and her sweet disposition matches them so perfectly that it is a very
common occurrence to hear one of the tiny dwellers in Farmer Green's
meadow remark: "Why, the sun just has to smile on her!" Of course, any
lady 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 showing
their jealousy of her popularity and these try in various unkind ways
to make her disliked. The story of how she politely overlooks these rude
attempts, in that way causing herself to be all the more thought of, is
the best sort of example to any human girl or boy who wishes to know how
to be sure of making friends. You will find that Betsy is a great girl
for giving parties and perhaps she will give you a few valuable ideas
that 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 stupid
that he constantly stumbles into trouble, thereby causing his
acquaintances much unnecessary discomfiture and himself no end of
embarrassment. He is, furthermore, a terrific boaster, as you will learn
when you read of his many declarations of the pummeling he would give
the ferocious Robber Fly, if ever he chanced to meet that devouring
assassin. What Buster actually does when the unexpected encounter takes
place will afford you a good laugh at his expense, and, finally, after
you have romped and dallied with him through his many happy excursions
you will close the book with a feeling that it has done you good to have
known him, lazy and blundering though he is, for he is indeed the best
natured fellow, and he is so anxious to buzz into everything that
attracts his attention that you find you have learned a great many
things you never before dreamed of about the tiny creatures of the
fields.
THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY
Freddie Firefly is most anxious to lighten the cares of his friends in
Pleasant Valley for he is a most unselfish fellow and enjoys nothing
more 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 his
inability to remain long in one place. He is so full of spry gaiety that
he never can be quite content unless he is dancing with his relatives in
the hollow near the swamp or darting about Farmer Green's lawn. His
friends often give him advice as to how he may use the wonderful light
which he always carries with him, and finally Mrs. Ladybug tells him he
should go to the railroad and work as a signal-man for the trains. You
will hold your breath as you read about the exciting adventure that
follows this suggestion, and you will no doubt agree with those to whom
he 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 particular
home there is Farmer Green's yard where he lives in a bright shiny home
which is really a tin can with a hole in it! And dear me! I forgot all
about Rusty Wren's family--his wife and six baby children who had to be
given Wren food by Rusty and little Chippy, Jr. You will laugh heartily
when you read about Chippy growing so big and fat that he gets stuck in
Rusty's tiny doorway and can't get pulled out. My, what an exciting time
it was! And you will laugh again when you watch Rusty Wren go 'way over
to the bank of Black Creek all ready for a party when there really is no
party. Yes, you will agree with Farmer Green's boy and the rest of our
friends in Pleasant Valley that Rusty certainly is a very interesting
little neighbor.
THE TALE OF DADDY LONG-LEGS
Daddy is a person of such unusual appearance with his eight scrawny legs
in contrast to ordinary people's two, and everything about his private
life is such a mystery to his neighbors that his acquaintances give him
credit 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 of
soothsayer and mystery man. Perhaps, if you are one of these, you will
be inclined to change your mind after reading about his contest with Old
Mr. Crow to see which is really the wiser of the two. And would you not
naturally suppose that anybody with so many legs to carry him would be
the champion walker of the world? Maybe Daddy finds that it takes time
to decide which of his feet he should put forward in taking the next
step, or may be each separate foot has a notion of its own as to the
direction Daddy should choose; at any rate, he proves to be the slowest
traveler imaginable. But he is so popular among his neighbors and you
will 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 none
of the Pleasant Valley folk can solve, though they waste much time and
energy trying to guess it. Even to this day it is doubtful if anyone
other than Kiddie himself really knows what Katy did! But his friends
are a curious lot and they work their brains over-time to think of some
scheme to make Kiddie tell. If you want to know what they do
accidentally discover about Kiddie himself and how excited every body
becomes as the rare news spreads from mouth to mouth, you will find
that and many other remarkable things about him in this interesting
story 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 much
as any well raised youngster should, and when you understand just how it
happens that he keeps repeating that funny remark about Katy, you can
join 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 it
is a very sly, knowing look, if you take pains to stare boldly into his
eyes. Like many human beings, he is fond of clothes, and he particularly
likes 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 yellow
necktie--or a bright red necktie and a yellow coat--he is generally
quite happy. One fall Mr. Crow decides to stay in Pleasant Valley during
the winter, instead of going South, and he remembers all at once that he
will need some warm clothing. Now, Mr. Frog, the tailor, and Jimmy
Rabbit, the shoemaker, know just how to talk to Mr. Crow to sell their
merchandise, playing upon his vanity to buy the latest, and even to "set
the styles," but they have to be pretty keen and sly to get the best of
Mr. Crow in the end. Mr. Crow has his good points as well as his bad
ones, and he helps Farmer Green a lot more than he injures him it is
said. Nevertheless, Farmer Green does not figure that way,--and in
justice to old "Jim Crow," you should read of his adventures for
yourself.
THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWL
All the folks down in Pleasant Valley know Solomon Owl. Well, it's this
way. 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 can
never forget him, either. He has great, big, staring eyes that make you
feel queer when you look at his pale face. No, sir, little folks like
Mr. Frog, the tailor, certainly don't like to have any visits from
Solomon Owl when Solomon has a fine appetite. To be sure, Farmer Green
isn't happy when Solomon steals some of his fine chickens, and neither
are the chickens for that matter. But Solomon doesn't have all the fun
on some one else. Oh no! Reddy Woodpecker knows how to tease him by
tapping with his bill on Solomon's wooden house in the daytime, when
every owl likes to sleep and dream of all the nice frogs and fat
chickens they are going to feast on the next night, and then, out comes
Solomon all blinking with his big, black eyes. But this wise owl, who
really isn't as wise as he looks, you know, finds a good way to fool
Reddy and the rest of the folks who like to annoy him, and lives his own
happy life.
THE TALE OF JASPER JAY
Jasper Jay really is a good sort of a fellow even though he does make a
dreadful racket when he is around; but that is his way of talking. He
just likes to tease for the fun of teasing and so naturally he gets into
lots of scraps and seems bound to get into more. Of course, lots of
folks in Pleasant Valley don't like him because he plays tricks and
pranks on them and makes them feel all ruffled up. Why, he even thinks
he can spoil the Singing Society, but do you know, the Society fools
Jasper himself. And that time Jimmy Rabbit teaches Jasper Jay some
manners down by the cedar tree--the poor jay stays there until his feet
are frozen in the water before he finds out--well--you may discover for
yourself what happens next.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]