12-the two frogs-第1节

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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　wishto　learn　a
little　more　of　their　native　countryand　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。＇