Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-08-26

The Iruth a bout Mr. FROG
II ever there Is a happy creature II
II Mr. Frog. A more comforta BILE 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 ny he has
Just eaten was q most delicious one.
But let Us lsok into Mr.. Frogs his
tory and see how he grew into the pref
ty. blaok-spotted. white-breasted green
hopper he IL now, for you may be sure
that he was not always so handsome.
At first you never would have known
him, fer before he could move at all he
was a tiny black spot the size Of a
small pea and was surrounded by a
clear, jelly-like substance to keep him
from being injured by sharp stones or
sticks In the water. For many days
he lived thus. fastened with a cluster OF
other such to the stem of a plant that
grew under the surface In the still part
Of brock. This bunch Of eggs was
shallow, and so the sun warmed them,
and by and by they had tails and were
30 strong that they broke through the
white jelly and began to wiggle about.
For week or two they were 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 sizable indeed.
Our little frog was then called a polly
wog or tadpole, and he probably felt
proud to own two long and high-sound-
Ing names. He played with his broth
ers and sisters and with the other polly
wogs, or hunted for his food In the
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 our friend was grow,
Ing, and 1t was not long before a curl
ous 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
pollywog had gained these legs, but
he was losing his tail-not that 1t was
falling of, as many people believe.
his body, that is. 1t was becoming a
part of his body. and as he broadened
the tall 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. He 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
so tiny a creature! He had traded
his brown clothes for pretty suit with
black spots, and Wore yellowish
white vest-in fact, he looked as he
does now, but WAS smaller. When
the end of his tail had been all alb
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 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
fuil-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 al him
with this stick. All. there he goes to
the bottom Of the pool! Look hard,
but you will not see him, for he has
hidden himself In the mud or under
some stone-and 30, Mr.. Frog. fare
wellLThs ConRreRationalist.