JACOB

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 68, 11 June 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

JACOB

There was once a naughty little frog. He was a real bad little fellow for he never would do what his mother told him. One evening he was playing with his brothers in the long grass when his mother called from the pond: "Come to bed, boys!” Off hopped his two brothers immediately, but naughty little Jacob stayed behind. “Jacob,” called Mrs. Frog, “come to bed.” “I like jumping in the grass,” cried Jacob. “Come when you are called!” answered his mother. “It’s fun being naughty,” chuckled Jacob as he quickly hopped away. “That child is the bane of my existence!” sighed Mrs. Frog and went to tell her husband. It was growing dark very quickly, but Jacob did not notice that as he capered in the long, damp grass. Through the green blades he could see the stars and a new moon twinkling in the sky, and a wonderful sense of freedom possessed him. So pleased was he with his surroundings that he began to croak a little song he had learnt that day at school, but just as he came to the chorus he uttered a frightened croak and a long drawn out “Oh!” And well might he cry “Oh!” for a big fat duck had waddled up behind him and caught him by one leg. “Help! Help!” screamed poor Jacob, but there was only one little frog to hear him and she was too afraid to answer. However, she followed slowly in Mrs. Duck’s footsteps. “You’ll make a fine supper,” muttered Mrs. Duck as she waddled along. “Please let me go,” pleaded Jacob. “But you would stay out jumping in the grass,” said Mrs. Duck. “How very nice and fat you are.” “I’m fatter!” cried a small voice, and there right in front of her hopped the the brave little frog who had been following. “Why, so you are,” chuckled Mrs. Duck, and she opened her bill to pick her up instead, when, with a bound, the little frog was out of reach—and so was Jacob. “There goes my supper,” grumbled Mrs. Duck. And there it did go, for by the time she had recovered from her surprise the two frogs were safely in the pond.