The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-15
Big Worm and Big Toad.

Some people out Pontiac way saw a
very funny thing one evening, says the
| Detroit Free Press. There had been a
hard rain for two or three days and the
| earthworms had come up TO the surface
| as they always do at such times. Crawl
| ing along on the beaten path was what
| might have been the grandfather Of all
| the angleworms. lie was old and tough
4 and big, and moreover, as will appear
| later, he was brany-for an angleworm
| lie was giant worm. Ii seemed when he
stretched himself out TO his full length
as though he must be a foot long, and as
| big around ones little finger
Just then the bright eyes OF a monster
toad caught sight of the snake-like worm
ana their owner opened the attack with
good deal of confidence and an air that
Indicated that the negotiation of big an
gleworms was the one thing he under
stood. Never was a toad more sadly dis
appointed lie apparently thought he
could swallow n foot of angleworm as
easily as he could fly. He began at one
enu OF the worm and got pretty fair
start before the worm appreciated his po-
siuon; then he began to squirm and
wiggle, and before the toad realized Il
the worm was again on the ground and
crawling away. But he didn't get far
The big toad returned with do or die
air, and the performance was repeated
IL was evident that the angieworn was
too big a mouthful for the toad-that Is
IL was evident to everyone but the toad
over and over he tried to swallow his
victim but he couldn't gulp the hie
worm all az once, and as soon as he had
an inch or two Of f-worm safely stored
away he had 20 let go and get fresh
hold. He couldn't do this so quickly but
that the worm would squlrm out IL was
like the frog In the well who ciimed up
one foot and fell back two. The worm
seemed made OF India rubber. and II
looked much to the bystanders as though
IL would escape. Bets were made on the
result, and the worm was n hot favorite
But the bettors failed to appreciate tho
resources OF a hungry toad The striisgle
had been going on, nip and tuck for some
twenty minutes. Both combatants were
as fresh as when they started. though the
worm showed the best staying Qualities
The toad WAS getting impatient, and once
or twice showed signs OF losing HIS head.
but on the whole nc maintained an an !
parentiy hopeless contest that gave his
friends some cheer one sweet girl even
went 80 far as 10 bet chocolates TO gloves |
that the nasty r11d would destroy the |
horrld worm. In the next round tho |
worm was an easy winner, and the sweet /
girl tried 20 hedge
Right here the toad tumbled 10 him /
self and took time IL plan the strategy |
or his next move. III toad ever thinks
that one did. lne air with which he rc-
turned TO the attack encouraged the choc-
olate girl and she was rash enough 10 Of
fer 10 double the bet. The toad didn't |
give way HIS plan at first. but tackled !
his stunt I'm the same old fool way ne had
been trying all along. but this time he
managed to fairly get hold OF his vic
I'm ana swallow n bit OF him. The
worms friend called II n foul tackle. |
Right here the toad showed what manner
II toad he was His difficulty all along
lad been that 81 the man who held the
)ear by the tail-he didn't dare 10 iet 90
" the worm he had by his teeth. or
What answers for n toad's teeth. be
cached up with his paw and crippod his
'wn throat and with Il the end OF the
worm he had begun 10 swallow. Holding
last he caught another grin with his
ccth and slowed away another hair inch
n moro of struggling angleworm
The worm fought well. but "a wa. no |
Ise. The superior brain and strategy of
he toad wonld surely win. The worm
I'LL wiggled bravelv and scored some
minor successes. but In the end the last n,
hat worm disappeared within the Jaws Of
he toad. and the spectators tried 10 de-
ids whether the sweet girl would have
aid had she lost.