ONTENTS

CHAPTER Page

I. THE STRANGE TRACKS 1
II. THE NEW NEIGHBOR 7
III. MR. CROW IS DISPLEASED 12
IV. THE CONTEST 16
V. TOO MANY QUESTIONS 21
VI. MRS. LADYBUG'S PLAN 27
VII. TRYING TO HELP 31
VIII. IN NEED OF NEW SHOES 37
IX. LOCKED IN 42
X. A RIDE BY MOONLIGHT 47
XI. THE BIG WIND 53
XII. GOOD NEWS ON A BAD DAY 58
XIII. A DANGEROUS BUSINESS 62
XIV. ONE WAY TO STOP A HORSE 67
XV. A CALL ON A NEIGHBOR 72
XVI. BOASTFUL TALK 76
XVII. DADDY IS ATTACKED 81
XVIII. THE ANT ARMY 85
XIX. DADDY ESCAPES 90
XX. LOST--A JACKKNIFE! 95
XXI. JUST A NOTION 99
XXII. WHY DADDY WAS CHANGED 105
XXIII. A NEW NAME FOR DADDY 111
XXIV. A BRIDEGROOM 115

THE TALE OF DADDY LONGLEGS

I

THE STRANGE TRACKS

THERE was great excitement in the neighborhood 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 field- and forest-folk usually
went straight to Mr. Crow 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. Crow was very wise. And people often sought his
opinion, though later they fell into the habit of consulting Daddy
Longlegs 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 neighbors 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 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 th