BARE BONES - VOLUME 7
CROAKS HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD
(Stories about frogs)
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A. LIST OF SHORT FROG STORIES, JOKES AND RHYMES
A1) A Lonely Frog
A2) The Princess and the Frog
A3) Mr. Frog's Story
A4) Mr. Bullfrog
A5) Little Green Frog
A6) Funny, funny froggie
A7) Frog on a Log
A8) Five Little Frogs Were Down at the Pond
A9) Five Green and Speckled Frogs
A10) Those Stubborn Souls, the Biellese
A11) Zen tale of two frogs
A12) The Computer Programmer and the Frog Princess
A13) The Wide-Mouthed Frog (generic version)
A14) The Wide-Mouthed Frog
(Linda Spitzer's version)
A15) Stupid Frog Jokes (and they're not kidding, folks!)
A16) Frog and Toad (from Frog Fables and Parables)
A17) The Frog and the Scorpion (from Frog Fables and Parables)
A18) The Frogs Desiring a King (from Frog Fables and Parables, an Aesop's fable)
A19) The Ox and the Frog (an Aesop's fable)
A20) The Frog and his Two Wives (an Aesop's fable)
A21) Frog and Bluejay (Folk Tales from The Sahaptin and Salishan Tribes, Canada)
A22) The Magic Toad (a Beauty and the Beast-type story)
A23) The Wide Mouthed Frog (Steve Otto's version)
A24) Two Frogs from Japan (Dale Pepin's version)
A25) Nyame's Well (Ashanti tribe, Gold Coast of Africa)
A26) Brer Coon and the Frogs (an Uncle Remus tale)
A27) The Allegory of the Frog (as told by Linda Spitzer)
A28) The Frog and the Scientist (an old frog tale)
B. LIST OF LONGER FROG STORIES
B1) The Fairy Frog
B2) Fishing with Little Green Frogs (by Chuck Larkin)
B3) The Frog Princess
B4) The Toad Princess (Grimm's)
B5) The Frog Maiden (from Burma) (plus links to six other similar stories)
B6) Mr. Bear Catches Old Mr. Bull-Frog (an Uncle Remus tale)
B7) Mr. Fox and the Deceitful Frogs (an Uncle Remus tale)
B8) Why Frog and Snake Don't Ever Play Together Anymore (as retold by Linda Spitzer)
B9) How Rabbit Fooled the Frogs (adapted and retold by Linda Spitzer)
B10) The Frog Who Became Emperor (a folktale from China)
B11) The Frog Maiden (a folktale from Burma)
SHORT AND FUNNY FROG STORIES AND RHYMES
A1) A Lonely Frog
A lonely frog telephones the Psychic Hotline and asks what his future holds.
His Personal Psychic Advisor tells him: "You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you."
The frog is thrilled, "This is great! Will I meet her at a party?" he croaks.
"No," says the psychic, "in biology class."
A2) The Princess and the Frog
Once upon a time, in a land far away a beautiful, independent, self-assured princess happened upon a frog as she sat contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle.
The frog hopped into the princess's lap and said: Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry and set up housekeeping in your castle with my mother, where you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so.
That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on a repast of lightly sauteed frog legs seasoned in a white wine and onion cream sauce, she chuckled and thought to herself: " I don't think so."
•••••
Other funny animal stories:
http://www.tech-sol.net/humor/animal26.htm
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A3) Mr. Frog's Story
[from Buttercup Gold and Other Stories, by Ellen Robena Field]
Down in the garden is a pretty brook, and something funny happened one day as I was sitting watching the tadpoles and minnows playing tag and hide-and-go-seek. All at once something gave a jump out of the water and with a loud "kerchunk," landed 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."
Here Mr. Frog paused, and before I could thank him for his interesting story, he gave a loud "kadunk," which means "good-by," and with a splash he was off for a swim in the brook.
•••••
Source:
http://www.rickwalton.com/authtale/butter06.htm
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A4) Mr. Bullfrog
Here’s Mister Bullfrog (make a fist)
Sitting on a rock (put fist on flat palm)
Into the water he jumps (jump fist up)
Kerplop! (clap once loudly)
A5) Little Green Frog (pretend to be a frog)
A little green froggie am I am I
Hippity hippity hop
II can jump in the air so high!
Hippity hippity hop
A6) Funny, funny froggie
Funny, funny froggie, hop, hop, hop
Funny, funny froggie, stop, stop, stop
Funny, funny froggie, don't run away!
Funny, funny froggie, stay and play!
A7) Frog on a Log
There once was a green little frog, frog, frog,
Who sat in the woods on a log, log, log.
A screech owl sitting in a tree, tree, tree,
Came after the frog with a scree, scree, scree.
When the frog heard the owl in a flash, flash, flash,
He jumped in the pond with a splash, splash, splash!
A8) Five Little Frogs Were Down at the Pond
Five little frogs were down at the pond down at the pond at play
Along came a hungry ________, And chased one frog away.
Four little frogs were down at the pond down at the pond at play.
Along came a wiggly ________, And chased one frog away.
Three little frogs were down at the pond down at the pond at play.
Along came a giant ________, And chased one frog away.
Two little frogs were down at the pond down at the pond at play.
Along came a purple ________, And chased one frog away.
One little frog was down at the pond down at the pond at play.
Along came a flying ________, And chased one frog away.
Then no little frogs were down at the pond - down at the pond at play.
Where do you think the little frogs went - when they all hopped away?
A9) Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Five green and speckled frogs (hold up 5 fingers)
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs
Yum Yum! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool (jump hand to floor)
Where it was nice and cool (brush hand on forehead)
Then there were
Four green and speckled frogs (hold up 4 fingers)
Glub Glub!
(Repeat in descending order.)
•••••
Stories 4-9 above and other Frog activities, including masks, bags, puppets, etc. available at:
http://www.perrypubliclibrary.org/Kids/Programs/handouts/Frogs.htm#Stories
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A10) Those Stubborn Souls, the Biellese
Story:
A farmer was on his way down to Biella one day. The weather was so stormy that it was next to impossible to get over the roads. But the farmer had important business and pushed onward in the face of the driving rain.
He met an old man, who said to him, "A good day to you! Where are you going, my good man, in such haste?"
"To Biella," answered the farmer without slowing down.
"You might at least say. 'God willing.'"
The farmer stopped, looked the old man in the eye and snapped, "God willing, I'm on my way to Biella. But even if God isn't willing, I still have to go there all the same."
Now the old man happened to be the Lord. "In that case you'll go to Biella in seven years."
Suddenly the farmer changed into a frog and jumped into the swamp.
Seven years went by. The farmer came out of the swamp, turned back into a man, clapped his hat on his head, and continued on his way to market.
After a short distance he met the old man again. "And where are you going, my good man?"
"To Biella."
"You might say, 'God willing.'"
"If God wills it, fine. If not I know the consequence and can now go into the swamp unassisted."
Nor for the life of him would he say one word more.
•••••
Online source: Taken from Italo Calvino, Italian Folktales (1956).
http://klishis.com/Books/FolkTale.html
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A11) Zen tale of two frogs
Well-known Zen story from Japan of the two frogs who fell into the sour milk jug. One said: "It's hopeless, we'll never get out." Stopped swimming and sank to the bottom. The other kept swimming and trying until the sour milk became butter and it could jump out.
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A12) The Computer Programmer and the Frog Princess
A computer programmer happens across a frog in the road. The frog pipes up, "I'm really a beautiful princess and if you kiss me, I'll hang out with you for a week". The programmer shrugs his shoulders and puts the frog in his pocket.
A few minutes later, the frog says "OK, OK, if you kiss me, I'll be your girlfriend for a week". The programmer nods and puts the frog back in his pocket.
A few minutes later, "Turn me back into a princess and I'll be your girlfriend for a whole year!". The programmer smiles and walks on.
Finally, the frog says, "What's wrong with you? I've promised lots of fun with a beautiful princess for a whole year and you won't even kiss a frog?"
"I'm a programmer," he replies. "I don't have time for girls.... But a talking frog is pretty neat."
•••••
Online source:
http://allaboutfrogs.org/funstuff/jokes/prncss.html
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A13) The Wide-Mouthed Frog - generic version
(When you tell this, you have to do the frog's lines while stretching your mouth wide)
Story:
A wide-mouthed frog went to the zoo to see what the other animals feed their offspring.
