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, where the great Mikado had his
palace.
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 nose towards Kyoto; but the
foolish things 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.
Got it from here
Image from this site
Other from here here
Original artist for the picture is unkown
The Short Story is from The Violet Fairy Book