 Chapter 1 of The Tale of Daddy Longleafs This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Daddy Longleafs by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 1 The Strange Tracks There was great excitement in the neighbourhood of Farmer Green's house. Rusty Wren had found some strange tracks, and nobody knew whose they were. Now, when they were puzzled like that, the fugue and forest folk usually went straight to Mr Crowe for advice. But this time it happened that the old gentleman had gone on an excursion to the further side of Blue Mountain, where Brownie Beaver lived. And there seemed to be no one else at hand who was likely to be able to explain the mystery. Being quite old, Mr Crowe was very wise, and people often sought his opinion, though later they fell into the habit of consulting Daddy Longleafs upon matters they did not understand. But this was before Daddy was known in Pleasant Valley. Upon hearing Rusty Wren's news, a good many of his neighbours hurried to the place where Rusty had noticed the strange tracks. They were there in the dust of the road. Rusty Wren explained to his friends, I could see them plainly, I assure you, and there's no doubt that a large company crossed the road right here. Why can't we see the tracks now, several people wanted to know. A horse and a wagon passed this way and spoiled the footprints, Rusty said. They couldn't have been very big, somebody remarked. Well, no, Rusty Wren admitted. I shouldn't call them big, but they certainly weren't as small as the footprints of an ant. When they heard that, some of Rusty's friends looked relieved. We don't need to worry anyhow, a number of them said to one another. But there was one that was disappointed, that was Ready Woodpecker. Why, the strangers, whoever they are, are too small for me to fight, he cried. And here I've wasted all this time for nothing at all. He looked so angrily at Rusty Wren, that Rusty felt very uneasy. He certainly didn't want Ready Woodpecker to fight him. Luckily, Ready did not attack Rusty, but he went away grumbling. And Rusty Wren couldn't help feeling a bit worried. Never mind what that rowdy says, little Mr Chippy advised Rusty Wren, after the quarrelsome Ready Woodpecker had gone away. I'm glad you told me about those strange tracks. I live nearby in the wild grapevine on the stone wall, and I shall watch for more tracks, and those that make them too. Let me know when you learn anything new, said Rusty Wren. And Mr Chippy said that nothing would please him more than to do just that. Well, the very next day, Mr Chippy's son, Chippy Jr., knocked at Rusty Wren's door, which was right beneath Farmer Green's chamber window, and told Rusty that he was wanted by the roadside at once. So Rusty flew straight to the stone wall, where he found little Mr Chippy, all a flutter. Mr Chippy dropped quickly into the road, pointing to some tiny marks in the dust. Are those like the tracks you saw? He asked. Yes, the very same, cried Rusty Wren. And now you can see for yourself that there must have been a crowd. To his surprise, Mr Chippy shook his head. There was only one person, he said, one person with eight legs. Why do you think that? Rusty Wren asked him doubtfully. I don't think it. I know it. Mr Chippy replied. I've seen the person six times today with my own eyes. What does he look like? Rusty Wren inquired. Like nobody else I ever saw. Mr Chippy exclaimed. His legs are long and thin, and his body is very small. And though his mouth makes me think of a pair of pincers, he seems quite friendly and harmless. What's his name? asked Rusty Wren. I don't know, said Mr Chippy, but there's only one name that fits him. I've already called him by it, and he seems to like it too. What's that? Rusty persisted. Daddy long legs, said little Mr Chippy. End of chapter one. Chapter two of The Tale of Daddy Long Legs. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Daddy Long Legs by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter two, The New Neighbour. All the neighbours began to call him Daddy Long Legs, and anyone might naturally think that he had lived in Pleasant Valley a great many years, but it was not so. Late in the summer, Daddy Long Legs had appeared from nobody new where. Although people often inquired where his old home was, he always pretended that he didn't hear them, and began to talk about the weather. And as for Daddy Long Legs' new home in Pleasant Valley, nobody knew much about that either. No matter how curious anyone might be, it did him no good at all to ask Daddy Long Legs where he lived. When prying persons put that question to him, Daddy Long Legs always waved his eight legs in every direction and answered, over there. Of course, such a reply told nothing to anyone, and it led to a good many disputes among Daddy Long Legs' neighbours. No two could ever agree as to which of Daddy's legs really pointed toward the place where he dwelt. Anyhow, the wily gentleman was frequently seen scrambling about the stone wall by the roadside near Farmer Green's house. And little Mr Chippy, who made his home in the wild grapevine that grew on the wall, always claimed that Daddy Long Legs was a neighbour of his. He's a good neighbour too, Mr Chippy told his friends. He's very quiet, and he never quarrels. And he's always pleasant and ready for a chat. It's too bad that he's deaf. I've asked him at least a dozen times how old he is, but he never seems to hear me. Old Mr Crow, who liked nothing better than prying into other people's affairs, slowly shook his head at that and coughing slightly, he remarked in a hoarse voice that there must be reasons why Daddy Long Legs wouldn't tell where he came from, nor where he was living, nor how old he was. But Mr Crow wouldn't say what he thought might be the reasons, although he was a wise bird. There were some things he didn't know. Now, in a way, Mr Crow was right. Daddy Long Legs had the best of reasons for keeping some facts to himself. In the first place, he had never lived anywhere except in Pleasant Valley. In the second place, he was scarcely more than two months old when people began to notice him in the neighbourhood of the Stone Wall. And in the third place, since he was somewhat timid, he thought just as well if people didn't know where he made his home. He was, as his friends often said, an odd person. For instance, he had always looked old, from the very first. And when everyone began to call him Daddy, it was only to be expected that he would not care to let people know that he was not even a year old, instead of ninety or a hundred, as they supposed. Besides, probably nobody would have believed the truth, so he never told his age. Indeed, there were some who claimed that Daddy Long Legs must be much more than only a hundred years old. They thought that he's queer. Tottering walk alone was enough to show his great age. But it is not strange that his walks seemed a bit uncertain. When a person has eight feet, it is to be expected that he will have a little trouble managing them. It is to be expected that he will sometimes find himself more trying to walk up in several different directions at the same time. End of chapter two. Chapter three of the Tale of Daddy Long Legs. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Daddy Long Legs by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter three. Mr Crow is displeased. Daddy Long Legs had such pleasant manners that it was no time at all before his neighbours agreed that he was a good old soul, and everybody was glad to claim him as a friend. At least everybody but Mr Crow. Mr Crow soon found that people were asking Daddy's advice on all sorts of questions, because they thought he was very old, and therefore very wise. And Mr Crow at once became so jealous that he didn't know what to do. He began making unkind remarks about his new rival, saying that no matter how old a person might be, if he had a small head and eight long legs, it was not reasonable to believe that he could have much of a brain. Whenever anybody mentioned Daddy's name, Mr Crow would whore whore loudly and mutter something about old spindly legs. Mr Crow had spent many summers in Pleasant Valley, and during that time he had advised thousands of his neighbours. Indeed, he often boasted that if he had a kernel of corn for every bit of advice he had given away, he never would have to wonder where he was going to get his next meal. When some friends of Mr Crow's repeated that speech to Daddy Long Leagues, he observed that Mr Crow must be very wise. No doubt he added in his thin, quavering voice. No doubt Mr Crow's help would be worth a kernel of corn to anybody who was in trouble. If his advice was good, no one would object to paying for it, and if it proved to be bad, no one would miss a kernel of corn. It happened that Daddy Long Leagues' comment soon reached the ears of old Mr Crow, and it made that gentleman furious. This is the first time anybody has suggested that my advice is not always first class, he croaked. He's this long-legged upstart interfering in my affairs. I must teach him a lesson, Mr Crow declared. Well, that very afternoon he challenged Daddy Long Leagues to a contest. I intend to prove, said Mr Crow, that my advice is always good, and that yours is always bad. Very well, Daddy Long Leagues answered, but I advise you to go home at once, Mr Crow. You're very hoarse, and I'm sure you ought to be in bed. Now, the old gentleman was always hoarse, and since he disliked to have anyone mention his infirmity, his eyes snapped angrily. I advise you, he roared. I advise you to keep your advice to yourself. Of course, that was a rude speech, but Daddy Long Leagues did not take offense at it. He straightway told Mr Crow that he ought to wear rubbers, and Mr Crow was so enraged that he couldn't speak for as much as half an hour. It was understood that the contest between Daddy and Mr Crow would take place the following morning, and when that time came, a big crowd had gathered upon the stone wall to see the fun. End of Chapter 3, Chapter 4, at the Tale of Daddy Long Leagues. