"Beetle, beetle, smooth and smug, You are nothing but a bug. Bugs were made for Skunks to eat, So come out from your retreat.
"Hello! There's a nice big piece of bark over there that looks as if itought to have a dozen fat beetles under it. It's great fun to pull overpieces of bark and see fat beetles run all ways at once. I'll just have tosee what is under that piece."
Jimmy tiptoed softly over to the big piece of bark, and then as he madeready to turn it over, he began again that foolish little verse.
"Beetle, beetle, smooth and smug, You are nothing but a bug."
As he said the last word, he suddenly pulled the piece of bark over.
"Who's a bug?" asked a funny voice, and it sounded rather cross. JimmySkunk nearly tumbled over backward in surprise, and for a minute hecouldn't find his tongue. There, instead of the fat beetles he had been sosure of, sat Old Mr. Toad, and he didn't look at all pleased.
"Who's a bug?" he repeated.
Instead of answering, Jimmy Skunk began to laugh. "Who's a bug?" demandedOld Mr. Toad, more crossly than before.
"There isn't any bug, Mr. Toad, and I beg your pardon," replied Jimmy,remembering his politeness. "I just thought there was. You see, I didn'tknow you were under that piece of bark. I hope you will excuse me, Mr.Toad. Have you seen any fat beetles this morning?"
"No," said Old Mr. Toad grumpily, and yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"Why," exclaimed Jimmy Skunk, "I believe you have just waked up!"
"What if I have?" demanded Old Mr. Toad.
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all, Mr. Toad," replied Jimmy Skunk, "only you arethe second one I've met this morning who had just waked up."
"Who was the other?" asked Old Mr. Toad.
"Mr. Blacksnake," replied Jimmy. "He inquired for you."
Old Mr. Toad turned quite pale. "I--I think I'll be moving along," said he.
XVII
OLD MR. TOAD'S MISTAKE
If is a very little word to look at, but the biggest word you have everseen doesn't begin to have so much meaning as little "if." _If_ Jimmy Skunkhadn't ambled down the Crooked Little Path just when he did; _if_ he hadn'tbeen looking for fat beetles; _if_ he hadn't seen that big piece of bark atone side and decided to pull it over; _if_ it hadn't been for all these"ifs," why Old Mr. Toad wouldn't have made the mistake he did, and youwouldn't have had this story. But Jimmy Skunk _did_ amble down the CrookedLittle Path, he _did_ look for beetles, and he _did_ pull over that bigpiece of bark. And when he had pulled it over, he found Old Mr. Toad there.
Old Mr. Toad had crept under that piece of bark because he wanted to take anap. But when Jimmy Skunk told him that he had seen Mr. Blacksnake thatvery morning, and that Mr. Blacksnake had asked after Old Mr. Toad, thevery last bit of sleepiness left Old Mr. Toad. Yes, Sir, he was wide awakeright away. You see, he knew right away why Mr. Blacksnake had asked afterhim. He knew that Mr. Blacksnake has a fondness for Toads. He turned quitepale when he heard that Mr. Blacksnake had asked after him, and right thenhe made his mistake. He was in such a hurry to get away from thatneighborhood that he forgot to ask Jimmy Skunk just where he had seen Mr.Blacksnake. He hardly waited long enough to say good-by to Jimmy Skunk, butstarted off as fast as he could go.
Now it just happened that Old Mr. Toad started up the Crooked Little Path,and it just happened that Mr. Blacksnake was coming down the Crooked LittlePath. Now when people are very much afraid, they almost always seem tothink that danger is behind instead of in front of them. It was so with OldMr. Toad. Instead of watching out in front as he hopped along, he keptwatching over his shoulder, and that was his second mistake. He was so surethat Mr. Blacksnake was somewhere behind him that he didn't look to seewhere he was going, and you know that people who don't look to see wherethey are going are almost sure to go headfirst right into trouble.
Old Mr. Toad went hopping up the Crooked Little Path as fast as he could,which wasn't very fast, because he never can hop very fast. And all thetime he kept looking behind for Mr. Blacksnake. Presently he came to a turnin the Crooked Little Path, and as he hurried around it, he almost ran intoMr. Blacksnake himself. It was a question which was more surprised. Forjust a wee second they stared at each other. Then Mr. Blacksnake's eyesbegan to sparkle.
