THE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLE
Sleepy-Time Tales(Trademark Registered)
by
ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY
Author of_Tuck-Me-in Tales_(Trademark Registered)
THE TALE OF CUFFY BEAR THE TALE OF FRISKY SQUIRREL THE TALE OF TOMMY FOX THE TALE OF FATTY COON THE TALE OF BILLY WOODCHUCK THE TALE OF JIMMY RABBIT THE TALE OF PETER MINK THE TALE OF SANDY CHIPMUNK THE TALE OF BROWNIE BEAVER THE TALE OF PADDY MUSKRAT THE TALE OF FERDINAND FROG THE TALE OF DICKIE DEER MOUSE THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE THE TALE OF MAJOR MONKEY THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER
Grandfather Mole Made a Rush for Mr. Meadow Mouse._Frontispiece_--(_Page 85_)]
Sleepy-Time Tales(Trademark Registered)
THE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLE
by
ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY
Author of"Tuck-Me-in Tales"(Trademark Registered)
Illustrated by Harry L. Smith
New YorkGrosset & DunlapPublishersMade in the United States of AmericaCopyright, 1920, byGrosset & Dunlap
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE I A QUEER OLD PERSON 1 II WHAT THE CAT CAUGHT 5 III A BREAKFAST LOST 10 IV A NEW WAY OF TAKING A STROLL 15 V JIMMY RABBIT CAN'T WAIT 19 VI A HEARTY EATER 24 VII TWO WORM-EATERS 29 VIII LOSING HIS BEARINGS 34 IX GOOD NEWS FROM BELOW 38 X MRS. ROBIN'S WISH 43 XI SURPRISING GRANDFATHER MOLE 47 XII MR. BLACKBIRD'S ADVICE 52 XIII TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF 56 XIV THE NEW SUNSHADE 61 XV TWO AND A TOADSTOOL 65 XVI GRANDFATHER MOLE'S VISITOR 70 XVII MR. CROW SCOLDS 76XVIII A TALK WITH MR. MEADOW MOUSE 81 XIX MR. CROW'S APOLOGY 86 XX A SIGN OF RAIN 91 XXI MRS. WREN TRIES TO HELP 96 XXII TWO FAMOUS DIGGERS 102XXIII SEEING A SAMPLE 107 XXIV FOLLOWING THE PLOUGH 112 XXV STUBBORN AS EVER 116
THE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLE
I
A QUEER OLD PERSON
THERE was a queer old person that lived in Farmer Green's garden. Nobodyknew exactly how long he had made his home there because his neighborsseldom saw him. He might have been in the garden a whole summer beforeanybody set eyes on him.
Those that were acquainted with him called him Grandfather Mole. And thereason why his friends didn't meet him oftener was because he spentmost of his time underground. Grandfather Mole's house was in a mound atone end of the garden. He had made the house himself, for he was a greatdigger. And Mr. Meadow Mouse often remarked that it had more halls thanany other dwelling he had ever seen. He had visited it when GrandfatherMole was away from home, so he knew what it was like.
Some of those halls that Mr. Meadow Mouse mentioned ran right outbeneath the surface of the garden. Grandfather Mole had dug them for acertain purpose. Through them he made his way in the darkness, wheneverhe was hungry (which was most of the time, for he had a huge appetite!).And when he took an underground stroll he was almost sure to find a fewangleworms, which furnished most of his meals.
To be sure, he did not despise a grub--if he happened to meet one--nor acutworm nor a wire-worm.
The wonder of it was that Grandfather Mole ever found anything to eat,for the old gentleman was all but blind. The only good GrandfatherMole's eyes did him was to let him tell darkness from light. They wereso small that his neighbors claimed he hadn't any at all.
Another odd thing about this odd person was his ears. The neighbors saidthey couldn't see them, either. But they were in his head, even if theydidn't show. And Grandfather Mole himself sometimes remarked that hedidn't know how he could have burrowed as he did if he had been forevergetting dirt in his eyes and ears. He seemed quite satisfied to be justas he was.
And he used to say that he didn't know what good eyes were to anyonewhether he was under the ground or on top of it!
