The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat | Page 2

seemed as if his tail would pull off.
But it didn't. So he kept pulling, and pretty soon the thing let go so

suddenly that Jerry tumbled head first into the water.
When he reached home, Mother Muskrat did his sore tail up for him.
"What did I tell you about traps?" she asked severely.
Jerry stopped crying. "Was that a trap?" he asked. Then he remembered
that in his fright he didn't even see it. "Oh, dear," he moaned, "I
wouldn't know one to-day if I met it."
CHAPTER II
: The Convention At Ther Big Rock
Jolly round, red Mr. Sun looked down on the Smiling Pool. He almost
forgot to keep on climbing up in the blue sky, he was so interested in
what he saw there. What do you think it was? Why, it was a convention
at the Big Rock, the queerest convention he ever had seen. Your papa
would say that it was a mass-meeting of angry citizens. Maybe it was,
but that is a pretty long term. Anyway, Mother Muskrat said it was a
convention, and she ought to know, for she is the one who had called it.
Of course Jerry Muskrat was there, and his uncles and aunts and all his
cousins. Billy Mink was there, and all his relations, even old
Grandfather Mink, who has lost most of his teeth and is a little hard of
hearing.
Little Joe Otter was there, with his father and mother and all his
relations even to his third cousins. Bobby Coon was there, and he had
brought with him every Coon of his acquaintance who ever fished in
the Smiling Pool or along the Laughing Brook. And everybody was
looking very solemn, very solemn indeed.
When the last one had arrived, Mother Muskrat climbed up on the Big
Rock and called Jerry Muskrat up beside her, where all could see him.
Then she made a speech. "Friends of the Smiling Pool and Laughing
Brook," began Mrs. Muskrat, "I have called you together to show you
what has happened to my son Jerry and to ask your advice." She
stopped and pointed to Jerry's sore tail. "What do you think did that?"

she demanded.
"Probably Jerry's been in a fight and got whipped," said Bobby Coon to
his neighbor, for Bobby Coon is a graceless young scamp and does not
always show proper respect to his neighbors.
Mrs. Muskrat glared at him, for she had overheard the remark. Then
she held up one hand to command silence. "Friends, it was a trap -- a
trap set by Farmer Brown's boy! a trap to catch you and me and our
children!" said she solemnly. "It is no longer safe for our little folks to
play around the Smiling Pool or along the Laughing Brook. What are
we going to do about it?"
Everybody looked at everybody else in dismay. Then everybody began
to talk at once, and if Farmer Brown's boy could have heard all the
things said about him, his cheeks certainly would have burned. Indeed,
I am afraid that they would have blistered. Such excitement! Everybody
had a different idea, and nobody would listen to anybody else. Old Mr.
Mink lost his temper and called Grandpa Otter a meddlesome
know-nothing. It looked very much as if the convention was going to
break up in a sad quarrel. Then Mr. Coon climbed up on the Big Rock
and with a stick pounded for silence.
"I move," said he, "that in as much as we cannot agree, we tell
Great-Grandfather Frog all about the danger and ask his advice, for he
is very old and very wise and remembers when the world was young.
All in favor please raise their right hands."
At once the air was full of hands, and everybody was good-natured
once more. So it was agreed to call in Great-Grandfather Frog.
CHAPTER III
: The Oracle Of The Smiling Pool
Grandfather Frog sat on his big green lily-pad with his eyes half closed,
for all the world as if he knew nothing about the meeting at the Big
Rock. Of course he did know, for there isn't much going on around the

Smiling Pool which he doesn't see or at least hear all about. The Merry
Little Breezes, who are here, there, and everywhere, told him all that
was going on, so that when he saw Jerry Muskrat and Little Joe Otter
swimming towards him, he knew what they were coming for. But he
pretended to be very much surprised when Jerry Muskrat very politely
said: "Good morning, Grandfather Frog."
"Good morning, Jerry Muskrat. You're out early this morning," replied
Grandfather Frog.
"If you please, you are wanted over at the Big Rock," said Jerry.
Grandfather Frog's eyes twinkled, but he made his voice