The Springdale news., 1898-11-18
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Told by a Tree Toad
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' CAN trace the consequences that
 befell me for my impersonation ot the tree toad 10 the deep-seated and generous admiration had in my early childhood, thanks to my mother, for l the Divine Creator.
 Apart from this the real cause of my distress l was in a great measure as sisted by my brother Will, who, for his eight years, was perhaps the most skillful manipulator of other boys troubles that ever thrived. h looking g back over my boyhood and upon reck- oning up my downfalls, I can easily and with justice hold Tim iu a great measure responsible.
 But he was my brother, older than I, and I always listened to what ] imagined was the superior counsel. Ii was he who induced me to become a toad.
 You shall read how 1t came about. Tn the far west, where the events of this tale are laid, there are long sum mer months, during which the mos quito, the gnat, the grasshopper and the quaint tree toad msintain fat and healthy existence. never neglect. ing an opportunity 10 infest your dom icile and make themselves perfectly at home.
 It was my pleasure to assault these intruders, and my mothers labor to intervene in favor of the defenseles' creatures She was woman or heart and conscience and every living thing was held above annoyance by her. Ere. quently the toad was the theme Of a discourse which my brother and l re. ceived from her knee.
 One day a tree toad dropped from the pear tree that shaded the front porch where Will and I sat receiving our daily lesson in Christianity and morals.
 The arrival of the green toad, wild eyed and somewhat overcome at hia surroundings, enabled me 10 change the conversation.
 Mother" l asked, "why is the toad green? Wouldn't blue or red do just as well?"
 "No, my child" she answered with that gentleness which I was 50 long in learning 10 respect God has made the poor little creatures of the earth and air in such a way that they may find protection from their enemies The grasshopper is the color of the sand, the horned toad the color of the rocks, the tree toad the color of the trees, and so on. When the tree toad Is in the leaves ii is hard for the birds 10 find him. Therefore his color is his protection. Ii is Gods way of caring for His toads. And in all things He ex- ercises tle same watchfulness. If you should look for the tree toad among the foliage you would be long time finding the little fellow"
 was greatly affected. But not to the extent that ny brother Will was. Presently the toad hoped from the porch and disappeared am'ong the green grasses of the garden. Will watched him thoughtfully for a mo- msnt and then laid bis isdevilish plans.
 Bob, got . scheme. Come with me-" he whispered in my receptive ear.
 Offering some trivial excuse to our mother, We hurried away hand in hand, and passing around the back of the wide veranda my conscienceless broth er dragged me through a hole under the porch, and blindly following him 1 crawled along 10 corner of the lattice work where he confdingly re- moved painters pa cket and disclosed to me bucket of green paint left there by the workmen who were re- juvenating our happy little home.
 As on former occasions, l was ready 10 do his bidding. He swashed the brush around in inc green paint for a few moments and limbered it up
 Now, Bobby" said he, turning 10 me and holding up inc brush. lin go- ing 10 make tree toad of you in about five minutes. You know the reason why? Mother said God made the tree toad green SC thnt he birds and the yod eatchers couldn't Fee hi1n."
 'But l don want 10 De no toad, Will" I demonstrated mildly
 "oh, yes, you do. Wait till tell you why. II make tree toad of you you san climb up ip the. .peartree and hook the pears father has forbidden Us. Don't you see. Bobby, they can't any