The Frog Language.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 25, 22 June 1907, Page 43

The Frog Language.

( rake, crake! Brekekek-koax, k<a\. So cried the frogs with discordant voice®. "What's the use of repeating the same words over and over again?” -aid Maybelle to herself. Everv afternoon, just after sunset, the frog concert started, and Maybelle, thou<>h she did not enjoy the harsh sounds, seemed fascinate 1 by them. Gen eiallv the noise began thus: One frog would give a solitary call, and another frog would answer; then several frog’ called and several answered; finally, there was a perfect babel! No wonder that Max belle was puzzled, and said: " W hat does it mean, this perpeutal i halt er ? ’’ ■Ah! wouldn't yon like Io know? ' a In. How voice replied. She looked around In r in astonishment. “lap. iap. tap!” that was yonder wood pecker. ( <>o. eoo. co o-o ! ” that was a woodpigeon. An neither voice «a- hollow. •■ It is very odd indeed! ” said Maybe’le. "(rake. era ake! Brekekek-koax, koax! ” •There!" cried Maybelle. "I’d gi«e my very best doll, 1 would indeed, to know what that means! ” “Dime' ” replied the liollow voice which she had heard b fore, only this time it sounded louder and nearer: “Done! and I'm the man to teach you! Maybelle looker! in the direction of the sound, ami now she saw a Wood goblin peeping at her from the hole of a hollow oak where he lived. This goblin had a war deny face full of wrinkles and cringles, his complexion wa. brown, his hair was green bis arms were long aud

Akimov. In fact he was uncommonly like the old tree in which he dwelt, which was the chief reason that Maybelle’s sharp eye* had not detected him (sooner. “1 'wonder how old he is?” she said to herself. “ 151) ur even 250 years, erhaps “ Then she said aloud, politely: ‘‘Good evening. Sir. how do you do?** “<)!i, pretty well, thank you.” replied the Wood goblin. I don't want to complain. though, to Im* quite frank, thing? are not what they were!” •‘I am afraid I don’t unite understand you.” >aid Maybelle. •‘Well, you see. Miss,” replied the Goblin, “the trees used to grow thickly hereabout-. and it was much more private and select, but now the timber is continually rut down and thinned so that there is no knowing when a tenant may have to quit. It is hard, you know, to be obliged to turn out of your comfortable home where you have resided for a hundred years o. more, at sort notice! But you mentioned ju-t now a best doll; now. what would she be like—this doll?” “Oh!” cried Muybelle, clasping her hands. “My Seraphina is perfectly lovely! ” “Ah!” jemnrked the interested Goblin. ‘’and her skin, is it rag, wood or wa x ?” “Wax. to be sure!” said Mayhelle. “And her conplexion, is it healthy or sal low ?” “A beautiful pink.” said Mayhelle. mid -h<‘ has eye* of the loveliest blue that open and shut when you pull a wire. -And she has long silky flaxen hair!” “What’- her stuffing?” asked the Gob* lin, eagerly; “bran, sawdust or wool?” “I really don't know.” replied Maybelle: “does it much matter?” “\o. no,” said the Goblin, rubbing his gnarled hands together impatiently ; ‘’fetch your Seraphina along at once.” ‘ But, you were going to teach me frog language,” said Mayhelle, rather dolefully; “and 1 don’t think it would be quite fair to pay you beforehand.” “All right,” answered the Goblin, “pray be seated, anywhere you like, and we'll begin al once:—Crake, Cra-ake! Breke-kek-koax, koax! We’ll take each syllable separately, if you please.” ” But it’s all alike; just tin* very same thing repeated over and over again! ” objected Maybelle. Look here. Miss,” said the Goblin, “are you scholar or teacher, I should like to know ? ” I am sure 1 beg your pardon, sir,” said Mayhelle. “ I am not sir,” corrected the Goblin, “ I am the Baron de Pumpkinson. But. to begin, you will have to forget all that you think you know with regard to the language of birds, beasts, fishes, and reptiles. To you the bark of a dog, the mew of a cat. the twitter of a bird, the bleat of a lamb, the croak of a frog are all much of a muchness; indeed, you call these creatures dumb animals. 1 assure you that therein you show your ignorance. Just as you understand your own language, so they understand theirs.” The Goblin paused, and as he seemed to expect that Mayhelle would make a remark, she said: “ Then what is the difference between their language and ours? ” “It lies almost entirely in the tone or inflections of the voice. Now. take the apparently simple word ‘crake/ pronounced thus”—and the Goblin gave a sample croak—“it signifies, ‘Good evening. I hope you continue active on your legs': or. pronounced thus, it signifies ‘Hurrah! I've just swallowed, a meatfly.’ or. again thus. ‘How admirably the moisture of this muddy puddle suits one’s constitution.’ In fact, the word ‘crake’ alone is capable of being pronounced in fifty three different ways, and carries fifty three entirely different meanings.” Th»i* the Goblin talked and Maybelle li-tencd until, by and-bve. the Baron said. “ There. 1 think that is quite as much as y<m will remember: besides. T am tired of talking. good-night. Miss.” “Good-night. B iron de Pumpkinson. and thank you for your lesson.” “We will resume tomorrow afternoon.” -aid the Goblin. Maybelle went home That night she dreamed that she was invited to a frog party, and danced a jig. in which she a< eompli-h<> 1 the mo-f surprising hops. Ami. to her delight, she found that she quite iindtu-ttiod what the frog guests Baid. The next day -he practised saying “crake” whenever she had the opportiirity. and when the time came, repaired to the hollow tree, carrying her best doll in her arms. The Goblin was looking out for her, and was delighted to see S.raphina. “Her charms,” said he,

