In the Reign of Coyote/The Big Frog and the Little Frogs
THE BIG FROG AND THE LITTLE FROGS
HAT afternoon, as Tecla was dressing the children after their siesta, they clamored for the other frog story.
"Tell it to us now, please, Tecla."
"Impatient ones! Shall I waste the little breath this hot sun leaves me? No, no; let us go to the spring first, and then if you are good, we will see what I can remember."
When they were settled in the oak's cool shade, she told them the promised story.
Once there was a long, long rain, and all the ground was wet. Three little frogs crept into a hole to keep themselves dry. After a while a big frog came along, looked in, and said, "Come, come, what are you doing in there?"
"We came in here so that we should n't get drowned," answered the little frogs.
"I don't want to get drowned, either; so let me in, too."
"Well, come in, Big Frog"; and they huddled together to make room for him.
The big frog came in. In a little while he took a big breath and puffed out his sides.
The little frogs all cried, "Oh, don't do that. You are squeezing us."
The big frog said nothing, but after a while he again took a long breath and puffed out his sides still more.
Then the little frogs cried, "Oh, oh! you are squeezing us so that we can't stand it."
The big frog answered, "Well, if you don't like it in here, Young Frogs, you 'd better get out"; and he took another big breath and squeezed the little frogs so hard that they were pushed out into the cold rain.
"And did the poor little frogs have to stay out in the rain all day?" asked Juañita.
"Oh, that did n't hurt them!" answered her brother. "Frogs are always crying for rain, and when it does n't come they find a creek or a spring. See that one now in the brass buttons. Just watch me hit him." But Antonio's carefully aimed acorn missed the shining little green coat.
"O Tonio!" began Juanita, when Tecla frightened away her words by exclaiming, "See that little black ant on your skirt, Nita. I wonder if he is coming from the blacksmith's."
"From the blacksmith's? From Wantasson's? Why would an ant be at a blacksmith's?"
"I know one ant that went to a blacksmith, and it was fortunate for him that he did. My godfather told me about him."
"Oh, tell us about it, Tecla! Tell it just the way your godfather told it to you."
"No more to-day. To-morrow I will tell you, but now you can ask your blacksmith for a story. I shall take a nap here. I have to rest some time."
Finding it hopeless to persuade her, the children wandered back to the quadrangle.