Grandfather Frog Plays Asleep

Part One · Sun on the Pond

Grandfather Frog sat on his lily pad in the sun. His eyes were shut. His chin was on his chest.

From his house, Jerry Muskrat saw a long gray shape. It was Longlegs the Blue Heron, wading near the shore.

Longlegs was hungry. He had walked all morning and found nothing. Then he saw a frog asleep on a pad.

Jerry called softly across the water, "Look out, Grandfather Frog!" That was all he dared to say.

Grandfather Frog did not move. But under one eyelid, he was looking. "I see him," he thought.

Longlegs crept nearer on his long, thin legs. Each step was slow and soft. Not one ripple spread on the water.

At last he stopped, as still as a post. He stood on one leg and waited. He hoped the frog was sound asleep.

Grandfather Frog snored a little snore to help him along. He was an old frog. He knew many tricks.

So they waited, and the sun climbed higher. The heron's leg grew tired. His stomach rumbled.

Grandfather Frog was very comfortable. The sun was warm and the pad was soft. He had all day to wait.

At last Longlegs gave up. He lifted his long legs and flapped his wide wings. He sailed away over the bulrushes.

Grandfather Frog opened both eyes. "Dear me," he said. "Some folks have no patience at all."