THE TOAD-BOY.

HERE was once a Toad who lived near a
‘TT big flat stone in the forest. As he sat by
his hole one day, a Boy passed. The

Toad looked at him, and said :

“Oh, how I wish I were a boy.”

“Then why don’t you be one?” said a Snake
who was near.

«J don’t know how.”

“Tf you really want to become a boy, I will
tell you how to do it,” and the Snake winked
his wicked eyes at the Toad. “ All you have to do
is to hop ten times round that flat stone, and then
without waiting a moment, hop quickly on the
stone itself. Then you will become a boy.”

“Thank you, kind Snake,” said the Toad,
and he at once began. “ Hop-i-ty, hop-i-ty,

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