The Adventures of Grandfather Frog | Page 2

was just about to make a frightened plunge into the Smiling
Pool when he saw Jerry.
"Have a nice nap?" inquired Jerry, with a broad grin.
"I wasn't asleep!" protested Grandfather Frog indignantly. "I was just
thinking."
"Don't you think it a rather dangerous plan to think so long with your
eyes closed?" asked Jerry.
"Well, maybe I did just doze off," admitted Grandfather Frog
sheepishly.
"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.
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.
"It's a splendid chance to have some fun with Grandfather Frog and
give him a great scare," concluded Billy.
Little Joe Otter put his fish down and grinned. He likes to play pranks
almost 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
we can 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 two
little 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 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.
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.
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.

"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."
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.
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!"
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