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Daddy Long Leagues by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter 4, The Contest. My cousin Jasper J. has kindly consented to ask us some questions. Mr Crow informed Daddy Long Leagues, and he will decide which of us makes the wiser answers. Buster Bumblebee, who was watching and listening, said, That's hardly fair, it seems to me. But old Mr Crow quickly told him that he was a stupid fellow and that he'd better keep still. And since a good many other people had frequently said the same thing to that young gentleman, Buster began to think there might be some truth in it, so he said nothing more. Meanwhile Daddy Long Leagues themed upon all the company, and Mr Crow looked at him out of the corner of his eye. Then he said to Daddy, I suppose you've no objection to this plan. It suits me very well, Daddy replied. I thought it would, said old Mr Crow with a smirk, and turning to his cousin Jasper J. He remarked in a low voice that Daddy Long Leagues was even duller than he had imagined. Then Jasper J. announced that he would put the first question and after he had heard Mr Crow's opinion he would listen to Daddy Long Leagues. When is the best time to plant corn? Jasper then asked Mr Crow while the whole company craned their necks and strung their ears for of course they didn't want to miss anything. Mr Crow made no answer for a few moments. He appeared to be thinking deeply, but at last he looked up and said, The best time to plant corn is as early as possible. A good many of those present exclaimed at once that that was a good answer and a few clapped their hands. What's your opinion? Jasper J. then asked, turning to Daddy Long Leagues. Daddy Long Leagues took off his hat, mopped his narrow forehead with his red bandana and then slowly nodded his head three times. My answer is exactly the same as Mr Crow's. He piped in his queer, thin high voice. At that a look of displeasure passed quickly over the faces of the two cousins and when little Mr Chippy called on Jasper J. to decide which was the better answer Jasper looked really worried. It's a tie this time. He said somewhat sally and while everybody was shouting he and Mr Crow withdrew to one side and whispered which some considered to be rather bad manners. Soon Jasper and Mr Crow returned to the eager throng and Jasper now looked as brazen as ever. I'll put the next question he announced and Daddy Long Leagues may answer first. How many kernels of corn make a meal? There wasn't a sound except for Buster Bumblebee's buzzing as Daddy Long Leagues moved forward a few steps and held his hand behind his ear. Speak louder, somebody said to Jasper. You know he's hard of hearing. So Jasper J repeated the question but Daddy Long Leagues only looked at him blankly. It was quite clear that he couldn't understand a single word that Jasper said. End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of the Tale of Daddy Long Leagues This is a LibraBox recording. All LibraBox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraBox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Daddy Long Leagues by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 5 Too Many Questions This is strange, old Mr Crow exclaimed looking very hard at Daddy Long Leagues. You heard the first question easily enough but now you seem dip as a post. And all the time Daddy Long Leagues merely smiled at Mr Crow. He made no comment at all. Don't you know what I'm saying? Mr Crow bawled in his loudest tones. It is a pleasant day, said Daddy Long Leagues but I'm afraid there's going to be a heavy gale tomorrow. This is certainly peculiar, Mr Crow grumbled. And then little Mr Chippy hastened to explain that Daddy Long Leagues was often like that. He would appear to hear you perfectly one moment. And then if you happen to ask him his age or where he came from you might find him unable to understand a single word that you said. It's most unfortunate, said old Mr Crow. I see nothing to do but reply to the question myself. And then my cousin Jasper Jay will decide which has given the better answer. Daddy Long Leagues, alright. Ah, but you can't do that, cried Daddy Long Leagues suddenly. Jasper Jay said you were not to answer this question until after I had. And you know you mustn't break the rules of the contest. Old Mr Crow's mouth fell open. He was so astonished. Why, he can hear again. He exclaimed. And after staring at Daddy Long Leagues for a while he beckoned to Jasper Jay. And again the two cousins moved a little distance away and began whispering. When they returned both were smiling broadly and mounting the stone wall once more. Jasper said that he would put another question to Daddy and Mr Crow and that they must both answer it at the same time. Then he cautioned Daddy Long Leagues to speak up good and loud because Mr Crow had a strong voice. I'd suggest, said Daddy Long Leagues, I'd suggest that Mr Crow speak as softly as possible because my voice is weak. That's only fair, all the company agreed, nodding their heads to one another. But Mr Crow appeared peabish. Everybody's against me, he grumbled. I almost believed, he said, turning to his cousin. I almost believed they're all in league with Farmer Green. If you are not sure, why don't you ask Farmer Green himself, Daddy Long Leagues inquired. I will, cried Mr Crow in a loud voice. I'll ask him the next time I see him. Then you can ask him now, said Daddy Long Leagues, for here he comes with a gun on his shoulder. The words were hardly out of Daddy's mouth. When old Mr Crow began to beat the air furiously with his broad wings, he rose quickly but not too high and made for the woods as fast as he could fly. Now, that's strange, Daddy Long Leagues quabbered. I don't see how he's going to talk with Farmer Green when he's half a mile away from him and everybody else said the same thing. He's gone off and left the contest unfinished, little Mr Chippy observed. So there's nothing Jasper Jay can do except to declare that Daddy Long Leagues is the winner and the wisest person in Pleasant Valley. I couldn't very well do that, Jasper objected. You're forgetting Solomon now. Well, Daddy's wiser than old Mr Crow anyhow, Mr Chippy retorted. And since almost everybody said that was true, Jasper Jay didn't quite dare object. But it was plain that he didn't agree with the company and he stamped his feet and clashed his feel together and shook his head as if he were much displeased. He too began to believe with his cousin Mr Crow that Daddy Long Leagues and all the others were on Farmer Green's side. End of Chapter 5, Chapter 6 at the tail of Daddy Long Leagues. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Daddy Long Leagues by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter 6, Mrs Ladybug's Plan Daddy Long Leagues' neighbours took an even greater interest in him after his contest with Mr Crow. And much to Daddy's distress, they tried harder than before to pry into his private affairs. But those curious busybodies learned very little. In fact, there was only one of them who really found out anything about Daddy that was worth knowing. Little Mrs Ladybug, who was somewhat of a gossip, discovered in some way that Daddy Long Leagues was a harvestman. And she lost no time in spreading the news far and wide. She even travelled as far as the big poplar to tell Whiteface, the carpenter B, what she had heard. A harvestman, A, said the carpenter, thrusting his hands into the pockets of his apron. If that's so, why doesn't he go to work? And without waiting for an answer, he dodged quickly inside his house. He was building an addition to his home, and naturally he was quite busy. He knew too that Mrs Ladybug was a terrible talk-up. I declare, I hadn't thought of that, Mrs Ladybug exclaimed. And then she hastened to the stone wall to find Daddy Long Leagues and learn the answer to the carpenter's question. Mrs Ladybug soon spied Daddy, coming from the orchard nearby. And since she saw him before he saw her, he had no chance to hide. He was sorry that he just knew from the look in her eye that she was going to ask him a question, and sure enough, she did. You're a harboursman, she began, quiet out of breath, from hurrying. Why don't you go to work? What can I do, Daddy inquired, with a blank look. Do, she exclaimed, I should think Farmer Green would be glad to have your help in harvesting his crops. He's mowing his oats now, and there's no one to help him except the hired man, unless you count Johnny, and he spends most of his time at the swimming hole. Daddy Long Leagues thanked Mrs Ladybug politely for her suggestion, but he said that he was not acquainted with Farmer Green, and he disliked working for strangers, and he thought he would spend the rest of the summer making friends with his neighbours. Next year, he told her, I may make some arrangement with Farmer Green to work for him regularly, but that answer did not satisfy Little Mrs Ladybug in the least. You'd be far better off with something steady to do, she insisted, and she said so much that just to get rid of her Daddy Long Leagues promise to see Farmer Green at once and offer his services. He was sorry, as soon as she had gone, that he had agreed to do that, but being a person of his word, he never once thought of not keeping his promise, though he wished he had simply put his hand behind his ear and not answered Mrs Ladybug's question at all, but it was too late, then, to do that. End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of the Tale of Daddy Long Leagues This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Daddy Long Leagues by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 7 Trying to Help It was true that Farmer Green had almost more work than he could do just then, even with the aid of the hired man and Johnny. And he often wished that he might find somebody else to help him. I'd hire anybody I could find that had two legs. He remarked to his wife as he started away from the house after finishing his dinner. I want to get the oats harvested before there's a rain, and I don't like the looks of the sky today. Now Daddy Long Leagues reached the farmhouse just in time to hear what Farmer Green said, and he spoke up at once as loudly as he could. I'd be willing to work for you, he said. I'm a harvest man, and you ought to be glad to hire me, for I have eight legs instead of only two. Perhaps Daddy's voice was too thin and high for Farmer Green to hear. Anyhow, he paid not the slightest heed to Daddy's offer, but strode off across the farm yard while his caller cried, Stop, please stop at the top of his lungs. Then Daddy heard a noise which he was sure was thunder, though it was only Farmer Green calling to the hired man to hurry. Well, I've tried to go to work anyhow. Daddy Long Leagues assured himself, and if the oats get wet, Farmer Green can't blame me. He went back to the stone wall then, and seeing Mr Chippy perched on the wild grapevine, Daddy told him what had happened. Farmer Green must be deaf at times, the same as you, little Mr Chippy, observed. If I were you, I'd write him a letter. Daddy Long Leagues pretended not to hear Mr Chippy's suggestion. The truth was, being only a few months old, Daddy did not know how to write, but of course he did not care to have Mr Chippy know that. Well, while he pondered upon the situation, Daddy Long Leagues changed his mind about working for Farmer Green. In the beginning he had not wanted to help with the harvesting. He had taken up Mrs Lady Bug's suggestion only to keep her quiet. But now, having found that going to work for Farmer Green was no easy matter to arrange, Daddy Long Leagues began to long to do the very thing he had wished to avoid. At last he decided that he would go over to the Oatfield at once and do what he could to help with the harvesting, without saying anything more to anybody. Farmer Green can't help, but be pleased, he thought, as he started off across the farmyard in the same direction in which Johnny Green's father had gone when he called to the hired man to hurry. Daddy had not gone far before he met Bust Bumblebee. How far is it to the Oatfield? Daddy asked him. Oh, it's not ten minutes journey, said Buster. I've just come from the clover patch myself, and that's twice as far. Daddy Long Leagues thanked him, and then he turned and totted on again. For a long time he walked as fast as he could. It seemed to him that he must have been travelling at least half an hour, but he saw not the slightest sign of the Oatfield, though he climbed the fence and peered across the rolling meadow. Then he happened to catch sight of Chirpy Cricket, hopping through the grass, and Daddy called to him and asked him how far it was to the Oatfield. It's a good half-day's journey from here, said Chirpy Cricket, cheerfully. But Daddy Long Leagues did not feel the least bit cheerful when he heard that. For the land's sake, he exclaimed, Are you sure you're not mistaken? Buster Bumblebee told me a long time ago that it was only a ten-minute trip. Ah, so it is for him, said Chirpy Cricket. You must remember that he flies very fast, but I have to hop along much more slowly, and as for you, at the pace you were travelling before you stopped to speak to me, you wouldn't reach the Oatfield before tomorrow morning. No, not even if you walked all night. End of Chapter 7 Chapter 8 At the Tale of Daddy Long Leagues This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Daddy Long Leagues by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter 8 In Need of New Shoes Daddy Long Leagues couldn't help feeling discouraged when Chirpy Cricket told him that he wouldn't be able to reach the Oatfield before the next morning. I declare, he said, if I had known it was such a long journey, I wouldn't have tried to go there to help Farmer Green with his harvesting. I've already walked so far that my shoes are all worn out, and I can neither go on nor go back until I get some new ones. He looked very dullful, for he didn't know what to do. But Chirpy Cricket laughed merrily, as was his custom. Cheer up, he cried. You're in luck. Jimmy Rabbit has a shoe shop in this very meadow. Just follow me, and I'll show you where it is. So off they went, and soon they arrived at the shoe shop, in front of which they found Jimmy Rabbit, all smiles and bows. He's a friend of mine who needs some new shoes, Chirpy Cricket announced. Come right in, cried Jimmy Rabbit. Any friend of Chirpy Cricket is a friend of mine too. And if I can't fit your feet with shoes, it won't be my fault. Only yesterday I sold a pair of shoes to old Mr Crow, and his feet are enormous, as everyone knows. Well, I want more than just one pair. Daddy Longleg's piped up. I want four, making eight shoes in all. And I flatter myself that my feet are very small, he added. Jimmy Rabbit looked a bit surprised at that remark. He was not accustomed to seeing eight-legged people in his shop, but he made no comment, though he couldn't help staring at his new customer. Meanwhile, Chirpy Cricket had hopped away after telling Daddy leaving him in good hands. And then Jimmy Rabbit went to work briskly. He began setting shoes of all sorts and sizes before Daddy Longleg's. And soon, he was not only placing them in front of Daddy, but on both sides of him and behind him as well. Jimmy Rabbit was so spry, and most of the shoes were so big that in no time at all, Daddy Longleg's was completely surrounded by a wall of shoes which rapidly grew higher and higher. Stop, stop! cried Daddy Longleg's. But Jimmy Rabbit was so busy that he didn't hear him. And he kept piling more and more shoes around his tiny visitor until Daddy Longleg's was lost in a small mountain of big, little shoes of many different colours. Not till then did Jimmy Rabbit pause for breath. And when he saw that his customer had disappeared he was more than surprised. Where can he have gone? Jimmy exclaimed. I didn't see him go out. He was sitting right here only a moment ago. And now he's certainly not in my shop. Even at that very moment Daddy Longleg's was frantically crying Help, help! But his thin, weak voice was quite muffled by the great heap of shoes that buried him. After waiting for a few minutes Jimmy Rabbit closed and locked his door and went skipping off to Farmer Green's garden where the cabbages grew. End of Chapter 8 Chapter 9 The Tale of Daddy Longleg's This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Daddy Longleg's by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 9 Locked In Poor Daddy Longleg's Buried as he was under dozens of shoes all of them many times bigger than he was. He couldn't help being alarmed when he heard Jimmy Rabbit walk out at the shoe shop and lock the door behind him. Daddy wished that he had told Mrs. Ladybug in the beginning that he wouldn't help Farmer Green with his harvesting. Then he would never have started a long journey to the Oat Field and worn out his shoes. And if he hadn't worn out his shoes of course he would never have visited Jimmy Rabbit's shoe shop and got himself into such terrible trouble. He soon saw that he might call for help until his voice was cracked worse than ever without it's doing him the least bit of good. So he stopped shouting out at the pile of shoes that surrounded him and he was very glad then that he had eight long legs to help him. But when he found himself free of the shoes he seemed that little better off than before. There he was a prisoner in the shoe shop and the daylight was fast fading. If Daddy Longleg's had been half as wise as his neighbours believed him he wouldn't have stayed in his prison two minutes. But after trying the door and the two windows and finding that he couldn't open them he made up his mind that there was nothing for him to do except to wait until Jimmy Rabbit came back the following day. And there was the chimney all the time. Daddy Longleg's could have crawled up it just as easily as Santa Claus could have crept down it. But because he had never left anybody's house or shop by way of the chimney Daddy Longleg's never once thought of doing such a thing and he's thinking that Jimmy Rabbit wouldn't come back until the next morning shows that Daddy knew very little about the ways of his neighbours. Almost anybody else would have been sure that Jimmy Rabbit would keep his shop open at night because he was always wide awake after dark and many others of the field people were exactly like him in that respect. Daddy Longleg's had been sleeping soundly for some time inside the toe of a shoe when the sound of voices awakened him. At first he kept very still being naturally a timid person he did not want to show himself until he was sure he was safe from harm and then before he realised what was happening he felt himself picked up shoe and all and he heard Jimmy Rabbit say try on this shoe Peter Mink. Since there was no doubt the next instant that Peter Mink was thrusting his foot into Daddy's hiding place there was only one thing for Daddy to do knowing that he was in a great danger of being crushed he withdrew into the very tip of the shoe and luckily for him Peter Mink's toes did not quite reach him after that Daddy Longleg's could hear nothing more nor did he know what was happening but to make a long story short Jimmy Rabbit gave Peter Mink a shoe for Peter's other foot and bowed his customer politely out of his shop after that Jimmy Rabbit promptly locked the door again but this time he locked himself in instead of out you see he never felt safe in Peter Mink's company naturally Jimmy locked Daddy Longleg's out of the shop too though he didn't know it and there Peter Mink stood in the moonlit meadow with his new shoes on his feet and with Daddy Longleg's hidden in the toe of his right shoe but no matter if it was the right shoe Daddy Longleg's thought it was all wrong end of chapter 9 chapter 10 of the tale of Daddy Longleg's this is a Lubrivox recording all Lubrivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Lubrivox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tale of Daddy Longleg's by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 10 ride by moonlight it was not exactly a pleasant ride that Daddy Longleg's had in the toe of Peter Mink's shoes not only was it dark pocket inside the shoe but that it was so cramped that Daddy was most uncomfortable and what was still worse he hadn't even the faintest idea where he was going sometimes Daddy was almost sure that Peter Mink was carrying him around Blue Mountain but other times he thought that Peter must be following Swift River to see where it went perhaps anyhow Daddy suffered such a pitching and tossing and tumbling and jouncing as he had never known in all his life then at last to Daddy's great relief Peter Mink kept quite still for a long time that was when Peter burrowed a haystack to take a nap and since it was then many hours past Daddy Longleg's regular bedtime he went to sleep too but he awoke with a great start when Peter Mink crawled out of his shelter about dawn and at first Daddy couldn't imagine what was happening but after he had been bounced about a bit he remembered the terrible accident that happened to him in Jimmy Rabbit's shoe shop in the meadow suddenly Peter Mink stopped and to Daddy Longleg's great delight Peter began to take off his shoes yes Peter Mink removed his shoes and then he removed himself that is to say he dropped his shoes carelessly upon the ground for that was his way and took himself off Daddy Longleg's waited until Peter Mink had stolen away and then he dashed out of the shoe much faster than he had entered it in the evening before yes the evening before for now it was the following morning and broad daylight Daddy Longleg stretched his eight legs first one after another and then all together he was so glad to escape from his cramped quarters that he had little thought for anything except the joy of being free once more then he remembered all at once that he was lost and that was enough to start his eight legs to shaking beneath him in a very unpleasant fashion Daddy Longleg's was frightened anybody could have seen that after a few moments he looked about him wondering which way he had better go and as he gazed at his surroundings he saw not far off a familiar looking object at first Daddy could scarcely believe his eyes and he looked steadily at what he saw as if he half expected it would fly away and vanish but the object did nothing of the kind and how could it anyhow because it was Farmer Green's house that had caught Daddy Longleg's eye and there stood the great barn tomb a little way off and there was the bridge across Swift River without knowing what he was doing Peter Mink had brought Daddy Longleg's almost home and then he had taken off his shoes because he wanted to go for a swim in the duck pond in the hope of catching an eel for his breakfast well Daddy Longleg's lost no time in making his way back to the stone wall by the roadside and the first person he met there was no other than little Miss Lady Bug who seemed delighted to see him and asked him how he liked working for Farmer Green yes it's the fine day said Daddy Longleg's the rain is holding off and it looks as if Farmer Green was going to get his oats harvested without their being wet after all I see your death today Mrs. Lady Bug observed in a pitting tone it's a shame and Farmer Green ought to be you for your help he hasn't said a word to me Daddy Longleg's told her and Mrs. Lady Bug declared she couldn't understand it but there were many other things too that she didn't understand she had heard that Daddy was a harvestman but she didn't know that some people called him by that name merely because he was seen in Pleasant Valley about the time Farmer Green harvested his crops as for working in the fields Daddy Longleg's knew no more about that than did that fat drone Buster Bumblebee and Farmer Green would have laughed heartily at the idea of either of them helping him End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of the Tale of Daddy Longleg's This is a Libra Box recording All Libra Box recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org This reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Daddy Longleg's by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 11 The Big Wind for several days after his unlucky journey across the meadow when he tried to reach the field where Farmer Green was harvesting his oats Daddy Longleg's did not wander far from the stone wall but one day Rusty Wren told him that his cousin Long Bill Wren was going to give a party at his house in the reeds on the bank of Black Creek and although he had not been invited to the party Daddy Longleg's thought it would be pleasant to go to it Accordingly he started off at once though the party was not to take place until the afternoon of the following day but Daddy Longleg's knew that he was a slow walker and Black Creek was a long distance away Now it was a fine beautiful morning when Daddy set forth on his journey travelled steadily all day long without meeting with an adventure of any sort When night came he crept inside an old fallen tree trunk and he went to sleep feeling very happy because he was thinking what a good time he was going to have at the party the next afternoon but when morning came and Daddy Longleg's crawled out of the hollow tree on his journey he had a great disappointment the moment he thrust his head out of his hiding place he knew that he was in trouble and he saw at once that he would have to miss Rusty Wren's cousin's party because he certainly couldn't go on with the weather as it was yet the sun was shining brightly and there was scarcely a cloud to be seen in the sky a person might naturally wonder then what Daddy Longleg's could have found to worry him it wasn't raining and it certainly wasn't snowing because it was not much later than mid-summer nevertheless Daddy Longleg's looked upon the fields with the most mournful face I can't travel in this terrible wind he muttered I had known there was going to be such a blow I would never have left home and now you know what Daddy's trouble was with his small body raised so high in the air by his long, thin legs he always found it hard to walk when the wind was blowing a gale the strong gusts buffeted him about so that he pitched and tossed like a chip on the mill pond and its surface was ruffled and Daddy had learned quite early in his life to seek some sheltered spot on windy days venturing forth only when the air was calmer of course it was never any too pleasant to be obliged to lie low like that when there were a hundred things he wanted to do but it was much worse in a terrible gale not only was there no knowing how long he would have to stay hidden in the fallen tree before he did begin his long homeward journey but he had no one with him whom he could talk and it had always been Daddy's custom to spend gusty days as agreeably as possible by gossiping with his neighbours besides, there was a party on the bank at Black Creek Daddy Longlegs knew right away that it was useless for him to try to attend it and so it was no wonder that he felt unhappy End of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 of the Tale of Daddy Longlegs This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 12 Good news on a bad day For a long time Daddy Longlegs lay inside the hollow fallen tree and looked out upon the winged swept fields If the stone wall hadn't been so far away he would certainly have tried to return home but the weather was altogether too dangerous he knew it would be risky to attempt so long a journey as he sat looking out of the chink in the old tree through which he had crept inside it Daddy suddenly saw a reddish brownish flash flicker past the opening Goodness he exclaimed I wonder what that was and in another moment the same bright patch of colour again whisked across the hole Then Daddy Longlegs heard a sound as if someone scratching upon the tree trunk and being of a very curious nature he crawled half through the hole and peered out of what was happening Daddy Longlegs was already for a fright he was so upset on account of being caught away from home on a windy day that he was unusually jumpy and fidgety but as it often happens at such times he met with a pleasant surprise for there sat sandy chipmunk with his long tail curled back and something very like a smile on his face knowing that sandy chipmunk never harmed anybody that minded his own affairs Daddy Longlegs spoke to him at once it's a bad day isn't it hearing that tiny voice which seemed to come from inside the fallen tree sandy chipmunk was so startled that he looped high and when he came down again upon all fours he found himself staring straight into Daddy Longlegs beady eyes oh it's you a cried sandy chipmunk and he looked decidedly foolish because he knew that he had no reason to fear anybody as mild as Daddy Longlegs it's a bad day isn't it Daddy Longlegs once more I'm sorry I can't agree with you sandy replied I think it's the finest weather that ever was you don't mean to say you like this wind Daddy Longlegs cried why I don't see how you dare to be out in it oh it's nothing when you use to it sandy chipmunk answered lightly I shall never get used to the wind and he cried Daddy told him sadly it blows me about so terribly and he went on to explain how he had started on a long journey the day before and how he didn't dare go on nor turn around and go home either well well sandy chipmunk exclaimed you seem to be in a fix but why don't you ride home Daddy Longlegs thrilled on what I should like to know on Farmer Green's wagon sandy told him promptly I happen to know that Johnny Green and his grandmother drove to the millers this morning to have a second week ground into flower and they'll be coming back home this afternoon end of chapter 12 chapter 13 of the tale of Daddy Longlegs this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tale of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 13 a dangerous business sandy chipmunk did not tell Daddy Longlegs how he had been tied up in the sack of wheat and had had a ride in the wagon himself he did not like riding in wagons and he had been so glad to escape from the sack and jump into the bushes by the roadside that he had stopped to dance on Daddy's tree before scampering back home his suggestion took Daddy Longlegs by surprise at first he felt a bit timid about riding in a wagon but sandy chipmunk assured him it was not half as bad as it was said to be is it far to the road Daddy asked him not if you hurry Sandy told him if you start now you surely ought to be able to reach the road and old Evanser passes this field Evanser who's he? Daddy inquired oh he's the horse that draws the wagon he'll go into riding sandy chipmunk explained Daddy Longlegs thought deeply for a few minutes or as deeply as anybody could who had so small a head as he and then he said I'll try your plan I'd rather want to go home but it's very dangerous for me to do so much forking on such a windy day as this come on cried sandy I'll show you the way to the road and having started Daddy in the right direction he hastened off to the road himself to wait for the wagon sandy waited by the roadside for a long, long time and while he was lingering there Daddy Longlegs was battling with the wind and having hard work to keep his feet but by hurrying along fences and dodging behind boulders and bushes and every other sort of shelter that he could find Daddy managed to reach the roadside at last where he arrived quite out of breath hooray sandy chipmunk shouted as soon as Daddy joined him here you are and you're just in time but there's the wagon rattling down the next hill an old evanza that's the horse please remember he'll climb this rise as fast as he can because he's in a hurry to get home he can't be half as anxious to reach home as I am Daddy Longlegs remarked and if he doesn't go he's fastest after I'm aboard the wagon I hope Johnny Green will whip him hard Johnny can't do that said sandy chipmunk his father won't let him have a whip well he could cut a switch I should think Daddy Longlegs exclaimed but Sandy shook his head Johnny's grandmother wouldn't let him do that he replied but you don't need to worry you'll get home soon enough soon the two watchers saw the old horse evanza come jogging up the road and then Sandy Chipmunk said something that sent Daddy Longlegs into a flutter of excitement here they come cried Sandy you'd better stand right in the middle of the road so you'll be sure to stop them and the mere thought of doing such a dangerous thing as that made Daddy Longlegs turn quite pale end of chapter 13 chapter 14 at the tail of Daddy Longlegs this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tail of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 14 one way to stop a horse every one of Daddy Longlegs eight knees began to shake when Sandy Chipmunk told him to stand in the middle of the road in order to stop the old horse evanza who was pulling the wagon in which Johnny Green and his grandmother were riding I can't do that Daddy shrieked shrinking away from the dusty road I'm so small that they wouldn't see me and the first thing I'd know I'd be run over you'll have to stop the wagon for me you're so much bigger than I am but Sandy Chipmunk said he didn't like to speak to Johnny Green on account of a little trouble he had had with Johnny's father over a letter wave your tail at him Daddy Longlegs that wouldn't be speaking to him you know wave your tail at Johnny Green until he stops the horse and then you can run away if you want to and while the horse is standing still I'll scramble into the wagon without anybody seeing me now Sandy Chipmunk was a good natured person and he saw that unless the wagon was stopped Daddy Longlegs was going to be terribly disappointed so he told Daddy that he would do what he could to help him then Sandy leaped nimbly to the edge of the watering at one side of the road and began waving his tail backwards and forwards like a flag that's right Daddy Longlegs shouted nimbly but I wish you'd wave a little harder I'm afraid they won't see you so Sandy Chipmunk redoubled his efforts and he wagged his tail so hard that before he knew what was happening he had lost his footing slipped off the edge of the trough and found himself floundering in the water Daddy Longlegs was watching the wagon so anxiously and he never noticed what was happening to his friend that he observed that Johnny Green began to laugh and pointing toward the watering trough Johnny cried oh look Grandma look the old horse Ebenza too seemed interested in what was going on anyhow he swerved to the right and walked straight up to the trough that was Daddy Longlegs chance he hurried to one at the rear wheels and in spite of the wind he clambered quickly up and hit himself in a corner of the wagon box meanwhile Sandy Chipmunk spluttering and choking managed to pull himself out of his unexpected bar and frisked out of the sight among the sumics that he heard the road well I stopped the wagon anyhow he said to himself as he scampered away and that was just where he was mistaken the old horse Ebenza wanted a drink that was why he had paused at the trough he thrust his muzzle deep into the cool spring water and drunk so long that Johnny Green began to get worried for fear that he would burst that old Ebenza wouldn't budge until he had drunk his fill when he was ready and not before the wagon went rumbling