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 dis-
tance 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 rose a moun-
tain 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 speak-

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