"I really don't understand you, ma'am," said poor Dr. Bullfrog.

"What! you haven't heard of a committee that is going to call on you,
to ask you to resign the care of the parish music?"

"Madam," said Dr. Bullfrog, with all that energy of tone for which he
was remarkable, "I don't believe it,--I CAN'T believe it. You must
have made a mistake."

"I mistake! No, no, my good friend; I never make mistakes. What I
know, I know certainly. Wasn't it I that said I knew there was an
engagement between Tim Chipmunk and Nancy Nibble, who are married
this very day? I knew that thing six weeks before any bird or beast
in our parts; and I can tell you, you are going to be scandalously
and ungratefully treated, Dr. Bullfrog."

"Bless me, we shall all be ruined!" said Mrs. Bullfrog; "my poor
husband--"

"Oh, as to that, if you take things in time, and listen to my
advice," said Mother Magpie, "we may yet pull you through. You must
alter your style a little,--adapt it to modern times. Everybody now
is a little touched with the operatic fever, and there's Tommy Oriole
has been to New Orleans and brought back a touch of the artistic. If
you would try his style a little,--something Tyrolean, you see."

"Dear madam, consider my voice. I never could hit the high notes."

"How do you know? It's all practice; Tommy Oriole says so. Just try
the scales. As to your voice, your manner of living has a great deal