them that he had set Grandfather Frog +free and that then he had started for +the spring on the other side of the Long +Lane. The Merry Little Breezes were +delighted to hear the good news, and +they said such a lot of nice things to +Striped Chipmunk that he quite forgot +to scold Farmer Brown's boy. Then +they started for the spring, dancing +merrily, for they felt sure that there +Grandfather Frog was all right, and they +expected to find him quite at home.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Grandfather Frog!" they +shouted, as they peeped into the spring. +"How do you like your new home?"</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog made no reply. He +just rolled his great goggly eyes up at +them, and they were full of tears.</p> + +<p>"Why—why—why, Grandfather +Frog, what is the matter now?" they +cried.</p> + + +<p>"Chugarum," said Grandfather Frog, +and his voice sounded all choky, "I can't +get out."</p> + +<p>Then they noticed for the first time +how straight and smooth the walls of +the spring were and how far down +Grandfather Frog was, and they knew +that he spoke the truth. They tried +bending down the grasses that grew +around the edge of the spring, but none +were long enough to reach the water. +If they had stopped to think, they would +have known that Grandfather Frog +couldn't have climbed up by them, anyway. +Then they tried to lift a big stick +into the spring, but it was too heavy for +them, and they couldn't move it. However, +they did manage to blow an old +shingle in, and this gave Grandfather +Frog something to sit on, so that he began +to feel a little better. Then they +said all the comforting things they could + +think of. They told him that no harm +could come to him there, unless Farmer +Brown's boy should happen to see +him.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image7.png" alt=""That's just what I'm afraid of!" croaked Grandfather Frog. Page 109."></p> +<p style="text-align: center">"That's just what I'm afraid of!" croaked Grandfather +Frog. <em>Page 109</em>.</p> + +<p>"That's just what I am afraid of!" +croaked Grandfather Frog. "He is sure +to see me if he comes for a drink, for +there is no place for me to hide."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he won't come," said one +of the Little Breezes hopefully.</p> + +<p>"If he does come, you can hide under +the piece of shingle, and then he won't +know you are here at all," said another.</p> + +<p>Grandfather Frog brightened up. +"That's so!" said he. "That's a good +idea, and I'll try it."</p> + +<p>Then one of the Merry Little Breezes +promised to keep watch for Farmer +Brown's boy, and all the others started +off on another hunt for some one to +help Grandfather Frog out of this new +trouble.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_24"></a> + +<h2>Grandfather Frog's Troubles Grow</h2> + +<div class="lg"> +<p class="l">Head first in; no way out;</p> +<p class="l">It's best to know what you're about!</p> +</div> + + +<p>Grandfather Frog had had +plenty of time to realize how very +true this is. As he sat on the old +shingle which the Merry Little Breezes +had blown into the spring where he was +a prisoner, he thought a great deal about +that little word "if." <em>If</em> he hadn't left +the Smiling Pool, <em>if</em> he hadn't been stubborn +and set in his ways, <em>if</em> he hadn't +been in such a hurry, <em>if</em> he had looked to +see where he was leaping—well, any one +of these <em>ifs</em> would have kept him out of +his present trouble.</p> + +<p>It really wasn't so bad in the spring. + +That is, it wouldn't have been so bad +but for the fear that Farmer Brown's +boy might come for a drink and find him +there. That was Grandfather Frog's +one great fear, and it gave him bad +dreams whenever he tried to take a nap. +He grew cold all over at the very thought +of being caught again by Farmer Brown's +boy, and when at last one of the Merry +Little Breezes hurried up to tell him that +Farmer Brown's boy actually was coming, +poor old Grandfather Frog was so +frightened that the Merry Little Breeze +had to tell him twice to hide under the +old shingle as it floated on the water.</p> + +<p>At last he got it through his head, and +drawing a very long breath, he dived +into the water and swam under the old +shingle. He was just in time. Yes, Sir, +he was just in time. If Farmer Brown's +boy hadn't been thinking of something +else, he certainly would have noticed the + +little rings on the water made by Grandfather +Frog when he dived in. But he +was thinking of something else, and it +wasn't until he dipped a cup in for the +second time that he even saw the old +shingle.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he exclaimed. "That must +have blown in since I was here yesterday. +We can't have anything like that in our +nice spring."</p> + +<p>With that he reached out for the old +shingle, and Grandfather Frog, hiding +under it, gave himself up for lost. But +the anxious Little Breeze had been +watching sharply and the instant he saw +what Farmer Brown's boy was going to +do, he played the old, old trick of snatching +his hat from his head. The truth is, +he couldn't think of anything else to do. +Farmer Brown's boy grabbed at his +hat, and then, because he was in a hurry +and had other things to do, he started off + +without once thinking of the old shingle +again.</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" cried Grandfather +Frog, as he swam out from under the +shingle and climbed up on it, "That +certainly was a close call. If I have +many more like it, I certainly shall die +of fright."