The Tale of Freddie Firefly

The Tale of Freddie Firefly

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Title: The Tale of Freddie Firefly
Author: Arthur Scott Bailey
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year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 18, 2002]
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TUCK-ME-IN TALES (Trademark Registered)
THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY
BY
ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY Author of "SLEEPY-TIME TALES"
(Trademark Registered).
ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY L. SMITH
NEW YORK
1918

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I. A MERRY DANCER II. A FINE PLAN III. FREDDIE AGREES
TO HELP IV. GETTING READY V. AT THE STONE WALL VI.
THE BANNERS VII. THE TORCHLIGHT PARADE VIII.
BUSTER'S SCHEME IX. FREDDIE'S PROMISE X. DRAWING
LOTS XI. PEPPERY POLLY XII. A TERRIBLE SONG XIII.
CAUGHT BY A THISTLE XIV. JENNIE JUNEBUG XV. THE FAT
LADY'S SECRET XVI. FREDDIE'S ESCAPE XVII. BAD
BENJAMIN BAT XVIII. PLEASING FARMER GREEN XIX.
BENJAMIN FEELS GUILTY XX. MRS. LADYBUG'S ADVICE XXI.
ALL ABOUT TRAINS XXII. WORK ON THE RAILROAD XXIII.
WHY FREDDIE WAS GLAD

ILLUSTRATIONS
YOU'RE TERRIBLY CARELESS WITH THAT LIGHT OF
YOURS . . . Frontispiece
FREDDIE SAT ON TOP OF THE BANNER
FREDDIE PLAYS A JOKE ON PEPPERY POLLY BUMBLEBEE
FREDDIE WAS BUMPED INTO BY JENNIE JUNEBUG
THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY

I
A MERRY DANCER
Nobody in Pleasant Valley ever paid any attention to Freddie Firefly in
the daytime. But on warm, and especially on dark summer nights he
always appeared at his best. Then he went gaily flitting through the
meadows. And sometimes he even danced right in Farmer Green's
dooryard, together with a hundred or two of his nearest relations.
No one could help noticing those sprightly revelers, flashing their
greenish-white lights through the gloom. And many of the field people,
as well as the folk that lived in the farmhouse, thought that the dancers
made a pretty sight.
But there were others who said that the Firefly family might better be
spending their time in some more serious way.
Benjamin Bat, who lived in Cedar Swamp, was one of those who found
fault with the merry dancers. He grumbled a good deal about them--and
especially about Freddie Firefly.
"He's so proud of that light he carries!" Benjamin often exclaimed,
"Now, if he could hang by his feet from the limb of a tree--and SLEEP
at the same time--he'd have something to boast of!"
No doubt Benjamin Bat was jealous. Anyhow, Solomon Owl declared
that there was still another reason why Benjamin did not like Freddie
Firefly. Solomon claimed that Benjamin would have liked to EAT
Freddie. But he didn't quite dare to grab him for fear of getting burned
by Freddie's light.
If that was so, then it was no wonder that Freddie kept flashing his light
in the dark. And it was lucky that he had a light, because--like
Benjamin Bat himself--he was a night-prowler.
Unlike Farmer Green, Freddie believed that the night air was very
healthful. And together with all his family, he thought that a damp

place was much to be preferred to a dry one.
He often remarked that the pollen upon which he frequently dined
tasted best when the dew was upon it. And he never could understand
why Buster Bumblebee's sisters, the ill-tempered workers, always
gathered nectar for their honey-making in the daytime.
"Everyone to his own taste!" Freddie sometimes said. "And I suppose
that those who sleep from sunset to dawn don't know what they're
missing."
Johnnie Green, who went to bed almost as early as the Bumblebee
family, couldn't help envying Freddie Firefly and all his sprightly
company. Johnnie thought it must be great fun to frolic the whole night
long--if only Solomon