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The Tale of Timothy Turtle

Chapter 49: Little Jack Rabbit Books
By Arthur Scott Bailey
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About This Book

An elderly, ill-tempered turtle who lives in a creek and has a habit of snapping at neighbors drives a string of lighthearted, episodic adventures among woodland and pond animals. Encounters with a raccoon, a crow, a mink, frogs and other creatures produce grudges, narrow escapes, schemes, rescues and humorous misunderstandings. Each chapter presents a self-contained mishap or lesson—ranging from near-captures and learning new skills to unexpected acts of help—that gradually reveals consequences of behavior and the value of cooperation. The tone is gentle and comic, aimed at entertaining children while showing small reconciliations within a community of animals.

Come let us sing a merry song!
 To you it may sound sad.
 And if you think it loud and long
 We think that it's not bad.
"We'll sing about a grumpy one
 Who snaps and bites all day.
 And if you call that "having fun"
 We make reply, "Go 'way!"
He has a glittering, wicked eye
 And also cruel jaws.
 And if you ask the reason why,
 We'll answer you, "Because!"
He'll stretch his neck and grab you quick—
 Don't let him come too near!
 And if you poke him with a stick
 He'll seize that too—oh, dear!

p. 118

Now, we'll admit he swims quite well
 And that he's slow ashore.
 Don't ask us if he wears a shell
 Until we tell you more.
Don't ask us if he's fond of fish
 Nor seek to learn his age.
 And kindly don't express a wish
 To see him in a rage!
Don't ask us if his claws are strong
 And if he has a tail.
 It might be short and blunt, or long
 And pointed like a nail.
We do not want to cause you pain.
 We would not give offense—
 But, sir, you'll not come here again
 If you have any sense.

After the last echo of the song had lostp. 119 itself in the depths of Cedar Swamp, the singers all turned, smiling, to their listener.

But his face wore no smile. On the contrary, Timothy Turtle frowned darkly.

"You can't fool me!" he cried. "You don't like me! You don't want me here!"

Ferdinand Frog swallowed a few times.

"Well," said he, "of course my manners are so elegant that I simply couldn't dispute one of my elders. And anyhow, Mr. Turtle, you'd find that our singing sounded twice as well if you were half a mile away."

"It certainly couldn't sound any worse than it does here," Timothy Turtle declared—a remark which made the Frog family grin broadly.

He said no more, but slipped into the water and struck out towards home.

There was a lively scattering of thosep. 120 who found themselves in Timothy Turtle's path. And for a time it looked as if the singing party had broken up in disorder.

But after a while everybody came back again—that is, everybody but Timothy Turtle. He hurried away and spent most of the whole night buried in the mud at the bottom of Black Creek. For even until daybreak that merry song came floating now and then across Pleasant Valley.

And Timothy Turtle did not like it. He thought it not only loud and long, but most unpleasant as well.





THE END

Little Jack Rabbit Books

(Trademark Registered)
By DAVID CORY
Author of "Little Journeys to Happyland"

Colored Wrappers With Text Illustrations.

A new and unique series about the furred and feathered little people of the wood and meadow.

Children will eagerly follow the doings of little Jack Rabbit, and the clever way in which he escapes from his three enemies, Danny Fox, Mr. Wicked Wolf and Hungry Hawk will delight the youngsters.

LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARE
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROW
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND OLD MAN WEASEL
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MR. WICKED WOLF
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND HUNGRY HAWK
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE POLICEMAN DOG
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MISS MOUSIE
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE LUCKY
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE YELLOW DOG TRAMP

GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK

LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND

By DAVID CORY

Profusely Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers.

Printed in large type—easy to read.
For children from 6 to 8 years.

A new series of exciting adventures by the author of the LITTLE JACK RABBIT books. This series is unique in that it deals with unusual and exciting adventures on land and sea and in the air.

THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK

This is a good rainy day story. On just such a day Mr. Noah invites Marjorie to go for a trip in Noah's Ark. She gets aboard just in time and away it floats out into the big wide world.

THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE

The king of the gnomes has a magic pipe with which he blows a wonderful bubble and taking Ed. with him they both have a delightful time in Gnomeland.

THE ICEBERG EXPRESS

The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary Louise into a mermaid. The Polar Bear Porter on the Iceberg Express invites her to take a trip with him and away they go.

THE WIND WAGON

Little Hero stepped aboard the Wind Wagon and started on a journey to many wonderful places and had a delightful time.

THE MAGIC UMBRELLA

A little old man gave Jimmy the Magic Umbrella which took him to Happyland, where he had many adventures.

GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK