FREDDY and the POPINJAY
When J.J. Pomeroy , the robin, almost pulled off Freddy's tail, thinking it was a worm, things began to happen. Of course, aside from nearly scaring him out of a year's growth, Freddy confessed that no harm had been done. But - being Freddy- he immediately took steps to remedy the cause for such a mischance, and discovered that it was all due to to Mr. Pomeroy's nearsightedness. This, in turn, led to a visit to the oculist. And from that time on, life in Centerboro as well as on the Bean Farm, centered around Freddy.
Wasn't it Freddy who decided that it was time Jimmy - son of old tight-fisted neighbor, Zenas Witherspoon - should reform? Wasn't it Freddy who helped Miss Peeble crete hats that were the sensation of the town? Wasn't it Freddy who...
To know Freddy and his Bean Farm friends is to realize that nothing short of reading about their amusing and amazing adventures can ever do justice to the story.
For Freddy and the Popinjay Kurt Wiese has again made his inimitably funny illustrations which adults, as well as children, will chuckle over.
Here is a poem which J.J. Popinjay (who later renamed himself back to J.J. Pomeroy) learned the meaning of:
A lesson which we all must learn
Is this: without complaint
To be ourselves, and not too yearn
To be that which we ain't.
"That's pretty awful grammar," Freddy said to himself, "but there won't be time to fix it up.
If I use it, I won't sign my name." He went on.
If cats had wings, and cows had claws
And pigs had shaggy pelts,
You'd never know your friends, because
They'd look like someone else.
Then be content with what you've got
And do not weep and wail,
For the leopard cannot change his spots
Nor the pig his curly tail.
For pigs are pigs, and dogs are dogs,
And never the twain shall meet...
Published in 1954.
[back]