The Adventures of Grandfather Frog

by Thornton W. Burgess

  The Bedtime Story-Books

  THE ADVENTURES OF GRANDFATHER FROG

  by

  THORNTON W. BURGESS

  Author of _The Adventures of Reddy Fox_, _Old Mother West Wind_, etc.

  With Illustrations by HARRISON CADY

  BostonLittle, Brown, and Company

  1920

  "Have a nice nap?" inquired Jerry, with a broad grin.(Frontispiece)]

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER

  I. BILLY MINK FINDS LITTLE JOE OTTER

  II. LONGLEGS THE BLUE HERON RECEIVES CALLERS

  III. LONGLEGS VISITS THE SMILING POOL

  IV. THE PATIENCE OF LONGLEGS THE BLUE HERON

  V. GRANDFATHER FROG JUMPS JUST IN TIME

  VI. LONGLEGS AND WHITETAIL QUARREL

  VII. GRANDFATHER FROG'S BIG MOUTH GETS HIM IN TROUBLE

  VIII. SPOTTY THE TURTLE PLAYS DOCTOR

  IX. OLD MR. TOAD VISITS GRANDFATHER FROG

  X. GRANDFATHER FROG STARTS OUT TO SEE THE GREAT WORLD

  XI. GRANDFATHER FROG IS STUBBORN

  XII. GRANDFATHER FROG KEEPS ON

  XIII. DANNY MEADOW MOUSE FEELS RESPONSIBLE

  XIV. GRANDFATHER FROG HAS A STRANGE RIDE

  XV. GRANDFATHER FROG GIVES UP HOPE

  XVI. THE MERRY LITTLE BREEZES WORK HARD

  XVII. STRIPED CHIPMUNK CUTS THE STRING

  XVIII. GRANDFATHER FROG HURRIES AWAY

  XIX. GRANDFATHER FROG JUMPS INTO MORE TROUBLE

  XX. GRANDFATHER FROG LOSES HEART

  XXI. THE MERRY LITTLE BREEZES TRY TO COMFORT GRANDFATHER FROG

  XXII. GRANDFATHER FROG'S TROUBLES GROW

  XXIII. THE DEAR OLD SMILING POOL ONCE MORE

  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

  "HAVE A NICE NAP?" INQUIRED JERRY, WITH A BROAD GRIN

  "THANK YOU," SAID LONGLEGS. "I BELIEVE I HAVE AN ERRAND UP THAT WAY"

  AS SOON AS THEY SAW GRANDFATHER FROG, THEY BEGAN TO LAUGH, TOO

  "YOU WON'T SEE MUCH OF THE GREAT WORLD IF YOU JUMP LIKE THAT EVERYTIME YOU GET A SCARE," SAID DANNY

  HE SEIZED THE OTHER END OF THE STRING AND BEGAN TO PULL

  "THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M AFRAID OF!" CROAKED GRANDFATHER FROG

  THE ADVENTURES OF GRANDFATHER FROG

  I

  BILLY MINK FINDS LITTLE JOE OTTER

  Billy Mink ran around the edge of the Smiling Pool and turned down bythe Laughing Brook. His eyes twinkled with mischief, and he hurried asonly Billy can. As he passed Jerry Muskrat's house, Jerry saw him.

  "Hi, Billy Mink! Where are you going in such a hurry this fine morning?"he called.

  "To find Little Joe Otter. Have you seen anything of him?" repliedBilly.

  "No," said Jerry. "He's probably down to the Big River fishing. I heardhim say last night that he was going."

  "Thanks," said Billy Mink, and without waiting to say more he was offlike a little brown flash.

  Jerry watched him out of sight. "Hump!" exclaimed Jerry. "Billy Mink isin a terrible hurry this morning. Now I wonder what he is so anxious tofind Little Joe Otter for. When they get their heads together, it isusually for some mischief."

  Jerry climbed to the top of his house and looked over the Smiling Poolin the direction from which Billy Mink had just come. Almost at once hesaw Grandfather Frog fast asleep on his big green lily-pad. The legs ofa foolish green fly were sticking out of one corner of his big mouth.Jerry couldn't help laughing, for Grandfather Frog certainly did lookfunny.

