The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-12-08

Oh, papa, papa, tell US a story
cried little Mary and Emma, runnin
up 10 their father, who had seated him
self upon the porch, and was about t
read the evening paper.
Tell Us a true story" said Emma, tn
little iour-year old, as she climbed upol
her papa's knee.
Papa could not resist this appeal :,
he laid down his pgper, and began as fol
lows;
"Once upon a time there lived toaC
who had but three legs, having lost on,
OF his hind-legs."
90 Was it shot of in warp asked En-
ma.
" I do not know how he lost it ~ saic
papa. 30 He may have lost it in 3 battle
with n snake All know is that he hac
one hind-leg, and that in jumping over
the ground he reminded one very much
OF crippled soldier"
This old toad, being thus badly
crippled, was put to many shifts in order
to get his daily bread"
" Toads don't eat bread, do they %
asked Mary
i mean flies, bugs and such things, -
said papa, (which take the place of bread
with toads."
He had to use his wits so much that
he soon came 50 be very wise. He used
to hide under a leaf, or bunch of grass !;
and, by Pouncing upon unwary flies, he
was able to get quite good living.
3" One day he hobbled into agarden, and
squatted under a cabbage leaf, hoping to
catch nice large bug for his dinner
But he was very tired, and before long
he was fast asleep. When he awoke it
was quite dark.
"'Oh dear ~ said he: a have over
slept myself How hungry I am
wonder if ! can find bug in the dark
So saying, he began to hop along, when
down hewent intoa pool Of muddy water
he sank to the bottom; but, by kicking
Justify, soon got his head above water.
'Then he swan around, trying 10 find
something to rest upon. At last he
came upon a little hummock Of earth, in
the middle of the pool, and there he sat
waiting for the morning. When morn
ing came, the toad found that he was in
a great square pit half full of water. 1t
was a pit that had been dug by the gar
dener, in making an asparagus-bed.
d" The poor toad had to sit there all of
that day and the following night without
a bite to eat. Early the next day he was
delighted TO see two little girls come into
the garden.
'''Now 7 shall be helped out thought
he. Those dear little girls will be my
friends
They were both dressed in white
sacks, with brown sashes, and had on
their heads chip hats trimmed with
brown"
ooh, papa9' said Emma, that is just
the way Mary and dress" Papa went
on without making any reply.
"When the little girls came to the pit
theoIder one cried out: "Oh! look at
that old toad sitting in the water!"
"sI.et US throw dirt at himp' said the
smaller.
''So both little girls threw dirt and
sticks at the toad, which raised such
waves around him that he was in danger
of being washed of.
"'Oh, dear said the toad, who
would have thought that those little
girls would be so cruel?' Just then a
big piece of dirt struck the poor toad
upon the head, and laid him sprawliDg
on his back in the water.
"When the toad had recovered from
the blow, and had crawled back to his
resting-place, he noticed a man with
hoe On his shoulder, approaching the pit.
3 Oh, dearl' said the toad; "here comes
a great rough man; now shall certainly
be killed
But the man put his hoe under the
toad, lifted him carefully out Of the pit,
and laid him on the dry grass.
"'Well, l neverr said the toad.
Who could have thought it? One can't
always judge by appearances"
Here Emma hung her head, and Mary
giggled nervously.
"Do you know what little girls these
were?" asked papa.
81 didn't know the toad felt 50 bad
when frew at him." said Emma, the
tears starting in her eyes.
"No," said papa; "but you will be
more thoughtful the next time, 1 am
sure" This was papa's true story
Nursery.
.JeHnng's Dreadful Punishment.
Johnny had been naughty. It's as
tonishing how naughty two-year-old ba-
bies can be when they try; and Johnny
had tried. His blue eyes didn't look as
usual, and his hair wasn't as golden, and
instead of a bright smile, cunning
oh! dear, what am L saying?-an ugly
pout rested on his pretty little mouth.
There he stood in the middle of the floor,
baby fists on baby hips, feet very wide
apa,t, the sweetest mean the might
iest-wee rebel that ever defed mamma.
just think of it, only two years old, and
dctying mammal Will you be good ?"
asked mamma sternly. No, mammal"
Mamma opened her eyes-they were not
as blue as Johnny's-very wide. " You
won't ?" she said ''No, ra'ana," re-
peated Johnny "Then," said she, sol
emnly, you must be punished. Gointo
the store-room and stay there until you
can say Yes, ma'am.'" Johnny went,
and mamma closed the door, expecting TO
hear the wished-for 90 Yes" shouted forth
instantly. But, to her great surprise,
she heard not word sr cry. Five min.
utes passed; utter silence. Ten minutes