The Leap Frog

Once upon a time, there was a flea, a grasshopper and a frog who wanted to see which of them could jump the highest.

And they invited the whole world and everybody else who just wanted to come to see the competition.

Three famous jumpers were they, as everyone would say when they all met together in the room.

Even the king was there, and he said, Well, it's not so fun when there's no prize in a competition, so I will give my daughter's hand in marriage to the one who jumps the highest.

The flea was the first to step forward.

He had exquisite manners, and bowed to everyone on each side, for he had noble blood, and was, moreover, accustomed to the society of man, and that makes a great difference.

Then came the grasshopper.

He was heavier than the flea, but he was well-mannered, and he wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth.

He said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of.

The fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields and put in a little cardboard house three stories high, all made of playing cards with the coloured side inwards and the doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts.

"'I sing so well,' said he, "'that all the grasshoppers within sixteen miles are jealous of me and my house built of cards.' It was thus that the flea and the grasshopper gave an account of themselves and thought they were quite good enough to marry a princess.

The frog said nothing, but people gave it as their opinion that the less he spoke, the more he thought.

And when the king's dog snuffed at him with his nose, he declared the leapfrog was the best frog in the country.

Then an old counsellor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted that this frog was a prophet, for that one could see on his back if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not see even on the back of the man who gave the weather forecast.

Everyone was choosing their favourite to win the competition.

I say nothing, it is true, exclaimed the king, but I have my own opinion, notwithstanding.

And now the jump was to take place.

The flea jumped first, so high that nobody could see where he went to, and so they all asserted he had not jumped at all, and that was dishonorable and a bit cheaty.

The grasshopper jumped only half as high, but he leaped into the king's face, who said, that was ill-mannered and quite rude.

The leapfrog stood still for a long time, lost in thought.

It was believed at last he might not jump at all.

I hope he's all right, said the king's dog, when pop, he made a sideways jump into the lap of the princess who was sitting on a little golden stool close by.

Hereupon the king said, There is nothing above my daughter.

Therefore to jump up to her is the highest jump that can be made.

But for this one must possess understanding, and the leapfrog has shown that he has understanding.