on a stone near by. It was Mr. Frog, and as "kerchunk" in frog
language means "how do you do?" I replied politely and inquired
for his health.

He assured me that he was well and happy, and went on talking.
"Did you know that I was once a tadpole just like those little
creatures in the brook?

"I have heard people say that you were," I answered. "You would
not believe it to look at me now, would you?"

"No," I said, for certainly he did not look at all like the queer
little animals I was watching.

"Yes," he continued, "once I was a tiny black egg in a globe of
clear white jelly, and floated around along the bank of this same
brook. Soon I grew into a wee tadpole, and freed myself from the
globe of jelly, and found I could swim about. I had a long flat
tail which I used as a paddle to help me swim. I had no feet nor
legs then, but I grew very fast, and soon two legs came out near
my tail, and by and by two front ones came, and I did not need my
tail any more, so it disappeared. Then I discovered that I had a
long, slender tongue to catch insects with. My skin, too, had
changed, and is now covered with beautiful spots, and if you look
at my eyes you will see how bright they are.

"I live beside this brook with my family, and my cousins, the
toads; and in the spring and summer evenings we sing to our
little tadpole children, and tell them of the time when they,
too, will grow up and be toads and frogs."