The frogs o'Poolo

Front matter

In the Spring, when nights are cool, Come, hear the froggies’ singing school.

THE

OR

Table Of Contents

I The Frogs o’ Poolo II Barney Barnacle

III The Spi Spiders

IV Cheerful Chippie and Happy Chappie V The Ants of Antic

Part 1

ALLY WOG and Polly Wog were little brother and sister tadpoles! As they darted and wiggled about, they looked like tiny fishes, but in their little wog hearts, they knew they were going to be frogs, and they hoped it would be soon.

Said Wally Wog, “When we grow to full-size frogs, let’s put on the finest togs, and sit around on water-logs.”

And Polly Wog agreed with Wally, that it would be extremely jolly.

They lived alone in Pool-o-ette, which is a tiny little pool, only separated from Poolo by a log. On the bright sunny days, Polly and Wally swam round and round, frisked up and down, and wiggled back and forth thro’ Pool-o-ette.

’Twas very good of Mr. Sun to come and warm the water for their fun, but Mrs. Night they did not like, and when she came, they huddled close together in their little dark mud bed, and listened to the chorus over in Poolo singing “Peep! Peep! kind watch we’ll keep.” It cheered them so they always went to sleep.

On the dark chilly days, they did not frisk about, but missed the sun, and wished he would come out. And every day, they hoped the next would let them go to Poolo, but, altho’ they tried a hundred times, they could never get upon the log. “Oh!”said Wally, “if my front feetwould only grow!”

They did! They grew apace, in their proper place. One day Wally’s feet had grown so strong, he could climb upon the log, and as he sat there in the sun, he talked to Polly Wog.

“Oh! Polly dear.

Now that I’m here,

I feel so queer,

I think I must be in a fit!

Oh! how my little head does split!

My hind-er feet are coming out;

I hardly know what I’m about;

I’ve lost my tail, I don’t know where,

And furthermore, I do not care!

Now I’m standing on the log,

And I really feel just — like a frog!

I have four legs; I’m dressed in green;

I’m the handsomest frog that ever was seen!!!”

Polly was listening intently; with her mouth open wide, she drank in every word, and also, quite a little water. When Wally finished,

Polly was very melancholy. She could not get upon the log, and she could not see her Wally; all she could do was to utter wog sobs, nine or eleven to the minute. There was nothing minute about the sobs, however, and they soon grew into good-sized bawls.

Now Wally was feeling jolly, but when he heard Polly getting bawly, and even squally, he exclaimed, “What folly!” You see, now that Wally was a frog, he wanted to go immediately to Poolo and join the other frogs; it was a great disappointment to him to have to go back to Pool-o-ette and comfort his little baby sister. But, altho’ he was only a little boy frog, the kindness of his heart was great, so back to Polly Wog he went, and took her by the hand (foot), and led her to her little mud hall bedroom.

Then the sobs, and bawls, and squalls Away with the little wog woes, went,

And dear little sister Polly was content.

Night happened to come along, soon after, and found Polly full of wog laughter.

But Wally knew ’T would never do,

To let her know He’d planned to go,

So, all he said Was, — “Go to bed,”

And Polly went As soon as sent.

Then Wally tried to sing his little friend to sleep, — but all the tune he knew was peep! peep! peep!! — and> instead of singing her, he sang himself to sleep!

Polly was so excited at what happened to Wally, she could not shut her eyes. She wanted so much to catch up with him that she puzzled her little brain with all kinds of plans for making her feet grow.

Soon midnight came and with it, — “It,” — the ghost!!!

The wog ghost, floating silently and mysteriously thro’ the water, like the tail of a comet, or the tail of a wog in a fog.

Polly saw it and trembled with fright.

She struck a phosphorescent light, and wakened Wally who was not a bit afraid, but grabbed the ghost and held it tight, — and strange to say, it turned out to be the very caudal appendage he had cast away, that very day. Said Wally, —

“Now, Polly,

You must never be afraid Of any ghost whatever.

For, almost always, they are fog,

Or some other kind of weather;

Or, often trash that’s left around,

Like this old piece of Wog.

