Paddy the Beaver looked thoughtful. "Perhaps I will," said he, "if I
can find some good hiding-places in the Laughing Brook."



CHAPTER XXIV: A Merry Home-Going

"The Laughing Brook is merry
And so am I," cried Jerry.
Grandfather Frog said he was too.
And Spotty was, the others knew.

The trees stood with wet feet where just a little while before had
been the strange pond in the Green Forest, the pond made by the dam
of Paddy the Beaver. In the dam was a great hole made by Paddy himself.

Through the Green Forest rang the laughter of the Laughing Brook,
for once more the water ran deep between its banks. And in the
hearts of Grandfather Frog and Jerry Muskrat and Spotty the Turtle
was laughter also, for now the Smiling Pool would smile once more,
and they could go home in peace and happiness. And there was one
more who laughed. Who was it? Why, Paddy the Beaver to be sure,
and his was the best laugh of all, for it was because he had brought
happiness to others.

"You beat me up here to the dam, but you won't beat me back to the
Smiling Pool," cried Jerry Muskrat to Spotty the Turtle.

Spotty laughed good-naturedly. "You'd better not stop to eat or play