The Two Frogs

THE TWO FROGS

Once upon a time in the country of Japan there lived two frogs, one of

whom made his home in a ditch near the town of Osaka, on the sea coast,

while the other dwelt in a clear little stream which ran through the

city of Kioto. At such a great distance apart, they had never even heard

of each other; but, funnily enough, the idea came into both their heads

at once that they should like to see a little of the world, and the

frog who lived at Kioto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at

Osaka wished to go to Kioto, where the great Mikado had his palace.

So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that

led from Kioto to Osaka, one from one end and the other from the other.

The journey was more tiring than they expected, for they did not know

much about travelling, and half way between the two towns there arose a

mountain which had to be climbed. It took them a long time and a great

many hops to reach the top, but there they were at last, and what was

the surprise of each to see another frog before him! They looked at each

other for a moment without speaking, and then fell into conversation,

explaining the cause of their meeting so far from their homes. It was

delightful to find that they both felt the same wish--to learn a little

more of their native country--and as there was no sort of hurry they

stretched themselves out in a cool, damp place, and agreed that they

would have a good rest before they parted to go their ways.

‘What a pity we are not bigger,’ said the Osaka frog; ‘for then we could

see both towns from here, and tell if it is worth our while going on.’

‘Oh, that is easily managed,’ returned the Kioto frog. ‘We have only got

to stand up on our hind legs, and hold on to each other, and then we can

each look at the town he is travelling to.’

This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and

put his front paws on the shoulders of his friend, who had risen also.

There they both stood, stretching themselves as high as they could, and

holding each other tightly, so that they might not fall down. The Kioto

frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nose

towards Kioto; but the foolish things forgot that when they stood up

their great eyes lay in the backs of their heads, and that though their

noses might point to the places to which they wanted to go their eyes

beheld the places from which they had come.

‘Dear me!’ cried the Osaka frog, ‘Kioto is exactly like Osaka. It is

certainly not worth such a long journey. I shall go home!’

‘If I had had any idea that Osaka was only a copy of Kioto I should

never have travelled all this way,’ exclaimed the frog from Kioto, and

as he spoke he took his hands from his friend’s shoulders, and they both

fell down on the grass. Then they took a polite farewell of each other,

and set off for home again, and to the end of their lives they believed

that Osaka and Kioto, which are as different to look at as two towns can

be, were as like as two peas.

(Japanische Marchen.)