Take my advice, and go to sleep,

And grow to be a FROG!”

When the glorious crimson dawn of the bright new day had awakened the lively little breezes, they went to Pool-o-ette and made cunning ripples and tiny rainbows play upon the surface of the water. Polly opened her eyes, felt of her feet, found they were grown, opened her door softly so as not to arouse Wally, left her home, and climbed upon the log. She was still Polly Wog.

Then the log gave a jog And Polly lost her wog;

Then the log began to jiggle And she became a porwiggle;

Then the log got very jiggy Ah! now she was a purwiggy;

Then the log with a final jog Changed little Polly to a frog!

Wally now appeared upon the log, and the two stood up together and bowed a pretty froggy bow to say good bye to Pool-oette. Then they turned and bowed another bow which seemed to say, “Oh! Poolo, kindly welcome us to-day.” Old Poolo’s face was full of smiles and ripples, as the little new ones jumped into his breast. He took them to the swimming-school and introduced them to the rest, and put them in the Primer class to do their very best. Mr. Solomon Frog was the teacher and everything he wanted done, he showed them how to do. The class of jumping came at nine and how they hopped about!

Mr. Solomon was so spry, that when he jumped, he jumped so high, he nearly bumped against the sky, — and knocked a few stars out. Then all the class of little frogs skipped, and jumped, and hopped about. Wally did the best he could, which wasn’t extra, O. K. good.

The class in diving came at ten, — and then, — Mr. Solomon took a dive, — and such a dive ! I wonder he came up alive, but he did. All the class dove in pell mell. What Polly did, she couldn’t tell, but she liked it, — pretty well.

At eleven, came the swimming class. Poor little Wally stood aghast, for Mr. Solomon swam so fast, he left his body way behind, and went on swimming, in his mind!

At twelve, the school was over for the day, with nothing else to do, but eat and play. There were no cooks in Poolo, and no meals were served, so Polly and Wally had to hunt around and catch a dinner. There was one big boy frog, named All Agog, who had big, bulging eyes, and wore a buff and green jacket. He was very kind, and showed Wally and Polly the best fishing, (I mean lunching) places, and talked to them of the dangers lurking about.

“As long as you keep in Poolo,” he said, “you are safe. Of course you must not go to the very bottom of the pool, because of the Bull Frog, and you must not go near the bank, because of the Bull Dog. At singing school, you will be taught a tender and touching College song, as a reminder. Y ou can get upon the log if you look out for Gog and Magog. Don’t go over into the bog when the horrible dragon flies about.”

Polly and Wally thanked All Agog, and stayed in Poolo, playing leap-frog. But before long, Wally began to wish he knew how that bog looked, and he said to Polly, “When I was a Wog, I wanted to be a Frog. When I was in Pool-o-ette, I wanted to be in Poolo. Now that I’m here, I wish I was on that bog. Let’s go.” He went at once. What could Polly do but follow?

It was very pleasant on the bog, so brown and green, with here and there a bush, or flower. The little ones enjoyed it very much, hopping and looking at new and strange objedts. They played “hide and seek” under the wild vines, and paddled their feet in the puddles.

All at once a great stout stick, like the trunk of a tree, it seemed to them, planted itself very near. Wally looked up. “The branches are all at the top, I’m going to climb it.” “Come away,” said Polly, “maybe it’s one of those dangers All Ago g told about!” “ Pooh ! and pooh again ! ” said Wally. At that very instant, the top of the tree seemed to spread, and a great head on a long neck darted out, a stout bill opened, and Wally was caught by his left hind leg.

The tree proved to be the Quonk. It flapped its wings and flew away, bearing Wally to its nest, as a dinner for its little birds. Poor Polly sat upon the bog, and shed a tear or two. What else could she do?

Part III

Wally was in a sad plight, and he knew it. How he wished he had stayed in Poolo, or minded Polly! As he was carried along ly to fall. Something warned him to watch the feather. Soon the great bird dropped thro’ the air; the feather was out and dropping too, -it was coming nearer, nearer; it touched his nose; he grabbed it and shut his jaws very tight.

