Evening star., 1921-07-27
nI1TILESI0RIEs nI1TILE
6rBEEDTInE
Grandfather Frog Is Humble.
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.


Who finds he's in the wrong should try
To right 1t, and eat humble-p
Peter Rabbit.
Peter Rabbit didn't know whether to
laugh or be angry when Grandfather
Frog bluntly told him that he didn't be-
lieve his story about Longlegs the Heron.
Wisely. he decided to laugh.
Il don't blame you for not believing
it. Grandfather Frog" said he, "but it
is the truth just the same You escaped
Longlegs by the toenails Of your hind
feet. and that Is about all. If you had
waited to find out what thumped for
you would know by this time exactly
how long the neck Of Longlegs the Heron
is."
'Jonglegs the Heron hasn't been near
the Smiling Pool today" declared Grand
father Frog gruff1y.
"Oh, yes he has," retorted Peter He
was here this evening. You were so
busy leading the Frog chorus you forgot
everything else and he stole I'D right
behind YOU If you had been on your
usual big, green lily pad out where the
water is deep you would have been all
right. 1 don't know what you were
were within easy reach of Longlegs when
I made you jump"
Grandfather Frog still looked as If
he thought Peter was making up that
story. and Peter saw it. He looked down
in the mud just in front Of him and his
face frightened. Come over here,
Grandfather Frog. and I'll prove that
what told you is true"
Grandfather Frog hesitated. But he
couldn't well refuse. so he swan over
to the shore where Peter was squatting.
"There!" cried Peter. pointing to the
mud at his feet.
Grandfather Frog looked and such a
funny expression passed over his face.
There in the mud were the footprints of
where Longlegs had stood when Peter
had thumped. Grandfather Frog gulped
hard once or twice and shut and opened
his great, goggly eyes several times.
Then he spoke, and his voice was not
nearly so gruff as it had been. Grand
father Frog was humble, very, very
humble
Il hope, Peter Rabbit that you will
forget all said. just as IL 1 hadn't said
it." said he Il guess I am getting
childish in my old age. know now that
l owe my life to you and I am very
grateful. shall not forget 1t. Peter
Rabbit shall not forget it. Perhaps
some Qdy may De ADle 10 90 as much
for you. You see. I dived so quickly
that didn't see Longlegs at all, and I
stayed down in the mud SO long that
when came up he had gone and there
was no one but you. So I jumped at
conclusions. It is bad thing, Peter, a
very bad thing, to jump at conclusions.
Don't do IT.. Don't ever do it I never
will again."
IT don't blame you a bit."' said Peter.
I guess would have done the same had
I been in your place. My, but Longlegs
was angry! He chased me way up on
the Green Meadow and I do believe he
would have killed me IL he had caught
me-"
mo doubt of it. Peter, No doubt of
it." returned Grandfather Frog. Hes
a dangerous fellow. is Longlegs, when
he is angry. You must keep out Of his
way for some time. to come. He isn't
the kind to forgive and forget. Neither
am the kind to forget. I don't
know how I shall do 1t, but some day I
shall repay you for what you have done
for me. Now, If you'll excuse me must
lead the chorus again. II they don't
hear my voice all my relatives will think
something has happened to me. Chug-
arum, chug-arum, chug-arums chug-
arum."
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