From adventures of grandfather frog by thornton w burgess Age Rating 4 to 6.
Responsible is a great big word. But it is just as big in its meaning as
it is in its looks, and that is the way words should be, I think, don't
you? Anyway, re-spon-sible is the way Danny Meadow Mouse felt when he
found Grandfather Frog out on the Green Meadows so far from the Smiling
Pool and so stubborn that he would keep on to see the Great World
instead of going back to his big green lily-pad in the Smiling Pool,
where he could take care of himself. You remember Peter Rabbit felt
re-spon-sible when he brought little Miss Fuzzy tail down from the Old
Pasture to the dear Old Briar-patch. He felt that it was his business
to see to it that no harm came to her, and that is just the way Danny
Meadow Mouse felt about Grandfather Frog.
You see, Danny knew that if Grandfather Frog was going to jump like that
every time he was frightened, he wouldn't get very far in the Great
World. It might be the right thing to do in the Smiling Pool, where the
friendly water would hide him from his enemies, but it was just the
wrong thing to do on the Green Meadows or in the Green Forest. Danny had
learned, when a very tiny fellow, that there the only safe thing to do
when danger was near was to sit perfectly still and hardly breathe.
Now Danny Meadow Mouse is fond of Grandfather Frog, and he couldn't bear
to think that something dreadful might happen to him. So when he found
that he couldn't get Grandfather Frog to go back to the Smiling Pool, he
made up his mind that he just _had_ to go along with Grandfather Frog to
try to keep him out of danger. Yes, Sir, he just _had_ to do it. He felt
re-spon-sible for Grandfather Frog's safety. So here they were, Danny
Meadow Mouse running ahead, anxious and worried and watching sharply for
signs of danger, and Grandfather Frog puffing along behind, bound to see
the Great World which his cousin, old Mr. Toad, said was a better place
to live in than the Smiling Pool.
Now Danny has a great many private little paths under the grass all over
the Green Meadows, and along these he can scamper ever so fast without
once showing himself to those who may be looking for him. Of course he
started to take Grandfather Frog along one of these little paths. But
Grandfather Frog doesn't walk or run; he jumps. There wasn't room in
Danny's little paths for jumping, as they soon found out. Grandfather
Frog simply couldn't follow Danny along those little paths. Danny sat
down to think, and puckered his brows anxiously. He was more worried
than ever. It was very clear that Grandfather Frog would have to travel
out in the open, where there was room for him to jump, and where also he
would be right out in plain sight of all who happened along. Once more
Danny urged him to go back to the Smiling Pool, but he might just as
well have talked to a stick or a stone. Grandfather Frog had started out
to see the Great World, and he was going to see it.
Danny sighed. "If you will, you will, I suppose," said he, "and I guess
the only place you can travel in any comfort is the Lone Little Path.
It is dangerous, very dangerous, but I guess you will have to do it."
"Chugarum!" replied Grandfather Frog, "I'm not afraid. You show me the
Lone Little Path and then go about your business, Danny Meadow Mouse."
So Danny led the way to the Lone Little Path, and Grandfather Frog
sighed with relief, for here he could jump without getting all tangled
up in long grass and without hurting his tender feet on sharp stubble
where the grass had been cut. But Danny felt more worried than ever. He
wouldn't leave Grandfather Frog because, you know, he felt re-spon-sible
for him, and at the same time he was terribly afraid, for he felt sure
that some of their enemies would see them. He wanted to go back, but he
kept right on, and that shows just what a brave little fellow Danny
Meadow Mouse was.
