The Penn's Grove record., 1896-08-21


II eyer there Is a happy creature II
Is Mr.. Frog, A. more comfortable look
ing fellow can hardly be found. as he
sits on that log that lies partly In the
water of that swamp. As you watch
him you see him twinkle his bright
eyes, as though the little fy he has
Just eaten was a most delicious one.
But let US leok into Mr.. Frogs his
tory and see how he grew into the pref
tv. biaok-spetted, white-breasted green
hopper he Is now, for you may be sure
that he was not always so handsome.
At first you never would have known
him, for before he could move at all he
was a tiny black spot the size OF a
small pea and was surrounded by n
clear, jelly-llke substance to keep him
from being injured by sharp stones or
sticks in the water. For many days
he lived thus, fastened with o cluster OF
other such to the stem of a plant that
grew under the surface 70 the still part
Of a brock. This bunch of eggs was
near the bank where the water was
shallow, and so the sun warmed them,
and by and by they had tails and were
so strong that they broke through the
white Jelly and began to wiggle about.
For a week or two they We're content
to rest In the soft mud, where they
lived peacefully and grew rapidly. But
one day they went. further away from
their little pool into another one. Here
were more brown Jumps with tails on,
and some were very stable indeed.
Our little frog was then called a polly
weg or tadpele, and he probably felt
proud to own tive long and high-sound-
Ing names. He played with his broth
ers and sisters and with the other polly
mud, and enjoyed life as much as any
thing can that has plenty to eat, moth
Ing to think about and lots Of fun.
All this time eur friend was grow,
Ing, and 1t vas not long before a curl
uus thing happened. 1t was this-a
pair of hind legs grew out Of his body,
and though he did not use them at first
he knew he should later. Next a pair
Of legs could be seen in front, and now
he could crawl as we'll as swim. The
polywog had gained these legs, but
he was losing his tail-not that 1t was
falling off, as many people believe,
oh no! his tail was being absorbed into
his body, that Is, it was becoming a
part Of his body, and as he ~broadened
the tail was shortened until only the
stubby end was left. His head was
smaller, and more as 1t is now. Alto
gether, he was improving wonderfully
In looks. lie did not care to be lazy
any more, but jumped and frisked
about in high glee.
Who would have thought that SO
many changes could possibly occur to
go tiny a creature! He had traded
his brown clothes for a pretty suit with
black spots, and wore a yellowish
white vest-in fact, he looked as he
does now, but was smaller. When
the end of his tail had been all abb
sorbed he was no more a pollywog. and
spent half his time on the land travel
ing from pool to pool, or exploring the
field for q soft, marshy place. Here he
loved dearly to sit In the moist grass,
and dart out his tongue at flies. and
various other insects.
After several weeks we find him a
full-grown frog. He has learned the
ways of the world, and knows how
to keep out Of dangers way. You shall
see what he does when we poke at him
with this stick. All, there he goes tc
the bottom Of the pool! Look hard
but you will not see him, for he has
hidden himself in the mud or under
some stene-and so, Mr.. Frog, fare
wellL-The ConGreGattonalist.