up the road again taking Johnny Green and his grandmother home to the farmhouse and likewise bearing Daddy Longlegs back to the stone wall where little Mr Chippy lived in the wild grapevine End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 At the Tale of Daddy Longlegs This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 15 A Call on a Neighbour Daddy Longlegs was delighted to be at home again and Mr Chippy as well as other neighbours remarked that they had never seen him so happy and cheerful Perhaps one reason for Daddy's good spirits was the fact that the wind no longer blew and he could venture abroad without being buffeted about He was so relieved by the change in the weather that it seemed to him there could be no danger anywhere Little did Daddy Longlegs dream that a great army was even then making plans to capture him and still less did he imagine that he was going to meet with a real adventure before the day was gone Daddy Longlegs had so many memories in his head that there was no room in it for any thought of danger He had found that his neighbours considered him a hero because he had ridden in Farmer Greens wagon A good many of Daddy's friends rushed at once to the stone wall to talk with him as soon as they heard the news and naturally he began to feel quite important Weren't you frightened people asked him Weren't you afraid that the horse would run away Oh no, I wasn't the least bit scared though I admit it was a dangerous feat Daddy Longlegs told them then he would strut and swagger about trying to appear as if there wasn't a braver person than he in all Pleasant Valley and he talked about everybody that would listen to him At first Daddy's friends enjoyed hearing about his adventure but he boasted so much about his bravery that his listeners soon grew tired of hearing him talk and instead of his having many callers it was not long before Daddy Longlegs found that nobody came near him even to say how do you do He endured his loneliness as long as he could though he found it hard not to talk when he had so much to say and feeling at last that he was in danger of choking over the babble that surged up from within him Daddy Longlegs decided that he would go and call on Rusty Wren who lived in the cherry tree near Farmer Green's bedroom window Rusty will be glad to know of my ride in the wagon Daddy thought and besides I'd like to hear about his cousin's party which I missed on account of the big wind so off Daddy Longlegs started the moment the idea popped into his head he was the least bit uneasy perhaps the fear Rusty Wren might not be at home in which case nobody to talk to except Rusty's wife and everybody knew that she was a person of uncertain temper but Daddy found Rusty perched on the tin roof of his house his house was made of a maple syrup can and the first thing that Daddy Longlegs said to him was this is your wife at home that may seem a strange question but Rusty Wren appeared to know what his caller meant anyhow Rusty said no in such a cheerful tone that Daddy Longlegs knew they could have a good chat without being disturbed end of chapter 15 chapter 16 at the tail of Daddy Longlegs this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tale of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 16 boastful talk I suppose you've heard my great adventure Daddy Longlegs began as soon as he learned that Rusty Wren was alone that is alone except for his six growing children inside the house no doubt you know all about my daring deed why no Rusty Wren replied looking at his caller with no little wonder that he had always believed Daddy Longlegs to be one of the mildest and most timid of all the field people what have you been doing Rusty asked something that you've never done Daddy Longlegs told him proudly I took a ride in Farmer Green's wagon yesterday after the old horse Evans up yes yes go on Rusty urged him what happened to you what happened to me cried Daddy Longlegs I should think that the wagon was adventure enough for anyone without any other sort of danger added to it but Rusty Wren didn't agree with him riding in a wagon is nothing he declared Farmer Green rides in one almost every day and as for its being dangerous there's only the danger that you'll be late arriving at the place where you're going especially if you have to depend on old Evans to take you he's several thousand times my size yes I can fly further in a day than he can trot in two weeks well Rusty scoffing remarks made Daddy Longlegs quite peevish he had come to Rusty's house in order to boast and of course he was disappointed when he found that Rusty Wren did not think him a hero at all we'll say no more about the matter Daddy observed stiffly I can see that you are jealous and I always make it a rule not to dispute with jealous people Rusty Wren couldn't help feeling somewhat ashamed he realized that perhaps he had not been very polite to his caller I meant no harm he ventured to change the subject of no objection very well Daddy Longlegs replied let's talk about your cousin's party at Black Creek I was sorry not to be present at it but the high wind prevented me from traveling that day then it was Rusty Wren's turn to look disappointed there wasn't any party he said old Mr Crow was mistaken my cousin's party took place exactly a year earlier so Mr Crow was 12 months late with his news when he heard that Daddy Longlegs couldn't help laughing right in Rusty Wren's face I don't see any joke Rusty Snacked I can tell you that it's a good deal of a disappointment to have your mind all made up for a party that there is none perhaps you're right said Daddy Longlegs anyhow I'm glad now that there was a wind that day because the wind prevented my walking all the way to Black Creek for nothing well there's no wind now to keep you from walking anywhere you want to go said Rusty Wren's slyling he hoped that Daddy Longlegs would take the hint and leave he did not care to talk with him any longer besides it was time for Rusty to feed his six growing children soon to Rusty's relief Daddy Longlegs began to creep down the trunk of the cherry tree if he had known what was in store for him he might not have left just then End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 The Tale of Daddy Longlegs The Tale of Daddy Longlegs This is a Librebox Recording All Librebox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Librebox.org This reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 17 Daddy is Attack When Daddy Longlegs went to call on Rusty Wren he did not know that a whole army had planned to capture him but it was true nevertheless that a plot had been hatched against him Now, right beneath the big old cherry tree where Rusty had his home there lived a colony of ants and it was Rusty's habit and his wife's as well to enjoy an occasional meal or a light luncheon by capturing and eating such ants as were not spry enough to keep out of harm's way Such actions only served to make the Wren family heartily disliked by every member of the ant colony but there was nothing the ants could do except to try to be careful and they were so angry that since they were powerless to harm the Wrens they were quite ready and eager to vent their spite on Rusty's smaller friends That was the reason why they had determined to attack Daddy Longlegs at the very first opportunity Yes the members of the ant colony had made up their minds to cap to Daddy that he should visit Rusty Wren and the ant army of fierce fighters was all prepared for a terrible battle each day sentinels took their posts and stayed on watch ready to give the alarm the moment Daddy Longlegs came hobbling through the grass near the foot of the cherry tree and when at last Daddy fell into the trap on the day that he visited Rusty to boast about his wagon ride the news of his arrival spread like wildfire the ants had not said a word to Daddy as he passed their home and climbed up the cherry tree they allowed him to go unharmed but while he was high up in the tree chatting with Rusty Wren ants hurried back to their stronghold and in a surprisingly short time the whole army was ready and waiting waiting for Daddy Longlegs to descend to the ground when he had finished his call Daddy Longlegs left the cherry tree and started homeward but he had not gone more than a few inches when the ant army sprung out of the ground as if by magic the soldiers were all around Daddy before he realized what was happening and then he saw that it was too late for him to turn back and try to escape by climbing the tree again being a timid person he took fright at once and looking up toward Rusty Wren's house he cried help, help in a terror-stricken voice but Daddy's shrieks brought Rusty Wren had flown away to find food for his hungry children the ant sentinels had seen him leave and they knew that they had nothing to fear from that quarter as the army closed in around him Daddy Longlegs thought that he had never been in such danger in all his life before the army was so near him that he could have seen the whites of the soldiers' eyes if they had had any whites