Smyrna times., 1870-10-19
Jim Smiley's Frog.

He cotched frog one day and took him
home, and said he cal lated to educate him;
and so he never done nothing for three months
but sit in his back yard and learn the frog to
jump. And you bet he did learn him too.
He'd give him little punch behind and the
next minute you'd see that frog whirlinG in the
air like dOughnot-see him turn summer
set, and maybe a couple, if he got a good
start, and come down fat footed and all right
like a cat. He got him SO in the manner of
cathing flies and kept him in practice so CON
stant, that he d nail fly every time as far as
he could see him.
Smiley said that all the frog wanted vas edu-
cation, and he could do most anything, and I
believe him. Why I've seen him set Danicl
Webster down here on the hoor-Daniel Web
ster was the name Of Il e frog-and sing out
Flies, Dan'l F,ies and quicker you could
wink he spring up aud shake fly off q tho
counter there and fop down on the floor again
as solid as COB Of mud, and fall to scratching
the side Of his head with his hind foot as in
different as If he hadn't no ide he d done any
more n any frog might do. You never see a
frog so modest and ishtfor ard as he was,
for all he was so gifted. And when it come to
fair and square jumping on dead level, he
could get over more ground at one stradde
than any animal of his breed you ever sec
Jumping on a dead level was his strong suit,
you understand.
"Well, Smiley kept the beast in little lat
tice box, and used to fetch it down town some
times and lay Tor bet. Once feer-a stran-
ger In camp, he was-came across him with
his box and says:
5 hat might it be that you've got in your
J box2"
And Smiley says aOrter Indifferent like It's
t only just frog.
for?"
'Well, Smiley says, easy and careless, " he 8
good enough Tor one thing l should judge
s he can OUT jump any frog in Calveras county"
$ The fellow took the box and took another
.e long, particular look and gives it back to Sm-
Ie ley, and says very deliberately
well, don't see any points about the
h frog that any better and any other frog.
: Maybe you DOM Smiley said, Maybe
ut you understand EN- maybe you amt only an
10 ametuer, as it we're. Anywais I've got my
It, opinion, and II risk forty dollars that he can
out jump any frog in Caveras county"
re Aud the teller studied a minute or two and
N then says, kinder sad like: "Wel I'm only a
Is stranger here' and | ain't got no fog but if
it. | had frog Id bet you"
y. Aud then Smiley, says: That's all right.
he That ali right. 1t you hold my box min
lie ute, l II 60 and get you frog:
be Aud 81 the fellow took the box and put up
cs b he torlV dollars along with Smiey's and sat
~ down to wait.
r; So he sat there q good while, thinking tC
IT. himself, and then he got the frog out anC
lw priced open his mouth, and took a teaspoon
it and filed him full Of quail shot-flled hin
sh pretty near up to his chin, and set him on th'
Ter floor.
er Smiley he went out to the swamp and slopp
it ed around in the mud for a log time and final
ly he ketched frog and fetched him in anC
nd give him to the feller, and says:
old Now, II you are ready, set him alongside
lily OF Dan with his forepaws even with Dan
all and I'll give the word" Then he says, on
1u. low touched up the frogs, from behind, an
the new frog hoped off lively, but Danl CAV
an a heave and histed up his shoulder-so-lik
BY a Frenchman, but it WASH t no use; he couldn'
bulge, he was planted as solid as an anvil. an
he couldnt no more stir than if he was az
ta- chored out Smiley was good deal surprised
ere and he was disguised, too, but he didn't hav
s a no idea what the matter was of course.
md The feer took the money and started away
yer and when he was going out of the door, h
lis sorter jerked his thumb over his shoulder-th
way-at Danl and says again, very deliberat,
am "Well | don't see no other points about tha
can frog tina; any better than any other hog.
can Smiley he stood scratching his head AM
looking down at Dan'l long time, and at la
lis he SAID . | do wonder what in the natiC
that frog thrOwed off for2 | wonder if thel
lley amt something the matter with him? h
lare pears to look mighty baggy somehow and
8 Of ketchpd Ddn'l by the nap of the neck and f
irg i'm up says: why blame my cat il
3 in dUu weigh FIVE pounds T. and he turned bi
J. up side down and he belched up doub
Chi handful of shot, and then he seen how it wa
and he was the madest man. He set the FRI
lpe, down and took after the feller, but he new
4SO ketched him.-4Ndrk Ticdin.