CHAPTER XV. 



FROGGIES. 



" Frog. A small animal with four feet, living both by land and water, 

 and placed by naturalists among mixed animals, as partaking of beast and 

 fish." JOHNSON. 



" Amphibious. Adjective derived from two Greek words, Amphi a fish, 

 and bios a beast. An animal supposed by our ignorant ancestors to be 

 compounded of a fish and a beast ; which therefore, like the hippopotamus, 

 can't live on the land, and dies in the water." KINGSLEY. 



" WHAT can you have to tell us that is either interesting 

 or amusing, about frogs ? Nasty, cold, slimy reptiles ; I 

 can't understand how you can bring yourself to touch 

 them." 



My dear young friend, a frog isn't a reptile ; he isn't 

 nasty (I've eaten him and ought to know !) ; and if I do 

 not succeed in making him interesting that is certainly 

 my fault (or yours), not his. As to his not being amusing, 

 I do not think we need quarrel with him on that score. 

 Not every one has the gift of being a clown or funny 

 fellow. 



Have you ever made a friend of a frog ? You really 

 cannot find out how much good there may be in man or 

 beast until you enter into more or less friendly relations 

 with him. There are none so blind as those who won't 

 see. Have you ever made a friend of Froggie at any 