End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 at the tale of Daddy Longlegs This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 18 The Ant Army Urged on by their leaders the ant soldiers dashed upon meek frightened Daddy Longlegs on all sides they crowded about him and as he looked down at his forming enemies and saw how fiercely they rushed at him his knees began to tremble just as they did when a strong wind was blowing Poor Daddy stood helplessly waiting for the worst to happen He expected any moment to feel himself pulled down and thrown upon the ground but strange to say in spite of the uproar and the mad charge of Daddy's enemies of the kind occurred Soon it became clear that the ant army was in some sort of trouble Although the leaders drove the soldiers at Daddy Longlegs with frantic cries the army merely surged backwards and forwards around him and Daddy had not received as much as a slap on the wrist from a single one at the attacking party Seeing that his forces were making no headway against the enemy General Antenna who commanded the entire army called to one of the captains What's the trouble Captain Kidd the general demanded Our soldiers don't seem to be doing any damage Of course you must click your heels together when a general speaks to you and naturally that took Captain Kidd some time to do because it is no easy matter to click your heels together when you have six feet Perhaps it was only to be expected that General Antenna should quickly become impatient Why don't you answer the general shouted We'll lose the battle if we're not careful Then Captain Kidd had to stop and salute the general and that took time too for how could anyone touch his cap when he had lost it somewhere Luckily General Antenna soon saw what was the matter and said Here take my cap and the general promptly clapped a gold braided cap upon the captain's head Then Captain Kidd was able to salute and after that and not before the captain officer was ready to answer the general's inquiry Yes Captain Kidd was all ready to reply but by that time the captain had quite forgotten what the question was Fortunately General Antenna remembered and repeated it What's the trouble Oh yes said the captain the trouble is this Our soldiers can't reach the enemy Daddy Longlegs is so tall that they can't touch anything except his feet Taking a careful look at the battlefield the general saw that it was so but still the commander of the army was not dismayed Can't you tip him over We've tried to already replied Captain Kidd but he has too many legs for us Can't your soldiers stand on one another's shoulders It's no use the captain answered We've tried that too General Antenna began to look somewhat worried knowing that if the army couldn't win the battle before Rusty Wren came home all would be lost The no army of ants could stand and fight such a monster as he I have it I've tried at last I've thought of the very thing Bring some stepladders End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 At the tail of Daddy Longlegs This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Lucy Burghorn The Tale of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 19 Daddy Excapes That was a fine idea of General Antenna's that plan of bringing stepladders so that the ant army might climb up on them and reach Daddy Longlegs whom they were attacking and Captain Kidd told the general on the spot that it was a most happy thought Then do as I tell you at once the general ordered pompously I can't said Captain Kidd who was terribly frightened because the general was sure to be angry Can't cried General Antenna fiercely Can't? What do you mean, Madam? Perhaps you did not know that Captain Kidd was a lady as were also the general and the whole army too Captain Kidd's voice broke as she stammered and answered to General Antenna's rude demand I know of only one stepladder in Pleasant Valley she explained it belongs to Farmer Green and it's so heavy that the whole army couldn't move it At that a shutter passed over General Antenna's fat body then were as good as lost she shrieked Daddy Longlegs will defeat us and I'll never hear the last of it and right there on the edge of the battlefield General Antenna shed so many bitter tears that Captain Kidd had to move aside slightly to keep her feet from getting wet Don't weep the Captain in a husky voice it's not your fault really who's is it then asked the general brokenly why Farmer Green is to blame of course Captain Kidd replied if he had made his stepladder so big we might have used it and won the battle just as easily as not That's so the general agreed on a lace handkerchief and from this time forth Farmer Green and I are deadly enemies Meanwhile the battle still raged furiously but Daddy Longlegs had not received a single wound and perceiving at last that he was quite unharmed he took heart again Finally it occurred to him that the Ant Army was totally unable to reach him born high in the air as he was by his Longlegs and as his fear left him he could think of no reason why he should stay where he was any longer accordingly he pulled himself together and began to walk away he moved right through the Ant Army and the soldiers were powerless to stop him Just then General Antenna happened to glance over the battlefield and her sad look at once gave way to one of great joy she even gave Captain Kidd a hearty slap on the back much to that lady's distress because it knocked her cap awry Look cried the general we've won the battle after all for the enemy is retreating Daddy Longlegs is running away hurrying off then General Antenna joined her army and told her soldiers that they had shown themselves to be very brave and that as a reward they might each have an extra drink of milk that night with their supper there was great rejoicing in the Ant Colony that evening and General Antenna was ready to be carried throughout Pleasant Valley but when he heard it after he reached home Daddy Longlegs laughed merrily why they never touched me he exclaimed End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 at the tail of Daddy Longlegs this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tail of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 20 Lost at Jackknife Johnny Green couldn't find his new Jackknife anyway since it was the third knife he had lost that summer anyone might think that he wouldn't have cared much being so used to losing Jackknives but Johnny had been particularly proud of that knife it had two blades a small saw a corkscrew a gimlet a leather punch and a hook for pulling a stone out of the hook of the old horse Ebenza Johnny had worked on many hot days to earn enough to buy that knife so it was no wonder that he wanted to find it he hunted for it carefully in the wood shed where he had gone for an armful of wood in the barn where he had helped milk the cows that morning and under the big oak in the door yard into which he had chased the cat and not finding his knife in any of those places he went into the pantry for he remembered getting some jam and cookies there between breakfast and dinner time the Jackknife was not in the pantry Johnny even looked for it inside the cookie jar and failing to find the knife there he consoled himself by taking three more cookies then he slipped out of the house and sat down behind the stone wall to enjoy his lunch all the time he was munching his cookies Johnny Green was trying to recall exactly what he had done and where he had been since he jumped out of bed that morning if there was any place he had forgotten he intended to go there at once and look for his lost Jackknife having swallowed the last crumb of his goodies Johnny leaned back against the stone wall and closed his eyes in thought he wondered if there wasn't some out-of-the-way nook he had visited that day as he sat there something tickled his ear then it tickled his cheek and finally his nose Johnny Green couldn't help sneezing and opening his eyes whom should he see standing on the tip of his nose my goodness Daddy exclaimed when Johnny Green sneezed I didn't think the wind was going to blow today but there's an awful blast I'd better hurry home at once he had scarcely turned to go back where he came from when Johnny sat up and seizing his visitor quickly but carefully he removed him from his perch and held him a captive in his hands when he stepped from a stone to Johnny's head Daddy Longlegs had no idea that he was not walking on another stone who would have expected to find the head of a boy lying motionless against a wall as soon as he recovered from his surprise Daddy Longlegs struggled to escape but his captor guarded him with great pains you don't think I'm going to let you get away do you Johnny Green asked him End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 at the tail of Daddy Longlegs this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Daddy Longlegs by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 21 just a notion in common with all the other youngsters that went to school in the little red school house Johnny Green thought that Daddy Longlegs and every one of his relations