Evening star., 1937-06-01

old Mother Nature
TINE school Of life is hard school
for the little people of the
Green Forest and the Great
4 Meadows. Yes. indeed. 1t Is a
hard school. a much harder school
than boys and girls have to attend.
Fear is a great teacher, but hard
one. Hunger is great teacher, but a
hard one. Experience Is great
teacher, but hard one. 1t is through
these three that the little people learn
how to live that they may grow up to
fill their places in the Great World.
The wonder is that any OF them do
live to grow up. OF course, more do
not than do. So whenever you meet
one who is fully grown you may know
that one has learned and remembered
the lessons taught by the three
teachers I have mentioned
Taddy, the tiny son OF Old Mr..
Toad, was leaving the Smiling Pool
to flnd place for himself out in the
Great World when fright taught
him his first lesson. Blacky, the
Crow. discovered the army Of tiny
Toads just setting forth and, having
fondness for tiny Toads. called all
his relatives to a feast. The mere
sound OF Blacky's voice had frightened
Taddy. and at once he had fattened
himself under leaf that happened
to be handy. There he had remained
motionless, too frightened to move,
and constantly growing more fright
ened, II that were possible. Not until
he was sure that Blacky and his
friends had flown away did he move.
He had had dreadful fright.
Other little Toads who had not been
quick enough to hide had dbappeared,
never to be seen again. Great as was
that fright, Taddy was over 1t almost
as soon as he had started on again.
It is that way with the little people
of the Green Forest and the Green
Meadows, and it is well that is so.
But that fright had taught Taddy
two things that he never would forget.
One was that Blacky the Crow was
an enemy, and this meant that any
big feathered creature was to be dis
trusted The other thing was to hide
instantly when frightened. The latter
was a most important lesson for q
tiny Toad to learn.
So, hop, hop. hippety-hop, Taddy
went on, until jolly, round. bright
Mr.. Sun broke through the clouds
and began to dry OIL the grass and
the earth. Taddy crept under .
piece Of shingle that had been left
by the flood In the Spring. The
ground was damp and comfortable.
The rays Of jolly Mr.. Sun couldn't
reach him there. He settled him.
self to spend the day. He would
move on when the Black Shadows
came creeping across the Green
Meadows.
Taddy hadn't travelled far, Is you
and I would measure distance. but
for such tiny fellow he had come
long distance. He was tired. So he
dozed and rested and was content.
The Great World no longer seemed
place fraught with great perils.
You see, he felt so very, very safe
under that piece of shingle.
Now, very close to that piece Of
shingle was = little piece Of board.
and under that little piece of board
several little Toads had sought shelter
from jolly, round, bright Mr.. Sun.
Taddy didn't know they were there,
for he hadn't seen them when they
crawled under 1t. Taddy heard just
the faintest Of sounds, a soft rustling
in the grass. For no reason at all 1t
gave him an uneasy feeling. Then as
he peered out he saw something
moving In the grass, something long
and slender. and Taddy gulped with
sudden fright. That was 4 member
OF the Snake family! There WAS no
doubt about it. Mr.. Watersnake was
the only Snake that Taddy had ever
seen. This one was entirely different,
little fellow and striped. He looked
too small to be feared, yet he was q
Snake and Taddy felt 4 sudden chill.
It was little Gartersnake.
He slipped his head under that other
piece Of board, and then began to
crawl under. Suddenly out came two
little Toads, hopping franucally, and
behind them came that little Garter.
snake. He slided forward swiftly. In
= second he had caught one Of those
little Toads. Then he passed beyond
Taddy's range Of vision. Taddy
shivered.
THAT fellow looked harmless, but
he isn't. He Is one more enemy to
be watched for" thought Taddy.
So one more fright had taught him
something 1t was important for him