Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-25
A FROG STORY.

N
Passing along Canal street the other day, we
came across q lad stationed near the corner OF
Exchange alley, who held q stick, to which
were appended some half dozen big bull frogs,
that he held up with view to tantalixe some
amateur. The frogs were all alive, and looked
plump and healthy as they swung, tied to the
stick by their hind legs.
By and by Frenchman happened to pass.
and stopped to look at the amphibious crea.
lures with the looks Of o connoisseur; he exam
iued them closely, felt the plumpness of the
finest one, and addressed the boy; -.
''Ze frog for sale, hs?''
eyes, sir, they are for sale
GLOW ne much? Vat price,"
FIFTY cents a piece, sir; fine bulls, sir"
Fifty cents, All, mon Dien, aat one ware
big price for one such petite animal, You call
zem bulls, ha. Wy, zat one calf frog, one ware
young"
That's what makes them tender, sir-just
like young chickens cheap at that. However,
if you prefer an old one, III give you this big
fellow for the same price"
"Aha. rat old frog; him ware old; him what
you call him, dor a euiye, hard, Use give you
two bits for zis young one." ..
''Can't do it, sir. :" .......
Just at this juncture another gentleman ap-
preached 80 sSs -. -r=. : .a. -E
"Hallo, boy, how much for the frogs'"
"Fifty cents apiece, sir"
'Vat you say, sare," broke in the French
man; ''vat, you take all zs frogs, want one,
two, three; you have no ze right to take zem
alE''
II am sorry, SIR but as you had not bought
them, but were wrangling about tho price,
must have them all; it's just the number for a
good dish, and 1 have friends at home to-
day"
81 don't care vat you call him. I want re
frog. give my fifty cents, good money
Both purchasers looked at the boy; he ap-
peared uncertain what to decide. The second
gentleman, who seemed to be in a hurry, and,
moreover, to know something about human ma
ture, tried to close the matter. e
"Wsn, IN give yOu sixty cents apiece, and
''Sacre! give seven dimes for every one,n
exclaimed the excited Frenchman. =
will give seventy-i five cents" g.
"Quatrevingt eight dimes' 80 .
And the cute young frog dealer alternately
looked at his two customers, and without speak
right to left rs the bids grew higher and high.
er, kept exciting them to 60 on, with the skill
of an old auctioneer. =. .., -....... -
=" III give ninety cents. and be done with
it, said the gentleman, rather excited, as he
noticed crowd forming around thom.
"In give re one dollarn' shouted the
Frenehman, now really mad; Zone dollar or
fight one duel with Monsieur, and the man
who is not killed shall eat the frogs"
A roar Of laughter from the crowd greeted
this speech, and the second amateur, fearing
to get embroiled in a ridiculous quarrel, gave
up the idea of Offering his friends a b.ill-fres
fricassee, and walked of The victorious
Frenchman turned to settle for his purchase.
and somewhat cooled down when he perceive
that he had invested six dollars in his favorite
dish. He, however, paid up, and taking the
stick, which the young dealer generously threw
in for iagniapps, went away rejoicing the Ba-
trachians hanging over his shoulder like tro-
ply of war.-Nsv Orleans paper.