Evening star., 1942-03-18
Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON w. BURGESS.

Old Mr.. Toad hoped slowly down
the Lone Little Path. He usually does
hop slowly, but this time he hoped
slower than ever. You see he was so
puffed up that he couldn't have
hoped fast If he had wanted to
and he didn't want to. In the first
place his stomach was so full of ants
that there wasn't room for another
one. No, sir. Old Mr.. Toad couldn't
have swallowed another ant if he
had tried. OF course they made his
stomach stick out. but 1t wasn't the
ants what puffed him out all over.
Oh, my no! 1t was pride. That's
what 1t was-pride You know
nothing can puff any one up like
foolish pride.
Old Mr.. Toad was old enough to
have known better. 1t is bad enough
to see young and foolish creatures
pulled up with pride. but 1t is worse
to see any one as old as Old Mr..
Toad that way. He held his head 50
high that he couldn't see his own
feet and more than once he stubbed
his toes. Presently he met his old
friend Danny Meadow Mouse. He
tipped his head q little higher,
puffed himself out a little more and
pretended not to see Danny.
Hello, Mr.. Toad" said Danny.
Mr.. Toad pretended not to hear.
Danny looked puzzled. Then he
spoke again and this time he
shouted.
Hello. Mr.. Toad! I haven't seen
you for some time"
1t wouldn't do to pretend not to
hear this time. "Oh, how do you do,
Danny?" said Old Mr.. Toad with a
very grand air and pretending to be
much surprised. Sorry can't stop,
but I've been dining with my friend
Buster Bear and now I must get
home"
When he mentioned the name of
Buster Bear he puffed himself out a
little more. Danny grinned as he
watched him hop on down the Long
Little Path. Cant talk with COM
mon folks any more" he muttered
I've heard that pride is very apt
to turn peoples heads. but I never
expected to see Old Mr.. Toad
proud"
Mr.. Toad kept on his way and
presently he met Peter Rabbit.
Peter stopped to gossip, as Is his
way, but Old Mr. Toad took no
notice Of him at all. He kept right
on with his head high and all puffed
out. Peter might have been a stick
or a stone for all the notice Old Mr..
Toad took OF him. Peter looked
puzzled. Then he hurried down to
tell Danny Meadow Mouse about it.
"Oh," said Danny, hes been to
dine with Buster Bear and now he
has no use for his old friends"
Pretty soon along came Johnny
Chuck and he was very much put
out because he had been treated
by Old Mr.. Toad just as Peter Rab-
bit had. Striped Chipmunk told the
same story. So did Unc' Billy Pos
sum. 1t was the same with all of
Old M. Toad's old friends and neigh
bors, excepting Bobby Coon, who,
you know, is Buster Bears little
cousin. To him Old Mr.. Toad was
very polite and talked a great deal
about Buster Bear. and thought that
Bobby must be very proud to be
related to Buster.
At first everybody thoupht II q
great joke to see Old Mr.. Toad so
puf1ed up with pride, but after q
little they grew tired of being
snubbed by their old friend and
neighbor and began to say un-
pleasant things about him. Then
they decided that what Old Mr.
Toad needed was a lesson. so they
put their heads together and planned
now they would teach Old Mr.. Toad
how foolish 1t is for any one to be
puf1ed up with pride.