American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-02-19
FROGGIE's STORY.

Yes, I'm q frog now, but somehow
got used to my other name and hardly
like to give it up, but am frog for al
that
Didn't you hear me sing last nights ]
thought heard you raise your window
Well, that is curious. Perhaps you
did not bear me then; but thought you
would, and so I sang just as loud as could
They think l am going to be quite a
singer, and, who knows, perhaps shall
be a Convention Conductor one of these
days, and, if should be, will be sure
and hold at least one frog convention I'M
der your bedroom window. I always
like to do all can for my friends.
Where is the sense of living in the world
at all unless one can be useful?
But this isn't my story: was going to
tell you what dreadful time had of ii
getting to be a frog.
Little boys and girls haven't an idea
what blessing it is to be born into the
world just the same shape they are to be
when they are grown up.
l Matched out into just about as spry a
frog baby as anyone ever saw. could
swim like a fish, and was as happy as
a clam all the time. I don't know just
how happy clam is, but I heard some
one say that once, and it sounded nice, SO
L
But trouble came soon enough, 1 can
assure you.
One day I went down by the spring to
play in the cool, clear water; and, as
was whirling around like top, caught
sight of something sticking right out of
my side. l went off into shady corner
where no one could see me to see what
it was. had felt kind of a queer
pricking there for several days, but had
not taken the trouble to see what caused
it; but now 1 thought that had better
before found another lump on the other
side, right opposite the first one. What
could it mean? Was 1 going to have
two ugly tumors right on my sides,
where everyone would see them, and l so
young?
But did not mention it to anyone, for
hoped they would go in again, or fall of,
or something. So l went off by myself
for several days, and waited for them to
go away. But instead of that, when l
l woke up one morning had the same
kind of a queer feeling Just in front of
my ribs, and it was but a little while be-
fore there were two more Jumps sticking
right out in front. There was no use in
trying to hide it any longer, besides
might need medical aid; SO did what
l ought to have done in the first place,
showed them to mother; and, really,
thought she would pity me and feel aw-
full about it, but she just laughed in my
face, and said: +" Why, child, that isnoth-
ing but your legs growing out. My
legs" exclaimed; have not got any
legs" 81 know it, dear, but you are
going to have some, so do not worry any
more about the matter, for l think you
will live through it, and grow up to be
mammals nice little froggie before you
know It." Well, mamma was right.
course, and in a little while my "tu-
mOrs'' began to get toes on them, and
then l had four nice little feet They
didn't seem to be of much use though;
but thought l would not worry any more
about them; and, in fact, Twas beginning
to feel a little bit proud of them.
And sure enough, they began to grow
farther and farther from my body, and
soon had four nice little legs that pe1e of
some use, though they felt little queer at
times.
had hardly become accustomed to this
b-fOre began to feel a strange sensation
at the roots of my tail. 1t felt just as
though it was coming off, and it seemed
to grow smaller and smaller all the time.
What should do if l should lose il!
certainly never could 60 into good
society again! And then remembered
having heard dog, whose cruel master
had cut his tail off, tell how dreadfully he
felt about it. Though he nearly died with
pain, yet, he said, that was not half SO
bad as having to go among people who
had known him when he was a respecta-
BILE dog And, thought l, just suppose
should lose mine oh, it would be dreadful!
worried over it for several days, and
then | could bear my trouble alone no
longer, so 1 went and told mother all
about it. And, don't you think, she just
laughed at me again, and told me that OF
course l had got to lose it, that is, if
wanted to grow up to be a gentletrog like
my father. And then she asked me how
l thought grown-up frog would look
with long tail like mine. l had not
thought of that before, and it made me
feel better; but still could not help she'd
ding few tears. Or, at least. suppose
shed some, but it was so wet where l
was that l could not be certain about ii.
But got used to it all after while,
and in due time my legs grew out, and
my tail came off, and developed into
frog no mother need be ashamed OF.
L hope you will please excuse my say
ing this myself, as there is no other frog
here to say it for me.
And now l must go; for mother is
for me to come to dinner. Good