If any further recommendation is necessary, would it not be well toresort to the court of final appeal, the child himself? Simply purchasea trial copy from your bookseller with the understanding that if itmeets with the disapproval of the little man or woman for whom it isintended, he will accept its return.
THE TALE OF JOLLY ROBIN
Of course, there is a time when Jolly Robin is only a nestling. Then oneday, after he tumbles out of the apple tree and falls squawking andfluttering to the ground, he takes his first lesson in flying. Sopleased is Jolly to know that he can actually sail through the air onhis wings, that he goes out into the wide, wide world to shift forhimself. One day, after advising with Jimmy Rabbit, he decides to becomegeneral laugh-maker to the inhabitants of Pleasant Valley, and hebecomes one of Mother Nature's happiest little feathered folk, goingabout trying to make things a bit better in the world. True, he fallsinto many blunders and has many strange experiences, but his intentionsare always the best, remember.
Slyly tucked away in this story of Jolly Robin and of his adventures, ismuch bird lore and philosophy,--both instructive and entertaining.
THE TALE OF BETSY BUTTERFLY
Betsy Butterfly is the owner of a pair of such beautifully colored wingsand her sweet disposition matches them so perfectly that it is a verycommon occurrence to hear one of the tiny dwellers in Farmer Green'smeadow remark: "Why, the sun just has to smile on her!" Of course, anylady so gifted is bound to have many admirers and Betsy is no exception.But there are a few of her acquaintances who cannot keep from showingtheir jealousy of her popularity and these try in various unkind waysto make her disliked. The story of how she politely overlooks these rudeattempts, in that way causing herself to be all the more thought of, isthe best sort of example to any human girl or boy who wishes to know howto be sure of making friends. You will find that Betsy is a great girlfor giving parties and perhaps she will give you a few valuable ideasthat will be useful sometime when you have a party of your own.
BUSTER BUMBLEBEE
Buster's intentions are all very good, but he is so awkward and stupidthat he constantly stumbles into trouble, thereby causing hisacquaintances much unnecessary discomfiture and himself no end ofembarrassment. He is, furthermore, a terrific boaster, as you will learnwhen you read of his many declarations of the pummeling he would givethe ferocious Robber Fly, if ever he chanced to meet that devouringassassin. What Buster actually does when the unexpected encounter takesplace will afford you a good laugh at his expense, and, finally, afteryou have romped and dallied with him through his many happy excursionsyou will close the book with a feeling that it has done you good to haveknown him, lazy and blundering though he is, for he is indeed the bestnatured fellow, and he is so anxious to buzz into everything thatattracts his attention that you find you have learned a great manythings you never before dreamed of about the tiny creatures of thefields.
THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY
Freddie Firefly is most anxious to lighten the cares of his friends inPleasant Valley for he is a most unselfish fellow and enjoys nothingmore than seeing other people as happy as he. He has one grave fault,however, that prevents him from being a very great help, and that is hisinability to remain long in one place. He is so full of spry gaiety thathe never can be quite content unless he is dancing with his relatives inthe hollow near the swamp or darting about Farmer Green's lawn. Hisfriends often give him advice as to how he may use the wonderful lightwhich he always carries with him, and finally Mrs. Ladybug tells him heshould go to the railroad and work as a signal-man for the trains. Youwill hold your breath as you read about the exciting adventure thatfollows this suggestion, and you will no doubt agree with those to whomhe later tells it that he is a very lucky Freddie to escape.
THE TALE OF RUSTY WREN
Rusty Wren is another little neighbor in Pleasant Valley. His particularhome there is Farmer Green's yard where he lives in a bright shiny homewhich is really a tin can with a hole in it! And dear me! I forgot allabout Rusty Wren's family--his wife and six baby children who had to begiven Wren food by Rusty and little Chippy, Jr. You will laugh heartilywhen you read about Chippy growing so big and fat that he gets stuck inRusty's tiny doorway and can't get pulled out. My, what an exciting timeit was! And you will laugh again when you watch Rusty Wren go 'way overto the bank of Black Creek all ready for a party when there really is noparty. Yes, you will agree with Farmer Green's boy and the rest of ourfriends in Pleasant Valley that Rusty certainly is a very interestinglittle neighbor.