Liking to dig as he did, he certainly had nothing to complain about. Hislong nose was as good as a drill. And his front legs were just longenough so that he could reach his large, spade-like feet beyond his noseand throw the dirt back. His fur lay in one direction as easily as inanother, never troubling him in the least when he was boring his waythrough the dry, loose soil of Farmer Green's garden.
So in spite of what might seem great drawbacks to others, GrandfatherMole was contented with his lot. The only thing he was ever known togrumble about was the scarcity of angleworms.
II
WHAT THE CAT CAUGHT
EVERYBODY knew the cat at Farmer Green's to be a great hunter. She hadlong since disposed of the last mouse that was so foolish as to ventureinside her home. And being very big, and not at all timid, she had madesuch a name for herself in the neighborhood that even the rats looked onher as a monster to be avoided.
Now it often happened that this capable cat turned up her nose at thesaucer of milk that Farmer Green's wife set before her with greatregularity. And off she would go--sometimes to the barn, sometimes tothe fields--to see what she could find that would furnish her both foodand a frolic. For she thought it great sport to capture some smallcreature.
She was crossing the garden early one morning, on her way to the meadow,when she came upon Grandfather Mole. And having no pity for him--inspite of his blindness--she thought there was no sense in going anyfurther for her breakfast. She would enjoy it right there in the garden.But first she would play with Grandfather Mole, before eating. For shewas a pleasure-loving dame. She must have her sport, no matter if herbreakfast waited.
Grandfather Mole had blundered that morning. Burrowing his way justunder the surface of the ground, he had broken through the sun-bakedcrust of the garden before he knew it. And as he groped about, surprisedto find himself in the open, Miss Kitty had pounced upon him.
Grandfather Mole struggled to escape. And his captor let him go, to giveherself the pleasure of pouncing upon him again. She knew well enoughthat he couldn't get away from her. He could run quite spryly for an oldgentleman--it is true. But when he couldn't see where he was going, ofwhat use was running?
Farmer Green's cat didn't know the answer to that question herself. Shecaptured and freed Grandfather Mole several times. And to tell thetruth, she couldn't help wishing he could see, so he could make the gamelivelier. But she was the sort of cat that believes in making the bestof things. And she kept pretending that Grandfather Mole almost got awayfrom her. She would let him run about for a few moments and then shewould leap upon him as if she had nearly lost him.
It was great fun for the cat. But Grandfather Mole did not enjoy it inthe least. He thought such treatment far from neighborly. And he quiteagreed with old Mr. Crow, who had come hurrying up to see what was goingon.
"Give him a chance! Give him a chance!" Mr. Crow called to the cat, ashe glared down at her from a tree close by.
The cat had been about to spring at Grandfather Mole again when Mr. Crowspoke to her. It was only natural that she should pause and turn herhead. And she looked at Mr. Crow none too pleasantly.
"I'll thank you to mind your own affairs," she said, and her voice wasnot nearly so polite as her words. "No gentleman would interrupt a ladyat her breakfast," she added.
Something seemed to amuse Mr. Crow, for he laughed loudly. The catdidn't know what he was laughing at. And after staring at him a fewmoments longer she turned her head to look at Grandfather Mole.
It wasn't more than ten seconds since she had taken her eyes off him.But Grandfather Mole had vanished.
III
A
BREAKFAST LOST
WHEN Farmer Green's cat looked around and discovered that GrandfatherMole had disappeared from the garden a puzzled look came over her face.She couldn't think where he had gone in just a few seconds.
But she knew then why Mr. Crow had laughed. And she was not pleased.
"Where is he?" she asked Mr. Crow. "You interrupted me at my breakfastand now I've lost it."
Mr. Crow was rocking back and forth on his perch, for a joke--on anybodyexcept himself--always delighted him.
Grandfather Mole Escapes From Miss Kitty. (_Page 8_)]
"Grandfather Mole is right here in the garden," he declared.
"Then he must have hidden beneath a vegetable," the cat observed.
"I shouldn't say that, exactly," Mr. Crow replied.
"How far away is he?" the cat demanded.
"That would be hard to tell," Mr. Crow answered.
Farmer Green's cat had never liked Mr. Crow, for no particular reason.And now she certainly had a very special reason for being angry withhim.
