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 Kioto. 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 Kioto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at
Osaka wished to go to Kioto, where the great Mikado had his palace.
So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that
led from Kioto 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 travelling, and half way 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 Kioto frog. ‘We have only got
to stand up on our hind legs, and hold on to each other, and then we can
each look at the town he is travelling to.’
This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and
put his front paws on the shoulders 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 Kioto
frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nose
towards Kioto; 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, ‘Kioto 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 Kioto I should
never have travelled all this way,’ exclaimed the frog from Kioto, 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 Kioto, which are as different to look at as two towns can
be, were as like as two peas.
(Japanische Marchen.)