The Tale of Daddy Longlegs Part 10

"You must miss your leg terribly!" several of the company cried.

"Not at all!" replied Daddy Longlegs cheerfully, to the great surprise of all those present. "I have seven legs left; and that ought to be enough for anybody. I should think."

But little Mrs. Ladybug couldn't help shuddering. "I think it's just too dreadful!" she cried. "Johnnie Green is a very careless boy."

"Oh, he didn't mean any harm, I know," Daddy Longlegs a.s.sured her. "He tried not to injure me.... But I'll admit there's one thing that has caused me a good deal of annoyance."

"What's that?" everyone asked.

"I had to get a new pair of seven-legged trousers," Daddy Longlegs explained. "And if any of you has ever tried to find such a garment at short notice he will understand that I've been in great trouble."

Then Daddy Longlegs wished his callers a pleasant afternoon and begged to be excused, on account of important business.

And as they watched him walk briskly away his neighbors all agreed that for a person who had just lost a leg he seemed wonderfully spry.

XXIII

A NEW NAME FOR DADDY

DADDY LONGLEGS' neighbor, little Mr. Chippy, had an idea. And since he thought it a good one he at once arranged a meeting of a number of his friends who lived near him.

Among those present were Buster b.u.mblebee, Betsy b.u.t.terfly, Rusty Wren, and several others. They met in Farmer Green's apple orchard. And they all arrived there early because everybody was eager to know what Mr.

Chippy had to say.

"My idea----" Mr. Chippy began----"my idea is this: since Daddy Longlegs is so changed, after losing one of his legs, we really ought to call him by a different name. Now that he has only seven legs--instead of eight--it doesn't seem polite to say anything about _legs_ in his hearing."

As Mr. Chippy paused and looked about him the whole company agreed that his idea was an excellent one.

"But I don't know where we're going to find a new name for him," said Buster b.u.mblebee, who never had many ideas of his own.

"That's easy!" Mr. Chippy told him. "I've thought of a splendid name.

And I'm perfectly willing to let you use it.... It's _Grandfather Graybeard_!"

Most of the company clapped their hands when Mr. Chippy said that. But Buster b.u.mblebee spoke up and said that he didn't think much of that name, because Daddy Longlegs had no beard.

"Well, for all you know he may decide to wear one, any day," Mr. Chippy replied.

And then all the company applauded again--except Buster b.u.mblebee.

"How do you know Daddy Longlegs is a grandfather?" he asked Mr. Chippy.

"How do you know he isn't?" Mr. Chippy asked _him_.

And then everybody but Buster cried out that "Grandfather Graybeard" was a fine name for Daddy Longlegs. And many remarked that Daddy would be greatly pleased when he heard the news.

"Thank you!" said Mr. Chippy, making a low bow with his hand on his heart. "And now if it is the pleasure of the meeting I will go back to the stone wall at once and tell Daddy Longlegs what we have decided to do."

To Mr. Chippy's surprise a murmur of dissent greeted his proposal.

"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Chippy! "I thought you liked my idea."

"So we do!" Rusty Wren replied. "But we think it would be better if we _all_ called on Daddy and explained to him about the change."

"Very well!" little Mr. Chippy answered. "The more the merrier! I'll be the spokesman. And I will suggest that we start for the stone wall right now, for there's no time like the present, you know."

Even Buster b.u.mblebee approved of Mr. Chippy's retort. And with that everybody started pell-mell for the stone wall.

XXIV

A BRIDEGROOM

DADDY LONGLEGS was taken entirely by surprise. It was rather early in the morning. And he had not expected callers--at least not so many as suddenly appeared at the stone wall where he was usually to be found.

Luckily he was arrayed in his very best clothes. Indeed, he was quite smartly dressed--for him. A bright yellow scarf, tied in a big bow beneath his chin, made him look almost dandified. And he was wearing a bottle-green coat, lined with pink.

"Goodness!" said Buster b.u.mblebee. "He looks like a bridegroom!" But his companions all told him to hush, and not to be disrespectful to his elders.

"Good morning!" said Mr. Chippy to Daddy Longlegs. "We've come to tell you some good news. We're going to call you by a different name. And we hope you'll like it."

"I hope so!" Daddy Longlegs echoed. "What is it, please?"

"It's 'Grandfather Graybeard'!" little Mr. Chippy informed him with an air of pride.

"Why, that's a beautiful name!" Daddy Longlegs cried, as a look of pleasure crossed his face.

"I'm glad you think so," said Mr. Chippy. "It's only fair to tell you that I thought of it myself."

And then he called for "three cheers for Grandfather Graybeard!"

They gave them with a right good will.

And after the sound had died away Mr. Chippy said something in a whisper to Daddy.

"What is it?" Rusty Wren demanded. "What's he talking about?"

"He thinks we ought to give three cheers for him," Daddy Longlegs explained.

But before they had time to do that a large lady bustled out from the stone wall and walked straight up to Daddy Longlegs. She was one of his own kind, too. The whole company agreed to that, afterwards; because they had all counted her feet. And she had eight.

"What's this?" the newcomer demanded. "What's going on here, I should like to know?"