"It's all your fault," she scolded. "If you hadn't spoken to me I'dnever have taken my eyes off Grandfather Mole.... The least you can do,"she added, "is to tell me this instant where Grandfather Mole is."
"I've already told you," Mr. Crow reminded her. "He's here in thegarden. Find him if you can!"
At that Farmer Green's cat began to run up and down between the rows ofvegetables. But she had no luck at all. So after a while she came backand told Mr. Crow that she didn't believe him.
"Tut, tut!" said Mr. Crow. "You haven't looked in the right place."
"I've searched the whole garden!" the cat cried.
"Oh, no!" Mr. Crow exclaimed. "You've looked only on top of the ground.If you want to find Grandfather Mole you must look beneath the surface."
The cat was greatly disappointed when she heard that.
"You don't mean to say that he went into a hole, do you?" she asked.
"I do," Mr. Crow declared.
"I don't see one anywhere," she said.
"If I had I'd have been more careful how I let him run about."
"Ah!" said Mr. Crow. "I see you don't know that Grandfather Mole alwayscarries a hole around with him, wherever he goes. He believes in havingone handy, in case of sudden need."
"I didn't see it," the cat told him angrily.
"Of course not!" Mr. Crow agreed. "How could you see a hole until it'sput in a certain place, ready to use?"
Well, the cat was puzzled. Somehow she couldn't quite understand Mr.Crow's remarks. And yet there seemed some sense in them, too. But shepretended that she understood, because she didn't want him to think shewas stupid. And without thanking him for his explanation (for she wasstill angry) she turned and went off towards the meadow.
The whole affair amused Mr. Crow greatly. It kept him in a good humorall that day. And he went about telling everybody how Grandfather Molehad dug himself out of sight in the garden, almost under the cat's nose.
For that was exactly what had happened.
IV
A NEW WAY OF TAKING A STROLL
GRANDFATHER MOLE was digging a new gallery under the garden, leading outfrom his house into a field of corn, where he expected to find a goodmany fine grubs.
His work was half done, and he was under the cabbage-patch, when hefound himself in the open air. Farmer Green's hired man's hoe had left asmall hollow between two heads of cabbage; and as luck had it,Grandfather Mole's gallery led straight into it. So the first thing heknew, there he was right out in the light of early morning! And somebodycalled out in a cheery sort of voice, "How-dy-do, Grandfather Mole!It's a pleasure to see you! And isn't this a beautiful day?"
Grandfather Mole knew at once that he had nothing to fear, for herecognized Jimmy Rabbit's voice. And he knew, too, without being told,that he was in the cabbage-patch. For Jimmy Rabbit could be nowhere elseat breakfast time.
"Good morning!" said Grandfather Mole. "I hope you are enjoying yourbreakfast."
"I am," Jimmy Rabbit answered. "And as soon as I've finished this leafI'm eating now, I'm going to take a stroll. Won't you join me?"
"I don't care if I do," said Grandfather Mole--meaning that he'd be gladto walk with Jimmy. And in about half a minute Jimmy Rabbit said he wasready.
"Very well!" Grandfather Mole told him. "Let's be on our way! I'll seeyou at the edge of the duck-pond." And to Jimmy Rabbit's amazement hestuck his nose straight down into the loose dirt, thrust out his strongfore-feet, and was out of sight before Jimmy Rabbit could speak.
The duck-pond was just beyond the garden fence. And since GrandfatherMole had accepted Jimmy's invitation there was nothing for Jimmy Rabbitto do but to go to the edge of the pond and wait.
He grew very restless, for it was a long time before Grandfather Moleappeared. But at last the old gentleman's head came popping up out ofthe ground, and the owner of the head cried, "Here I am! And I'm glad tosee you haven't kept me waiting, young man. I dug so fast I was afraidI'd get here before you did."
Really, he had made astonishing speed for one who had tunnelled his wayunderground. And being a polite person, Jimmy Rabbit could only tellGrandfather Mole that he had been very quick.
"And now we're this far," Grandfather Mole remarked, "I'd like to strollover in the meadow--if that suits you."
Jimmy Rabbit said that it did. There was clover in the meadow. And hehad waited so long for Grandfather Mole that he had begun to feel hungryagain. A luncheon of clover-tops! It would be exactly what he needed.
