Old Mr. Toad laughed a funny silent laugh . `` It 's a long story , '' said old Mr. Toad , `` and I 'm afraid I ca n't tell it . Go down to the Smiling Pool and ask Great-Grandfather Frog , who is my first cousin , how it happened your grandfather a thousand times removed lost the half of his tail . But before you go catch three fat , foolish , green flies and take them with you as a present to Grandfather Frog . '' Danny Meadow Mouse could hardly wait for old Mr. Toad to stop speaking . In fact , he was in such a hurry that he almost forgot his manners . Not quite , however , for he shouted `` Thank you , Mr. Toad , thank you ! '' over his shoulder as he rushed off down the Lone Little Path . You see his short tail had always been a matter of mortification to Danny Meadow Mouse . All his cousins in the Mouse family and the Rat family have long , smooth , tapering tails , and they have always been a source of envy to Danny Meadow Mouse . He had felt his queer short tail to be a sort of disgrace . So when he would meet one of his cousins dancing down the Lone Little Path , with his long , slim , tapering tail behind him , Danny Meadow Mouse would slip out of sight under the long grass , he was so ashamed of his own little tail . It looked so mean and small ! He had wondered and wondered if the Meadow Mice had always had short tails . He used to ask everyone who came his way if they had ever seen a Meadow Mouse with a long tail , but he had never found any one who had . `` Perhaps , '' thought Danny Meadow Mouse as he hurried down the Lone Little Path , `` perhaps Grandfather Frog , who is very wise , will know why my tail is short . '' So he hurried this way and he hurried that way over the Green Meadows in search of fat , foolish , green flies . And when he had caught three , he caught one more for good measure . Then he started for the Smiling Pool as fast as his short legs would take him . When finally he reached the edge of the Smiling Pool he was quite out of breath .
There sat Great-Grandfather XXXXX on his big , green lily pad .
Frog Meadows Mice Mouse Path Toad cousins first manners measure