"Mrs. Elephant," said the wide-mouthed frog, "What do you feed your babies?"
"I feed them elephant milk," said the elephant.
"Oh, that's nice." (<--- in the wide-mouthed enunciation.)
She walked on to the hippopotamus. Mrs. Hippopotamus, what do you feed your babies?"
"I feed them hippopotamus milk."
"Oh, that's nice."
Next, she encountered the lion. "Mrs. Lion, what do you feed your babies?"
"I feed them wide-mouthed frogs."
(Scrunching your mouth up as tight as possible)
"Oh, that's nice."
•••••
Online source:
http://allaboutfrogs.org/funstuff/jokes/sight.html
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A14) The Wide-Mouthed Frog - Linda Spitzer's version still to come
A15) Stupid Frog Joke Collection
http://allaboutfrogs.org/funstuff/jokes.html
A16) Frog and Toad (from Frog Fables and Parables)
A toad and a frog were sitting on the front stoop criticizing each others looks.
Each thought himself beautiful and the other ugly.
While they were posturing, a girl happened by and was disgusted by both.
"Yeaccchh!!" she screamed, and she stomped on each and ran away.
•••••
Online source:
http://allaboutfrogs.org/stories/fables.html
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A17) The Scorpion and the Frog (from Frog Fables and Parables)
One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a river. The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the situation. He couldn't see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back.
Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting in the rushes by the bank of the stream on the other side of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help getting across the stream. "Hellooo Mr. Frog!" called the scorpion across the water, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?"
"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to kill me?" asked the frog hesitantly.
"Because," the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!"
Now this seemed to make sense to the frog. But he asked. "What about when I get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore!"
"This is true," agreed the scorpion, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to the other side of the river!"
"All right then...how do I know you wont just wait till we get to the other side and THEN kill me?" said the frog.
"Ahh...," crooned the scorpion, "Because you see, once you've taken me to the other side of this river, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to reward you with death, now would it?!"
So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.
Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.
"You fool!" croaked the frog, "Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?"
The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog's back.
"I could not help myself. It is my nature."
Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.
Self destruction - "Its my Nature", said the Scorpion...
•••••
Online source:
http://allaboutfrogs.org/stories/fables.html
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A18) The Frogs Desiring a King (an Aesop's fable)
The Frogs were living as happy as could be in a marshy swamp that just suited them. They went splashing about, caring for nobody and nobody troubled them.
But some of the frogs thought that this was not right, that they should have a king and a proper constitution, so they sent up a petition to Zeus to give them what they wanted.
“Mighty Zeus,” they cried, “send unto us a king that will rule over us and keep us in order.”
Zeus laughed at their croaking and threw down into the swamp a huge Log.
The Frogs were frightened out of their lives by the commotion made in their midst, and all rushed to the bank to look at the horrible monster. But after a time, seeing that it did not move, one or two of the boldest of them ventured out towards the Log, and even dared to touch it. Still it did not move.
Then the greatest hero of the Frogs jumped upon the Log and commenced dancing up and down upon it; thereupon all the Frogs came and did the same, and for some time the Frogs went about their business every day without taking the slightest notice of their new King Log lying in their midst.
But this did not suit them, so they sent another petition to Zeus, and said to him,
“We want a real king; one that will really rule over us.”
Now this made Zeus angry, so he sent them a big Stork that soon set to work gobbling them all up. Then the Frogs repented, but it was too late.
Better no rule than cruel rule.
•••••
Online source:
http://allaboutfrogs.org/stories/fables.html
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A19) The Ox and the Frog (an Aesop's fable)
"Oh Father," said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool, "I have seen such a terrible monster! It was big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two."
"Tush, child, tush," said the old Frog, "that was only Farmer White's Ox. It isn't so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see."
So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out.
"Was he as big as that?" asked he.
"Oh, much bigger than that," said the young Frog.
Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that.
"Bigger, Father, bigger," was the reply.
So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled.
And then he said, "I'm sure the Ox is not as big as this."
But at that moment he burst.
Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction.
•••••
Online source:
http://allaboutfrogs.org/stories/fables.html
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A20) The Frog and His Two Wives
Once there lived a Frog who had two wives. His first wife lived in Ndumbi and his second wife lived in Ndala. He himself lived a little place between Ndumbi and Ndala. He went sometimes to Ndumbi and sometimes to Ndala to see his wives.
Once a little frog came to him and said "Come to Ndumbi please! Your first wife has a nice pudding for you. Come at once while the pudding is hot!"
The Frog was very happy, because he liked puddings very much. He was ready to go when another little frog came up to him and said, "Please, come to Ndala! Your second wife has a nice pudding for you. Come at once while the pudding is hot!"
The Frog sat down and began to think:
"If I go to my first wife for the pudding, my second wife will be sorry and angry. If I go to my second wife for the pudding, my first wife will be sorry and angry, too. Where shall I go - to Ndumbi or to Ndala?"
He sat and thought for a long time. And he stayed at home and began to cry:
"Oh! Where shall I go, where shall I go?"
Now, when you hear frogs' Gaou, gaou, gaou, you will understand that it means: "Where shall I go? Where shall I go? Go, go, go?"
How bad it is to have two wives who make puddings at the same time!
•••••
Online source:
http://www.africawithin.com/tour/ghana/frog_wives.htm
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A21) Frog and Bluejay
Frog had a smooth pole set in the ground, and with it he had devised a means of killing off all the birds. A race would be run up this pole, and whoever got to the top first would cut off the other one's head. The pole leaned a little; and Frog would get on the upper side, and make the opponent get on the under side. Thus Frog continued to win races for a long time, and managed to kill off many birds.
Coyote was in this camp. He became afraid that Frog was going to kill off all the birds. So Coyote gave a big feast, and invited every one to attend. He wanted the people to work out a plan to get the best of Frog; but every one was afraid to run him a race. After a scheme had been devised, Bluejay (kuyeskuyes) undertook the job; and Coyote made a speech, calling everybody to the pole, and announcing that there was to be a race between Frog and Bluejay.
Now, little Frog became uneasy, and feared that Bluejay was going to win and then kill her. So when they were half way to the top, Frog tried to kick Bluejay off the pole. When they were nearly to the top, Bluejay used his wings and flew the rest of the way. He got to the top first. When Frog got to the top, Bluejay kicked her, and she fell to the ground and was killed. Ever since that race there have been no feathers on the side of Bluejay's face, because Frog had torn them all off when she tried to knock Bluejay from the pole.
After the race was over, Coyote made a speech, saying, "Hereafter there will be frogs on the earth, but they will never hurt any one. People will hear the frogs singing, and then they will know that warm weather is coming."
•••••
Online source:
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/Teit/copy%20of%20book%20a/a.100done.html
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A22) The Magic Toad - a "Beauty and the Beast"-type tale from Italy
An early medieval tale from the Piedmont region of Italy recounts that a father with three daughters -- the elder two selfish and the youngest good -- falls ill and travels to a famous healer's castle. Before he leaves, he asks each daughter what they want him to bring back for them. The two eldest each ask for jewelry, while the youngest asks for only a flower. Arriving at the castle, the father finds no one home. Dismayed, he readies himself to leave, but on his way out he sees a beautiful garden. Thinking heˆll at least bring his youngest a flower, he picks a rose. Suddenly a huge toad appears and says, "Who gave you leave to pick flowers from my garden?" The toad adds, "You must pay with your life for your theft."
The only way the magic toad will pardon the father is if he will give his youngest daughter to the toad in marriage. Distraught, the father returns home, determined to sacrifice himself instead of his daughter. However, his devoted daughter cannot bear this, and so sneaks off that night and marries the toad. When she gets into bed with the toad, she finds him transformed into a handsome prince. The prince tells her she must never reveal the secret, and he gives her a magic ring, which will grant her whatever she wishes. Her sisters, expecting her to be miserable as the bride of the toad, become suspicious of her happiness, and press her for the truth. Finally, she reveals the secret, and the toad falls deathly ill. Weeping and praying for her love's life, the maiden remembers the ring, and wishes that her love may be healed. When nothing happens, she throws the ring into the lake in a rage; suddenly, the toad vanishes and her handsome lover appears out of the lake. The enchantment is broken, and her lover is returned to human form.
