the beauty
of her complexion, and somehow the two frogs found out
that they had both fallen in love with the same young
lady-froggy. When they had made this discovery they parted
rather abruptly, and muttered something, the meaning of
which was not very clear.

"Bless me," said Mr. Croaker, the elder and richer of the
two, "I must not let that young scapegrace Jumper get the
better of me. A pretty joke indeed that _he_ should think of
the beautiful Miss Leapfrog, he who is not worth a rap, and
is as ugly as a toad."

"Who would have thought," said Jumper to himself, "that that
old curmudgeon Croaker was going to make love to that dear
young Miss Leapfrog? We will soon see whom she likes best."

The next morning Croaker dressed himself with unusual
neatness; and that he might appear to better advantage, he
went to a barber-frog who lived in a neighbouring arbour,
and asked to be shaved and to have his wig dressed. The
barber had just spread his white cloth, had lathered his
customer's chin, and was flourishing a razor in his face,
when what should catch Croaker's eye through the open
doorway but the figure of his cousin Jumper, smartly
dressed, with his cane under his arm, and a parasol over
his head, to keep the sun off his delicate complexion,
walking hastily along the path that led to Miss Leapfrog's
residence.

To jump from his chair was Croaker's first impulse, and, sad
to say, it was his last; for he fell with his throat upon
the edge of the barber's razor, and in two minutes breathed
his last.

Deep was Miss Leapfrog's grief, and great was Mr. Jumper's
joy, when the news of this sad misfortune reached their
ears. In the first burst of her anguish the young lady
accused the barber of having murdered her dear Croaker; but
Mr. Jumper hopped about for joy, and vowed that the barber
was the best frog alive. And well he might be joyful, for as
Croaker had died without a will, Jumper inherited all his
estates; and when, after a week's mourning, the young lady's
grief had somewhat subsided, the happy Mr. Jumper carried
off the beautiful Miss Leapfrog.

But alas, how uncertain is happiness either to man or
frogs! Two days afterwards, as Jumper was crossing a brook,
a lily-white duck, who had been concealed by the rushes,
flew at him with open beak and gobbled him up.

And the poor bride was left to mourn in silent solitude.

[Illustration: REYNARD AT HOME AT MALEPARDUS.]

THE STORY

OF

REYNA