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 animals all began thinking of things to do while building the Animals’ Theatre, and elected Frog as Manager and Firefly as the Stage Light.

»I’m glad to be Manager,« consented Frog. »For without me I can see you’d completely forget the play itself. We must think of that.«

»Let’s make them out of the brave stories we’ve been telling,« said Hedgehog, and they all eagerly agreed with that splendid idea. Off they went to build both Theatre and Play, and by sundown they were ready.

»Will the Children come?« squeaked Mouse, doubtfully, when all the actors were ready.

»Who knows?« answered Frog, wisely. »We had best give our performances here every night, and should the Children discover us, then they’ll surely be paid for their bread and their cake. Should they stay at home in their stuffy houses, when they could be down here in the clearing in the dingle dell, listening to our marvellous work, then I’m sure all we can say is that we’ve done our best.«

»Well said, Manager,« applauded Badger, and he beat upon a gourd to summon all who could to attend the opening performance. Firefly flew to her corner of the stage, the actors giggled and gulped behind the curtains, and Frog in the glory of a flowered waistcoat and scarlet top coat stepped