The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1851-08-08
Ruii Frog Catching.

Hui Frog C0tcn1nSs
The BlairsvilIe Wing says that five cents
per pair are given for the hind legs OF frogs,
in Pitisburg. We congratulate the little
boys ID the country OH the prospect of their
making capital wages in this line Of business
extract the above as an introduction to
10y experience OIL the subject Of Frogs. Any
person who has passed by ponds or marches
in The appropriate season, that would listen
to the variety and extent Of the music made
by the dmphibia, must suppose that it was
produced by one hundred times the number
Of actual performers in the concert; but let
any one employ boys in such regions TO catch
them Tor table use, as IS common in certain
parts, he will find their numbers come far
short OF lis estimate.
Mr.. George Sutton formerly of Pittsburg,
and well known there in that city, some thir-
ty or forty years since, as practicle joker,
was extensively in business in 1914. and du-
ring that year and the next, l was in his en-
ploy US clerk, IN which capacity witness
ed many amusing scenes, in which he usual
ly bore conspicuous part. He had his pc
riod.cal subject of horing; at the time TO which
alIude. his great hobby was bull frogs.
Among our customers Of that date, was
long, slabsided, dangling fellow FROM the
Western Reserve, named Oviait who brought
us in three or four times d year. an assert
ment OF beeswax, ginseng popularity called
sang-feathers and other notipns in the line
OF trade. He had made his purchases, and
was proposing contract for potash as a
means oil enlargng his business and fioshed
by regretiing that he had nothing else to
supply. On this hint Sutton spoke, lori: Was
like bringing fire from the flint, "a single'stroke
was sufficient.
Have you any bull frogs in your neighbor-
hood? would not mind taking few thou
sand put up in barrels. il you could supply
Them
Bull frogs, Mr.. Sutton, what do you wall
with bull frogsp
| tWhy, sir have a correspondent down Il
Baton Rouge. who has left standing ordi
with me for ten barrels. and can't find any
place where can get il filed. would make
1t worth any mans while TO contract with int
for the article
We'll, now, MIR. Sutton, vow to gracious
there's millions in our neighborhood-bu
you are quizzir g me, snore.'
Upon my HONOR replied Mr.. Sutton i
am perfectly serious. will take ten or five
barrels, or even two, and give fifty dollars a
barrel TO any gentleman who would contract
with me-
Osiait's eyes sparkled at the proposal.
We'll, MIR. Sutton, if you say SO, will pu,
! you up ten b; rrels-perhaps your friend may
want more-anj hope you will give me the
preference, if So. But you are not boring
me. Mr. Sutton, hope
My dear SIR said Sutton, rest assured
that h I'VE long been at "A loss to get the or
der ill ID and am perfectly serious. But oh
serve, my dear sir, that the hind legs are all
that are wantcd-don't forget that
MIR. Wahrendori, his boOk-keerer, was di
rected on the spot TO draw The memorandum
in contract form, and Oviait folding il away
carefully in his pocket Book, ard doubtless
calculating deeply on brilliant speculation
out Of Us, he seized the rcins and srrang %
the scat Of his Yankee wagon aud sad:
Don't forget. il your friend should want;
tioenty barrels, TO let me know in tine
We heard nothing from Oviitt for months,
and by the time he made his reappearance III
Pitisburg Sutton had some new subjects on
the carpet, and lost sight OF the bull frogs
Not so with him. anticipated something
amusing, being well aware as was Sutton
in making the contract, that by the time the
frogs would be caught, the millions would
; shrink into hundreds. was silent, however
: until Oviitt's purchases had been made. his
) produce credited, and the account adjusted
One thing is forgotten. Do you recollec,
our contract, MIR. Sutton, for the Baton
D Rouge house, for bull frogsP
Il do declare replied Sutton i had ain os
forgot. What about it, Mr.. Oviatt2 Are
they ready2
5 The contractor looked rs il he could have
crawled through an auger hole. He begaI
II whimper like IA little schoo-boy expecting
c d whipping.
C i hope. Mr.. Sutton, you will let me of oil
: that contract. | declare 10 gracious haC
y forty boys on, for six weeks. sir, day ant
;. night, and never go. more frogs than fiIleo
d a barrel six inches deep, and had to give i
d up at last
:. 'My dear SIR said Sutton. SOU have n,
e idea oil the disappointment. We never get i
u letter from these Frenchmen that they do 10
a remind US Of the bull frogs. They say, th,
u price is no object, only get the frogs Be
d sides, told them you could send them TWEEN
: ~ barrels. My dear cir if you can't max,
" out on fifty dollars, III give you hundred
dollars barrel; so don't think of giving up
Put OIL more boys and pay them better wages
MIR. Cist, just CALCULATE ior our friend Oviett
" what he can afi;lei TO give IA dozen, suppos
{" he pays twenty d6llars barrel.'
II Its OF no use, replied Oviatt, with mos
W ruelul expression OF counienance and a dee
r. sigh, Il know it amt. 1t takes power Q
hind legs 10 fill u barrel. In short The frog
must have disappeared, for thy can'tbe fourt
D. and unless you rave a mind to ruin my tam
70 ily'-bursiing into tears-you will let .,
= off you do said be; thought sudde,a
ie striking him, MIR. Sutton, l II bring you
fine cheese as ever came out OF the Reserve
My dear SIR said Sutton, entirely over
n. COME by the tcene, lwish 10 take advantag
:. OF no man. | see you have done your bes
70 and my friends, Menager g. Co., must
j. without the frogs. Twill explain the circum
stances to them, and hope they will be salts
fed. Ii not, | will bear the consequence
IA myself As 10 the cheese, never mind il :
-" We,iI have uIaSc Of taar - ra,onc;l, =,