At the moment, he saw an ugly mouth below him, stretched open wide to swallow him. Down into the horrible mouth he went, but he clung to the feather which went in crosswise, and the young Quonk could not shut his bill together, or swallow. The creature got very angry and fumbled and tumbled about the nest, and at last, fell over the edge, head foremost. Wally and the feather were spilled into the mud.

Our hero lost no time, but left the feather and went right down to the bottom of the mud. He was so frightened, he would have gone on down, thro’ the earth to Australia, if the mud had been willing, but it was not. When Mud thought Wally had gone far enough, it squeezed him and held him tight. This was another plight, but a sight better plight than the other. Said Wally, “This is out of sight!” He was right.

Poor Polly, left alone,

Could only mope and moan,

But e’er an hour passed by.

She cried her eyes quite dry.

And felt a good deal better,

Altho’ she was much wetter;

But she wouldn’t let that fret her,

And started for her home.

As she had no idea which direction to take, she took them all. At the end of an hour, she had hopped a figure like this.

She could see her little tracks in the mud and she thought them very pretty, so she hopped another hour, and invented another figure which she admired more. She said, “I think they are very artistic, especially the last.

For a long time I have been hoping I should be a great artist some day, and now I’m hopping to be.”

She was so pleased and interested, that she never noticed she always came back to the starting point, and that night was coming on. She had just started on her third and prettiest hop when Night came up close and whispered in her ear, “Find Poolo quickly, for old Mrs. Howl Owl is out!”

Just then, way off in the distance, the chorus began to tune their voices and Polly knew where Poolo was. This time, she hopped a straight line. Darker and darker it grew, faster and faster she hopped, nearer and nearer sounded the chorus.

“I’m most home,” she cried, — but suddenly, right before her on the bank, loomed up the terrible figure of old Mrs. Howl Owl.

“Who? Who?” “I’m Polly, let me go by, please!” “Noo! Noo!” “I will go by,” said spunky Polly. “Hoo! Hoo!” laughed old Mrs. Howl Owl, in derision. But Polly was a determined little frog, and she meant to have her way and her say, and not to be hooted down by any owl or other fowl.

2 3

“You think you are so very wise Because you have such great big eyes, But the truth is, I surmise,

You’re nothing but a stupid bird, Your boasted wisdom is absurd.”

So saying, Polly hopped right by,

And never even winked an eye,

And Mrs. Owl was so surprised, —

To be so flouted at, thuswise.

She never stirred nor uttered word, Till Polly reached the pool,

And joined the swimming-school.

Then Mrs. Owl in haste arose,

And to a lonely tree she flew.

Then, with her claw, she scratched her nose.

And to herself she muttered, — “Whew! ! ”

Part I V

Meantime Wally was being hugged by Mud, and altho’ he squirmed and wiggled and thrashed around, he could not free himself. At last he said, “Please let me go?” Said Mud, “Why so?”

Then Wally told his story and Mud was so interested that he agreed to help Wally find his home. “Not on your account,” said Mud, “for I think you did wrong in the first place to entice your little sister into danger, but because I want to help her , I am now going to aid you to return. Promise me that you will find her, and lead her home?” And Wally promised solemnly. Then Mud said, “Just do exactly what I say, and you’ll be home this very day.”

Presently, a bony leg appeared in the mud. Wally was instructed to cling to it upside down; then he was plastered all over with mud, except one eye. Soon, the leg arose and Wally found he was being carried thro’ the air by the same Quonk, but safely this time because he was so well disguised.

With his unmuddy eye, he saw the sky and the earth pass by. He had a good frog’s-eye-view of a bird’s-eye-view of the view, and enjoyed it, too. He saw the sea, and by the sea, he saw a saw, and a sea-saw too. He saw the piney woods so green, and then, a tiny pond so blue.

At last, he saw the bog he knew.

But no Polly was in view.

And then Poolo came in sight, Just as it was growing night,

And Wally knew Just what to do,

And did it, too.

He dropped, mud and all into Poolo, and was washed and saved at the same time.

