Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-19
Jim, Greeley'S Jumping Freq.
A California Tale.

nothin for three months but set in his
back yard aud learn that frog to iump.
And you bet he did learn him TO hmm.
too. He'd give him n little punch be
hind, and the next minute you'd see
that frog whirling in the air like a dough
nut-see him turn one summerset. or
maybe couple, if he got good start.
and come down fiat footed and all RIGHT
like cat. He got him up so in the
matter of catching flies, and kept him
in practice so constant that he'd nail n
fly every time as far as he could see him.
Greedy said all frog wanted was edu.
cation, and he could do most ANYTHING
and believe him. Why, I've seen him
send Dan'l Webster down here on this
fioor-Danl Webster was the name of
the frog-and sing out, 'FIies, Dan'L
fies!" and quicker you could wink,
he'd spring straight up, and shake ly
off'n the counter there, end flop down on
the floor again rs solid as a GOO of mud.
and fell TO scratching the side of his head
with his hind foot, rs indifferent rs if he
hadn't no idea he done any more'n any
frog might do. You never see n froc
so modest and straigh tor ard rs be was,
for all he was so gifted. And when II
come TO fair and square jumping on a
dead level. he could get over more ground
at one straddle than any animal of his
breed you ever see. Jumping on dead
level was his strong suit, yon understand,
and when it come to that Greeley would
ante up money on him as long as he had
a red. Greeley was monstrous proud Of
his frog, and well he might be, for fel
lers that had travelled and been every
where's, all said that lie laid over any
frog that ever they see.
Well, Greeley kept the beast in little
lattice box. and he used TO fetch him
down town sometimes and Law for bet.
One day a feller-a stranger in the
camp, he was-come across him with
his box, and says
"What might that be you've got in
the box q
And Greeley says sortcr indifferent
like
1t might be parrot, or it might be
a canary, may be, but it ain't-it's only
just frog"
and the Teller took it and looked at il
careful, and turned it round this wa,
and that, and says. "H'm-so It's
We'll, what's he good for p
"Well," Greeley says, easy and care
less, "he's good enough for one thing.
| should judge--he can ouljump any frog
in Calnveras county,"
The fcller took the box again. and
took another long, particular look, and
gave it ba,k to Greeley and SAYS, very
deliberate, "Well, don't see no points
about that frog that's any better'n any
other frog"
May be you DON'T" Greeley says
May be you understand frogs, and may
be You don't understand EN-: NAV be
you have had experience, and may he
you amt only an amateur MS it we're
Anyways, I've got my opinion, and I'll
resk $40 that he can ouJump any frog
in Calaveras county"
And the feier studidd minute. and
then says, kinder and like. "WeIl, I'm
only stranger here, and Amt got no
frog-but if had a frog. I'd bet YOU"
And then Greeley says, "That's ali
right-that all right-if You'll hold
my box a minute, III 90 ard get YOU
frog; and so the Teller took the box. and
put up his $40 along with Greeley's, and
set down to wait.
So he set there a good while thinking
and thinking to himself and then he got
ID fog out and pried his mouth open.
aud took teaspoon and filed him full
of quail shot, and filed him pretty near
up to his chin, and set him on the floor.
Greeley, he went to the swamp and slop-
ped around in the mud for long time,
and finally he ketched frog and fetched
him in, and give him to this Teller, and
says
/" Now if you're ready, set him along
side of Dan'l, with his fore paws Just
evon with Dan'l. and I'll give the word"
Then he says " one. two, three, Jump -
and he and the Teller touched up the
frogs from behind, and the new frog hop
ped of, but Dan'l give a heave, and hys-
ted up his shoulders, so, like French
man, but it wasn't no use, he couldn't
bulge; he was planted as solid rs TN
anvil; and he couldn't no more stir than
if be was anchored out. Greeley YVES q
good deal surprised and he was DISCUS
| ted, too, but he didn't have no idea what
| the matter was, of course.
The feller took the money and started
away, and when he was going out the
door he sorter jerked his thumb over his
| shoulder-this way-at Dan1, and SAYS
again, very deliberately, " Well, ] don't
SEQ no points about toat frog that's any
better'n any other frog
Gree,ey stood scratching his head and
looking down at Dan'l long time. and
Mt last he says, 81 do wonder what in
the nation that frog throw'd off for-I
wonder if there amt something the mat
ter with him-he pears 10 look mighty
baggy, somehow" and he ketched Dan1
by the nap # the neck, and lifted him
up and says. +" Why, blame my cats if
he don't weigh five pounds" and. turn
ing him upside down, he belehed ont
about q double handful Of shot. And
then lie see how it was, and he was the
maddest mamie set The frog down and
took out after the feller, but be never
ketched him.