The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-16


that he dealt gently with the little fellow.
and put him on the ground again after his
careful examination.
A witness was being examined when he
again began to listen. what can you say
what can you say about this boys charac-
teri said the prosecuting attorney to the
young frog that seemed to have been duly
sworn.
Before he coud answer a chorus of frogs
eroaked in a hoarse murmur, mot a thing
good, not thing good" while some others
said, Yes we can, too; yes we can, too,
VIII had not heard the reply of the wit
ness, for he was anxious to discover
whether public sentiment was on his side
or on the side of the prosecution. Every
now and then hoarse murmur from the
crowd of frogs convened about this rural
court took his attention from the witness,
but the old sheriff would call "Order in
court, order in courtt' and VIII would lis
ten to the witness for while.
did he ever do so before did he even do
so before?" came to his ears
Not that | know, not that l know" re-
piled the witness
DO you think he meant any harm?"
Yes he did, mot a bit" Eyes be did,
mot a Bit" Will heard clearly from a re-
mote corner of the pond.
Order in court; order in court"
The witness proceeded to testify that VIII
was seen to take large leaf and to pick
up the frog, and with a large instrument
with which he could easily have killed him.
he had looked at the frog. This so fright
ened Doodle-dog, the name of the prosecut-
ing party that she had not yet fully recov-
cred from the effect, but suffered with vio-
lent fright when ever she CHANGED
to sec any creature larger than herself. He
also gave his opinion that the treatment
was objectionable. and from one who pre-
tended to be a friend to all animals, merit
ed their condemnation.
The other witnesses were called. The
hooking bird testified that she saw the
deed done worm, a lizard. a butterfly
calf. three ants. beetle. linnet, an
English sparrow several flies pig. blue
jay. and peckerwood. all were called in
turn. and all had seen the deed.
Poor Will listened when they talked and
feared he had lost all his dearest friends.
But the old frog who was on the other side
OF the judge. cross-questioned the witnesses
and brought out much in his defense. The
knocking bird sang so sweetly and joyously
proclaiming that Will never harmed her or
her brides, but that he had prevented other
boys often from robbing her nest, that she
thought him a pretty good fellow; but she
was so happy and full of glee she loved
everything and everybody.
The worm had heard him say once as he
almost told upon him, i"
81 would not call that man my friend,
Though graced with polished manners and
fine sensibilities,
Who would heedlessly put his foot upon a
worm"
So he believed that the boy was disposed
to be kind.
The lizard had been In his power once
but was not harmed, though another boy
had taken his companion and, with a chain
fastened him to his coat button.
The butterfly had seen him often look
closely at her. but he had never chased her
when she flew away, nor caught her.
The calf was worse than any of the wit
nesses for he said that Will had caught
him and tied him to tree so that he could
not reach its mother. though he had had
only half enough supper, and when he was
united Botty, the maid. had taken all his
milk for Wills supper; and another time
VIII had harnessed him to a little wagon
as if he had been a goat.
The three ants had only good words. for
Will had watched and watched them a
great while, but left them at last without
harming them. They were very grateful
for this, for one time a great thoughtless
man called some boys to see their home
and they had turned up the stump. exposed
their babies to the sun, scared their cows
away and, with sticks, had done so much
harm they had to leave and go elsewhere
to keep house
The other witnesses had more evidence in
his favor. and the Mr.. Frog who was de-
Tending him grew eloquent as he told the
honorable court how much worse it would
have been if VIII had been teasing the frog
for fun and then left him on his back He
told of boys who sometimes did this. He
said he had known a boy so fearfully bad
that he had robbed Mrs. Mocking Bird of
two of her children, that caught poor little
butterflies for fun. pulled the legs off of
his friend Beetles grandmother; had rubb5 d
tl,n xxrnx
caught fish that were too small to eat with
a cruel hook and then threw them on the
ground to die: tied tin cans to dogs tails,
and was cruel and unmerciful to all crea-
lures He finished his eloquent speech by
quoting "Blessed are the merciful; blessed
are mercful" And Judge Bull Frog croak-
ed very loud and long For they shall OBJ
tain mercy" LET him go; let him go"
came from a dozen threats.
VIII jumped up quickly and, seeing how
| late 1t was growing. ran home to tell his
mother of all he had seen and heard.