"Good morning, Mr. Toad. Isn't this a beautiful morning? I was justthinking about you," said he.
But poor Old Mr. Toad didn't say good morning. He didn't say anything. Hecouldn't, because he was too scared. He just gave a frightened littlesqueal, turned around, and started down the Crooked Little Path twice asfast as he had come up. Mr. Blacksnake grinned and started after him, notvery fast because he knew that he wouldn't have to run very fast to catchOld Mr. Toad, and he thought the exercise would do him good.
And this is how it happened that summer morning that jolly, bright Mr. Sun,looking down from the blue, blue sky and smiling to see how happy everybodyseemed, suddenly discovered that there was one of the little meadow peoplewho wasn't happy, but instead was terribly, terribly unhappy. It was OldMr. Toad hopping down the Crooked Little Path for his life, while afterhim, and getting nearer and nearer, glided Mr. Blacksnake.
XVIII
JIMMY SKUNK IS JUST IN TIME
Jimmy Skunk ambled slowly along, chuckling as he thought of what a hurryMr. Toad had been in, when he had heard that Mr. Blacksnake had asked afterhim. It had been funny, very funny indeed, to see Mr. Toad try to hurry.
Suddenly Jimmy stopped chuckling. Then he stopped ambling along the CrookedLittle Path. He turned around and looked back, and as he did so hescratched his head thoughtfully. He had just happened to think that Old Mr.Toad had gone up the Crooked Little Path, and it was _up_ the CrookedLittle Path that Mr. Blacksnake had shown himself that morning.
"If he's still up there," thought Jimmy, "Old Mr. Toad is hopping rightstraight into the very worst kind of trouble. How stupid of him not to haveasked me where Mr. Blacksnake was! Well, it's none of my business. I guessI'll go on."
But he had gone on down the Crooked Little Path only a few steps when hestopped again. You see, Jimmy is really a very kind-hearted little fellow,and somehow he didn't like to think of what might happen to Old Mr. Toad.
"I hate to go way back there," he grumbled, for you know he is naturallyrather lazy. "Still, the Green Meadows wouldn't be quite the same withoutOld Mr. Toad. I should miss him if anything happened to him. I suppose itwould be partly my fault, too, for if I hadn't pulled over that piece ofbark, he probably would have stayed there the rest of the day and beensafe."
"Maybe he won't meet Mr. Blacksnake," said a little voice inside of Jimmy.
"And maybe he will," said Jimmy right out loud. And with that, he startedback up the Crooked Little Path, and strange to say Jimmy hurried.
He had just reached a turn in the Crooked Little Path when who should runright plump into him but poor Old Mr. Toad. He gave a frightened squeal andfell right over on his back, and kicked foolishly as he tried to get on hisfeet again. But he was all out of breath, and so frightened and tired thatall he could do was to kick and kick. He hadn't seen Jimmy at all, for hehad been looking behind him, and he didn't even know who it was he had runinto.
Right behind him came Mr. Blacksnake. Of course he saw Jimmy, and hestopped short and hissed angrily.
"What were you going to do to Mr. Toad?" demanded Jimmy.
"None of your business!" hissed Mr. Blacksnake. "Get out of my way, oryou'll be sorry."
Jimmy Skunk just laughed and stepped in front of poor Old Mr. Toad. Mr.Blacksnake coiled himself up in the path and darted his tongue out at Jimmyin the most impudent way. Then he tried to make himself look very fierce.Then he jumped straight at Jimmy Skunk with his mouth wide open, but hetook great care not to jump quite far enough to reach Jimmy. You see, hewas just trying to scare Jimmy. But Jimmy didn't scare. He knows allabout Mr. Blacksnake and that really he is a coward. So he suddenly grittedhis teeth in a way not at all pleasant to hear and started for Mr.Blacksnake. Mr. Blacksnake didn't wait. No, Sir, h
e didn't wait. Hesuddenly turned and glided back up the Crooked Little Path, hissingangrily. Jimmy followed him a little way, and then he went back to Old Mr.Toad.
"Oh," panted Mr. Toad, "you came just in time! I couldn't have hoppedanother hop."
"I guess I did," replied Jimmy. "Now you get your breath and come alongwith me." And Old Mr. Toad did.
