"Then why did you?" asked Puss, who by this time had come up to the frog.
"Because I was tired to death of the old pond," replied Rowley. "One has got to see the world some time, and when one is young is the time and not when one is old."
"Yes, 'every dog must have his day,'" quoted Puss.
"And every frog, too," answered Rowley, pushing his high hat down on his head more securely and replacing the cigar between his lips.
"And where are you going?" asked Puss.
"A frog he would a-wooing go,
Heigh-ho! says Rowley.
Whether his mother would let him or no.
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigh-ho! says Anthony Rowley."
"Well, then, Anthony!" cried Puss, taking the frog by the arm, "let us be comrades. For it is lonesome business, this traveling alone, and I would have a good friend to talk to while we trudge along."
"But I already have a companion," answered Mr. Rowley. "Don't you remember the second verse in Mother Goose?"
"Not exactly," replied Puss, Jr.
"Well, this is the way it goes," answered the frog. "It's describing me, of course."