"Then let's be on our way!" Grandfather Mole cried again. "I'll join youon the other side of the duck-pond!"
V
JIMMY RABBIT CAN'T WAIT
AFTER telling Jimmy Rabbit that he would meet him on the other side ofthe duck-pond, Grandfather Mole waded into the water and started to swimacross.
Why he did that, instead of walking around on the shore, Jimmy Rabbitcouldn't understand. He was so amazed that he stood still and stared atGrandfather Mole.
One thing was certain: Grandfather Mole could travel much faster throughthe water than he could underground. His strong legs and his broad,spade-like feet helped to make him a fine swimmer. And Jimmy Rabbit hadnoticed for the first time that Grandfather Mole's hind feet werewebbed. It was no wonder that he felt quite at home in the duck-pond,which was made for web-footed folk.
Jimmy Rabbit was so interested in watching Grandfather Mole swim that hedidn't start to run around the pond until the swimmer had almost reachedthe other side. Then Jimmy remembered suddenly that he had to meetGrandfather Mole over there. So he raced along the edge of the duck-pondat top speed. And since he was a very fast runner--for shortdistances--he met Grandfather Mole just as the old chap was crawling upthe bank.
"There!" Grandfather Mole exclaimed. "I almost beat you this time, youngman! If you're going to take a morning stroll with me you'll have tostep lively."
Of course Jimmy Rabbit was too polite to explain that he had waited along time while Grandfather Mole was tunnelling his way from the gardento the pond, and that he hadn't begun to run around the pond untilGrandfather Mole had swum almost across it. He merely smiled and repliedthat he would do his best to keep up, for he shouldn't like to makeGrandfather Mole wait, especially since he had invited Grandfather Moleto go walking with him.
"You don't mind staying here in the sunshine, I hope, while my coatdries?" Grandfather Mole inquired. "As soon as it's dry we'll start forthe meadow."
Though Jimmy Rabbit was in a great hurry to reach the place where theclover grew he said that he would be glad to wait with Grandfather Mole."The sun feels good on this cool morning," he observed. "And it'scheerful, too."
"Do you really think so?" Grandfather Mole asked him. And when JimmyRabbit assured him that he did, Grandfather Mole muttered that it wasthe strangest thing he ever heard of. As for him, he much preferred thedarkness of his cool, damp galleries under the ground. And the onlyreason why he wanted his coat to dry was so that the dirt wouldn't stickto it. r />
It seemed to Jimmy Rabbit that Grandfather Mole's coat would never getdry enough to suit the old gentleman. But at last he announced that hewas ready to stroll on. And when Jimmy Rabbit cried that he was ready,too, Grandfather Mole said, "Then let's be on our way! And I'll meetyou----"
"Where the clover grows!" Jimmy interrupted.
Grandfather Mole had already buried his nose in the sand and was fastdigging himself out of sight. And Jimmy thought that if he must wait forhim again he would wait in a pleasant place.
So Jimmy Rabbit hurried to the meadow. And as he lunched on lusciousclover-tops he reflected that Grandfather Mole had a queer notion oftaking a stroll with a friend. He made up his mind then and there thathe would never again invite Grandfather Mole to walk with him.
VI
A HEARTY EATER
A GREAT eater was Grandfather Mole. And having an enormous appetite hewas fortunate in being expert at finding angleworms.
To be sure, he had one advantage that the birds, for instance, didn'tenjoy: he was able to prowl about his galleries through the ground andfind the angleworms right where they lived. He didn't need to wait--asthe birds did--until an angleworm stuck his head above ground.
Mrs. Jolly Robin had often wished--when she was trying to feed arapidly-growing family--that she could hunt for angleworms asGrandfather Mole did. And this summer it seemed to her that she neverwould be able to take proper care of her nestful of children.
There was one of her family in particular that was especially greedy.Mrs. Robin had begun to suspect that he was no child of hers, but ayoung Cowbird. Almost as soon as she had finished building her nest shehad discovered a strange-looking egg there. It had been the first tohatch. And now the youngster that came from it was just enough olderthan the rest of her children to jostle them, and to grab the biggestworms for himself.