XIX
OLD MR. TOAD GETS HIS STOMACH FULL
Pray do not tip your nose in scorn At things which others eat, For things to you not good at all To others are most sweet.
There are ants, for instance. You wouldn't want to eat them even if youwere dreadfully hungry. But Old Mr. Toad and Buster Bear think there isnothing much nicer. Now Buster Bear had found Old Mr. Toad catching ants,one at a time, as he kept watch beside their home, and it had pleasedBuster to find some one else who liked ants. Right away he invited Old Mr.Toad to dine with him. But poor Old Mr. Toad was frightened almost to deathwhen he heard the deep, grumbly-rumbly voice of Buster Bear, for he hadbeen so busy watching the ants that he hadn't seen Buster coming.
He fell right over on his back, which wasn't at all dignified, and madeBuster Bear laugh. That frightened Mr. Toad more than ever. You see hedidn't have the least doubt in the world that Buster Bear meant to eat him,and when Buster invited him to dinner, he was sure that that was just ajoke on Buster's part.
But there was no way to escape, and after a little Old Mr. Toad thought itbest to be polite, because, you know, it always pays to be polite. So hesaid in a very faint voice that he would be pleased to dine with Buster.Then he waved his feet feebly, trying to get on his feet again. BusterBear laughed harder than ever. It was a low, deep, grumbly-rumbly laugh,and sent cold shivers all over poor Old Mr. Toad. But when Buster reachedout a great paw with great cruel-looking claws Mr. Toad quite gave up. Hedidn't have strength enough left to even kick. He just closed his eyes andwaited for the end.
What do you think happened? Why, he was rolled over on to his feet sogently that he just gasped with surprise. It didn't seem possible that sucha great paw could be so gentle.
"Now," said Buster Bear in a voice which he tried to make sound pleasant,but which was grumbly-rumbly just the same, "I know where there is a finedinner waiting for us just a little way from here. You follow me, and we'llhave it in no time."
So Buster Bear led the way, and Old Mr. Toad followed as fast as he could,because he didn't dare not to. Presently Buster stopped beside a bigdecayed old log. "If you are ready, Mr. Toad, we will dine now," said he.
Old Mr. Toad didn't see anything to eat. His heart sank again, and he shookall over. "I--I'm not hungry," said he in a very faint voice.
Buster Bear didn't seem to hear. He hooked his great claws into the old logand gave a mighty pull. Over rolled the log, and there were ants and antsand ants, hurrying this way and scurrying that way, more ants than Mr. Toadhad seen in all his life before!
"Help yourself," said Buster Bear politely.
Old Mr. Toad didn't wait to be told twice. He forgot all about his fright.He forgot all about Buster Bear. He forgot that he wasn't hungry. Heforgot his manners. He jumped right in among those ants, and for a littlewhile he was the busiest Toad ever seen. Buster Bear was busy too. He swepthis long tongue this way, and he swept it that way, and each time he drewit back into his mouth, it was covered with ants. At last Old Mr. Toadcouldn't hold another ant. Then he remembered Buster Bear and looked up alittle fearfully. Buster was smacking his lips, and there was a twinkle ineach eye.
"Good, aren't they?" said he.
"The best I ever ate," declared Old Mr. Toad with a sigh of satisfaction.
"Come dine with me again," said Buster Bear, and somehow this time Old Mr.Toad didn't mind because his voice sounded grumbly-rumbly.
"Thank you, I will," replied Old Mr. Toad.
XX
OLD MR. TOAD IS PUFFED UP
Old Mr. Toad hopped slowly down the Lone Little Path. He usually does hopslowly, but this time he hopped slower than ever. You see, he was so puffedup that he couldn't have hopped fast if he had wanted to, and he didn'twant to. In the first place his stomach was so full of ants that therewasn't room for another one. No, Sir, Old Mr. Toad couldn't have swallowedanother ant if he had tried. Of course they made his stomach stick out, butit wasn't the ants that puffed him out all over. Oh, my, no! It was pride.That's what it was--pride. You know nothing can puff any one up quite likefoolish pride.
