THE INQUISITIVE FROG.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 182, 3 August 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE INQUISITIVE FROG.

There never was a more inquisitive little frog than Freddie. Even in liis tadpole days, when he was kept in a plaas bowl in a schoolroom, he 'was always wondering about things, but he never asked questions of his brothers, or sisters, because they did not know either. • .■ Sometimes the scholars came to peer at them, and Freddie always thought: "When I'm "a frog I'll get out of this. I hate being stared at."

As soon as all his legs had grown he then said good-bye to the others, poised himself upon the stone'that jutted from the water in the centre of the jar, and jumped oil to the window-sill. The scholars had not yet arrived, so no one saw him hurry out through the open window and down to a nearby stream. Arrived there, he sat still in the middle of the water, and said: "How very big the world is! I wonder who puts all the leaves 011 the trees—they must need a latiJjr, and it must' take them a long time. I'm glad I'm not a human being. A frog's life is fun." Just then a tiny bird flew down to the bank of the stream, carrying sometiling in her mouth. "What's that?" demanded Freddie. "My breakfast!" said the little bird, eyeing Freddie suspiciously. "I don't want it," laughed the impudent little frog. "Give me flies every time." He sailed on down-stream. Soon he saw Harry Hedgehog napping on the bank, so he stopped to call: "Who are you?" Harry uncurled himself, blinked at Freddie, and said crossly: "Impudent fellow! Be off or I will prick you." Not liking the dangerous appearance of Harry's prickles, Freddie took a verybig jump out of harm's way. Then he stopped again, and took in several flies whilst he looked about him. He stared at a beak which was poking its way through some reeds, and commenced to ask: "What are you? J ,< Thefi, seeing the head of a duck, he took to his heels again, thankful for a narrow escape. Perhaps you are wondering just what fate did befall that inquisitive frog in the end, and so I will tell you. He jumped on to a little hillock to poke

his nose into the bait-can of a very young angler, who promptly pushed him in amongst the worms and carried him home in. triumph. Whether he has succeeded in escaping is not known, but it is certain that by this time he has learned that it does not pay to mind other people's business.