•••••
Online source:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/folklore/folklore_3.html
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A23) The Wide Mouth Frog, version by Steve Otto
[The lead story on my new Kid's CD will be The Wide Mouth Frog. This is one of those stories that is a "Never Fail" for pre-school through 2nd grade.This is a fun story to play with the characters and voices, and the kids love it. The teachers always ask me to repeat this one for their classes.]
Story:
The little frog had just finished his breakfast and asked his mother what other mothers fed their babies for breakfast. She tells him to take a survey!
He hops off with his clipboard and pencil (have you ever seen a frog hop down the road with a clipboard and a pencil?) until he hears a sound (scritch-scritch-scritch) he hops over to the sound and it is Mrs. Deer. "Mrs. Deer, I'm a WIIIIDE mouth frog . . . can you tell me what you feed your babies for breakfast?"
"Well, for breakfast I feed My babies tender shoots and grasses that I dig from the ground"
"Well thank you very much, I'm a WIIIIDE MOOOUUTH FOROOOOOG" and off he hops.
Off he hops until he hears another sound (Growlllllllll) He hops over to the sound and there is Mrs Bear [same conversation with mrs bear].
"I feed my babies Honey that I dig from a old hollow log."
And off he hops but no other mothers in the forest to ask what they feed their babies for breakfast. Finally he reaches the edge of the forest and there is the swamp, and lying out in the swamp is Mrs. Crocodile "Mrs. Crocodile, can you tell me what you feed your babies for breakfast?" "Well, for breakfast I feed my babies . . . Wide . . .Mouth . . . Frogs!"
"Well let me get this straight . . . for breakfast Mrs Crocodile feed her babies . . . WIIIIDE . . . mouth . . . UH OHHHHHH . . . frogs . . . Well if I see any, I certainly send them your way!" and of course, at that point, he is making his mouth very, very small.
And off he hopped...and that little frog never took another SURVEY...again! . .
••••
Contributed by
Steve Otto
i-tell@juno.com
http://www.storynet.org/tellers/SteveOtto.htm
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A24) Two Frogs from Japan, version by Dale Pepin
Story:
- story about two frogs in Japan.
- One lived in Osaka.
- The other was in Kyoto.
- One day both decided to see the world outside.
- began to hop along road between Kyoto and Osaka.
- Halfway between two cities was mountain
- at top, each frog very surprised to meet the other frog.
- both very tired.
- rested a bit
- Osaka frog said, “If only we were bigger, we will be able to see both our cities from here. Then we can tell if it is worthwhile to go on.”
- “That is no problem,“ the Kyoto frog said. “All we need to do is to stand up on our long legs and hold on to each other. Then we can each see the city we want to go to.”
- two frogs hugged each other.
- stood up as high as they could.
- Kyoto frog turned his nose towards Osaka
- Osaka frog turned his nose towards Kyoto.
- but frogs forgot their eyes are on the back of their heads. This means that when the Kyoto frog stood up, its nose pointed towards Osaka, but its eyes were looking at Kyoto. In the same way, the Osaka frog was actually looking at Osaka.
“Oh dear,” the Osaka frog said, “Kyoto is exactly like Osaka. There is no point going there. I shall go home.”
And the Kyoto frog said, “If I had known that Osaka is like Kyoto, I would never have wasted all my time to try to get there.”
- frogs said goodbye to each other
- each went back home, believing that Kyoto and Osaka were exactly the same even though the two cities are actually quite different.
The moral of the story is: You cannot learn something new by looking at what you already know.
•••••
Contributed by
Dale Pepin
dalejeannine.pepin@sympatico.ca
Story Socks
http://pages.zdnet.com/storysocks/
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A25) Nyame's Well
[From the Ashanti tribe, Gold Coast of Africa. Found in The Hat-Shaking Dance by Harold Courlander.]
Bones:
Frog was jeered at by other animals because he had no tail.
Frog asks Nyame, the Sky God, for a tail.
Nyame: If you will be caretaker for my special well which never goes dry, I will give you a tail.
Frog: Okay. Nyame: keep well clean so anyone thirsty can drink.
Frog lived in well, proud of tail, became conceited.
A drought comes. Animals ask Nyame for help. He directs them to the well.
Buffalo goes to well.
Frog asks: who comes to muddy Nyame's well?
Buffalo: It is I.
Frog: go away, well is dry.
Buffalo goes away. ditto with sheep, gazelle, etc.
Nyame hears about it. Approaches well, gets same treatment. Sky God is angry, takes away frog's tail and drives him out of well.
Now frog has no tail, goes wherever he can to find water and lives there, remembering his glory days.
Nyame never lets frog forget about the misery he caused. When frogs are first born they all have tails, but before they are grown, the Sky God takes their tails away.
•••••
Bones contributed by
Audrey Kopp
Storyteller, teacher
astory@utla.net
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A26) Brer Coon and the Frogs
[From The Favorite Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Riverside Press MA 1948. Adapted from Uncle Remus dialect.]
Bones:
Brer Coon and Brer Rabbit both fishermen; BR fish, BC frogs.
BR had good luck; BC bad luck. BR got fat and slick; BC got sick.
BR and BC met one day. BR: good fishin' here. BC: I can't catch any frogs!
BR: You made 'em mad. You caught King Frog. Now, whenever you pass by, frogs sing: Yer he come! Dar he goes! Hit'im in de eye; mash'em, smash 'em, etc.
BC: How am I gonna catch 'em? I have a family to feed.
BR: BC, you've always been sociable with me. I'll help you out.
BC: Thanky.
BR: Get on the sand bar between the river and the branch. Stagger around like you sick, whirl roun', drop down like you dead. Lay right still. If a fly light on your nose, let him stay there. etc. Don't move until I give you the word.
BR did exactly that. BC come loping along, says: Coon dead!"
This rousted the frogs to see what the yelling was about. "Don't belive it.""Yes, he is." "No, he ain't."
BR in mourning. If you frogs want to get him out of the way, dig sand out from under BC and let him down in the hole.
Frogs make sand fly. Deep enough? ask frogs.
BR: Can you jump out? Big frog: yes, I can.
BR: dig it deeper. etc etc.
Big frog: No, I can't. Come help me.
BR bust out laughing and hollered out: Rise up, Sandy , and get your meat. And Brer Coon rose.
•••••
Bones contributed by
Audrey Kopp
Storyteller, teacher
astory@utla.net
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A27) The Allegory of the Frog (as told by Linda Spitzer)
Lesson of Life N. 1
Once upon a time there was a race ... of frogs
The goal was to reach the top of a high tower.
Many people gathered to see and support them.
The race began.
In reality, the people probably didn't believe that it was possible that the frogs reached the top of the tower, and all the phrases that one could here were of this kind :
"What pain !!!
They'll never make it!"
The frogs began to resign, except for one who kept on climbing
The people continued :
"... What pain !!! They'll never make it!..."
And the frogs admitted defeat, except for the frog who continued to insist.
At the end, all the frogs quit, except the one who, alone and with and enormous effort, reached the top of the tower.
The others wanted to know how did he do it.
One of them approached him to ask him how he had done it, to finish the race.
And discovered that he...
was deaf!
...Never listen to people who have the bad habit of being negative...
because they steal the best aspirations of your heart! He thought that they had been cheering him all along.
Always remind yourself of the power of the words that we hear or read.
That's why, you always have to think positive
POSITIVE!
Conclusion:
Always be deaf to someone who tells you that you can't and won't achieve your goals or make come true your dreams.
Portez-vous bien! Behave yourself!
•••••
Contributed by
Linda Spitzer
Storyteller in Lake Worth, Florida
Just for the Tell of it
Floridastorygal@aol.com
http://www.storyqueen.com
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A28) The Frog and the Scientist - an old frog tale
There's an old frog tale where the scientist teaches a frog to "Jump" on command. Then he cuts off one leg, gives the command again, "Jump," and the frog does. Same after cutting off leg number two and three, though the third jump is a bit lop-sided. When the scientist cuts off the fourth leg, he says, "Jump!" but the frog just sits there. The scientist repeats the command with no response.
The Scientist's Conclusion: "When a frog loses all four legs, he becomes deaf."
•••••
Contributed (not written) by
Pat Nease
nease3@comcast.net
http://www.patnease.com
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LONGER FROG STORIES
B1) The Fairy Frog
[Recorded by Liam Mac Coisdeala on August 1, 1942 in County Galway. Reprinted in The Folklore of Ireland by Sean O'Sulivan.]