All were glad to see him. Mr. Solomon shook one hand, (front foot), and All Agog the other, — and Polly hugged him round the neck, and called him_

“darling brother”. It so happened that Polly had only reached home a few minutes before Wally, and Mr.

Solomon proposed that the assembled crowd should listen to the adventures of each.

Polly began, and her tale won much applause. Then Wally followed, but all agreed that Polly had been truly heroic, while Wally had been adventurous, but not chivalrous. When Mr. Solomon led poor little modest Polly around the place to receive the kind congratulations, she nearly fainted from shyness, — and when the chorus struck up “See the Conquering (S)Hero Comes,” little Polly “ kerflummuxed ! ”

They gave her mint to smell,

(And internally as well),

And soon she was restored,

But Wally was ignored.

The singing-school began.

The sopranos and the basses Took their respective places,

And wore expectant faces.

Then Signor Squall-the-Most Stood at the leader’s post,

He had no pitch to give them For sticking to the tune,

So each one took the time That he or she liked best.

And paid no heed whatever,

To any of the rest.

Now, Signor Squall-the-Most Had made a little boast,

That he could beat all time;

So, he waved his arms and hands,

And he shook his head and neck.

And he danced his legs and feet.

2 6

But the chorus sang so fast,

That they left him far behind,

So he relapsed, and then collapsed,

And had prostration of the mind.

They stopped their singing long enough to get him out of sight, And then they chose a substitute, to lead them for the night. Soon the scale was tried,

And “do” went very well,

But some got stuck on “re,”

And stayed there for a spell.

All were very fond of “mi,”

Why, I cannot tell;

Some could not go so far as “fa,”

Others put their souls in “sol,”

And no one wanted “la.”

But when they had climbed up that far,

’Twas easy to “si” “do!”

Then solos were called for, and Fair Fatima sang “Soft and low” very high and slow, and Fatty Puff sang “High! Ho!” very fast and low. Polly was much interested, and remarked, “How very strange it was, that a “Soft and low” solo should be so high, and a “High! Ho!” solo, so low.

The night was now far spent, and the final chorus beginning,— when — suddenly — tap — tap — tap — , someone knocked at Poolo’s door. All were still, and a chill of coming ill was in the air.

Said Mr. Solomon, “Who’s there?”

“I, Jack Frost,” said a crisp voice.

“What do you want?”

“Somebody to come out and be nipped.”

All shuddered, and All Agog exclaimed, “I call that pretty cool!”

“Well,” said Mr. Frost, “If no one comes out, I can congeal the whole pool, and give you all a dose of bitten noses and toeses, but if one of your number is heroic enongh to come out on the bank and tussle with me. I’ll let the rest of you alone.”

All the frogs of Poolo looked into each others faces, but there seemed to be no one ready to volunteer for such a deed.

No one? Ah! yes! — one Wally!!

’Twas a calm, still, beautiful, moonlit night. The landscape was hidden away in deep, soft shadows, fast asleep. No breezes swayed the trees, because the breezes were asleep. No noises of inserts or of beasts, or men, were heard in the land, for all were fast asleep. All Poolo, even, had gone to sleep, except Wally who was wide awake. Upon the bank he stood, and waited for Mr. Frost to put on his glittering armor. “ If I can only dodge about when he comes on,” said Wally to himself, “perhaps he cannot hit me very hard. He’s coming now! How his armor glistens in the moonlight! It must be silver! No, as I live, it’s ice, and his long plume is snow!! I think I’m getting scared! I think every hair on my head would rise, if I had any hair ! My back has chilly creeps, my knees are knocking together, — my heart is thumping, — my teeth are chattering, and I can hardly breathe!!!

He comes! Oh! He comes! Ah! I will meet him!”

So saying.

Wally rushed into the fight and struck at Mr. Frost with left and right, and kicked and jumped about, with all his might. But Mr. Frost grabbed Wally’s toe and held on tight. At the same time, he gave his nose a little bite. (It hurt poor Wally so, he nearly screamed outright). But our hero would not give up for any pain, and he just went for Mr. Frost again.

