Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-15
NUMBER "a.

in the side Of his head with his hind
foot as Indifferent a. il he hadn't no
idea he'd been doin any more'n any
frog might do. You never see frog 50
modest and straightfor ard. for all he
was 80 gifted And when II came to
fair and square jumpin on dead level
he could get over more ground at one
straddle than any animal Of his breed
you ever see. Jumpin on dead level
was his strong suit, you understand,
and when il come 10 that Smiley would
ante up money on him as long as he
had red Smiley was monstrous proud
Of his frog, and well he might be, for
fellers that had Travelled and been every
where's all said he laid over any frog
that ever they see.
Well, Smiley kept the beast in lit
tie lattice box, and he used to fetch him
down town sometimes and lay for a
bet One day feller-a stranger in the
camp he was-come across him with
his box and says:
what might it be that you've got in
the boxl"
And Smiley says, sorter Indifferent
like: lit might BE- parrot or it might
be a canary, maybe, but it amt It's
only just a frog.
And the feller took IL and looked at
II careful and turned it round this way
and that and says: "H'm-so 'tis
Well, what's he good forl'
well, " Smiley says, easy and care
less, "he's good enough for one thing.
l should judge-he can outjump any
frog in Calaveras county"
The feller took the box again and
took another long look and give it back
TO Smiley, and says, very deliberate,
"Well, don't see no p'ints about that
frog that : any better'n any other frog"
Maybe you don't" Smiley says.
Maybe you understand frogs, and may
be you don't understand 'em; maybe
you've had experience, and maybe you
an n't only a amature, as it We're. Any
ways, I've got my opinion, and III risk
$40 that he can outjump any frog In
Calaveras county"
And the feller studied minute and
then says, kinder sad like, We'll, I'm
only stranger here, and amt got no
frog, but if had frog I'd bet you. ,"
And then Smiley says, That's all
right-that's all right II you'll hold
my box Il minute. I'll go and get you
frog" And so the feller took the box
and put up his $40 along with Smiley's
and set down To wait.
So h. set there good while thinkin
and thinkin 20 hisself, and then be got
the frog out and priced his mouth open
and took "A teaspoon and filed him full
of quail shot--flled him pretty near up
20 his chin-and set him on the door.
Smiley he went 10 the swamp and
stopped around in the mud for long
time, and finally he ketched frog and
fetched him in and give him 10 this fell
Ter and says:
"Now, if you 're ready, set him along
side Of Dan'l, with his fore paws just
even with Dan | and I'll give the word. +"
Then he says, "One-two-three-
jumpl" and him and the fcllcr touched
up the frogs from behind, and the new
frog hoped OFF, but Dan'l give a heaye
and hysted up his shoulders, so. like u
Frenchman, but il want no use. he
couldn't budgc; he was planted AZ solid
as an anvil, and hc couldn no more stir
than if he was anchored out. Smiley
was good deal surprised, and he was
disgusted, too but he didn't have no
idea what the matter was, Of course.
The feller took the money and started
away, and when he was goin out at
the door he sorter jerked his t'umb over
his shoulder, this way, at Danl and
says again. very deliberate, We'll,
don't see nop'ints about that frog that's
any bettcr'n any other frog.
Smiley he stood scratchin his head
and lookin down at Dan'l long time,