The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-05-25

and all them kind of things till you
couldn't rest, and you couldn't fetch
nothin for him to bet on but he'd
match you. He ketched a frog one
day and took him home and said he
calklated to edercate him, and so he
never done nothin for three months
but set in his back yard and learn that
frog to jump. And you bet you he did
learn him to jump too. He'd give him
a little punch behind, and the next
minute you'd zee that frog whirlin in
the air like a doughnut-see him turn
one summerset, Dr. maybe a couple, If
he got @ good start, and come down fat
footed and all right, like a cat. He got
him up 10 in the matter Of catchin flies
and kept him in practice SO constant
that he'd nail a fly every time as far as
he could @ him. Smiley said all q
frog wanted was education, and he
could do anything. and l believe him.
Why, I've ssen him set Danl Webster
down here on this foor-DanI Webster
was the name of the frog-and sing
out, 'Flies, Dan1, flee |" and qaicker'n
you could wink he'd spring straight up
and f)p down on the fl Dor again as
solid as dab of mud and fall to scratch
/ in the eide OF his head with his hind
foot as Indifferent as If he hadn't no
idea he'd been doin any more'n any
frog might do. You never see a frog
so modest and straightforward, for all
he was so gifted. And when it came
to fair and square jumpin on a dead
level he could get i've more ground at
one straddle than any animal Of his
breed you ever see. Jumpin on a dead
level was his strong suit, you under
stand, and when it come to that Smiley
would ante up money on him as long
as he had a red. Smiley was monstrous
proud of his frog, and we'll he might
be, for felIere that had travelled and
been everywheres all said he laid YER
any frog that ever they see.
Well, Smiley kept that beast in a lit
tie lattice box, and he used to fetch him
down town sometimes and lay for q
bet. One day a 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 box9"
And Smiley says, sorter Indifferent
like: ut might be a parrot OF it might
be q canary, maybe, but it amt. It's
only just a frog"
And the teller took it and looked at
it careful and turned it round this way
and that and says: "H'm-so tits.
Well, what's he good for9"
well" Smiley says, easy and care
less, hes good enough for. one thing, /
should judge-he can outjump any frog
in Calaveras county"
The Teller took the box again and
took another long look and gave it
back to Smiley, and says, very delib-
crate: "Well I don't see no pints about
that frog that's any better'n any other
frog"
MAYBE you DON'T" Smiley says.
Maybe you understand frogs, and
maybe you don't understand 'em; may
be you've had experience, and maybe
you ant only a ameture, as it were.
Anyways, I've got my opinion, and I'll
risk $40 that he can outjump any frog
in Calaveras County"
And the teller studied a minute and
then says, kinder sad like, well,
I'm only a stranger here, and I amt
got no frog, but if I had a frog I'd bet
you"
And then Smiley says, ''That's all
right-that's all right. If you'll hold
my box a minute, I'll go and get you a
frog" And so the fellor took the box
and put up his $40 along with Smiley's
and set down to wait.
So he set there a good while thinkin
eud thinkin to hisself, and then he got
the frog out and priz9d his mouth open
and took q teaspoon and fill him full
of quail shot-flled him pretty near up
to his chin-and set him on the fl oor.
Smiley he went to the. swamp and
stopped around in the mud for q long
time, and finally he ketched a frog end
fetched him in and give him to this fel,
Ter and says:
"Now. if you're ready, set him along
side of Dan1, with his fore paws just
even with Danl, and I'll give the
word"
Then he says, "One-two-three-
jumpl" and him and the teller touched
up the frogs from behind, and the new
fro0 honned off but DanI give q heave