</p> + +<p>Nothing more happened for a long +time, and Grandfather Frog was wondering +if it wouldn't be safe to take a nap +when he saw peeping over the edge above +him two eyes. They were greenish +yellow eyes, and they stared and stared. +Grandfather Frog stared and stared back. +He just couldn't help it. He didn't +know who they belonged to. He couldn't +remember ever having seen them before. +He was afraid, and yet somehow he +couldn't make up his mind to jump. He +stared so hard at the eyes that he didn't +notice a long furry paw slowly, very + +slowly, reaching down towards him. +Nearer it crept and nearer. Then suddenly +it moved like a flash. Grandfather +Frog felt sharp claws in his white and +yellow waistcoat, and before he could +even open his mouth to cry "Chugarum," +he was sent flying through the +air and landed on his back in the grass. +Pounce! Two paws pinned him down, +and the greenish yellow eyes were not +an inch from his own. They belonged to +Black Pussy, Farmer Brown's cat.</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="div"> +<a name="toc_25"></a> + +<h2>The Dear Old Smiling Pool Once More</h2> + + +<p>Black Pussy was having a good +time. Grandfather Frog wasn't. +It was great fun for Black Pussy +to slip a paw under Grandfather Frog +and toss him up in the air. It was still +more fun to pretend to go away, but to +hide instead, and the instant Grandfather +Frog started off, to pounce upon +him and cuff him and roll him about. +But there wasn't any fun in it for Grandfather +Frog. In the first place, he didn't +know whether or not Black Pussy liked +Frogs to eat, and he was terribly frightened. +In the second place, Black Pussy +didn't always cover up her claws, and +they pricked right through Grandfather + +Frog's white and yellow waistcoat and +hurt, for he is very tender there.</p> + +<p>At last Black Pussy grew tired of +playing, so catching up Grandfather +Frog in her mouth, she started along the +little path from the spring to the Long +Lane. Grandfather Frog didn't even +kick, which was just as well, because if +he had, Black Pussy would have held +him tighter, and that would have been +very uncomfortable indeed.</p> + +<p>"It's all over, and this is the end," +moaned Grandfather Frog. "I'm going +to be eaten now. Oh, why, why did I +ever leave the Smiling Pool?"</p> + +<p>Just as Black Pussy slipped into the +Long Lane, Grandfather Frog heard a +familiar sound. It was a whistle, a merry +whistle. It was the whistle of Farmer +Brown's boy. It was coming nearer and +nearer. A little bit of hope began to +stir in the heart of Grandfather Frog.</p> + + +<p>He didn't know just why, but it did. +Always he had been in the greatest fear +of Farmer Brown's boy, but now—well, +if Farmer Brown's boy should take him, +he might get away from him as he did +before, but he was very sure that he +never, never could get away from Black +Pussy.</p> + +<p>The whistle drew nearer. Black Pussy +stopped. Then she began to make a +queer whirring sound deep down in her +throat.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Black Pussy! Have you been +hunting? Come here and show me +what you've got," cried a voice.</p> + +<p>Black Pussy arched up her back and +began to rub against the legs of Farmer +Brown's boy, and all the time the whir, +ring sound in her throat grew louder and +louder. Farmer Brown's boy stooped +down to see what she had in her +mouth.</p> + + +<p>"Why," he exclaimed, "I do believe +this is the very same old frog that got +away from me! You don't want him, +Puss. I'll just put him in my pocket and +take him up to the house by and by."</p> + +<p>With that he took Grandfather Frog +from Black Pussy and dropped him in +his pocket. He patted Black Pussy, +called her a smart cat, and then started +on his way, whistling merrily. It was +dark and rather close in that pocket, +but Grandfather Frog didn't mind this. +It was a lot better than feeling sharp +teeth and claws all the time. He wondered +how soon they would reach the +house and what would happen to him +then. After what seemed like a long, +long time, he felt himself swung through +the air, and then he landed on the +ground with a thump that made him +grunt. Farmer Brown's boy had taken +off his coat and thrown it down.</p> + + +<p>The whistling stopped. Everything +was quiet. Grandfather Frog waited +and listened, but not a sound could he +hear. Then he saw a little ray of light +creeping into his prison. He squirmed +and pushed, and all of a sudden he was +out of the pocket. The bright light made +him blink. As soon as he could see, he +looked to see where he was. Then he +rubbed his eyes with both hands and +looked again. He wasn't at Farmer +Brown's house at all. Where do you +think he was? Why, right on the bank +of the Smiling Pool, and a little way off +was Farmer Brown's boy fishing!</p> + +<p>"Chugarum!" cried Grandfather +Frog, and it was the loudest, gladdest +chugarum that the Smiling Pool ever +had heard. "Chugarum!" he cried +again, and with a great leap he dived +with a splash into the dear old Smiling +Pool, which smiled more than ever.</p> + + +<p>And never again has Grandfather Frog +tried to see the Great World. He is +quite content to leave it to those who +like to dwell there. And since his own +wonderful adventures, he has been ready +to believe anything he is told about +what happens there. Nothing can surprise +him, not even the astonishing things +that happened to Chatterer the Red +Squirrel, about which it takes a whole +book to tell.</p> + + +</div> + +</div> + +<div class="back"> +</div> + +</div> +<p> </p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14375 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |