Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-18
OUR BOYS F.;
and GIRLS F.;
STORY OF TWO FROGS
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Aeo 'osS named Bill and Jach
lived in delightful muddy pooi al
me edge of meadow. Now, Bin wa
the best frog in the pool, and Jacl;
was the naushtiest Perhaps that wa.
the reason that they were not very
fond of each other and never PLAYED
leapfrog together.
Row, one of the strictcst rules of
the pool was that whenever the youns
froglinss heard any Que coming they
were all to dive down in the depths OF
The pool and to stay there as long us
they possibly could, and venture to
the surface again only with tie utmos.
caution. So when one day the noise
OF cracking twigs warned The frogs
OF the approach of somebody or soino.
thing, what was Bills amazement to
see Jack continue sitting serenely on
large flat rock in the middle of tho
pond making no attempt to follow the
rest OF the frogs to safety al the bot.
tom Of the pool. Bill was so aston.
ished that he himself stopped and
stared at Jack.
Aren't you coming?" he asked
mo indeed replied Jack. I'm too
big for such nonsense; besides want
to see what these strange creatures
who are coming through the .bushe,
are like"
But you must come" stammerel
Bill. ashast at his comrades coolness
1T Is the strictcst rule OF the pool"
Il shan't." replied Jack. snappin<
his mouth shut just as If he had
caught fly.
Now. Bill felt that 1t would not DO
to leave Jack to his fate, so he quick
'ly swan TO the rock on which the
obstinate frog was sitting and, climb.
Ing on it, proceeded to reason with
him.
But Jack would not listen TO reason. |
while Bill became SO absorbed in his /
Cwn eloquence that he completely for /
cot the cause Of it. Consequently tine |
first thing they knew they heard swish /
In the air above them and a large I
crab net descended upon the rock, /
completely enyeloping them in it's |
meshes. The two frogs kicked val. I
iantly, but it did no good. They wera !
caught'hard and fast.
The two boys, for it was two boys.
who had made the commotion in the
underbrush, were delighted, but tho
frogs felt differently and we're any
thing but pleased when the bows
shook them out of the net into a Gov
cred basket which they had brought
with them.
Then whiio the boys sat down on
the bank in he hope that moro. frog,
would come 20 the surface. Eli ana
Jack covered in the basket az won
dercd what was going 10 hapren next.
They had not long TO wait for, findins
the frogs in that particular pool ey-
tremely bashful. the boys picked no
their baskets and started for fresh
streams.
Soon they halted by clear pool In
to which flowed a merry little brook
and settling down their basket they
tiptoed cautiously about the edge OF
the pool looking for more frogs.
Soon they spied a large green fcl.
low fast asleep on a log in the sun,
end Selling the crab net they ap.
preached. But just as they had almost
caught him he woke and splashcd in
to the depths of the pool The ho, s
made desperate strike at him With
the crab net. and IN doing so they up-
set the basket containing the two
frogs into the water. OFF flew the coy
er and into the pool tumhlcd Bill and /
Jack, highly astonished, but glad to be l
back in the water again. !
The boys, however were so disgust. t
ed with the way their frogging party c
had turned out that they picked I'd c
heir empty basket and went home de. il
,ermined to spent the rest of the af- Y
.ernoon fishing. u
When the last sounds Of their foot z
steps had died away the two frogs "
1oked their noses out Of the water, a
'ut it was some time before thoy Il
hought it safe to do more than that e
vt last, however, they yentured out Il
md cautiously hoped home, where
hey were greeted with amusement
md delight by the rest of the frogs.
from that day or instead of keeping n
way from each other, Bill kept Jack t
'ut of mischief, and Jack kept Bill s
rom being dull. and they were han CT
bier than ever and came to regard Ell
heir misadyenture as the beginning b.
Il all good things. lie