“Look here,” he cried, “I have spent nearly all our money in buying this casket, even as dear father told me to do just before he died.”
“Open it,” said his wife; “there is sure to be something very valuable inside it.”
He lifted the lid of the casket and was astonished to find that it contained another silver box. He took this out and opened it, curious to learn what was inside. To their great surprise a little green frog leapt out.
“Well, I never,” cried Chaninah, “this is an expensive creature.”
“Do not forget,” his wife said, “your father’s command to be kind to the dumb creatures.”
“Quite right,” says her husband, “we will provide for the frog even as though the little fellow were one of us.”
The frog grew larger and larger and the silver box was no longer large enough for its quarters. Chaninah therefore made a nice roomy cupboard for their new friend’s abode. After a [[28]]while the wife told her husband that there was no more money left to buy food. With a very sad heart the good man called the frog to his side and said,—
“I am awfully sorry to tell you, dear little friend, that we cannot feed you any longer because we have no food left even for ourselves.”
“Please don’t worry,” cried the frog, “I hope you will believe me when I tell you that I am indeed more than grateful to you both, for all your kindness and hospitality. Let me prove my gratitude by giving you this piece of advice. In the box where you found me, you will see a strip of parchment. If you place it in the fold of your turban you will be able to understand not only the different languages of mankind but also the speech of birds, fish and beasts.”
Chaninah did exactly as the frog told him, and calling his wife told her that they would accompany the frog to his new home wherever it might be. The frog said this should be in a pond in the wood near by.