Evening star., 1937-06-07

ADDY. the young Toad who
had come up from the Smiling
Pool to live in Farmer
L Browns garden. was happy.
He felt that he had found his place
in the Great World. BY night and
on damp or rainy days. he and the
other Toads in the garden hunted
worms and insects. By day, when
the sun was shining, they dosed In
cool comfort under \ wide board pro-
vided for them in a shady corner OF
the garden.
Taddy was growing fast. Such an
appetite as he had! -Four big meals
every "a hours he needed and usually
full in the use OF that hindside-before
tongue OF his. He was sorry for any
one who didn't have 4 handy tongue
like his. You know. 1t was fastened
right up in the very front OF his
mouth. instead Of down in the throat,
as most tongues are fastened 1t
folded over, so that the tip was down
IN the back Of his mouth. You can
run your tongue out for only A part
Of its length, but 4 Toad can run
his out for practically its full length.
and this IL very handy for one who
lives on things that run or ny or
crawl.
Very skillful, very skillful indeed,
in using that tongue had Taddy be-
come. At hrst he had had trouble
In judging distance. Sometimes he
didn't get near enough to the insect
he wanted and when he shot his
tongue out. he missed. Again, he
would try to get too close and the
prize would fly or run away. But
after time he got 70 that he rarely
missed. Any ny or insect alishtinG
within reach Of that tongue was as
good rs caught then and there. You
see that tongue was sticky. The
tongues OF all Toads are that way.
When one Of them touches 4 victim
the latter sticks to the tongue and,
like 4 Hash, Is drawn back into the
mouth.
Then, too. Taddy had remembered
the lesson Old Mr.. Toad had given
him in the Use of his hands to push
into his mouth things that otherwise
he would have difficulty in getting
FAR enough in to swallow, earthworms,
for instance. So Taddy was 4 plump,
smart young Toad, happy and con-
tented and with few worries. It was
very different there in Farmer Browns
garden from what it had been when,
As 4 Tadpole, he had lived in the
Smiling Pool, and it had seemed as
II there was hardly 4 minute that he
was not in danger Of being caught by
some enemy.
Now, under that same wide board
IN the shady corner lived Old Mr..
Toad, who, although none of them
knew it, was the father OF Taddy and
some OF the other young Toads living
there. Taddy greatly admired Old
Mr.. Toad and learned much Just by
watching him. 1t was hard for him
to believe that Old Mr.. Toad could
be afraid of anything. So he hardly
believed his eyes when, as he started
out Just about sunset one afternoon,
he met Old Mr.. Toad returning faster
than he ever had seen Old Mr.. Toad
move before.
Hop. hop. hop. hippety hop, came
Old Mr.. Toad, and crept under the
board and clear to the back side.
There was fright In the eyes OF Old
Mr.. Toad. There was no doubt about
that. Old Mr.. Toad was terribly
frightened and showed 1t. And be-
cause fear Is catching, Taddy was
afraid. He was afraid without the
least idea Of what it was he was
afraid OF.
80 Taddy turned about and hur-.
riedly crept back under that board,
but he didn't 60 to the back side. He
remained where he could peep out,
Tor, being young and full of curiosity,
despite his fright he wanted to see
who or what had 20 frightened Old
Mr.. Toad.
Presently there was the sound of
heavy footsteps approaching. Taddy
saw two great feet passing. They
were the feet Of Farmer Browns Boy.
Taddy WAS not afraid. Those feet
passed that board every day. Then
tnere was . queer Slithering sound
and something long and black came
sliding along behind Farmer Browns
Boy. 1t had no legs, but Just slid
along. Taddy knew then what had 10
frightened Old Mr.. Toad. He himself
WAS too frightened even to move.
Here was bigger Snake than he had
dreamed existed. It seemed q II 1t
never would get past. 1t was awful.
Meanwhile Farmer Browns Boy
continued on his way, dragging after
him piece Of black rubber hose.
Copyright, 1872