Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04
Topaz and His New Suit.

One bright, sunny morning Margie was
muffied up warm and carried out upon
he porch
"Oh! it's nice out here, Nina she said.
please let me sit on the lowest step to
the ground
isn't this beautiful" thought Margie
to herself. when Nina had gone: and she
looked longingly about at the tall grass
and leafy trees as she sat there alone
Just then little voice said, Gre. Gre"
down by her feet; and there was a pair
of bright eyes. black and gold. peeping
out close by grassy sod near the pillar.
oh. hop-toad" cried Margie
Again he said "Crer' for he was busy
shutting about and getting himself deep
er in the ground by working his feet
about under him. A toad never digs as a
dog or rat or a worm does, but he sits
UP and shuffles his hind feet beneath him
and gradually sinks out OF sight.
Big Brother Joe came sauntering near
Prof joey. what will / name my hop
toadT called Margie
Call him Topaz. Margie. because his
eyes are so bright"
Margie watched Topaz in keenest inter-
est as he slowly sank down out of the
warm sunshine into the moist cool
ground. The crumbiy earth closed over
his head and he was gone
But Margie did not forget her funny lit
tie neishbor. Each pleasant day she watch
ed for him under the door steps, and they
became acquainted.
II am almost well now, Nina go I'll ex-
cuse you from playing with me, for I'm
afraid Topaz will not come out He doesn't
know you very we'll" And Nina won't away
laughing.
Topaz was always on the lookout for
ha puo. of
broad daylight, though like all toads he
was nocturnal Usually he sat with his
head just out of the soft earth close by the
porch pillar. A buzzing fly would light
down on a grass blade close by. Popi
Where was Mr.. Jack Fly? A black-striped
bug would come along. Pop! Where was
Jim Potato Bus2
Margie took very long straw ind poked
toward Topaz the little brown piece of mo-
lasses cake Nina brought her Margie lay
fiat on the grass. Nina watching. The
brown crumb came nearer and nearer. To-
paz never winked. Nearer it came, poked
by the long straw. until It was about as
far away as a new slate pencil Is long.
Pop Out came Topaz's long white tongue
and the crumb was gone! 1t had stuck
tight to the plumb end OF that slender
tongue. all covered with sticky substance
and in this way had been drawn in SO
quickly that 1t seemed to vanish. Margies
hop toad sat there. just as before.
But Topaz concluded in a moment or two
opened his mouth wide and stuck In two
fingers Of his chubby foot and poked the
cake out contemptuously. He blinked both
eyes and looked mournfui as If to say, rs
that the best you can give me?"
II guess I'll watch him after this" Mar
gle concluded. She played about the yard
and every day watched for Topaz
He doesn't look well. Els skin is dark
and he stays so still down In the ground
now. and doesn't hop out evenings / won
der II he caught the measles from me-
Hes getting WELL one day she shouted
gleefully. and came running into the house.
Mamma and pape and Uncle Harry, please
come and see Topaz. He Is going to be
bright brown and yellow again. just as he
used to be. It's beginning on his back now.
Come and sea-"
And they all went out to watch Tonaz
There he was sqaatting on the soft dirt BY
the porch pillar. and. sure enough, there
was bright streak down the middle of his
back. He kept shutting about and the streak
got wider. OH cried Margie isn't he
pretty brown and Yellow Why! his skin
is coming off.''
Yes. said. Uncle Harry. .soncs a year
every toad changes his coat and gets
got too black and dirty. and suppose 1t was
so small that 1t split right down the back.
and now he has one front leg out OF the
old black sleeve. and he Is drawing out the
other one.s He win soon have his clothes
changed and come out In his summer suit.
And what do YOU think he will do with tile
!. old one. Margie7 He viii eat 1t urrs
OH cried Margie. don't let HIN he'll
choker'
"Ia, har' laughed Uncle Harry, ..just
watch him. his old skin is on now
He Is going TO! Papa, don't. please, al
low him to-
HE knows. Marsie. he Knows best what
to do for himself" said mamma, better
than we do
yes. suppose he does cried Margfe.
thinking of the ra,lasses cake
And fhay yf,ffche6 Ne .,.fna~9~r
swallowed his old skin Of last year and
then. bright and shining as 3 new gold dol-
lar. he cooliy proceeded to shuffie down
into the soft dirt. out ~ sight.