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“Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
Hewouldtrytheboat-housefirst,hethought.Verywarilyhepaddleduptothemouthofthecreek,andwasjustpassingunderthebridge,when...Crash!
Agreatstone,droppedfromabove,smashedthroughthebottomoftheboat.Itfilledandsank,andToadfoundhimselfstrugglingindeepwater.Lookingup,hesawtwostoatsleaningovertheparapetofthebridgeandwatchinghimwithgreatglee."Itwillbeyourheadnexttime,Toady!"theycalledouttohim.TheindignantToadswamtoshore,whilethestoatslaughedandlaughed,supportingeachother,andlaughedagain,tilltheynearlyhadtwofits—thatis,onefiteach,ofcourse.
TheToadretracedhiswearywayonfoot,andrelatedhisdisappointingexperiencestotheWaterRatoncemore.
"Well,whatdidItellyou?"saidtheRatverycrossly."And,now,lookhere!Seewhatyou’vebeenanddone!LostmemyboatthatIwassofondof,that’swhatyou’vedone!AndsimplyruinedthatnicesuitofclothesthatIlentyou!Really,Toad,ofallthetryinganimals—Iwonderyoumanagetokeepanyfriendsatall!"
TheToadsawatoncehowwronglyandfoolishlyhehadacted.Headmittedhiserrorsandwrong-headednessandmadeafullapologytoRatforlosinghisboatandspoilinghisclothes.
