All he could think of was that
great, broad, flat, thick tail, which is so unlike any tail he had
ever seen or heard of.
The very next morning he hurried over to the Smiling Pool to tell
Grandfather Frog about it. Grandfather Frog's big, goggly eyes
twinkled.
"Chug-a-rum!" said he. "Paddy the Beaver has one of the most useful
tails I know of. Would you like to know how he comes by such a queer
tail?"
[Illustration: The first thing Peter looked to see was what kind of a
tail Paddy has.]
"Oh, if you please! If you please, Grandfather Frog! I didn't suppose
there was such a queer tail in all the world, and I don't see what
possible use it can be. Do tell me about it!" cried Peter.
"Chug-a-rum! If you had used your eyes when you visited Paddy, you
might have guessed for yourself how he came by it," replied
Grandfather Frog gruffly. "Some people never do learn to use their
eyes."
Peter looked a bit sheepish, but he said nothing and waited patiently.
Presently Grandfather Frog cleared his throat two or three times and
began to talk.
"Once upon a time, long, long ago, when the world was young--"
"It seems to me that everything wonderful happened long ago when the
world was young," interrupted Peter.
Grandfather Frog looked at Peter severely, and Peter hastened to beg
his pardon.
After a long time Grandfather Frog began again.
"Once on a time, long, long ago, lived Mr. Beaver, the
great-great-ever-so-great grandfather of Paddy up there in the Green
Forest.
Pages:
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103