 Chapter 25 of The Tale of Grandfather Mole Read for LibriVox.org The Tale of Grandfather Mole By Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 25 Stubborn as Ebuk Farmer Green hadn't finished plowing his first furrow before Mr. Blackbird and Grandfather Mole began breakfasting on the Angle Worms that the plow turned up. Very soon Mr. Blackbird began to regret his bargain with Grandfather Mole. For Grandfather was even a greater eater than Mr. Blackbird had supposed. Mr. Blackbird began to be afraid that there wouldn't be worms enough like for himself. This is a fine place to dig, he remarked to Grandfather Mole, in what seemed a careless way. But he watched Grandfather Mole narrowly with a grin on his face to see what the old chap would do. And after that Grandfather Mole couldn't resist burrowing in the loose earth now and then. It pleased Mr. Blackbird to see him amuse himself in that fashion because while he was digging Grandfather Mole lost his chance at a good many Angle Worms. They found their way quickly down Mr. Blackbird's throat and it was not long before he was in the best of spirits. Day after day while the spring plowing went on the strange pair followed the plow together and since Grandfather Mole spent more than half the time in digging Mr. Blackbird felt that on the whole their bargain had proved a good one. When Farmer Green had finished the last furrow in the field Mr. Blackbird told Grandfather Mole that the plowing had come to an end. And now he said, Now it's your turn to carry out your part of the bargain. I showed you where the food was plentiful and it's time for you to begin furnishing me twenty fat Angle Worms a day. Grandfather Mole was amazed. There hadn't been a word said about the number of Angle Worms he was to supply Mr. Blackbird. Twenty, he exclaimed, nobody said twenty. That's so said Mr. Blackbird. It was forty. Grandfather Mole was staggered but he didn't dare object again. For fear Mr. Blackbird would double the number once more and make it eighty. Agreed he cried and I'll have them ready for you at midnight regularly. Midnight Mr. Blackbird repeated after him in great surprise. Nothing was said about midnight. That's so Grandfather Mole admitted. It was one o'clock in the morning and in spite of everything Mr. Blackbird said, Grandfather Mole wouldn't change the time. Everybody knew that he was very stubborn. A hundred Angle Worms in the middle of the night wouldn't do me any good, Mr. Blackbird complained. I'm always asleep at that time. You'd better change your habits, Grandfather Mole replied. You ought to be glad to change your hours for sleep if it would make things easier for you. Now that was very light the sort of remark that Mr. Blackbird himself had once made to Grandfather Mole. But coming from Grandfather Mole the suggestion did not please him. He even lost his temper and he told Grandfather Mole that he was the queerest person in all pleasant valley. But that speech did not trouble Grandfather Mole. It's everybody else that's queer and not I, he declared. End of Chapter 25 End of The Tale of Grandfather Mole by Arthur Scott Bailey This recording is in the public domain.