m in it for any thought of danger. He had found that his neighbors
considered him a hero, because he had ridden in Farmer Green's 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 his wild ride to
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
howdy-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, for
fear Rusty Wren might not be at home, in which case he would have 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.

XVI

BOASTFUL TALK

"I SUPPOSE you've heard of 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 da