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.
I hope you enjoyed reading The Two Frogs, if you did there are lots more Traditional stories you can read.
The website that is left below has many traditional stories :) ;0
I got this story off:
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/japan.html#twofrogs
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.
I hope you enjoyed reading The Two Frogs, if you did there are lots more Traditional stories you can read.
The website that is left below has many traditional stories :) ;0
I got this story off:
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/japan.html#twofrogs