CHILDREN'S TALES FOR GROWN-UPS.
v.
THE RIVALS.
The frog challenged the nightingale to a singing contest. "Of course for gurgling and untutored warbling I know he has it," he said to his friend the toad, "but in technique I shall beat him hollow."
So the jury was chosen. The nightingale proposed the lark, the thrush, the blackbird and the bullfinch as experts in singing, and the frog proposed the starling, the linnet, the chaffinch and the reed-warbler.
The nightingale was overcome with emotion at the generosity of the frog, and insisted on adding the crow and the toad as experts in croaking.
The nightingale sang first, whilst his trade rivals sat and chattered. They chattered so loud that the nightingale stopped singing in a huff.
"You are hardly at your best, you know, old thing," said the linnet sympathetically.
"You will find these throat lozenges excellent for hoarseness," said the blackbird.
"His upper register is weakâabominably weak," said the starling to the lark.
"Perhaps if his voice were trained," suggested the lark.
Meanwhile the frog croaked away lustily, but no one listened to him. "The jury must vote by ballot," he said as he finished the last croak.
"Of course we must," twittered the jury.
The frog won by eight votes to two.
"I voted for the nightingale," whispered the crow to the toad.
"So did I," whispered the toad.