  "He's had a good breakfast this morning, and his full stomach has madehim sleepy," thought Jerry. "But he's getting careless in his old age.He certainly is getting careless. The idea of going to sleep right outin plain sight like that!"

  Suddenly a new thought popped into his head. "Billy Mink saw him, andthat is why he is so anxious to find Little Joe Otter. He is planning toplay some trick on Grandfather Frog as sure as pollywogs have tails!"exclaimed Jerry. Then his eyes began to twinkle as he added: "I thinkI'll have some fun myself."

  Without another word Jerry slipped down into the water and swam over tothe big green lily-pad of Grandfather Frog. Then he hit the water asmart 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 Poolwhen he saw Jerry.

  "Have a nice nap?" inquired Jerry, with a broad grin.

  "I wasn't asleep!" protested Grandfather Frog indignantly. "I was justthinking."

  "Don't you think it a rather dangerous plan to think so long with youreyes closed?" asked Jerry.

  "Well, maybe I did just doze off," admitted Grandfather Frog sheepishly.

  "Maybe you did," replied Jerry. "Now listen." Then Jerry whispered inGrandfather Frog's ear, and both chuckled as if they were enjoying somejoke, for they are great friends, you know. Afterward Jerry swam back tohis house, and Grandfather Frog closed his eyes so as to look just as hedid when he was asleep.

  Meanwhile Billy Mink had hurried down the Laughing Brook. Half-way tothe Big River he met Little Joe Otter bringing home a big fish, for youknow Little Joe is a great fisherman. Billy Mink hastened to tell himhow Grandfather Frog had fallen fast asleep on his big green lily-pad.

  "It's a splendid chance to have some fun with Grandfather Frog and givehim a great scare," concluded Billy.

  Little Joe Otter put his fish down and grinned. He likes to play pranksalmost as well as he likes to go fishing.

  "What can we do?" said he.

  "I've thought of a plan," replied Billy. "Do you happen to know where wecan find Longlegs the Blue Heron?"

  "Yes," said Little Joe. "I saw him fishing not five minutes ago."

  Then Billy told Little Joe his plan, and laughing and giggling, the twolittle scamps hurried off to find Longlegs the Blue Heron.

  II

  LONGLEGS THE BLUE HERON RECEIVES CALLERS

  Longlegs the Blue Heron felt decidedly out of sorts. It was a beautifulmorning, too beautiful for any one to be feeling that way. Indeed, itwas the same beautiful morning in which Grandfather Frog had caught somany foolish green flies.

  Jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun was smiling his broadest. The Merry LittleBreezes of Old Mother West Wind were dancing happily here and there overthe Green Meadows, looking for some good turn to do for others. Thelittle feathered people to whom Old Mother Nature has given the greatblessing of music in their throats were pouring out their sweetestsongs. So it seemed as if there was no good reason why Longlegs shouldfeel out of sorts. The fact is the trouble with Longlegs was an emptystomach. Yes, Sir, that is what ailed Longlegs the Blue Heron thatsunshiny morning. You know it is hard work to be hungry and happy at thesame time.

  So Longlegs stood on the edge of a shallow little pool in the LaughingBrook, grumbling to himself. Just a little while before, he had seenLittle Joe Otter carrying home a big fish, and this had made himhungrier and more out of sorts than ever. In the first place it made himenvious, and envy, you know, always stirs up bad feelings. He knewperfectly well that Little Joe had got that fish by boldly chasing ituntil he caught it, for Little Joe can swim even faster than a fish. ButLonglegs 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, asmost people who fail do. So when Little Joe had called out: "Hi,Longlegs, what luck this fine morning?" Longlegs just pretended not tohear. But when Little Joe was out of sight and hearing, he began togrumble to himself.

  "No wonder I have no luck with that fellow racing up and down theLaughing Brook," said he. "He isn't content to catch what he wantshimself, but frightens the rest of the fish so that an honest fishermanlike me has no chance at all. I don't see what Old Mother Nature wasthinking of when she ga
ve him a liking for fish. He and Billy Mink arejust two worthless little scamps, born to make trouble for otherpeople."

  He was still grumbling when these two same little scamps poked theirheads out of the grass on the other side of the little pool. "You lookhappy, Longlegs. Must be that you have had a good breakfast," saidLittle Joe, nudging Billy Mink.

