Now what do you think that right down in their hearts all these little people who came to jeer at Shadow the Weasel hoped they would see ? Why , they hoped they would see Shadow afraid . Yes , Sir , that is just what they hoped . But they did n't . That is where they were disappointed . Not once did Shadow show the least sign of fear . He did n't know what Farmer Brown 's boy would do with him , and he had every reason to fear that if he was not to be kept a prisoner for the rest of his natural life , something dreadful would be the end . But he was too proud and too brave to let any one know that any such fear ever entered his mind . Whatever his faults , Shadow is no coward . He boldly took bits of meat which Farmer Brown 's boy brought to him , and not once appeared in the least afraid , so that , much as he disliked him , Farmer Brown 's boy actually had to admire him . He was a prisoner , but he kept just as stout a heart as ever . CHAPTER XXXI WHAT FARMER BROWN 'S BOY DID WITH SHADOW Ribble , dibble , dibble , dab ! Some people have the gift of gab ! Some people have no tongues at all To trip them up and make them fall . Happy Jack . It is a fact , one of the biggest facts in all the world , that tongues make the greatest part of all the trouble that brings uncomfortable feelings , and bitterness and sadness and suffering and sorrow . If it was n't for unruly , careless , mean tongues , the Great World would be a million times better to live in , a million times happier . It is because of his unruly tongue that Sammy Jay is forever getting into trouble . It is the same way with Chatterer the Red Squirrel . And it is just the same way with a great many little boys and girls , and with grown-ups as well .
When the little people of the Green Forest and Green Meadows who fear Shadow the Weasel found that he was a prisoner , many of them took particular pains to visit him when the way was clear , just to make fun of him and tease him and tell him that they were not afraid of him and that they were glad that he was a XXXXX , and that they were sure something dreadful would happen to him and they hoped it would .
CHAPTER boys facts heart people prisoner sadness suffering tongue tongues