Bernie Beetle sat in the rain. His little boots were wet, and his poor legs were sore, and his special hat was all broken. "I can't go on," he said: "I'm only little, and ugly, and when girls and boys see me, they run away."
Then he remembered his mother's voice, on the day the storm came and swept her away. "Remember that although you are only little and ugly, your heart is big and brave. I will always be proud of you, Bernie! Always!"
He looked into the puddle at his feet. "How ugly I am," he thought: "No wonder the boys and girls hate me and I'm always alone." Then all at once, the sun came out, and he thought he saw his mother's kind, shiny black eyes staring back at him. The rain stopped, and the birds began to sing: "Always proud of you, Bernie! Always!"
So he put on his special hat, and tied up his best boots, and even though his little legs were breaking and he was so afraid his heart hurt, he set off for the red-ant heap. "I'm coming Billy! I'm coming!"