Excerpt:
She was only a small girl, about fourteen or fifteen years of age. Her people had a cow and they told her to drive her to pasture one morning. She was herding the cow in a field, and there was nobody anywhere near her. When some of the day had passed, the girl went up on the highest hillock in the field. She started to hum a tune and to dance on the hillock. It wasn't long till she saw a frog coming up the hillock towards her--the biggest frog she'd ever laid eyes on. The frog sat down on the hillock, looking straight into the girl's face. The frog had a very large belly and, for devilment, the girl said: "Don't give birth to your load until I am with you!" The frog turned away from her and went off down the slope.
The girl went home and forgot all about what had happened. Just a month from that day, herself and her father and mother were asleep one night, when they heard the sound of a horse's hooves approaching the door. There was a knock at the door, and the voice of a man from outside asked that it be opened. The girl's father jumped out of bed and opened the door, and the finest gentleman he had ever seen walked in.
"I don't recognise you, sir," said the man of the house.
"I don't blame you for that," said the gentleman. "I cam to ask you to do something for me?" said he.
"'Tisn't much I can do for you sir," said the man of the house. "I'm a poor man."
"Tis for your daughter I have come. I want her for twenty-four hours."
The father didn't like that, nor did the girl, who spoke from her bed and said that she wouldn't go with him.
"Ah, you will," said the gentleman. "I give my hand and word to yourself and to your father and mother that you'll be home here again safe and sound, within twenty-four hours."
"Well, sir, I'll take your word," said the father. "She'll have to go with you for that length."
"Thank you," said the gentleman.
"Get up and go along with him," said the father.
She rose with great reluctance.
"Good girl!" said the gentleman, taking her by the hand and leading her out of the house. He caught hold of her shoulder and lifted her up behind him on the horse. He gave spurs to the horse and rode away, conversing with the girl.
"You need not have the slightest fear now," said he to the girl. "There's no need for it, for I'll bring you home, safe and sound, to your father and mother tomorrow night. Give the back of your hand to the first food that will be offered to you," said he; "say that you won't eat it. But you may eat the second food that will offered to you, and any food given to you after that won't do you any harm."
They rode along until they reached a hill, in the side of which was a high, awesome cliff. It would surprise anybody. A door opened in the cliff, and they entered the finest court that ever rose to the sky. There were many people inside, moving around and chatting with one another at their ease. The gentleman and the girl walked through the crowd till they entered the central room of the court. There were three nurses there, tending a woman who was ill in bed. There was a huge fire blzing in the grate, with flames rising from it. The moment the two of them entered the room, the woman in the bed gave birth to a child. As soon as the baby was born, two of the nurses took it from the mother, and the third started to poke the fire, making a hole in it. The child was laid down into the hole in the middle of the fire, and, to the wailing of the mother, was covered up with live coals.
The baby wasn't yet fully burned, when in came a man and a woman; the woman was carrying a baby in her arms. She handed it to the sick woman, who had just given birth to the other baby. The baby began to drink at the woman's breast. It was a baby from the human world whom the fairies had taken in order that the woman would suckle it--that's the way they abduct children. The other baby was roasting away all this time, until it was burned to ashes. They lifted up the remains and they fell apart like ashes. There was a very large trough, as big as a vat, by the sides of the wall near the exit-door. They sprinkled some of the ashes of the baby on the water in the trough; it was full to the brim...
(click on the link below to read the rest of the story)
•••••
This rest of this story may be found at Fairy Stories and Anecdotes:
http://www.faerylands.org/faerie/Story/
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B2) Fishing with Little Green Frogs by Chuck Larkin
[Traditional Story. These Fish Stories are collected and adapted for telling by Bluegrass Storyteller, Chuck Larkin. Permission to use, revise and tell the stories from this manuscript is granted to the storytelling public.]
Story:
This is a true story. In 1989 I was backpacking up near the headwaters of the Chattahoochee river. When backpacking, I carry a small, fold up fishing pole and reel. After I had finished setting up my tent, I walked down to the river to fish. Sitting on the bank was an old mountain man with a long string of trout fish he had caught. I walked over and in my best non-city accent I said, “Hoo wee, that’s sure one fine mess of fish.” “Why thank ye young feller. I use little green frogs for bait. Here watch, see how I tie the hook to one leg? I do not stick no hook through the frog, no siree. After tying the hook to one leg I loop the fishing line and tie the line to the other leg. That a way, the frog is hobbled like a prisoner and can’t swim fast. That’s my way of fishing. Would you like to try? Here’s a little green frog.” “Yes sir! Thank you very much.” I almost lost my accent I was that surprised.
We introduced ourselves. His name was Lightning Giles. Lightning, he related later after we talked for a bit, was his nickname. He handed me this little green frog. Well, I went down stream to fish, far enough so I would not disturb his fishing. I tied that frog on my hook just like he had showed me. I cast over toward the far bank. The river is not very wide that far into the mountains. I had just started slowly reeling that frog in when I noticed a ripple in the water over against some reeds on the left. The ripple was moving toward the frog. I thought wow! This is my lucky day! Here comes a fish. Then I saw that it was not a fish making that ripple in the water but a poisonous cotton mouth water moccasin snake. I quickly started reeling in my little green frog as fast as I could with that snake gaining on him. Just as I pulled my little green frog out of the water that snake reached up and grabbed hold of his hind quarters and he would not let go.
There I stood, leaning over, holding that teeny, tiny, little, peewee, pocket-sized, 18-inch fishing pole, stretching out as far as I could, jiggling that pole, trying to shake that poisonous cotton mouth water moccasin snake loose. I will tell you the truth. I do not care much for snakes. I could maybe like them a little bit, if they had legs, but they don’t. Luckily, I had some mosquito repellent with me. The kind you take a swallow of and as you cough you blow obnoxious fumes around to get rid of the mosquitoes. We call it Black Jack Daniel’s Mosquito Repellent. Well, I flat out tossed in a mouthful with my free hand. Leaning down, I lined her up and blew a mouthful of that Black Jack Daniel’s Mosquito Repellent straight into that snake’s mouth. Ha wee, she sure enough spit out my little green frog, spun around on her tail and dove down, out of sight, I guessed she needed a water chaser.
That was an interesting experience. Well, anyway, what I wanted to tell you about was this. On the second cast I caught an enormous 5 pound, 4 ounce, wild native mountain trout fish. I missed the World’s record by 1.8 ounces. I was excited because at the time I knew I was close to a record catch. I was unhooking that trout fish when I felt a bump, bump, bump on my ankle. I looked down and there was that poisonous, cotton mouth, water moccasin snake at my feet. She was holding two little green frogs in her mouth. She wanted to trade up for some more of that Black Jack Daniel’s’ Mosquito Repellent. I had never bartered with a snake. I took a good sized mouthful, leaned over and blew two driblets into her mouth. That was just what she wanted. She set the two little green frogs down, already hog-tied with vines so they couldn’t get away. The snake reared up on her tail and she licked me right on the lips. Now don’t be surprised. If you use enough of that mosquito repellent you too can kiss a snake.
Well, she and I fished the rest of the day. That venomous, reptilian, cotton mouth, water moccasin snake, what could I do? I started calling her Wiggly Sidney. I do not know why, other then I always did prefer to be on a firstst name basis with fishing partners. Wiggly Sidney snared and supplied the trussed up bait in exchange for the mosquito repellent. I went back to camp about dusk with a fine mess of cleaned and flayed fresh fish for supper and they tasted just like chicken. Not the big one I caught firstst. I had him mounted. If you come by my place, you can see him on the wall. Next to a picture I took of Wiggly Sidney swimming in with a couple of little green frogs tied to seven inch leashes. She’s swimming and there dangling one on each side of her mouth. I wish I had a picture of Wiggly Sidney trying to swim home that day. That poor old snake was lurching and straining to swim home sideways as drunk as a skunk. If I hadn’t of been there to see it with my own two eyes I would never have believed what I saw that day, but I was there. Friends have asked how I knew she was a lady snake. Well that’s easy I only kiss ladies.
•••••
This funny story and many more may be found at the late Chuck Larkin's website:
http://www.Chucklarkin.com/stories.html
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B3) The Frog Princess
[This story was extracted from the Project Gutenburg e-text of "The Violet Fairy Book", edited by Andrew Lang -- from the Italian.]