Old Mr. Toad was old enough to have known better. It is bad enough to seeyoung and foolish creatures puffed up with pride, but it is worse to seeany one as old as Old Mr. Toad that way. He held his head so high that hecouldn'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 alittle higher, puffed himself out a little more, and pretended not to seeDanny.
"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 sometime."
It 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 muchsurprised. "Sorry I 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 BusterBear, he puffed himself out a little more.
Danny grinned as he watched him hop on down the Lone Little Path. "Can'ttalk with common folks any more," he muttered. "I've heard that pride isvery apt to turn people's heads, but I never expected to see Old Mr. Toadproud."
"Can't talk with common folks any more," he muttered.]
Mr. Toad kept on his way, and presently he met Peter Rabbit. Peter stoppedto gossip, as is his way. But Old Mr. Toad took no notice of him at all. Hekept right on with his head high, and all puffed out. Peter might have beena stick or a stone for all the notice Old Mr. Toad took of him. Peterlooked puzzled. Then he hurried down to tell Danny Meadow Mouse about it.
"Oh," said Danny, "he's been to dine with Buster Bear, and now he has nouse for his old friends."
Pretty soon along came Johnny Chuck, and he was very much put out becausehe had been treated by Old Mr. Toad just as Peter Rabbit had. StripedChipmunk told the same story. So did Unc' Billy Possum. It was the samewith all of Old Mr. Toad's old friends and neighbors, excepting Bobby Coon,who, you know, is Buster Bear's little cousin. To him Old Mr. Toad was verypolite and talked a great deal about Buster Bear, and thought that Bobbymust be very proud to be related to Buster.
At first everybody thought it a great joke to see Old Mr. Toad so puffed upwith, pride, but after a little they grew tired of being snubbed by theirold friend and neighbor, and began to say unpleasant things about him. Thenthey decided that what Old Mr. Toad needed was a lesson, so they put theirheads together and planned how they would teach Old Mr. Toad how foolish itis for any one to be puffed up with pride.
XXI
OLD MR. TOAD RECEIVES ANOTHER INVITATION
The friends and neighbors of Old Mr. Toad decided that he needed to betaught a lesson. At first, you know, every one had laughed at him, becausehe had grown too proud to speak to them, but after a little they grew tiredof being treated so, and some of them put their heads together to think ofsome plan to teach Old Mr. Toad a lesson and what a very, very foolishthing false pride is. The very next day Jimmy Skunk went into the GreenForest to look for Buster Bear. You know Jimmy isn't afraid of Buster. Hedidn't have to look long, and when he had found him, the very first thinghe did was to ask Buster if he had seen any fat beetles that morning. Youknow Jimmy is very fond of fat beetles, and the first thing he asks any onehe may happen to meet is if they have seen any.
Buster Bear grinned and said he thought he knew where there might be a few,and he would be pleased to have Jimmy go with him to see. Sure enough,under an old log he found five fat beetles, and these Jimmy gobbled upwithout even asking Buster if he would have one. Jimmy is usually verypolite, but this time he quite forgot politeness.
I am afraid he is ratherapt to when fat beetles are concerned. But Buster didn't seem to mind. Whenthe last beetle had disappeared Jimmy smacked his lips, and then he toldBuster Bear what he had come for. Of course, at first Buster had thought itwas for the fat beetles. But it wasn't. No, Sir, it wasn't for the fatbeetles at all. It was to get Buster Bear's help in a plan to teach Old Mr.Toad a lesson.
First Jimmy told Buster all about how puffed up Old Mr. Toad was because hehad dined with Buster, and how ever since then he had refused even to speakto his old friends and neighbors. It tickled Buster Bear so to think thatlittle homely Old Mr. Toad could be proud of anything that he laughed andlaughed, and his laugh was deep and grumbly-rumbly. Then Jimmy told him theplan to teach Old Mr. Toad a lesson and asked Buster if he would help.Buster's eyes twinkled as he promised to do what Jimmy asked.
Then Jimmy went straight to where Old Mr. Toad was sitting all puffed up,taking a sun-bath.
"Buster Bear has just sent word by me to ask if you will honor him bydining with him to-morrow at the rotted chestnut stump near the edge of theGreen Forest," said Jimmy in his politest manner.
Now if Old Mr. Toad was puffed up before, just think how he swelled outwhen he heard that. Jimmy Skunk was actually afraid that he would burst.