“If you will be our king, we will promise to do exactly as you say.”
He rolled his big eyes at the animals and asked, “Won’t we?” And every one of the animals shouted, “We will!”
But Father Thrift declared that he would rather be only one of them, instead of being their ruler.
He would advise them, and teach them, and help them.
“And we will help you, too,” said Shaggy Bear. “I’ll give you my cave for keeps, to begin with.”
“And I’ll bring you nuts to eat,” said Bushytail Squirrel.
“And I’ll bring you some of my honey,” said Honeybee. “That is, I will if Shaggy Bear doesn’t steal it all.”
“And I’ll bring you plenty of mice,” said Great Gray Owl.
But Father Thrift only smiled at that. For, of course, mice would be of no use to him!