Excerpt:
Once upon a time there was a woman who had three sons. Though they were peasants they were well off, for the soil on which they lived was fruitful, and yielded rich crops. One day they all three told their mother they meant to get married. To which their mother replied: 'Do as you like, but see that you choose good housewives, who will look carefully after your affairs; and, to make certain of this, take with you these three skeins of flax, and give it to them to spin. Whoever spins the best will be my favourite daughter-in-law.'
Now the two eldest sons had already chosen their wives; so they took the flax from their mother, and carried it off with them, to have it spun as she had said. But the youngest son was puzzled what to do with his skein, as he knew no girl (never having spoken to any) to whom he could give it to be spun. He wandered hither and thither, asking the girls that he met if they would undertake the task for him, but at the sight of the flax they laughed in his face and mocked at him. Then in despair he left their villages, and went out into the country, and, seating himself on the bank of a pond began to cry bitterly.
Suddenly there was a noise close beside him, and a frog jumped out of the water on to the bank and asked him why he was crying. The youth told her of his trouble, and how his brothers would bring home linen spun for them by their promised wives, but that no one would spin his thread.
Then the frog answered: 'Do not weep on that account; give me the thread, and I will spin it for you.' And, having said this, she took it out of his hand, and flopped back into the water, and the youth went back, not knowing what would happen next.
In a short time the two elder brothers came home, and their mother asked to see the linen which had been woven out of the skeins of flax she had given them. They all three left the room; and in a few minutes the two eldest returned, bringing with them the linen that had been spun by their chosen wives. But the youngest brother was greatly troubled, for he had nothing to show for the skein of flax that had been given to him. Sadly he betook himself to the pond, and sitting down on the bank, began to weep.
Flop! and the frog appeared out of the water close beside him.
'Take this,' she said; 'here is the linen that I have spun for you.'
You may imagine how delighted the youth was. She put the linen into his hands, and he took it straight back to his mother, who was so pleased with it that she declared she had never seen linen so beautifully spun, and that it was far finer and whiter than the webs that the two elder brothers had brought home.
Then she turned to her sons and said: 'But this is not enough, my sons, I must have another proof as to what sort of wives you have chosen. In the house there are three puppies. Each of you take one, and give it to the woman whom you mean to bring home as your wife. She must train it and bring it up. Whichever dog turns out the best, its mistress will be my favourite daughter-in-law.'
So the young men set out on their different ways, each taking a puppy with him. The youngest, not knowing where to go, returned to the pond, sat down once more on the bank, and began to weep.
Flop! and close beside him, he saw the frog. 'Why are you weeping?' she said. Then he told her his difficulty, and that he did not know to whom he should take the puppy.
'Give it to me,' she said, 'and I will bring it up for you.' And, seeing that the youth hesitated, she took the little creature out of his arms, and disappeared with it into the pond....
(click below to read the rest of the story)
•••••
The rest of the story may be found at:
http://www.frogsonice.com/froggy/tales/frogprincess1.shtml
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B4) The Toad Princess
[from Grimm's]
Excerpt:
There was once upon a time a king who had three sons, of whom two were clever and wise, but the third did not speak much, and was simple, and was called the simpleton. When the king had become old and weak, and was thinking of his end, he did not know which of his sons should inherit the kingdom after him. Then he said to them, go forth, and he who brings me the most beautiful carpet shall be kingafter my death.
And that there should be no dispute amongst them, he took them outside his castle, blew three feathers in the air, and said, you shall go as they fly. One feather flew to the east, the other to the west, but the third flew straight up and did not fly far, but soon fell to the ground.
And now one brother went to the right, and the other to the left, and they mocked simpleton, who was forced to stay where the third feather had fallen. He sat down and was sad. Then all at once he saw that there was a trap-door close by the feather. He raised it up, found some steps, and went down them. Then he came to another door, knocked at it, and heard somebody inside calling -
little green waiting-maid,
waiting-maid with the limping leg,
little dog of the limping leg,
hop hither and thither,
and quickly see who is without.
The door opened, and he saw a great, fat toad sitting, and round about her a crowd of little toads. The fat toad asked what he wanted. He answered, I should like to have the prettiest and finest carpet in the world. Then she called a young one and said -
little green waiting-maid,
waiting-maid with the limping leg,
little dog of the limping leg,
hop hither and thither,
and bring me the great box.
The young toad brought the box, and the fat toad opened it, and gave simpleton a carpet out of it, so beautiful and so fine, that on the earth above, none could have been woven like it. Then he thanked her, and climbed out again.
The two others, however, had looked on their youngest brother as so stupid that they believed he would find and bring nothing at all. Why should we give ourselves a great deal of trouble searching, said they, and got some coarse handkerchiefs from the first shepherds' wives whom they met, and carried them home to the king....
(click below to read the rest of the story)
•••••
The rest of the story may be found at:
http://www.frogsonice.com/froggy/tales/toadprincess.shtml
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B5) The Frog Maiden (from Burma)
[Source: Maung Htin Aung, Burmese Folk-Tales (Calcutta: Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press, 1948), pp. 70-74. No copyright notice. This story combines elements of type 510 (Cinderella) with type 402 (the animal bride).]
Excerpt:
An old couple was childless, and the husband and the wife longed for a child. So when the wife found that she was with child, they were overjoyed; but to their great disappointment, the wife gave birth not to a human child, but to a little she-frog. However, as the little frog spoke and behaved as a human child, not only the parents but also the neighbors came to love her and called her affectionately "Little Miss Frog."
Some years later the woman died, and the man decided to marry again. The woman he chose was a widow with two ugly daughters, and they were very jealous of Little Miss Frog's popularity with the neighbors. All three took a delight in ill-treating Little Miss Frog.
One day the youngest of the king's four sons announced that he would perform the hair-washing ceremony on a certain date, and he invited all young ladies to join in the ceremony, as he would choose at the end of the ceremony one of them to be his princess.
On the morning of the appointed day the two ugly sisters dressed themselves in fine raiment, and with great hopes of being chosen by the prince they started for the palace.
Little Miss Frog ran after them, and pleaded, "Sisters, please let me come with you."
The sisters laughed and said mockingly, "What, the little frog wants to come? The invitation is to young ladies and not to young frogs."
Little Miss Frog walked along with them towards the palace, pleading for permission to come. But the sisters were adamant, and so at the palace gates she was left behind. However, she spoke so sweetly to the guards that they allowed her to go in. Little Miss Frog found hundreds of young ladies gathered round the pool full of lilies in the palace grounds. And she took her place among them and waited for the prince.
The prince now appeared, and washed his hair in the pool. The ladies also let down their hair and joined in the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the prince declared that as the ladies were all beautiful, he did not know whom to choose and so he would throw a posy of jasmines into the air; and the lady on whose head the posy fell would be his princess. The prince then threw the posy into the air, and all the ladies present looked up expectantly.
The posy, however, fell on Little Miss Frog's head, to the great annoyance of the ladies, especially the two stepsisters. The prince also was disappointed, but he felt that he should keep his word. So Little Miss Frog was married to the prince, and she became Little Princess Frog.
Some time later, the old king called his four sons to him and said, "My sons, I am now too old to rule the country, and I want to retire to the forest and become a hermit. So I must appoint one of you as my successor. As I love you all alike, I will give you a task to perform, and he who performs it successfully shall be king in my place. The task is, bring me a golden deer at sunrise on the seventh day from now."...
(click below to read the rest of the story)
•••••
The rest of the story may be found at:
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0402.html#aung
For other versions of the three tales above, including those below, go to:
http://www.frogsonice.com/froggy/tales/frogprincess1.shtml
* The Frog Princess, at Tales of Wonder -- a Russian version
http://www.darsie.net/talesofwonder/fp.html
* The Enchanted Toad, at Tales of Wonder -- a Scandinavian version
http://www.darsie.net/talesofwonder/ench_toad.html
* The Frog's Skin, a version from Georgia (Russia)
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0402.html#wardrop
* The Frog's Bridegroom, a German version
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0402.html#jungbauer
* The Frog, a version from Austria/Italy
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0402.html#schneller
* The Tsarevna Frog, another Russian version
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ftr/chap01.htm
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B6) Mr. Bear Catches Old Mr. Bull-Frog - an Uncle Remus tale
Excerpt:
"WELL, Uncle Remus," said the little boy, counting to see if he hadn't lost a marble somewhere, "the Bear didn't catch the Rabbit after all, did he?"