THE TALE OF DADDY LONG-LEGS
Daddy is a person of such unusual appearance with his eight scrawny legsin contrast to ordinary people's two, and everything about his privatelife is such a mystery to his neighbors that his acquaintances give himcredit for having a marvelous ability to look into the future. In fact,there are many two-legged humans, even to-day, who think he is a sort ofsoothsayer and mystery man. Perhaps, if you are one of these, you willbe inclined to change your mind after reading about his contest with OldMr. Crow to see which is really the wiser of the two. And would you notnaturally suppose that anybody with so many legs to carry him would bethe champion walker of the world? Maybe Daddy finds that it takes timeto decide which of his feet he should put forward in taking the nextstep, or may be each separate foot has a notion of its own as to thedirection Daddy should choose; at any rate, he proves to be the slowesttraveler imaginable. But he is so popular among his neighbors and youwill like him too--he has so many quaint ideas.
THE TALE OF KIDDIE KATYDID
Kiddy Katydid and his relatives were in possession of a secret that noneof the Pleasant Valley folk can solve, though they waste much time andenergy trying to guess it. Even to this day it is doubtful if anyoneother than Kiddie himself really knows what Katy did! But his friendsare a curious lot and they work their brains over-time to think of somescheme to make Kiddie tell. If you want to know what they doaccidentally discover about Kiddie himself and how excited every bodybecomes as the rare news spreads from mouth to mouth, you will findthat and many other remarkable things about him in this interestingstory of his life in the Maple tree that grows in Farmer Green's yard.You will like Kiddie. He is very modest and retiring--behaving very muchas any well raised youngster should, and when you understand just how ithappens that he keeps repeating that funny remark about Katy, you canjoin him in the hearty laugh he has on his friends.
THE TALE OF OLD MR. CROW
Mr. Crow has a very solemn look--unless you regard him closely. But itis a very sly, knowing look, if you take pains to stare boldly into hiseyes. Like many human beings, he is fond of clothes, and he particularlylikes gay ones, but perhaps that is because he is so black himself.Anyhow, so long as he can wear a bright red coat and a yellownecktie--or a bright red necktie and a yellow coat--he is generallyquite happy. One fall Mr. Crow decides to stay in Pleasant Valley duringthe winter, instead of going South, and he remembers all at once that hewill need some warm clothing. Now, Mr. Frog, the tailor, and JimmyRabbit, the shoemaker, know just how to talk to Mr. Crow to sell theirmerchandise, playing upon his vanity to buy the latest, and even to "setthe styles," but they have to be pretty keen and sly to get the best ofMr. Crow in the end. Mr. Crow has his good points as well as his badones, and he helps Farmer Green a lot more than he injures him it issaid. Nevertheless, Farmer Green does not figure that way,--and injustice to old "Jim Crow," you should read of his adventures foryourself.
THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWL
All the folks down in Pleasant Valley know Solomon Owl. Well, it's thisway. If you hear Solomon Owl on a dark night when his "Wha-Wha!Whoo-ah!" sends a chill 'way up your spine, and if you see him you cannever forget him, either. He has great, big, staring eyes that make youfeel queer when you look at his pale face. No, sir, little folks likeMr. Frog, the tailor, certainly don't like to have any visits fromSolomon Owl when Solomon has a fine appetite. To be sure, Farmer Greenisn't happy when Solomon steals some of his fine chickens, and neitherare the chickens for that m
atter. But Solomon doesn't have all the funon some one else. Oh no! Reddy Woodpecker knows how to tease him bytapping with his bill on Solomon's wooden house in the daytime, whenevery owl likes to sleep and dream of all the nice frogs and fatchickens they are going to feast on the next night, and then, out comesSolomon all blinking with his big, black eyes. But this wise owl, whoreally isn't as wise as he looks, you know, finds a good way to foolReddy and the rest of the folks who like to annoy him, and lives his ownhappy life.
THE TALE OF JASPER JAY
Jasper Jay really is a good sort of a fellow even though he does make adreadful racket when he is around; but that is his way of talking. Hejust likes to tease for the fun of teasing and so naturally he gets intolots of scraps and seems bound to get into more. Of course, lots offolks in Pleasant Valley don't like him because he plays tricks andpranks on them and makes them feel all ruffled up. Why, he even thinkshe can spoil the Singing Society, but do you know, the Society foolsJasper himself. And that time Jimmy Rabbit teaches Jasper Jay somemanners down by the cedar tree--the poor jay stays there until his feetare frozen in the water before he finds out--well--you may discover foryourself what happens next.
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