  Longlegs snapped his great bill angrily. "What are you doing here,spoiling my fishing?" he demanded. "Haven't you got the Big River andall the rest of the Laughing Brook to fool around in? This is my pool,and I'll thank you to keep away!"

  Billy Mink chuckled so that Longlegs heard him, and that didn't improvehis temper a bit. But before he could say anything more, Little JoeOtter spoke.

  "Oh," said he, "we beg your pardon. We just happen to know thatGrandfather Frog is sound asleep, and we thought that if you hadn't hadgood luck this morning, you might like to know about it. As long as youthink so ill of us, we'll just run over and tell Blackcap the NightHeron."

  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 soundpleasant, a difficult thing to do, because, you know, his voice is veryharsh and disagreeable. "The truth is, I haven't had a mouthful ofbreakfast and to be hungry is apt to make me cross. Where did you sayGrandfather Frog is?"

  "I didn't say," replied Little Joe, "but if you really want to know, heis sitting on his big green lily-pad in the Smiling Pool fast asleepright in plain sight."

  "Thank you," said Longlegs. "I believe I have an errand up that way, nowI think of it. I believe I'll just go over and have a look at him. Ihave never seen him asleep."

  "Thank you," said Longlegs. "I believe I have an errandup that way." _Page 10_.]

  III

  LONGLEGS VISITS THE SMILING POOL

  Longlegs the Blue Heron watched Billy Mink and Little Joe Otterdisappear down the Laughing Brook. As long as they were in sight, he satwithout moving, his head drawn down between his shoulders just as if hehad nothing more important to think about than a morning nap. But if youhad been near enough to have seen his keen eyes, you would never havesuspected him of even thinking of a nap. Just as soon as he felt surethat the two little brown-coated scamps were out of sight, he stretchedhis long neck up until he was almost twice as tall as he had been aminute before. He looked this way and that way to make sure that nodanger was near, spread his great wings, flapped heavily up into theair, and then, with his head once more tucked back between his shouldersand his long legs straight out behind him, he flew out over the GreenMeadows, and making a big circle, headed straight for the Smiling Pool.

  All this time Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter had not been so far awayas Longlegs supposed. They had been hiding where they could watch him,and the instant he spread his wings, they started back up the LaughingBrook towards the Smiling Pool to see what would happen there. You seethey knew perfectly well that Longlegs was flying up to the Smiling Poolin the hope that he could catch Grandfather Frog for his breakfast. Theydidn't really mean that any harm should come to Grandfather Frog, butthey meant that he should have a great fright. You see, they were like agreat many other people, so heedless and thoughtless that they thoughtit fun to frighten others.

  "Of course we'll waken Grandfather Frog in time for him to get away withnothing more than a great scare," said Little Joe Otter, as they hurriedalong. "It will be such fun to see his big goggly eyes pop out when heopens them and sees Longlegs just ready to gobble him up! And won'tLonglegs be hopping mad when we cheat him out of the breakfast he is sosure he is going to have!"

  They reached the Smiling Pool before Longlegs, who had taken aroundabout way, and they hid among the bulrushes where they could seeand not be seen.

  "There's the old fellow just as I left him, fast asleep," whisperedBilly Mink.

  Sure enough, there on his big green lily-pad sat Grandfather Frog withhis eyes shut. At least, they seemed to be shut. And over on top of hisbig house sat Jerry Muskrat. Jerry seemed to be too busy opening afresh-water clam to notice anything else; but the truth is he waswatching all that was going on. You see, he had suspected that BillyMink was going to play some trick on Grandfather Frog, so he had warnedhim. When he had seen Longlegs coming towards the Smiling Pool, he hadgiven Grandfather Frog another warning, and he knew that now he was onlypretending to be asleep.

  Straight up to the Smiling Pool came Longlegs the Blue Heron, and on thevery edge of it, among the bulrushes, he dropped his long legs and stoodwith his toes in the water, his long neck stretched up so that he couldlook all over the Smiling Pool. There, just as Little Joe Otter hadsaid, sat Grandfather Frog on his big green lily-pad, fast asleep. Atleast, he seemed to be fast asleep. The eyes of Longlegs sparkled withhunger and the thought of what a splendid breakfast Grandfather Frogwould make. Very slowly, putting each foot down as carefully as he knewhow, Longlegs began to walk along the shore so as to get opposite thebig green lily-pad where Grandfather Frog was sitting. And over in thebulrushes on the other side, Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink nudged eachother and clapped their hands over their mouths to keep from laughingaloud.