“quite exceed my expectations.” The lessons continued without interruption for a fortnight, and by the end of that time Maybelle was so well acquainted with the language of frogs t li.il the Baron said, ”1 will now. if you please, introduce you to the Prince of Frogdom.” To whom Maybelle bowed and said, “Crake!” meaning “I hope that your Royal Highness is well!” “Crake!” replied the Prince in a tone which signified, “I am deliciously damp, and cold, and springy. I trust that you are feeling the same!” “Thanks,” said Maybelle, “I certainly do feel cold, perhaps your Royal Highness has observed that 1 am wearing a tight-fitting jersey, and have on as many as four skirts, whilst round my neck is a good thick comforter. Then my boots are stout to keep out the damp.” “Bless me!” exclaimed the Prince, “now that is a coincidence! It happens that one of our community strangely objects to cold and damp; to add to his afflictions the poor fellow is almost dumb. But 1 fear that 1 must not talk longer as pressing affairs of State are waiting. May 1 hope to see you at the Ball next week?” “Oh. I should love to come!” said Maybelle. “1 suppose, though, that it will be held under water!” “Ah!” replied the Prince thoughtfully, “and your gills are not adapted to that element, eh? 1 had not thought of that!” He gave a peculiar whistle, whereupon the Goblin appeared with Seraphina. “Allow me the privilege of a word with you, Baron. This lady wishes to attend the Ball to-morrow. Would you kindly oblige by furnishing her with gills?” “With pleasure!’ replied the Goblin. “What time is the Ball?” “Six o'clock.” “All right,” said the Goblin, “be here at 5.45. Miss, and I’ll do what is necesMaybelle scarcely slept a wink that night for thinking of the morrow. Atlength the longed-for hour arrived, and you may be sure that she was punctual at the old oak. The necessary transformation was effected in a very simple manner. A cauldron was suspended on a tripod, and in it was a brew of dragons’ eggs. When the brew boiled, the Goblin danced around it seven times, and then threw in a powerful charm on which was written: — “Prestissimo! change lungs to gills: ’Tis 1, de Pumpkinson, who wills!” Whereupon Maybelle shrunk, instantly assumed the form of a frog, hopped to the ornamental pond, and dived below the water-lilies to the frog palace. The ball-room completely surpassed her expectations; it was long, wide and lofty. The ceiling was formed ot coloured weeds and grasses wdiich met overhead so that Nie eye looked down a continuous vista. On either hand were soft couches of oozy mud, on which the tired dancers could rest and fan themselves. The fans were made from the gold-beetle, or a section of bright red lady-bird. The room was lighted by tiny shellfish hired for the occasion, stationed in clusters. At short intervals they shot out beautiful phosphorescent bluishwhite rays that gave a very tine effect to the brilliant scene. The programme consisted chiefly of polkas and hop-waltzes danced to the harsh music of the Blacksmith frog of Rio, and the Sugar-miller from of Peru. Intervals were arranged during which the guests adjourned to -the shore. Here they witnessed the acrobatic performances of Signor Gruntera. from the West Indies. This gifted stranger could leap more than live feet at a single bound. Another distinguished performer, who hails from Madagascar, made the most astounding flights through the air. The artist had webbed feet that he could spread over a surface of air larger than his body. By-and-by the Frog-prince asked Maybelle if he might introduce the lonely frog he had mentioned to her. He did so. And it turned out to be the most surprising thing of, this eventful evening! The Lonely-ont spoke good English, although with a Froggish accent. Said be: “Doubtless you have heard of the Queen of Hearts who made tarts? Well, 1 am her unfortunate son. When she died I inherited her kingdom and her extraordinary skill in tart-making. A wicked Fairy was jealous of me because she could not make tarts equal to mine. Therefore she changed me by her magic into the form of a frog. Even in Llua

wretched condition I cannot enjoy myself as I otherwise might. 1 can’t speak Frog language. I shiver when my companions are revelling in cold and damp, their choisest dishes of fricasseed flies are loathsome to me. And alas, I see no prospect of release.” Over this melancholy recital Maybelle shed a compassionate tear. “Is there no way of breaking the spell?” she said. “There is, but it is too repulsive to think of. I can only get released by marrying a frog maiden!” “Suppose you marry me, you will marry a frog maiden,” said Maybelle, “and afterwards the Goldin will change me back to human form!” “Alas! 1 am a j>oor man. my property was seized by the bad fairy,” said the Lonely-one. “and all I can promise you is a loving heart, and the most exquisite tarts! But then you might not like me. you know!” “Nor you me!” said Maybelle. “It is a risk for both of us. but let us take it!” When they told the Frog-prince he was much interested, and immediately got them a special licence, so that they were married on the very next dav.

And after the ceremony, directly they stepped ashore, the Lonely-one suddenly changed. In place of the fr<»«* there Htood a handsome young man, richly dressed in Royal robes and wearing e golden crown. And* he said anxiously to Baron de Pumpkinson—

“Hasten your incantations, 1 implore, And to my wife her proper shape restore!”

And the obliging Goblin did as desired, and great were the mutual rejoicings and congratulations. And the Prince of Frogdom gave Maybelle as a wedding present a jewel from the head of a toad which was so magnificent as to be worth a prince’s ransom. Then hand in hand the King of Hearts and the bride departed for the Country of Choice Confections, and for hick 'the Baron threw after them his oldest slipper. On reaching the frontier Land of Jam Sandwiches the Royal pair learned that the wicked fairy had shortly before choked herself whilst eating mixed pickles. So the King of Hearts got back his property after all, ami in the happiness of the future forgot the sorrows of the past.