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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 Kyoto. 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 Kyoto
wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at Osaka wished to go to Kyoto, where the
great Mikado had his palace. So one fine morning in the spring they both
set out along the road that led from Kyoto 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 traveling, and halfway 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 Kyoto frog. "We have only got to stand up
on our hind legs, and hold onto each other, and then we can each look at the town he is
traveling to."
This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws
on the shoulder 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 Kyoto frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nose towards
Kyoto; 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, "Kyoto 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 Kyoto I should never have traveled
all this way," exclaimed the frog from Kyoto, 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 Kyoto, which are as different to look at as two towns can be, were as alike
as two peas.
Source: Andrew Lang, The Violet Fairy Book (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1901), pp.
125-126.