"Oh, Grandfather Frog, what's the matter with the Smiling Pool?"
they shouted, as they came up quite out of breath.

"Chugarum! There's nothing the matter with the Smiling Pool; it's
the best place in all the world," replied Grandfather Frog gruffly.

"But there is something the matter," insisted Jerry Muskrat, and
then he told what he had discovered.

"I don't believe it," said Grandfather Frog. "I never heard of such
a thing in the springtime."



CHAPTER VIII: Grandfather Frog Watches His Toes

Grandfather Frog sat among the bulrushes on the edge of the Smiling
Pool. Over his head Mr. Redwing was singing as if his heart would
burst with the very joy of springtime.

"Tra-la-la-lee, see me! See me!
Happy am I as I can be!
Happy am I the whole day long
And so I sing my gladsome song."

Of course Mr. Redwing was happy. Why shouldn't he be? Here it was
the beautiful springtime, the gladdest time of all the year, the
time when happiness creeps into everybody's heart. Grandfather Frog
listened. He nodded his head. "Chugarum! I'm happy, too," said
Grandfather Frog. But even as he said it, a little worried look