I know not what the end of this terrible fight might have shown, had not a strange thing happened in the nick of time. Polly had retired, but had not slept. Anxious fears for brother filled her little breast, so cautiously upon the bank she crept, and saw that Wally was hard pressed.

She snatched a passing moonbeam That was both sharp and bright.

And pressed it into Wally’s hand,

And cheered him to the fight.

Our hero gave his sister.

One brave and loving look,

Then raised aloft the moonbeam.

And deadly aim he took.

His armor tattered.

His head was battered,

His senses scattered.

As he lay upon the ground, nearly dead, Polly came to dress his wounds and said, — If you do get well, and I hope you will, — why don’t you do good, and never more do ill?”

Instead of nipping noses.

You ought to do your duty,

Think of all the window-panes You might decorate!

And, by taking little pains.

2 9

Make them quite ornate!

You could be-jewel all the grass,

And color maple trees, —

Oh! think of all the glorious tints That you could paint the leaves!

If you should need designs.

Or some artistic plans.

To carry out your work,

Til help you all I can.

For I am quite artistic.

And I could hop around,

And do some fine designs Upon the muddy ground.”

Jack Frost took Polly’s words to cherish in his heart, and just as soon as he got well, he played a better part.

Brave little Wally, go back to Poolo now. You must grow and grow, and some day, you may be Professor Wallace Frog, and teach the swimming-school.

And Polly, dear little Polly, you are such a spunky frog, — perhaps when you grow up, you will teach the singing-school, — or, if your talents turn another way, your card may read,—

Miss Mary Frog

ARTISTIC HOPPING

BARNEY BARNACLE

Out on the wide, wide sea, afloat, — On the bottom side of a big, big boat!

^JARNEY BARNACLE wanted to go to sea on the bottom of a vessel and see the Sea-lion and the Sea-bear and all the wonderful sea sights that his Uncle Buncle Barnacle had seen. He was tired of living in the harbor altho’ he was born and brought up on an old wharf log and was, in a way, attached to it. His back was getting so sticky he knew he should soon be fastened for life to the log, like all the old Barnacles around him.

One day a big ship came close to Barney’s home, and he immediately left his log and friends and stuck himself as tight as he could to a vacant spot on the starboard side. The old Barnacles around leered at him and jeered at him.

One told him to go back home, and another called him a goose. Now Barney was not a Goose Barnacle, he belonged to the very old and famous family of Cirraped Crustaceans, and he disliked being called names; so he never answered a word, but stuck the harder. He would show those old fellows what he could do.

Soon the ship started and Barney was happy. It was such fun to be moved so gently thro’ the soft warm water, and it was so easy to stick. And above all, there was so much to see in the sea. Here was a Sea-purse to pick up, and the Sea-poker to poke the sea with; He could see a Sea-hen sitting on Sea-eggs, and here and there a Sea-bug, or a Sea-butterfly, and a Sea-cat and a Sea-dog having a sea spat!

It was all so new that Barney hardly noticed they were going

34 Barney Barnacle

so much faster now, but he soon found he had no time to see anything because he had to hold on with all his might. The water now rushed past, and nearly brushed him off. It was more than he could bear. “Oh! ship!” he cried, “Oh! good, kind ship, please stop, or go a little slower!”

The ship never heeded, but rushed on faster than ever. I think it was a kind ship at heart, but I don’t believe it heard little Barney at all, or even knew he was there. Poor little fellow!

His little stick was tired and would not stick any more; he gave a final cry of despair, and was slipping off into the wild, cruel sea, when something happened. He felt himself grasped and held firmly! He was saved! It was Uncle Buncle who had heard his cry, and at the risk of his own life, had come to the rescue.