  IV

  THE PATIENCE OF LONGLEGS THE BLUE HERON

  Patience often wins the day When over-haste has lost the way.

  If there is one virtue which Longlegs the Heron possesses above anotherit is patience. Yes, Sir, Longlegs certainly has got patience. Hebelieves that if a thing is worth having, it is worth waiting for, andthat if he waits long enough, he is sure to get it. Perhaps that isbecause he has been a fisherman all his life, and his father and hisgrandfather were fishermen. You know a fisherman without patience rarelycatches anything. Of course Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter laugh atthis and say that it isn't so, but the truth is they sometimes gohungry when they wouldn't if they had a little of the patience ofLonglegs.

  Now Grandfather Frog is another who is very, very patient. He can sitstill the longest time waiting for something to come to him. Indeed, hecan sit perfectly still so long, and Longlegs can stand perfectly stillso long, that Jerry Muskrat and Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter have hadmany long disputes as to which of the two can keep still the longest.

  "He will make a splendid breakfast," thought Longlegs, as very, verycarefully he walked along the edge of the Smiling Pool so as to getright opposite Grandfather Frog. There he stopped and looked very hardat Grandfather Frog. Yes, he certainly must be asleep, for his eyes wereclosed. Longlegs chuckled to himself right down inside without making asound, and got ready to wade out so as to get within reach.

  Now all the time Grandfather Frog was doing some quiet chucklinghimself. You see, he wasn't asleep at all. He was just pretending to beasleep, and all the time he was watching Longlegs out of a corner of oneof his big goggly eyes. Very, very slowly and carefully, so as not tomake the teeniest, weeniest sound, Longlegs lifted one foot to wade outinto the Smiling Pool. Grandfather Frog pretended to yawn and opened hisbig goggly eyes. Longlegs stood on one foot without moving so much as afeather. Grandfather Frog yawned again, nodded as if he were too sleepyto keep awake, and half closed his eyes. Longlegs waited and waited.Then, little by little, so slowly that if you had been there you wouldhardly have seen him move, he drew his long neck down until his headrested on his shoulders.

  "I guess I must wait until he falls sound asleep again," said Longlegsto himself.

  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 wasasleep, open would pop Grandfather Frog's eyes. So all the long morningLonglegs stood on one foot without moving, watching and waiting andgrowing hungrier and hungrier, and all the long morning Grandfather Frogsat on his big green lily-pad, pretending that he was oh, so sleepy, andall the time having such a comfortable sun-bath and rest, for very earlyhe had had a good breakfast of foolish green flies.

  Over in the bulrushes on the other side of the Smiling Pool two littlescamps in brown bathing suits waited and watched for the great frightt
hey had planned for Grandfather Frog, when they had sent Longlegs totry to catch him. They were Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter. At firstthey laughed to themselves and nudged each other at the thought of thetrick they had played. Then, as nothing happened, they began to growtired and uneasy. You see they do not possess patience. Finally theygave up in disgust and stole away to find some more exciting sport.Grandfather Frog saw them go and chuckled harder than ever to himself.

  V

  GRANDFATHER FROG JUMPS JUST IN TIME

  Back and forth over the Green Meadows sailed Whitetail the Marsh Hawk.Like Longlegs the Blue Heron, he was hungry. His sharp eyes peered downamong the grasses, looking for something to eat, but some good fairyseemed to have warned the very little people who live there thatWhitetail was out hunting. Perhaps it was one of Old Mother West Wind'schildren, the Merry Little Breezes. You know they are always flittingabout trying to do some one a good turn.

  They love to dance and romp and play From dawn to dusk the livelong day, But more than this they love to find A chance to do some favor kind.

  Anyway, little Mr. Green Snake seemed to know that Whitetail was outhunting and managed to keep out of sight. Danny Meadow Mouse wasn't tobe found. Only a few foolish grasshoppers rewarded his patient search,and these only served to make him feel hungrier than ever. But oldWhitetail 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 hadbeen all over the Green Meadows. At last he made up his mind that he waswasting time there.