asol like Big Mary. But most of all she
wished that she had a little soft muff.

Now it happened, too, that it was just about the time for Mr.
Robin Redbreast to give his big party in the orchard, and little
Freckle Frog had been invited, and more than that, her own
cousin, Billy Bullfrog, had promised to sing, and of course she
wished to look just as nice as she could.

So early one fine day, she went to see the Morning Glory Ladies
who live near the back porch and always wear such beautiful
dresses, and she said to them:

"Oh, dear Morning Glory Ladies, your dresses are always so
beautiful! But have you seen Big Mary's blue silk trimmed with
lace? It is more beautiful still, the loveliest dress in the
whole world! Would you mind making me one like that to wear to
Robin Redbreast's party? My cousin, Billy Bullfrog, is to sing,
and I wish so very much to look just as nice as I can. I am not
one bit pretty like Big Mary, but clothes always help a great
deal, you know. Would you mind lending me one for the party?"

[Illustration]

But the Morning Glory Ladies were angry because they had not been
invited, and they would not help her.

Poor Little Freckle Frog felt very badly to think she had hurt
their feelings. She almost cried about it. But just then Little
Black Spider, who was a good friend of hers, peeped out from
under a leaf and said:

"I wouldn't mind them. They are a conceited lot anyway. It is a
hot day, too, and they are apt to be cross on hot days. I will
spin you all the lace you want."

And so he did. He wove it all that day in his web, and the next
morning he brought her a long piece of the loveliest spider-lace
as fine as a cobweb. Little Freckle Frog was very grateful to
him.

[Illustration]

"But what shall I do for a parasol?" she asked.

"Oh, I'll tell you!" called a soft little voice, and when she
looked up she saw a tiny white butterfly resting on a flower.

"I know where there is the dearest little mushroom. It kept the
rain off of me the other day, and it is just as soft and pink as
Big Mary's parasol."

So she showed Freckle Frog where to find the mushroom, and it was
very soft and pink, just as she had said, and Freckle Frog was
very happy about it.

"Now if I only had a muff," she sighed, "I could look just as
beautiful as Big Mary at the party!"

Just then there was a great noise in the tree near the rock and
Robin Redbreast himself flew out from among the leaves, but righ