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 Kyoto. 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 Kyoto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at Osaka wished to go to Kyoto.
So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that led from Kyoto 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 traveling, and halfway 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 Kyoto frog. "We have only got to stand up on our
hind legs, and hold onto each other, and then we can each look at the town he is traveling to."
This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws
on the shoulder 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 Kyoto frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nosetowards Kyoto; but the foolish frogs 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, "Kyoto 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 Kyoto I should never have traveled all
this way," exclaimed the frog from Kyoto, 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
Kyoto, which are as different to look at as two towns can be, were as alike as two peas.