"Now you talkin', honey," replied the old man, his earnest face breaking up into little eddies of smiles- now you talkin' sho. 'Tain't bin proned inter no Brer B'ar fer ter kotch Brer Rabbit. Hit sorter like settin' a mule fer ter trap a hummin'-bird. But Brer B'ar, he tuck'n got hisse'f inter some mo' trubble, w'ich it look like it mighty easy. Ef folks could make der livin' longer gittin' inter trubble," continued the old man, looking curiously at the little boy, "ole Miss Favers wouldn't be bodder'n yo' ma fer ter borry a cup full er sugar eve'y now en den; en it look like ter me dat I knows a nigger dat wouldn't be squattin' 'roun' yer makin' dese yer fish-baskits."
"How did the Bear get into more trouble, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"Natchul, honey. Brer B'ar, he tuck a notion dat ole Brer Bull-frog wuz de man w'at fool 'im, en he say dat he'd come up wid 'im ef 'twuz a year atterwuds. But 'twan't no year, an 'twan't no mont', en mo'n dat, hit wan't skasely a week, w'en bimeby one day Brer B'ar wuz gwine home fum de takin' un a bee-tree, en lo en beholes, who should he see but ole Brer Bull-frog settin' out on de aidge er de mud-muddle fas' 'sleep! Brer B'ar drap his axe, he did, en crope up, en retch out wid his paw, en scoop ole Brer Bull-frog in des dis away." Here the old man used his hand ladle-fashion, by way of illustration. "He scoop 'im in, en dar he wuz. W'en Brer B'ar got his dampers on 'im good, he sot down en talk at 'im.
"'Howdy, Brer Bull-frog, howdy! En how yo fambly? I hope deyer well, Brer Bull-frog, kaze dis day you got some bizness wid me w'at'll las' you a mighty long time.'
"Brer Bull-frog, he dunner w'at ter say. He dunner wat's up, en he don't say nuthin'. Ole Brer B'ar he keep runnin' on:
"'Youer de man w'at tuck en fool me 'bout Brer Rabbit t'er day. You had yo' fun, Brer Bull-frog, en now I'll git mine.'
"Den Brer Bull-frog, he gin ter git skeerd, he did, en he up'n say:
"'W'at I bin doin', Brer B'ar? How I bin foolin' you?'...
(click below to read the rest of the story)
•••••
The rest of this story and more Uncle Remus tales may be found at:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/Harris2/ch24.html
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B7) Mr. Fox and the Deceitful Frogs - an Uncle Remus tale
Story:
When the little boy ran in to see Uncle Remus the night after he had told him of the awful fate of Brer Wolf, the only response to his greeting was:
"I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!"
No explanation could convey an adequate idea of the intonation and pronunciation which Uncle Remus brought to bear upon this wonderful word. Those who can recall to mind the peculiar gurgling, jerking, liquid sound made by pouring water from a large jug, or the sound produced by throwing several stones in rapid succession into a pond of deep water, may be able to form a very faint idea of the sound, but it can not be reproduced in print. The little boy was astonished.
"What did you Say, Uncle Remus?"
"I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker! I-doom-er-ker-kum mer-ker!"
"What is that?"
"Dat's Tarrypin talk, dat is. Bless yo' soul, honey," continued the old man, brightening up, "w'en you git ole ez me-w'en you see w'at I sees, en year w'at I years-de creeturs dat you can't talk wid 'llbe mighty skase-dey will dat. W'y, ders er old gray rat w'at uses 'bout yer, en time atter time he comes out w'en you all done gone ter bed en sets up dar in de cornder en dozes, en me en him talks by de 'our; en w'at dat old rat dunno ain't down in de spellin' book. Des now, w'en you run in and broke me up, I wuz fetchin'into my mine w'at Brer Tarrypin say ter Brer Fox w'en he turn 'im loose in de branch."
"What did he say, Uncle Remus?"
"Dat w'at he said-I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker! Brer Tarrypin wuz at de bottom er de pon', en he talk back, he did, in bubbles-I- doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker! Brer Fox, he ain't sayin' nuthin', but Brer Bull-Frog, settin' on de bank, he hear Brer Tarrypin, he did, en he holler back:
"Jug-er-rum-kum-dum! Jug-er-rum-kum-dum!'
"Den n'er Frog holler out:
"'Knee-deep! Knee-deep!'
"Den ole Brer Bull-Frog, he holler back:
"'Don'-you-ber-lieve-'im! Don't-you-berliev-'im!'
"Den de bubbles come up fum Brer Tarrypin:
"'I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!'
"Den n'er Frog sing out:
"'Wade in! Wade in!'
"Den ole Brer Bull-Frog talk thoo his ho'seness:
"'Dar-you'll-fine-yo'-brudder! Dar-you'll-fine-yo'-brudder!'
"Sho nuff, Brer Fox look over de bank, he did, en dar wuz n'er Fox lookin' at 'im outen de water. Den he retch out fer ter shake han's, en in he went, heels over head, en Brer Tarrypin bubble out:
"'I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!'
"Was the Fox drowned, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"He weren't zackly drowndid, honey," replied the old man, With an air of cautious reserve. "He did manage fer ter scramble out, but a little mo' en de Mud Turkle would er got 'im, en den he'd er bin made hash un worril widout een'."
•••••
This story and more Uncle Remus tales may be found at:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG97/remus/contents.html
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/Harris2/ch14.html
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B8) Why Frog and Snake Don't Ever Play Together Anymore - as retold by Linda Spitzer © 2003
Bones:
One day in the deep forest frog child said “Mom, I'm going out to play” .
”Okay, frog child, but you be home by lunch.”
“Oh, I will," said frog child, and out he hopped into the bush.
Across the forest lived snake child.
He said, “Mom, I'm going out to play, OK?
“ Sure but snake child, be sure to be home by lunchtime.”
Oh, I will, you can bet on it and out slithered snake child.
Snake child liked to lie in the sun and found a nice hot sunny place and just lay there like a brightly colored striped ribbon. Out of the forest hopped frog child and he saw something lying across the path that he had never seen before. Curiously he asked, “Well who are you, I've never seen you before?”
“My name is snake child. Who are you, I've never seen you before either."
"My name is frog child. Say, are you playing with anyone today?"
"No, I'm just lying here soaking up some rays. Would you like to play with me today?"
"Sure, said frog child.What shall we play”
“What was that you were doing when you came up the path?”
“Oh, that was hopping; it wasn't playing."
"Well, it sure looks like fun. Can you teach me how?"
"Sure, all you have to do is hop on your hind legs."
"Oh, oh, there's gonna be a problem."
"What's the problem?" asked frog child
"I don't have hind legs; in fact, I don't have any legs at all."
"Oh, then just try to push off from the ground on your tail. Will that work for you?"
"Yup, here I go, boing boing boing. Let's go hopping together."
And so frog child and snake child hopped around the path.
"That was fun, snake child.But if you don't hop, what do you do?"
"Oh me, I slither."
Frog child asked, “Well, can you teach me how to slither?”
"Sure, just flatten your legs and glide on your belly."
"Like this?" slither slither slither.
"Yup, that's it. Let's go."
And they slithered all around the path.Then they slithered up trees and down trees.
Then they started hopping again, and they were laughing and having so much fun hopping and slithering.
“Whew”said snake child,” I'm getting tired and thirsty. We better rest."
"Yeah," said frog child. "That was so much fun. Say, snake child, do you go to school?"
"Yeah," said snake child "I go to school. I'm learning my colors and my ABC's."
“Me too," said frog child, "and I'm learning to read a little and add two plus two.”
"Me too," said snake child. "Oh frog child, you're just like me. We like the same things and I had such a good time playing today. You're my best friend."
"Yeah," said frog child, "and you're my best friend, too. Would you like to play with me again tomorrow?"
"Oh," said snake child, "that would be wo-o-onderful. But I gotta go home now for lunch."
"Me too," said frog child. "But I'll see you tomorrow, best friend.”
"Yeah," said snake child, "see you tomorrow, best friend."
Just to be funny, frog child slithered home.
Frog child's mother was at the door. “Hi frog child. What is that disgusting thing you are doing?"
Frog child said, “Oh, Mom, this is called slithering. I made a new best friend and he taught me how to slither.”
"Frog child," said his mom, who is your new best friend?"
