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 WHY THE FROGS CROAK

(Algonquin)

"Mo-o-o-o-re, mo-o-o-o-re!" croaked a big frog in the marshes. "'Tis enough, 'tis enough, 'tis enough!" answered a smaller frog.

But the big frog called again, "Mo-o-o-o-re, mo-o-o-o-re!" And again the smaller frog answered, "'Tis enough! 'Tis enough!"

"What is it the frogs are quarreling about, grandmother?" asked a little Indian girl, and the grandmother replied, "About the water, I suppose."

"Why do they quarrel about the water? Is it a story, grandmother?"

"Yes," said the grandmother, "it is a story. Listen and I will tell it to you!

"In the long-time-ago all the waters of the land were tied up. The Indian people grew thirsty, and more thirsty. Their fields were drying up. The flowers withered. The people said, 'We shall die!'