see it clearly
What Happened At The Smiling Pool
By Thornton W. Burgess
Just as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun went down to his home behind the capped purple hills, Billy Mink came down the Laughing Brook to the Smiling Pool. When he came in sight of the Big Hickory Tree on the bank of the Smiling Pool, he stopped. What do you think he saw? Why, there were all the little people of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest -- Johnny Chuck, Happy Jack Squirrel, Striped Chipmunk, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, Reddy Fox, Jimmy Skunk, Bobby Coon, Danny Meadow Mouse, Unc' Billy Possum, Prickly Porky, Old Mr. Toad, Digger the Badger, Jumper the Hare, Sammy Jay, Blacky the Crow and Old Mistah Buzzard. And on the Big Rock in the Smiling Pool sat Little Joe Otter, Jerry Muskrat, and Spotty the Turtle, while on his big green lily-pad, smiling at everyone, sat Grandfather Frog.
They seemed to be waiting for someone and Billy Mink knew that that someone was himself. How he did wish that he hadn't boasted of what he could do. He would have run back home, but just then Old Mistah Buzzard's sharp eyes say him.
"Here he comes!" cried Old Mistah Buzzard.
So Billy Mink had to go on.
Everybody set up a great shout when he climbed up on the Big Rock, and though he felt just a little foolish he tried not to show it.
Grandfather Frog made a little speech. He told what a wonderful fellow Billy Mink is, or thinks he is, and how he had boasted that he could do anything that anyone else who wore fur could do. Then he invited Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter to show how they could swim.
It was a great race, yes, indeed it was a great race, and though Little Joe Otter won, Billy Mink proved that he can swim very fast indeed. Then Peter Rabbit and Billy Monk ran a race, and though Peter was first Billy Mink almost beat him and proved that he can run very fast indeed. After that Happy Jack Squirrel showed how fast he could climb a tree, but when he reached the very tip top, Billy Mink was right at his heels.
Jumper the Hare made some wonderful jumps; Billy Mink jumped too. Of course Billy didn't jump nearly so far as Jumper the Hare, whose legs are long and meant for jumping, but he jumped very well indeed. Then Billy Mink proved that he can follow a track with his nose just as well as Reddy Fox. He dug a hole to show that he can dig. Everything that anyone else did, Billy Mink did, and with each success he felt better, for all the little meadow and forest people clapped their hands and shouted; "Hurrah for Billy Mink!"
Billy Mink looked down at Grandfather Frog and grinned. "Where's that fellow that can do something that I can't do?" demanded Billy Mink. "Where is he? I want to see him." billy swelled himself up and began to strut back and forth on the Big Rock.
Grandfather Frog looked around at all the Little Forest People, and first winked one big goggly eye and then the other. Just as he did so, a funny little squeaky voice, that seemed to come right out of the air, said:
"Here I am, Grandfather Frog."
Everyone but Billy Mink looked up. Billy didn't need to, for as soon as he heard that voice, he knew who it is that wears fur that can do something that he cannot do. He had forgotten all about him when he boasted, Who was it? Why Flitter the Bat, of course.