“His name is snake child”
“SNAKE CHILD!!!! Oh no, didn't your father and I ever tell you that you must NEVER play with snakes. They have poison in their big teeth called fangs. All snakes want to do is eat you."
"Oh no, Mom," said frog child, "he didn't want to eat me, he wanted to play with me."
"Trust me," said his mother, next time you see that snake, you hop away as fast as you can. That snake just wants to eat you."
"No, Mom, you're wrong; he was my best friend, He would never eat me."
His mother said sternly, "Frog child, go to your room. I don't want you ever to play with that snake again. To him, you're lunch or dinner."
"Ye-e-es, Mom," frog child said sadly.
Just to be cute, snake child hopped home. "Hi, Mom, I'm home. I had the most wonderful time today."
“Snake child, what is that disgusting thing you are doing? Is that hopping?"
"Yeah, I had a new best friend today and he taught me how."
"Snake child, what was your new best friend's name?"
“His name was frog child.”
“Oh my stars, didn't we ever tell you? Snakess and frogs have always been enemies, for thousands of years. We don't play with frogs, WE EAT THEM, is that clear. Next time you see that frog, eat him!!!"
"I can't do that, he's my best friend."
"I said EAT HIM, and that's the end of this discussion."
The next day frog child and snake child both told their parents that they were going out to play. "'Bye, Mom," said snake child. "'Bye, Mom," said frog-child. And they reached the forest and there was snake child ahead of frog child. First thing, frog child backed up like his mom told him to do. And snake child started to slither up to frog with his mouth open and his fangs showing.
But then he backed off.
"Hi, snake child. I can't play with you any more.”
“Same here, frog child. I can't play with you either."
"But you're still my best friend."
"And you're still my best friend."
And frog child and snake child never played together again. But they came every day to that same path, frog child on one side, snake child on the other. And they talked about all sorts of things. Because they were best friends. And they always remembered the WONDERFUL day they had playing with each other.
•••••
Contributed by
Linda Spitzer
Storyteller in Lake Worth, Florida
Just for the Tell of it
Floridastorygal@aol.com
http://www.storyqueen.com
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B9) How Rabbit Fooled the Frogs
[Adapted and retold by Linda Spitzer, inspired by Jackie Torrence and Ed Stivender (©2005). You'll have a lot of fun learning your best frog voices, big and little.]
Story:
Every day Brer Raccoon would go down to the pond near where he lived with his wife and seven children. He would go catch frogs for them to eat.Then Mrs. Raccoon would make Frog Friccasee, Frog Lasagna, Frog Parmesan, Grilled Frogs Legs, you name it ---for her family to eat.
But the frogs got real smart. They didn't want to be caught, so they put one of the smaller frogs out on the road that Brer Raccoon traveled, and as soon as this little frog saw Brer Raccoon he would say, “Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes.”
This would then be echoed by the biggest frog in the pond (use deeper voice) “Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes (if you can swallow when you say it it sounds more like frog-talk).
All the frogs would jump off their lily pads into the water and then Brer Racoon couldn't see them to catch (you can express the emotions)
Day after day this was happening and Mrs. Racoon finally said, “Brer Raccoon, your children and I are starving. I used up all the frogs in the freezer, all the leftovers. You have GOT to go catch some frogs, or DON'T even bother coming home tonight."
Brer Racoon went out and sat himself down on a tree stump and thought and thought ---but he couldn't think of anything he could do to outwit those smart little frogs. Who should come by but his bestest friend in the whole wide world, and who do you think it was? Well I'll tell you, It was Brer Rabbit.
“Whatcha' thinkin' about, Brer Raccoon?” asked Brer Rabbit.
“It's those frogs.They 've gotten so smart, I can't catch 'em and Miz Raccoon is mighty unhappy with me. You got any ideas?”
"Well now, let me think on it a minute here. I got it, I got it, here's what I want you to do." And Brer Rabbit whispered the secret plan into Brer Racoon's ear.
“You want me to do that?”screamed Brer Raccoon.
“Yes I do” said Brer Rabbit. “Now grab your sack and go down to the pond.”
“OK if you say this'll work, I'll try it.”
Brer Raccoon goes down to pond. Little frog starts up warning of three times “Here he comes” followed by big frog three times “Here he comes." The frogs all jump in water. But their eyes are peeping out of the water watching Brer Raccoon. Brer Raccoon spins around three times, whites of his eyes roll back into his head, and he appears to fall down dead.(You can ham this up!)
The frogs are real curious as to what's happening. Even flies land on raccoon, but he doesn't move a muscle.
Brer Rabbit hops out of the woods. He sees Brer Raccoon flat on his back with all four paws straight up in the air. He appears to be dead. Brer Rabbit starts crying, wailing really loud.
The frogs are curious and the big frog pops his head out and says “ What's the matter?" (three times)
“Oh, my best friend in the whole wide world has died. I'm so sad, I can't stand to bury him.”
Big frog asks (swallow and do frog talk every time) "Can we help, Can we help, Can we help” and the little frogs ask (use smaller voice) "Can we help?"(x3)
Brer Rabbit says, “You sure can help bury him, but you got to come out of the water.”
All the frogs hop out. They're not afraid of Brer Rabbit. Why" you may ask. Because rabbits don't eat frogs. The big and little frogs start digging with their webby feet. Hot day. Big frog asks, "Is it deep enuf?" (three times) Little frogs pipe up "Is is deep enuf?" (three times higher voice)
Brer Rabbit asks, "Can you jump out of the hole?" Big frog tries to jump out of hole and he can. "Yes, we can." (say three times)
Little frogs repeat (little voice) "Yes, we can, Yes, we can, Yes, we can."
"Then it's not deep enough," says Brer Rabbit. "Keep on digging." (say in very mournful voice, almost crying)
Those frogs dig, dig dig, dig, dig. It's a very hot day. Big frog all sweaty asks once again, "Is it deep enough? (x3) and the little frogs ask "Is it deep enough?" (x3) and rabbit once again asks, "Can you jump out of the hole?" (Again do the frog.) "Yes we can." (three times in big voice and three times in small voice) Brer Rabbit cries again and says, "He's a really big raccoon. I guess you better keep on a diggin'."
Big frogs and little frogs dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, and big frog slowly says, "IS IT DEEEEP Enuf?" (x3 and sound exasperated and tired) Little frogs say? Is it deep eunf? (x3)
Brer Rabbit then mournfully asks, "Can you jump out of the hole?" Big frog tries and he can't. Little frogs try and they can't.
Big frog says, "No, we can't; no, we can't; no, we can't." And the little frogs repeat, "No, we can't; no, we can't; no, we can't."
"Good," says Brer Rabbit. "Brer Rcoon, get your sack and jump in the hole.Your frog dinner is waiting for ya.”
Brer
Racoon jumps in and pick pick pick pick pick, he just picks up all those frogs and flings them in his sack and takes them on home.
Mrs. Raccoon is de--light--ed. She takes some frogs out for dinner and freezes the rest. That night she made Frog steak and frog stew, French Frogs and frog muffins too, and do you know what they had for dessert? They had---do do da doo ta dooooo (like race horse is starting) Frog ice cream ( you will get an ooohh and say the ooooh along with the kids.
•••••
Contributed by
Linda Spitzer
Storyteller in Lake Worth, Florida
Just for the Tell of it
Floridastorygal@aol.com
http://www.storyqueen.com
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B10) The Frog Who Became an Emperor - a folktale from China (Chuang)
[Source: Folk Tales from China, third series (Peking: Foreign Languages Press, 1958), pp. 74-82. No copyright notice. Slightly abridged.]
Excerpt:
Once upon a time there lived a very poor couple. A baby was on the way when the husband was forced to leave his home to find a living somewhere far away. Before he left, he embraced his wife fondly and gave her the last few silver pieces he had, saying, "When the child is born, be it a boy or a girl, you must do all you can to bring it up. You and I are so poor that there is no hope for us now. But our child may be able to help us find a living."
Three months after her husband's departure, the wife gave birth. The baby was neither a boy nor a little girl, but a frog!
The poor mother was heart-broken, and wept bitterly. "Ah, an animal, not a child!" she cried. "Our hopes for someone to care for us in our old age are gone! How can I ever face people again!" She thought at first she would do away with him, but she did not have the heart to do so. She wanted to bring him up, but was afraid of what the neighbors would say.
