Evening star., 1915-04-13
Little Spfla
10 Bedtime
BY THORNTON W. BURGESS.
Copyright, 1915. BY J. G. Lloyd)
Peter Discovers Something
More.

There are stranger things IN the world today
Ihan ever To-, dreamed - e9gld o,.,. b.; .b,,.
II only you've eyes to see.
discovery that Old Mr.. Toad could sing
and not only that. but that his song
was one Of the sweetest OF all the glad
springtime. Ever since he was lit
tie chap and had first run away from
home he had known Old Mr.. Toad, and
never once had suspected that he could
sing. In fact. he had looked on Old
Mr.. Toad as such a homely fellow az
to be almost ugly looking, and he knew
that most of his neighbors looked on
Old Mr.. Toad in the same way. They
were fond of him. for he was always
good natured and attended strictly to
his own affairs, but they liked to poke
fun at him, and as for there being any
thing beautiful about him. why, Il
never entered their heads that such a
thing could be.
Now that they had discovered that he
really had a very beautiful voice, they
began to look on him with a great deal
more respect. This was especially 80
with Peter He couldn't get over his
first surprise. He got In the habit OF
going over to the Smiling Pool every
day when the way was clear, just to
sit on the bank and listen to Old Mr..
"Why didn't you ever tell US before
that you could sing?" he asked one day
as Old Mr.. Toad looked up at him from
the Smiling Pool.
what was the use Of wasting my
breathe" demanded Old Mr.. Toad: You
wouldn't have believed mo II had.
You didn't believe mo when did tell
you"
couldn't dnd an answer ready. At last
he ventured another question why
haven't ever heard you sing before 2
you have" replied oid M: Toad.
tartly. IT sang right in this % very place ace
the spring before that. You've sat on
that very bank lots Of times while ]
was singing. The trouble with you.
Peter. was that you didn't use your
eyes or your ears
Peter looked more foolish than ever.
but he ventured another question. 1t
wouldn't be Peter to let chance FOR
questions 20 by. Have I ever heard
you singing UP on the meadows or In
NO" replied Old Mr.. Toad. II only
sing in the springtime. That's the time
for singing. l Just have to sing then.
In the summer 1t is too hot and in the
winter 1 sleep. I always return to my
horn mere. All my family gathers here
In the spring to sing. and so. Of course,
Old Mr.. Toad filled out the queer
music bag under MS chin anu oeeaH "
sing again. Peter watched him. Now
1t just happened that Old MT Toad was
FACING him, and SO Peter looked
straight down into his eyes. He never
had looked into Mr.. Toad's eyes before.
and now he Just stared and stared. for
II came over him that those eyes were
yery beautiful, very beautiful, indeed.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. with a queer lit
tie catch in his breath. What beauti-
ful ewes you have. Mr.. Toad"
so rye been told before" replied
Old Mr. Toad. MY family always has
SAVING that every Toad has jewels in
his head. but, Of course, he hasn't
not real Jewels. It is just the beauti-
fuI eyes. Excuse me. Peter. but I'm
needed in that chorus" Old Mr.. Toad
swelied his throat out and began to
Peter watched him q while longer.
then he hoped away to the dear old
Brierpatch. and he was very thought
ful. He had discovered that Old Mr..
Toad had beautiful eyes, as we'll rs a
Never will I cali anybody homely
and ugly again until know all about
them." said Peter. which was Q very
wise decision. Don't you think so?