FRIENDLY FAIRIES

Illustrated Children's Book by Johnny Gruelle 1919 - online version

	"Let us fly way up in the air so that we may look down over all the country!" said Billy Bumblebee, as he made his wings whirr and climbed high in the air. Billy Bumblebee and Thumbkins looked over the country carefully, but they could not see Mrs. Thumbkins anywhere. Finally Billy's sharp eyes discovered something shiny down by the side of the pond, so they flew down towards it. It was a new tin can house. The door was closed. Thumbkins alighted from Billy Bumblebee's back and knocked at the door. TINKY-TINKY-TINK! "GRUMP! GRUMP!" said a deep voice from inside the tin can house. Billy Bumblebee peeped through a chink in a window, and saw a hoppy-toad with his mouth full of pancakes. So Thumbkins picked up a pebble and knocked louder. TONKY-TONKY-TONK! Old Man Hoppy-toad came to the door with a pancake in each hand and another large one in his mouth. "GRUMP! GRUMP!" he said.
	"Where is Mrs. Thumbkins?" Billy Bumblebee demanded, as he buzzed around Old Man Hoppy-toad's head.
	"I don't know!" said Old Man Hoppy-toad when he had swallowed the pancake.
	"Yes, you do!" Thumbkins cried as he caught Old Man Hoppy-toad's hand. "Who made those pancakes for you?"