As she brooded over the matter, she remembered her husband's words before he went away, and she decided not to kill the child but always keep him hidden under the bed. In this way, no one knew she had given birth to a frog-child. But within two months, the frog-child had grown so big that he could no longer be kept under the bed. And one day, he suddenly spoke in a human voice.
"Mother," he said, "my father is coming back tonight. I am going to wait for him beside the road." And sure enough, the husband did come home that very night.
"Have you seen your son?" the wife asked anxiously.
"Where? Where is my son?"
"He was waiting for you by the side of the road. Didn't you see him?"
"No! I saw no sign of anyone," her husband answered, surprised. "All I saw was an awful frog which gave me such a fright."
"That frog was your son," said the wife unhappily.
When the husband heard that his wife had given birth to a frog, he was grieved. "Why did you tell him to meet me?" he said.
"What do you mean, tell him to meet you? He went without any telling from me. He suddenly said you were coming tonight and went out to meet you."
"This is really extraordinary," thought the husband, brightening up. "No one knew I was coming. How could he have known?"
"Call him home, quickly," he said aloud. "He might catch cold outside."
Just as the mother opened the door to do so, the frog came in. He hopped over to his father, who asked him, "Was it you I met on the road?"
"Yes," said the frog. "I was waiting for you, Father."
"How did you know I was coming back tonight?"
"I know everything under heaven."
The father and mother were amazed by his words and more amazed when he went on.
"Our country is in great peril," he said solemnly. "We are unable to resist the invaders. I want Father to take me to the emperor, for I must save our country."...
(click below for the rest of the story)
•••••
The rest of this story and other frog stories may be found at:
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#links
Other stories are:
1. The Frog King; or, Iron Heinrich. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Germany.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#grimm1
2. The Frog Prince. The first English translation of the above tale. Edgar Taylor, the translator, not only changed the title, but altered the ending in a substantial and interesting manner.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#taylor
3. The Frog Prince. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Germany.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#grimm2
4. The Enchanted Frog. Carl and Theodor Colshorn, Germany.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#colshorn
5. The Queen Who Sought a Drink from a Certain Well. J. F. Campbell, Scotland.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#campbell
6. The Maiden and the Frog. James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, England.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#phillipps
7. The Frog Prince. H. Parker, Sri Lanka.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#parker
8. The Toad Bridegroom. Zong In-Sob, Korea.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#zong
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B11) The Frog Maiden (a folktale from Burma)
[Source: Maung Htin Aung, Burmese Folk-Tales (Calcutta: Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press, 1948), pp. 70-74. No copyright notice. This story combines elements of type 510 (Cinderella) with type 402 (the animal bride). D.L. Ashliman.]
Story:
An old couple was childless, and the husband and the wife longed for a child. So when the wife found that she was with child, they were overjoyed; but to their great disappointment, the wife gave birth not to a human child, but to a little she-frog. However, as the little frog spoke and behaved as a human child, not only the parents but also the neighbors came to love her and called her affectionately "Little Miss Frog."
Some years later the woman died, and the man decided to marry again. The woman he chose was a widow with two ugly daughters, and they were very jealous of Little Miss Frog's popularity with the neighbors. All three took a delight in ill-treating Little Miss Frog.
One day the youngest of the king's four sons announced that he would perform the hair-washing ceremony on a certain date, and he invited all young ladies to join in the ceremony, as he would choose at the end of the ceremony one of them to be his princess.
On the morning of the appointed day the two ugly sisters dressed themselves in fine raiment, and with great hopes of being chosen by the prince they started for the palace.
Little Miss Frog ran after them, and pleaded, "Sisters, please let me come with you."
The sisters laughed and said mockingly, "What, the little frog wants to come? The invitation is to young ladies and not to young frogs."
Little Miss Frog walked along with them towards the palace, pleading for permission to come. But the sisters were adamant, and so at the palace gates she was left behind. However, she spoke so sweetly to the guards that they allowed her to go in. Little Miss Frog found hundreds of young ladies gathered round the pool full of lilies in the palace grounds. And she took her place among them and waited for the prince.
The prince now appeared, and washed his hair in the pool. The ladies also let down their hair and joined in the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the prince declared that as the ladies were all beautiful, he did not know whom to choose and so he would throw a posy of jasmines into the air; and the lady on whose head the posy fell would be his princess. The prince then threw the posy into the air, and all the ladies present looked up expectantly.
The posy, however, fell on Little Miss Frog's head, to the great annoyance of the ladies, especially the two stepsisters. The prince also was disappointed, but he felt that he should keep his word. So Little Miss Frog was married to the prince, and she became Little Princess Frog.
Some time later, the old king called his four sons to him and said, "My sons, I am now too old to rule the country, and I want to retire to the forest and become a hermit. So I must appoint one of you as my successor. As I love you all alike, I will give you a task to perform, and he who performs it successfully shall be king in my place. The task is, bring me a golden deer at sunrise on the seventh day from now."
The youngest prince went home to Little Princess Frog and told her about the task.
"What, only a golden deer!" exclaimed Princess Frog. "Eat as usual my prince, and on the appointed day I will give you the golden deer."
So the youngest prince stayed at home, while the three elder princes went into the forest in search of the deer.
On the seventh day before sunrise, Little Princess Frog woke up her husband and said, "Go to the palace, prince, and here is your golden deer."
The young prince looked, then rubbed his eyes, and looked again. There was no mistake about it; the deer which Little Princess Frog was holding by a lead was really of pure gold. So he went to the palace, and to the great annoyance of the elder princes who brought ordinary deers, he was declared to be the heir by the king.
The elder princes, however, pleaded for a second chance, and the king reluctantly agreed.
"Then perform this second task," said the king. "On the seventh day from now at sunrise, you must bring me the rice that never becomes stale, and meat that is ever fresh."
The youngest prince went home and told Princess Frog about the new task.
"Don't you worry, sweet prince," said Princess Frog. "Eat as usual, sleep as usual, and on the appointed day I will give you the rice and meat."
So the youngest prince stayed at home, while the three elder princes went in search of the rice and meat.
On the seventh day at sunrise, Little Princess Frog woke up her husband and said, "My lord, go to the palace now, and here is your rice and meat."
The youngest prince took the rice and meat, and went to the palace, and to the great annoyance of the elder princes who brought only well-cooked rice and meat, he was again declared to be the heir.
But the two elder princes again pleaded for one more chance, and the king said, "This is positively the last task. On the seventh day from now at sunrise, bring me the most beautiful woman on this earth."
"Ho, ho!" said the three elder princes to themselves in great joy. "Our wives are very beautiful, and we will bring them. One of us is sure to be declared heir, and our good-for-nothing brother will be nowhere this time."
The youngest prince overheard their remark, and felt sad, for his wife was a frog and ugly.
When he reached home, he said to his wife, "Dear princess, I must go and look for the most beautiful woman on this earth. My brothers will bring their wives, for they are really beautiful, but I will find someone who is more beautiful."
"Don't you fret, my prince," replied Princess Frog. "Eat as usual, sleep as usual, and you can take me to the palace on the appointed day. Surely I shall be declared to be the most beautiful woman."
The youngest prince looked at the princess in surprise; but he did not want to hurt her feelings, and he said gently, "All right, princess, I will take you with me on the appointed day."
On the seventh day at dawn, Little Princess Frog woke up the prince and said, "My lord, I must make myself beautiful. So please wait outside and call me when it is nearly time to go."
The prince left the room as requested. After some moments, the prince shouted from outside, "Princess, we must go now."
"All right, my lord," replied the princess. "Please open the door for me."
The prince thought to himself, "Perhaps, just as she was able to obtain the golden deer and the wonderful rice and meat, she is able to make herself beautiful," and he expectantly opened the door. But he was disappointed to see Little Princess Frog still a frog and as ugly as ever.
However, so as not to hurt her feelings, the prince said nothing and took her along to the palace. When the prince entered the audience chamber with his frog princess the three elder princes with their wives were already there.
The king looked at the prince in surprise and said, "Where is your beautiful maiden?"
"I will answer for the prince, my king," said the frog princess. "I am his beautiful maiden."
She then took off her frog skin and stood a beautiful maiden dressed in silk and satin. The king declared her to be the most beautiful maiden in the world, and selected the prince as his successor on the throne. The prince asked his princess never to put on the ugly frog skin again, and the frog princess, to accede to his request, threw the skin on the fire.
•••••
Source: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0402.html#fansler
(Updated 8/15/05)
