One day Hoppy Toad was basking in the sun. So interested was he in taking his sun-bath, he failed to notice two rough-looking boys who were coming toward him.
One boy said to the other: “Go easy, Jack, maybe we can catch him. I have long wanted to get one of these toads; they make good pets; one can have lots of fun with one.”
These words were spoken in a near whisper and Hoppy Toad heard him not. The biggest boy of the two crept along slowly, making as little noise as possible. The smaller boy remained a few feet behind, prepared to give chase to Hoppy Toad should he happen to notice the attempt to capture him and make an effort to escape.
The big boy crept along so carefully that Hoppy Toad was entirely ignorant of the danger facing him. He continued to bask joyfully in the sun.
“This is easy,” said the big boy. “He doesn’t have the least idea there is a person around to disturb him. I’ll have a great time with him when I get him tamed.”
He was now within a few feet of Hoppy Toad, and ready to capture poor Hoppy, who was still enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays.
The big boy was in the act of reaching for Hoppy Toad, when a bumblebee stung him on the arm, causing him to let out a wild scream that startled the smaller boy. As a result Hoppy Toad hopped off to safety, while the big boy, crying from the pain of the sting of the bumblebee, ran as fast as his legs would carry him for home. The small boy followed him fearful that he, too, might be stung by the bumblebee.
Hoppy Toad looked around for the bumblebee who had rescued him, for he wished to thank him for the timely rescue. He spied him on a branch of a wild rose bush nearby and hopped gleefully to the bush to give him his thanks for the rescue.
“Mr. Bumblebee,” he said, “I want to thank you for saving me from the hands of that boy.”
“That is all right, Mr. Toad,” he replied, “but hereafter keep your wits about you; there may not always be somebody around to rescue you.”
“May I ask your name?” said Hoppy Toad.
“Jimmy Bumblebee is my name,” was the reply. “What is yours?”
“Hoppy Toad.”
“Well, Hoppy Toad, I have a favor to ask of you. As a reward for my saving you I want you to promise me that you will not eat any more honeybees; they have very important work to perform in this world, and when you eat one of them there is just so much lost. They are useful because they supply the kiddies and grown folks with honey. Will you promise me?”
“I will, Jimmy Bumblebee, and I’ll tell other toads and frogs not to eat any more honeybees or bumblebees.”
“Thank you,” was Jimmy Bumblebee’s farewell as he flew off in an easterly direction.
“Well, Hoppy Toad,” said Hoppy to himself, “you are a lucky boy to be free.”
He hopped into his home and told Ma and Pa Toad of his rescue by Jimmie Bumblebee.
“Just do as Jimmie Bumblebee told you to; keep your wits about you and you will be all right,” said Pa Toad.
Moral: Always keep your wits about you.
