How Freckle Frog Made Herself Pretty | Page 2

a little soft muff.
Now it happened, too, that it was just about the time for Mr. Robin
Redbreast to give his big party in the orchard, and little Freckle Frog
had been invited, and more than that, her own cousin, Billy Bullfrog,
had promised to sing, and of course she wished to look just as nice as
she could.
So early one fine day, she went to see the Morning Glory Ladies who
live near the back porch and always wear such beautiful dresses, and
she said to them:
"Oh, dear Morning Glory Ladies, your dresses are always so beautiful!
But have you seen Big Mary's blue silk trimmed with lace? It is more
beautiful still, the loveliest dress in the whole world! Would you mind
making me one like that to wear to Robin Redbreast's party? My cousin,
Billy Bullfrog, is to sing, and I wish so very much to look just as nice
as I can. I am not one bit pretty like Big Mary, but clothes always help
a great deal, you know. Would you mind lending me one for the
party?"
[Illustration]
But the Morning Glory Ladies were angry because they had not been
invited, and they would not help her.
Poor Little Freckle Frog felt very badly to think she had hurt their
feelings. She almost cried about it. But just then Little Black Spider,
who was a good friend of hers, peeped out from under a leaf and said:

"I wouldn't mind them. They are a conceited lot anyway. It is a hot day,
too, and they are apt to be cross on hot days. I will spin you all the lace
you want."
And so he did. He wove it all that day in his web, and the next morning
he brought her a long piece of the loveliest spider-lace as fine as a
cobweb. Little Freckle Frog was very grateful to him.
[Illustration]
"But what shall I do for a parasol?" she asked.
"Oh, I'll tell you!" called a soft little voice, and when she looked up she
saw a tiny white butterfly resting on a flower.
"I know where there is the dearest little mushroom. It kept the rain off
of me the other day, and it is just as soft and pink as Big Mary's
parasol."
So she showed Freckle Frog where to find the mushroom, and it was
very soft and pink, just as she had said, and Freckle Frog was very
happy about it.
"Now if I only had a muff," she sighed, "I could look just as beautiful
as Big Mary at the party!"
Just then there was a great noise in the tree near the rock and Robin
Redbreast himself flew out from among the leaves, but right at her feet
dropped a little white caterpillar. He was so frightened that he curled
himself up into a ball and lay very still. He made Big Mary laugh, but
Freckle Frog had a bright idea.
[Illustration]
"Oh what a splendid muff you would make!" she cried. "Would you
mind if I wear you to the party just this once?"
The poor little caterpillar uncurled himself.

"If you will promise to take care of me and not let Robin Redbreast eat
me," he answered, "I shall be only too glad to be your muff."
So Freckle Frog went to the party and wore the cobweb lace, and
carried the mushroom parasol, and held the soft little white caterpillar
for a muff. She even bought a sweet-pea bonnet to please the Morning
Glory Ladies.
Then Robin Redbreast said she looked better than anybody else at his
party, and Big Mary, who was well enough by that time to go also, said
so, too.
[Illustration]
Now Robin Redbreast, as you must know, always had his parties just at
twilight. He himself was always in better voice then, he said, and so he
felt sure that Billy Bullfrog and all the other singers must be, too. Then
the world was lovelier at that time than it was through the long, hot day,
when sensible people like birds and frogs, and sometimes even babies
and dolls, took naps and did not stir out at all. At twilight one could
always depend upon the sky to grow very soft and pink, and the fairies
never failed to hang the leaves with dewdrops, all to make his parties
beautiful! The cherries tasted better then, too, and later still, when it
began to grow dark, the katy-dids would play if any one cared to dance.
So Robin Redbreast always gave beautiful parties, but even he had
never given so beautiful a one before.
Little Freckle Frog was very happy. Every one admired her beautiful
lace, and she told them all how kind Little Black Spider had