had a strange power yes Johnny believed that if you happen to be lost in the woods you would need only to find Daddy Longlegs or one of his cousins and he would point out the way home for you if you asked him or if you wanted to recover something you had lost you could surely find it with the help of anyone in the LibriVox family so that was the reason why Johnny Green was glad to see Daddy just at that time having lost his new Jackknife Johnny was determined that Daddy should tell him where to find it now you listen to me Johnny commanded frowning severely at Daddy I've dropped my knife somewhere and you must point towards it if you want me to let you go I'll tell you what it's like he continued so you won't make any mistake it has two blades and a saw and a corkscrew and a gimlet and a leather punch and a hook to use on a horse's hook it's the best knife I've ever owned and I'd be pretty angry if you sent me off the wrong way to find a Jackknife that wasn't nearly so good Daddy Longlegs was angry himself he thought that Johnny Green had no business to make him a prisoner and as for knowing where the lost knife was he hadn't the faintest idea where it could be I can't tell you anything about your old Jackknife Daddy cried it was really a new knife as Johnny had explained to him but you must remember he was in a terrible temper unfortunately Daddy's voice was entirely too tiny for Johnny Green to hear and meanwhile Daddy continued to tug and twist trying to free himself from Johnny Green's grasp his eight legs kept reaching out in all directions for firmer footholds silly Johnny Green thought that he was trying to point the way to the missing knife stop Johnny cried take your time and don't get excited if you keep motioning with all your legs at once you can't expect me to understand what you mean soon after that Daddy became quieter though it was only because he grew tired from his efforts to escape but he was so angry and so worried that one of his legs was touching and it felt so queer the Daddy Long Leagues had to stretch it again and again ah that's better Johnny Green exclaimed then now you're pointing plainly enough I know now that you're trying to tell me to walk right towards the sweet apple tree if I want to find my knife and I'm obliged to you very much then Johnny let go his prisoner who crept quickly into a crevice of the stone wall where he stayed for a long time as for Johnny Green he scrambled sprightly over the wall and began to move in a v-line toward the sweet apple tree he walked slowly and searched the ground with great care but he saw no sign of his precious knife beneath the sweet apple tree Johnny paused mournfully he was only feeling me he exclaimed that old Daddy Long Leagues played a trick on me Johnny just couldn't help feeling disappointed and he just couldn't help feeling hungry as well luckily there were apples on the old tree so he began to shin up into its branches and then all at once he saw his beautiful knife sticking into the tree trunk right before his eyes Johnny remembered then that he had visited the sweet apple tree soon after breakfast that very day when he had happened to feel hungry and he had stuck the knife there himself and gone off and forgotten it with a shout of joy he gripped his horn handle and pulled it out old Daddy Long Leagues knew what he was about after all he shouted and Johnny Green never guessed that his finding his jack knife was nothing but an accident Daddy had never even seen it and if he had he wouldn't have known what it was but after that Johnny was more convinced than ever that Daddy Long Leagues had a strange power End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 at the tail of Daddy Long Leagues This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tail of Daddy Long Leagues by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 22 Why Daddy Was Changed It was after his adventure with Johnny Green that Daddy Long Leagues neighbors first noticed something queer about him they knew that he was not the same but strangely enough no two of them could agree as to what had changed him chirpy cricket said that he thought that Daddy was wearing a new coat that his coat tail seemed to flap differently when he walked Buster Bumblebee claimed that Daddy had bought himself a new hat which tipped at an unusual angle and little Mrs. Ladybug insisted that Daddy's odd look was due to nothing more or less than some new Czech trousers she remembered she said that he had always worn striped ones before those were the opinions of only three of Daddy's friends it seemed as if everybody in Pleasant Valley had his own idea about the reason why Daddy was changed naturally many disputes arose because everyone declared that his own notion was the right one and at last several excited persons went to old Mr. Crow and asked him to settle the trouble that Mr. Crow would have nothing to do with the affair he did not like Daddy Longleagues and he said he preferred not to think about him at all that was something ever set back for the company until somebody said and asked Solomon Owl there's no one in Pleasant Valley that looks so wise as he so they hurried off to the Hemlock Woods where Solomon Owl lived he was at home and he listened carefully to each of his callers although they all talked at once at last he shouted loudly for silence though it was some time hush hush some of the quieter ones said we want to hear what wise Mr. Solomon Owl says and then Solomon Owl spoke if you want to know what's the matter with Daddy Longleagues why don't you go and ask him everybody exclaimed at once that that was a splendid plan and thanking Mr. Owl for his excellent advice the party hurried away when they reached the stone wall later they found Daddy Longleagues sunning himself he seemed led to see his callers and when they asked him what it was that made him appear different he threw back his head as far as he could and laughed heartily why don't you know he said can't you see I've lost a leg Daddy's news made everyone gasp and for a few moments not a soul could speak but the callers all stared at Daddy and then each one of them began to count aloud one two three four five six seven they were counting Daddy's legs and after they had counted seven they all saw Daddy's eighth leg was missing that is all that must a bumblebee being a blundering sort of person he made a mistake and counted one leg twice but the other callers soon set him right it's no wonder you look different Daddy's friends began telling him how did you meet with such an awful accident I lost my leg trying to escape from Johnny Green Daddy explained either he pulled the leg off my body or I pulled my body off the leg I haven't been able to decide which way it happened you must miss your leg terribly several of the company cried not at all replied Daddy Longleg's cheerfully to the great surprise of all those present I have seven legs left and ought to be enough for anybody I should think but little missus ladybug couldn't help shuddering I think it's just too dreadful she cried Johnny Green is a very careless boy oh he didn't mean any harm I know Daddy Longleg's assured her he tried not to injure me but I'll admit there's one thing that has caused me a good deal of annoyance but that everyone asked I had to get a new pair of seven-legged trousers Daddy Longleg's 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 Longleg's wished his callers a pleasant afternoon and begged to be excused on account of important business as they watched him walk briskly away his neighbours all agreed that for a person who had just lost a leg he seemed wonderfully spry End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 at the tail of Daddy Longleg's this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Daddy Longleg's by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 23 a new name for Daddy Daddy Longleg's neighbour Little Mr Chippy had an idea and since he thought at a good one he had once arranged a number of his friends who lived near him among those present were Buster Bumblebee Betsy Butterfly Rusty Wren and several others they met in Farmer Greens Apple Orchard and they all arrived there early because everybody was eager to know what Mr Chippy had to say My idea Mr Chippy begun is this Since Daddy Longleg's 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 Bumblebee who never had many ideas of his own Betsy Mr Chippy told him I've thought of a splendid name and I'm perfectly willing to let you use it it's Grandfather Greybeard most of the company clapped their hands Mr Chippy said that but Buster Bumblebee spoke up and said that he didn't think much of that name because Daddy Longleg's 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 Bumblebee how do you know Daddy Longleg's 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 Greybeard was a fine name for Daddy Longleg's 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 Longleg's 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 Ren replied I 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 Bumblebee approved and with that everybody stop