The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-22
Dim sfnilcy's Jumping Frog.

Mark Twain" a San Francisco contribu
tor to the New York Saturday Press. dis
courses OF queer California genius named
Jim Smiley, who was always ready to bet
Here IS a specimen:
Well, this yer Smiley had rat-tarriers and
chicken-cocks, and tom-cats, and all them
KIND OF things, till you could't rest, and YOU
couldn't fetch nothing for him to bet on but
he'd match you. He ketched a frog one day
and took him home, and said he cal'lated to
educate him; and so he never done nothing
Tor three months but set in his back ward
and learn that frog to jump. And you bet
you he did learn him, too He'd give him n
little bunch behind, and the next minute
you'd see that frog wkirling in the air like
n doughnut-see him turn one summerset.
or maybe couple, ifhe got a good start, and
come down flat footed and all RIGHT
like cat. He got him up so in
the matter of ketching flies, and kept
MN III practice so constant, that he'd nail a
hy every time as far as he could see him
Smiley said all frog wanted was educa-
ton and he could do most anything-and |
belleve INN. Why, I've seen him set Dan'P
Webster on the floor Chat was the name of
the frog ana sing out Flies, Danl flies
and qulcker'n you could wink, he'd spring
straight up, aud snake fly off the counter
there, and Hop down on the floor again as
solid as COB of mud, and fall to scatchino
-
different as ifhe hadn'nt no idea he'd done
any morn any frog might do. You never
see frog SO modest and straightforward as he
was. And when it come to fair and SQUARE
Jumping on dead level, he could get over
more ground than any animal OF his breed
you ever see. Jumping on a dead level was
ms strong suit, you understand, and when
III came to that, Smiley would ante-up-
money on him as long as he had a red. Smi-
ley was monstrons proud of his frog, and
well he might be, for fellers that had trav-
eIeu ana been eVerywhereS said he laid over
any frog that ever they see
Well, Smiley kept the beast in a little lat
tlce boN, and he used to fetch him down
town sometimes aud lay for a bet. One day
d IelIeF "a stranger IN the camp, he was)
come across him with his box, and saws:
box 2" so' III inc
And Smiley says, sorter Indifferent like,
y t might be Il parrot, or it might be n cana
ry, may be, butt ain't-it's only Just a frog"
ANA the teller took it, looked at it careful, |
and turned 1t round this way and that. and
for 2" S'o"
Well" Smiley says, easy and careless.
nes good enough for one thing should |
90
And the Teller studied a minute, and then |
says, kinder sad, like, "Weu, I'm only a /
'fsrTaIgeT here and l amt got no frog, but /
4 had frog I'd bet you /
And then Smiley says, That's all rioht
mats all rlgnt; If you'll hold my box min /
iIe II go and get you frog; and so the
eller took the box, aud put up his forty
toIiaTs along with Smileys and set down to
wait. "
SO he set there good while thinking and
hihklng TO hlsselt, and then he got the frog
ne
easpoon and filled him full of Quail shot
liled INN pretty near up to his chin. and
ct MN on the floor. Smiley he went ont
Tue swamp and Sloped around in the mud |
OF long time, and finally he ketched a frog
nd fetched him in and give him to this
eIler and says:
Now, you're ready, set him alongside of
IAN l. win ms fore paws just even with
'anPs, and I'll give the word" Then ba
avs one, two, three, jump" and him and
ne I9Ler touched up the frogs from behind,
ho the new frog hoped off lively. but
'ah gave heave, and histed up his should.
ers, like frenchman, but it was no nse.
eouia ut bulge, he was planted as solid as
= !, auNIi, anu he couldn't no more stir than
nG was ahcnored out. Smiley was a good
cal surprised, and he was disgusted foo
Ut he didn't have no idea what the matter
as of course
The Teller took the money and started
way, and when he was going out at the
'or; he sorter Jerked his thumb over his
loui9er, TINS way, ut Dan1, and saws again,
~ ueuoerate, p" Well, don't see no points
og." - ''-S o'nei
Smiley, he stood scratching his head and
oklng at DAM long time, and at last he
Us, do wonder what in the nation thar
'g thowed off for; wonder if there ain't
methlng the matter with him, he pears to / {
Oh hiltIy DOGGY, some how" And he ;,
tened Dan1 by the nap of the neck and :
ted him up and says, "Why, blame nv H
IS II he don't weigh five poundsr' He
rned him upside down, and he belcbed
ABOUT double handful of shot. And
en- he seed how it was, and he was the
lduest man--he set the frog down and
.k out alter that Teller, but he never