Part 1 (1/2)
The Adventures of Old Mr Toad
by Thornton W Burgess
I
JIMMY SKUNK IS PUZZLED
Old Mother West Wind had just come down from the Purple Hills and turned loose her children, the Merry Little Breezes, fro them They were very lively and very merry as they danced and raced across the Green Meadows in all directions, for it was good to be back there once hed as she watched them for a few minutes She felt that she would like to join the, mad, carefree, and happy
But she had work to do She had to turn the windmill to pump water for Far idle as they waited for her So she puffed her cheeks out and started about her business
Jimmy Skunk sat at the top of the hill that overlooks the Green Meadows and watched her out of sight Then he started to amble down the Lone Little Path to look for so in his lazy way, for you know he never hurries, when he heard so behind hireatly surprised when he discovered Old Mr Toad Yes, Sir, it was Old Mr Toad, and he seereat hurry He was quite short of breath, but he was hopping along in the et so for Mr Toad to hurry, very unusual indeed
As a rule he hops a few steps and then sits down to think it over Jimmy had never before seen hiet away froer, fro Jiht of was Mr Blacksnake, and he looked for hin of Mr Blacksnake nor of any other danger Then he looked very hard at Old Mr Toad, and he saw right away that Old Mr Toad didn't seehtened at all, only very deter important on his mind
”Well, well,” exclais of yours to make them work so fast?”
Old Mr Toad didn't say a word, but siet past Jimmy and keep on his way Jiht over on his back, where he kicked and struggled in an effort to get on his feet again, and looked very ridiculous
”Don't you know that it isn't polite not to speak when you are spoken to?”
deh his eyes twinkled
”I--I beg your pardon I didn't have any breath to spare,” panted Old Mr
Toad ”You see I'reat hurry”
”Yes, I see,” replied Jiood for the health to hurry so? Now, pray, what are you in such a hurry for? I don't see anything to run away fronantly ”I've business to attend to at the S Pool, and I'm late as it is”
”Business!” exclaimed Jimmy as if he could hardly believe his ears ”What business have you at the S Pool?”
”That is my own affair,” retorted Old Mr Toad, ”but if you really want to know, I'll tell you I have a very i down there to sing I have a very beautiful voice”
That was too much for Jihter The idea of any one so ho that he had a beautiful voice! ”Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho!”
roared Jih any ain Hop, hop, hipperty-hop, hop, hop, hipperty-hop went Mr Toad Jimmy watched him, and he confessed that he was puzzled
II
JIMMY SKUNK CONSULTS HIS FRIENDS
Jihtfully as he watched Old Mr Toad go down the Lone Little Path, hop, hop, hipperty-hop, towards the S Pool He certainly was puzzled, was Jimmy Skunk If Old Mr Toad had told him that he could fly, Jimmy would not have been more surprised, or found it harder to believe than that Old Mr Toad had a beautiful voice The truth is, Ji to fool hi He found Jiotten to look for fat beetles, and when he forgets to do that you