The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-11-20
For Young Readers.
THE FROGS AND THEIR KING.

THE FROGS AND THEIR KING.
vERsTFIED FROM ESoP'S FABLES.
| Once long, all, long ago
How long do not know
| nation of frogs there was-a favored race
Who lived away from boys,
From thoToughfafes and noise,
Behind wood, in a most lovely place.
A sheltered, marshy pool
1t was, and the water cool
Filled il, like wide saucer, TO the brim;
While willows on the bank
Bent gracefully and drunk,
And rushes grew all round, a broad green
rim.
What could they do but thrive?
There was room to hop and dive,
And room to swim all day, if so they chose;
Plenty of messy boys
Where the old rheumatic frogs
| Could sit and sun themselves and croak and
doze.
The little frogets had
Each his own lily pad
To sit on, and though slippery he could cling;
And st night the fire-fiies
Held lanterns to their eyes
So they could read the notes they wished to
sing.
But no; they weren't content;
They had preSentiment
Some creatures in the world Jared better than
One very certain thing,
They HADN'T any King,
And they thought the way to get one was to
pray.
And SO one warm spring night,
Beginning at twilight,
They all of one accord began to ch1r-r-r:
They made the air resound,
And all the people round
Laughed, saying: "Hear them pray to Jupi-
teri"
On high Olympus peak
9oye heard them croaS and creak,,
And, being in merry mood, he gaily crieds
The race of Simpletonsl
Even il / listened once
They be no better pleased or satisfied"
But from his mighty throne
He tossed O huge log down, f.-.'
And Numbered; Here, 1 send you this for
All, how it plunged and pashed!
And how the water dashed!
And old and young. the frogs hed shuddering.
Sprawling and awed they fled,
Pell nell, heels over head,
Under the roots and weeds; in every place
Where frog could hide they hid;
The safest things they did,
But with a higher regard for speed than
grace.
The huge log helpless lay,
Floated little way
And then lay still upon the pools still breast;
No regal order gave
To weed or frog or wave,
But silent was, and silent took its rest.
At length. as hour by hour
Passed, and no evil power
Was by this Monarch to his people shown,
They peeped from their hiding places
With b1g-eyed, curious faces.
And crawled out one by one, more trustful
grown
CrawIed out from rush and reed;
And most daring deed
Was done by one, than all his neighbors
holder:
With stroke of pompous pride
He swan to the Monarch's side.
And leaped with agile legs upon his shoulder.
Then such vaulting, skipping,
As they began therel dripping
And swarming up they came, ill the great
Held one continuous row
OF nixies--sueh show
On every inch of bark there sat frog!
They capered and they danced;
Turned summersets and pranced; .
Stood on their heads, and flung their heels in
Polka and waltz and Jig
They Joined in little and big,
With all their hearts as il no King were there.
At last, dissatisfied
With SO much play, they cried;
What is King for, If he cum not rule?
Give us, oh. Father Joye-
A Sovereign who will prove
Worthy our honor. fit for this fair pool"
Enraged was Jove at this;
He murinured: $50 it is!
Never contentI always for something newt
The same unhappy song
Some fault III all--some wrong!
I'll send Stork to them that what i Ii dol =
Forthwith from a far height
A bird came into sight,
White, borne upon It's great wings easily,
Like rain less summer cloud:
And they beheld and bowed,
And hon r,li,1
His long neck. long red bill.
And his legs longer still,
Shod with red sandals, touched their fiDgly
As beautiful beyond
All else within the pond,
hero they with awe might reverence.
Long live the Kingl' he heard
On all sides trilled and chirred.
And what did he? He cast sidelong eye
Down at the nearest bog,
Where little fat green frog
Was quavering praises to him, shrill and high.
All, what did he, but pick
1t up in his bill so quick
That the little freckled fellow never knew;
Then, with turn of his head.
That bill so long and red
Gobbled at one fell mouthfui number two.
Not only two, but three
Were swallowed instantly
His appetite was good, without lack:
Twas sad road to take
Down that long path of neck,
For none who entered there ever came back.
And so, from day to day
This ruler ate his way
Right through their ranks, big, midsdle.sized
and small;
Hop as they would, fee, spring,
This greedy, graceful King
Could far out-walk, out-reach, outeat them
dl'
1t must be manifest
That such relish and zest
As this he showed for frogs was q fearful
thing;
So they in fright implored
The log might be restored,
Or even they'd gladly do without King.
"Ah, friendsl" groaned one old chief,
How have we come to grfefl
One simple humble truth we should have
known.
IT'S best to leave the state
OF greatness to the great;