The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-08-23
Young Folks.
ny HANS ANDERSON,

wv HAMS ANbfRSbN,
A Fich, n Graeshopper, and u Loap-
frog ouce wanted to see which could
Jump highest ; and they invited the
whole world, and every body else be-
sides who chose to come, to see the fes.
tival. Three famous jumpers were they,
as every one would say, when they all
met together In the room.
81 will give my daughter to him who
jumps highest" exclaimed the King;
"f0r IL is not 50 amusing where there is
no prize to jump for"
The Flea WAS the first to step forward.
lie had exquisite manners, aud bowed
To the company ON all sides; for he had
noble blood, and was, moreover, accus-
toned TO the society of man alone; and
that makes difference.
Then came the Grasshopper. He was
considerably heavier, but he was well
hammered, and wore green uniform,
which he had by right of birth; he said,
moreover, that he belonged to very
ancient Egyptian family, and that in
the house where he then was, he was
thought much of. The fact was, he
had been just brought out of the fields,
and put In pasteboard house, three
stories high, all made of court cards,
withthe colored side inwards; and doors
and windows cut out of the Queen of
Hearts. ~ sing 80 well," said he,
"that sixteen native grasshoppers who
have chirped from infancy, and yet got
no house built of cards to live in, grow
thinner than they were before for sheer
vexstion when they heard me-"
1t was thus that the Flea and the
Grasshopper gave an account of them
selves, and thought they were quite
good enough to marry Princess.
The Leap-frog said nothing; but peo.
pie gave it as their opinion, that he
therefore thought the more and when
the house.dog snuffed at him with his
nose, he confessed the Leap.frog was
of good family. The old councillor,
who had had three orders given him to
make him hold his tongue, asserted that
the Leap frog was prophet; for that
one could see on his back, if there would
be severe or mild winter, and that
was what one could not see even on the
back of the man who writes the al.
manac.
~ say nothing, it is true" exclaimed
the King; 'but l have my own opin.
ion, Notwithstanding"
Now the trial was to take place. The
Flea jumped so high that no one could
see where he went to; 80 they all as
serted he had not jumped at all and
that was dishonorable.
The Grasshopper jumped only half as
high; but he leaped into the Kings
face, who said that was ill.mannered.
The Leap-frog stood still for long
time lost in thought it was believed
at last he would not jump at all.
~ only hope he is not unwell," said
the house-dog; when, pop! he made a
jump all on one side into the lap of the
Princess, who was sitting on a little
golden stool close by.
Hereupon the King said, "There is
nothing above my daughter therefore
to bound up to her is the highest jump
that could be made but for this, one
must possess understanding, and the
Leap-frog has shown that he has under
standing. He is brave and intellec-
tual."
And so he won the Princess.
"It is all the same to me-" said the
Flea; "she may have the old Leap. frog,
for all I care jumped the highest; but |
In this world merit seldom meets its |
reward. A fine exterior is what people |
look at nowadays"
The Flea then went into foreign SER
vice, where, it is said he was killed.
The Grasahopper sat without on a
green bank, and reflected on worldly |
things; and he said too, "Yes fine
exterior is everything-a fine exterior
is what people care about" And then
he began chirping his peculiar melan-
choly song from which we have taken
this history; and which may, very pos
sibly, be all untrue, although it does
stand here printed in black and white.
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CzAN a.