Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-01-25
TADP0LE AND FROG.

Each a most de, ided frog"
We had resolved to see this wondrous
change for ourselves. and this is the
way we accomplished it. The severe
winter of 80 and 81 was over. The
grass was green, the air mild, and the
orchards filled with bloom and singing
birds. The children, so lcng shut III.
We're rejoicing and searching the fields
for new wonders. The first buds t.
swell, the first birds to build, had all
been noted, and now something else
must furnish entertainment. In the
farther corner of tho orchard was low
! place where 4 little water now stood.
although it was dry the greater part of
/ the wear. The croakin@ of some tune
full frog drew the children thither. and
soon home they came in procession,
arms outstretehcd. backs bent. eyes
fixed upon slippery masses they were
carrying upon pieces of bark. To be
sure they had spattered their clothes
and their feet We're wet. but long
since learned that knowledge is oftcnes;
obtained under difficulties. and hrve was
something new for us to learn For
these little black balls each III the
center of 4 sphere of alhumen were
nothing less than frogs eggs; there
were hundreds of them. We put some
into the chickens trough, some into Il
jar of water, with bunch of Wild grass
planted in earth at the bottom and u
screen over it, and some we put into q
saucer upon my workable.
How long the eggS had been upon the
water do not know. but about three
days after we found them they began to
undouble. Yes. undoublC, that is the
very word; for this little taddy does
not grow until, like the chicken, it has
used the whole egg, but grows entirely
in the black center, then the long tail
which was doubled back on the side
straightenS out. and after it has dozed
in nearly stupid condition on its side
for a day, it rights up and commences
to feed upon the rest of the cg@. Soon
it could swim across and around the
world in which we put it, but pre-
ferred to remain quiet most of the
time. Neither music nor clatter moved
them, yet the slightest touch upon
the dish would set them into great con
fusion.
How many lives were lost before we
found out what became of their tails, l
can never tell The tipping of the sau-
Ger by little hands often left one
stranded, and each one. down to the
three-year-o must take the dish to
the sun for good look at them; and
then the hens, when they had grown to
be an inch in length. discovered they
were delicious food, and before we knew
it not one was left there to tell the sad
! tale of all its mates.
The saucer was soon too small. and
some were put into large glass fruit
! dish, where they chased each other
| about, spattcr:ng the water and some
times leaptng from it, rs we knew
from the unfortunate ones which we
found on the table; but day by day they
grew on, and no one knew how. They
were kept in rain water and it was seldom
changed but we never suppl, d them
with any food which we saw them eat
For two months they swan or rested,
Just the same little taddies as at first
only larger, their bright eyes Teering
/ from the edge OF the water; but now
comes the discovery that they have Ii nd
legs, little weak things stretched back
against the tail. But a grander home
must be given them. A large tub was
/ placed under the cherry-tree, earth put
in the bottom, and q pile OF stones in
the center, upon which they were eX-
pected to climb when their tails dropped
| off: and many an hour was whilcd
away as little chubby hands went swift
/ " through the water to bring to light
| for moment one of the slippery pets.
| Children were amused, ladies
4 shocked, and old men marveled at our
proceedings, but as none could answer
/ our questions we watched on. In three
or four weeks after the hind legs We're
seen, the fore legs pushed through,
I often one at a time, SO while one was
out the other could be seen folded un-
/ der the skin; and to our great disap-
! pointment they showed no intention Of
mounting our stone-pile to leave a now
useless appendage. Nature works in
no such wasteful manner. The body,
which had been so almost jelly-like,
now shows more decided form, the head
| lengthens, the bony framework dis
closes itself by points and angles here
and there, and the tail, day after day,
/ narrows and shortens until it all disap-
pears and the entire substance of it has
| been taken into the body and utilized
there Surely a wonder of wonders,
and at the last of August we have
perched upon our stone-pile a tiny but
a demure-looking frog, developed GER
tainly week ahead of the rest Pa
tiently he waited for all of the family to
get ready, when they were carried by
the children, who had watched them so
long, to more congenial home. III
kuStrdtcd Christian WceElg.