The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-03
THE TURTLE AND THE FROG.
An Improbable Tale With a Very Good
Sr0


An Improbable Tale With Very Good
Suggestion.
All the negro stories in which the
rabbit and the fox are brought forward
as characters have been told by Uncle
Remus, and they have been told in so
simple and charming a manner that all
people who read English must applaud
their literary directness. But there is
one piece of Animal Dialogue" which
/ have not seen in print. AS child
often heard it from an old negro, and
without attempting to recall his pecu-
liar accent shall reproduce his story:
A turtle was laboriously trudging
along dusty road. when he came upon
a frog, sitting under a dock leaf.
''Howdy do" says the frog, ducking
his head with as much politeness as he
could get out of his awkward shape.
''Only }tolera ble," the turtle says,
stoppingtand scratching himself with
his hind foot: and then he asks: Have
you got any cool water handy??"
Mighty sorry" replies the frog, but
| haven't drop. / had some of the best
drinking water you ever saw, but l
drank it up. BY the way, which way
are you going?"
Over the creek" says the turtle.
slow far is it?''
''Oh, it's right smart chance of a
walk, especially on hot day. What
are you going to do over there?"
Going over there to live"
''Glad to hear it. I live over there
myself, and have just come over here on
visit, SO, if you don't mind, I'll go
along with you
iii be mighty pleased to have you"
says the turtle. and away they went
along the dusty road. MIR. Frog he'd
hop and get ahead of the turtle and
rest under the shade of something until
poor old Mr.. Turtle would catch up.
You're not much of walker, Mr..
Turtle"
No, walking ism tSmy strong point,
but put me in the water and | can out
float most anybody you ever saw"
Yes, | should think so, but tell me,
does it tire you much to walk?''
Not much"
Il am glad to hear it. We are not
built to walk together and I'm sorry,
for do appreciate your society so much
Wait minute: have thought of plan
Now, as you've got to go over the creek
any way and as it wouldn't tire You to
carry just little more weight. suppose
you let me sit on your back SO | can lis
ten to you talk as we go along. for /
think you've got the sweetest voice |
ever heard"
Mr.. Turtle said that somehow this
idea didn't catch hold of him. but Mr..
Frog was more and more tickled as he
thought about it. You do this" he
says, land it will shorten the journey;
and after we get over to the creek III
sing you song and they do say that
I'm the best singer in the country"
And without further argument Mr..
Frog hops upon Mr.. Turtles back. The
turtle couldn't shake him off. so away
they went. The sun came down hotter
and the turtle scrambled along. The
old frog dozed and nodded, and once he
rolled off, but he jumped back.
How much farther is it?,. the turtle
asked.
ooh, not much"
well, / want 10 tell you that I'm
getting pretty tired
Don't let that worry you. Mr.. Tur-
tie. Just think of that fine song | am
going TO sing" and on they went. the
old turtle scrambling along the road.
1t was nearly shutdown when they
got to the creek and the turtle was
about worn out, but the frog was as
fresh as ever. They got down into the
cold water. and after a while the tur-
tie, who was keeping a close eye on the
frog. says:
If you'll get me something to eat
I'll let you off with that song
Il should think you would, Mr.. Tur-
tie. but music is handler than food, 50
III sing to you" and he pulled up his
throat to sing. but the old turtle
gra bbed him and ate him.
Looking back over this. am a little
uncertain as 70 the moral. but ! think il
must be that it is dangerous to sing TO
the hungry.-0pie Read, in Chicago
Journal.