Barney was safe now, and Uncle Buncle was so strong and so kind, that while he held his little nephew he gave him some useful advice, and showed him how to live in the sea and enjoy it. Barney soon learned, and became very happy again. He saw all the wonderful animals of the sea, — the Sea-elephant, traveling without his trunk, the Sea-lion, without a mane, and the Sea-bear J that is a real bear. He saw the Sea-ape that cannot climb, and the Sea-calf that is not the child of the Sea-cow. The Sea-pig is much too big to live in a Sea-pen. The Sea-horse he did not see.

ft

Barney Barnacle 3 5

There was always plenty to eat, for the sea has its apple, its orange, lettuce, cabbage and bean, and its cucumber, which is a fish, and its corn, which is a roe. The Sea-lemon is not bad, and, as for Sea-jelly, — the ocean is full of it.

Uncle Buncle showed Barney what to eat, but his favorite drink was sea water. All he had to do was to open his mouth, and it just poured in. so nice and salt. It made him so thirsty, he drank all the time.

One day it came! ! !

Yes, the Sea-quake!

How the old ship did shake!

Now the bow was under.

Now, the rudder

Boom! Boom! sound the waves,

Dashing o’er the Boomkins!

How the wind sings!

How the welkin rings!

Lash! crash! a fight ’tween ship and wave.

Cut away the mast, the ship to save!

Uncle Buncle told Barney it was the worst Sea-quake he had ever seen, but the rest of the voyage was balmy, almost too balmy for Barney.

Larboard Watch! Ship ahoy! Sang out the old Bell Buoy!

“Shipmate,” said Uncle Buncle, “your first voyage is over. You’re a fullfledged sailor now. You’ve tasted the salt and I pronounce you sea-worthy!”

36 Barney Barnacle

“I know,” said Barney, as he drew himself cozily within his little shell home, “ I feel that I am very fond of this life, and as for this ship, I am already so much attached to it, that I shall never leave it! Never!”

SPI SPIDERS

Thrifty spiders, Good providers, — Web abiders, Cunning hiders.

EARLY grey and silken was the Spi home; it was truly a palace among webs. Little Hanki Panki Spi thought so, and he ought to know. High upon the beach-plum bush it was placed. From it the view was fine; on one side, you could look out on the marshes; from the other side, out upon the creek. It was very spacious, with many large apartments, and had little corners tucked away under leaves, and many secret passages. But it was all made of web; — walls, floors, furniture, — all web.

It was July. Grandfather Zimri Spi had gone up high to spy for a fly. With his spy-glass at his eye, he would sit for hours, and watch the sky.

Mother Annette Emma was making balls of the little Spi babies. This is how she did it. She made a little cradle of web, then she took a handful of children and put them in and covered them over with some more web. She kept doing this until she had a ball as big as herself. To finish the job, she put 37 blankets of web all around the outside, and sewed it up tight.

Hanki Panki was dancing all over the web; in here, out there, over this strong web, under this weak one. Snap! — a strand broke! Did Hanki Panki Spi fall? Oh! my! — no! Before you could think, he had taken some new web out of the coil in his pocket and mended the break. He danced up to the high look-out. “Let me spy for a fly,” said Hanki. “No,” said Grandpa, “don’t bother, run away and play.” He pranced down to the nursery. “Let me make webby balls, or bally webs,” said Panki. “No,” said Mother, “don’t bother, run away and play.”

Sad was Hanki, sad was Panki, very sad was Hanki Panki Spi. “No one wants me,” he said, “I don’t want to play, — I’ve played all day.”

Suddenly, the palace shook tremendously! It was a big jolly fly, and he was caught in the pearly grey web, but he was so strong, he would soon get away. Hanki never stopped to think how little he was, but just rushed at Mr. Fly. “I’ll hold him,” he cried, — “Grandpa, come quick, he’s getting away.” Grandpa Zimri Spi dropped his spy-glass and ran. Mamma Annette Emma Spi let her webby balls of babies lie, and ran.

But all too late!

Sad to relate, —

Their little son and grandson,

Hanki Panki Spi,

Held on so tight,

With all his might.

That he arose with Mr. Fly,

And soon was lost to sight!!!

Hanki was plucky. He held on to Mr. Fly with seven legs, and with the other leg, got his coil of web ready in case anything should happen. Mr. Fly was frisky, also risky; he flew here and flew there; he did not seem to know where he wanted to go, nor when