Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-07-19
MiIady.


neighbor. Late in May we began to
notice il, at twilight, taking an interest IN
the rosebushes and the petunia beds, and
particularly in the nicotiana, where the
gnats and moths gathered plentifully.
We were aware OF the little beast's|use-
fulness, and consequently we were glad
TO have il on the premises.
We had not thought, however, that the
toad might like us for our company as
we'll as for our insect enticing plants un-
til one morning at breakfast Brother Jack
said:
Funny about that toad. For three
nights now, when I've come home, it's
been waiting for me on the front walk,
on that top step going down 10 the street" !"
We laughed, and thought no more
about it but again. after week, brother
mentioned the toad: "Hope nothing's
happened to Milady."
"Your lady |" we calculated in chorus.
"Yes, Milady Toad. call her my
wife. She's faithfully met me at the top
step every night this week, until last
night. Hope no ones stepped on her,
or nothing's caught her."
But the following morning brother an
nounced with a smile that Milady was on
the step as usual, the night before, wait
ing for him. Thereupon. we began to
get interested in this odd friendship.
"Hath a toad affections ?" We queried,
and made up our minds TO find out. It
might be accidental, this being on the
walk every night, but how interesting If
Milady carefully timed her appearances
Consequently, that night we ourselves
waited for brother. II was a bright
moonlight night, but we saw nothing OF
Milady until about ten O'Clock. We
heard brother come whistling down the
street, and sure enough, just before he
reached the steps that led up from the
pavement, Milady hoped out from The
direction OF some rose shrubbery near
the terrace, and was on the top step
when brother came up.
"Hello, there, old girl !" said brother,
with laugh, and he stopped beside the
toad.
He pulled long grass and tickled her
gently on her back and on her full throb-
bing throat. Not move did Milady
make 10 leave the place until brother
came on to the house, when off she went
into the rosebushes again.
When we told brother how Milady
had hastened out to be there upon his
arrival, he grinned proudly.
"Pretty smart, eh a.? Probably my in
teresting conversation has something TO
do with her liking for ME. Part OF the
advantages of college education, eh, TO
be able TO discourse entertainingly TO
toad ?"
"Do you always stop for word with
her when you see her ?" we inquired
suspiciously.
Certainly !" said brother proudly.
"She seems TO expect it,-since the first
night saw her there,-and rather likes
The attention. And appreciate her
faithfulpess, always there waiting up for
me when get in, no matter what hour"
We kept watch for several evenings
thereafter, and it was plain TO see that
Milady came out on the walk when she
heard brothers. whistle. She would be
out of sight until he neared the steps, but
would hop out from somewhere before
he reached them. Just TO test her, one
night brother came home through the
back alley. Milady was not 10 be seen,
until he stood there whiStling for her,
when she came hurrying out as ifashamed
OF having failed in her duty.
Only on rainy nights did she fail to
keep her appointment; she probably re-
tired early then because insect food was
scarce. Brother finally confessed that
he had been training Milady for some
time before he told us OF their friendship.
She was on the top step one night when
he came home, and he stopped and
scratched her back, whistling softly as he
did so. The next night he waited until
she appeared, and after that the habit
was formed and she came promptly at
call.
Often she appeared in the yard during
the daytime. II was interesting TO watch
her catch flies. Her favorte hunting
ground was the screen at the door OF the
south, where they gathered most numer-
ously. She would squat there on the
cement walk, motionleSs. until fly came
near. Then her eyes would glitter dan
gerously and her throat throb in anticipa-
ton. When the fly was within the
proper distance, say three inches, out
would shoot Milady's red tongue, there
would be the faint flick like whip crack,
and the fly would disappear.
We never failed 10 marvel at the dex-
terity oil that tongue play. A toad's
tongue is attached TO the front OF the
mouth, and so comes out with back
ward sweep, carrying the prey with it on
the under side and tossing it into the
back OF the throat. Milady could reach
in any direction with this wet streak OF
lightning, and FULLY the length Of her own
body. Upon occasion, she would help
il play still farther by stretching out her
body as well.
She never leaped for he's prey, frog
fashion, but she had very clever way OF
stalking her game. She would crawl
along, "hand over hand" in
her odd pigeon-toed gait, and thus cap
ture many fly that perhaps thought him.
self safely out OF her reach.