THE SWIMMING TEACHER
It surprised the wild folk in Pleasant Valley when they learned that Mr. Frog had forsaken the Beaver pond for a new home on the bank of Black Creek.
When his friends asked him why he had moved Mr. Frog told them he had made up his mind that the pond was too damp for the good of his health. Besides, Black Creek was nearer Cedar Swamp, where the Frog family held their singing-parties.
Of course, the real reason for Ferdinand Frog's change of scene was that he was afraid Mr. Heron might return to the Beaver pond some day, to look for him.
And when that happened, Mr. Frog did not care to be there.
In his new home, however, he felt quite at his ease. And he set out at once to make himself agreeable to his neighbors.
The nearest of these were Long Bill Wren and his wife, who at that time chanced to have a family of five growing children.
Mr. Frog took a great interest in the youngsters, who were already big enough to leave their ball-shaped home, which hung among the reeds, and hop about on the bank of the creek—and even fly a bit now and then.
Quite often Mr. Frog stopped to look at Long Bill's children and tell their parents how handsome they were.
"I suppose—" he said to their father one day——"I suppose you are going to teach them to swim?"