O
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nce 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.
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