If Solomon Owl chanced to _hoot_ on those occasions, Jasper Jay would jump
almost out of his bright blue coat. Then Solomon’s deep laughter would
echo mockingly through the woods.

You see, though not nearly so wise as he appeared, Solomon Owl knew well
enough how to frighten some people.





III
SOLOMON LIKES FROGS


It was a warm summer’s evening—so warm that Mr. Frog, the tailor, had
taken his sewing outside his tailor’s shop and seated himself cross-legged
upon the bank of the brook, where he sang and sewed without ceasing—except
to take a swim now and then in the cool water, “to stretch his legs,” as
he claimed.

He was making a new suit of blue clothes for Jasper Jay. And since Jasper
was a great dandy, and very particular Mr. Frog was taking special pains
with his sewing.

Usually he did his work quickly. But now after every five stitches that he
put into his work he stopped to take out ten. And naturally he was not
getting on very fast. He had been working busily since early morning; and
Jasper Jay’s suit was further than ever from being finished.