frog

1

FrogandToadAllYear

DowntheHill

FrogknockedatToad‟sdoor.

“Toad,wakeup,”hecried.

“Comeoutandehowwonderfulthewinteris!”

“Iwillnot,”saidToad.

“Iaminmywarmbed.”

“Winterisbeautiful,”saidFrog.

“Comeoutandhavefun.”

“Blah,”saidToad.

“Idonothaveanywinterclothes.”

Frogcameintothehou.

“Ihavebroughtyousomethingstowear,”hesaid.

FrogpushedacoatdownoverthetopofToad.

FrogpulledsnowpantsupoverthebottomofToad.

HeputahatandscarfonToad‟shead.

“Help!”criedToad.

“Mybestfriendistryingtokillme!”

“Iamonlygettingyoureadyforwinter,”saidFrog.

FrogandToadwentoutside.

Theytrampedthroughthesnow.

“Wewillridedownthisbighillonmysled,”said

Frog.

“Notme,”saidToad.

“Donotbeafraid,”saidFrog.

“Iwillbewithyouonthesled.

Itwillbeafine,fastride.

Toad,yousitinfront.

Iwillsitrightbehindyou.”

Thesledbegantomovedownthehill.

“Herewego!”saidFrog.

Therewasabump.

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Frogfelloffthesled.

Toadrushedpasttreesandrocks.

“Frog,Iamgladthatyouarehere,”saidToad.

Toadleapedoverasnowbank.

“Icouldnotsteerthesledwithoutyou,Frog,”he

said.

“isfun!”

Acrowflewnearby.

“Hello,Crow,”shoutedToad.

“LookatFrogandme.

Wecanrideasledbetterthananybodyinthe

world!”

“ButToad,”saidthecrow,“youarealoneonthe

sled.”

Toadlookedaround.

HesawthatFrogwasnotthere.

“IAMALLALONE!”screamedToad.

Bang!Thesledhitatree.

Thud!Thesledhitarock.

Plop!Thesleddivedintothesnow.

Frogcamerunningdownthehill.

HepulledToadoutofthesnow.

“Isaweverything,”saidFrog.

“Youdidverywellbyyourlf.”

“Ididnot,”saidToad.

“ButthereisonethingthatIcandoallbymylf.”

“Whatisthat?”askedFrog.

“Icangohome,”saidToad.

“Wintermaybebeautiful,butbedismuchbetter.”

TheCorner

FrogandToadwerecaughtintherain.

TheyrantoFrog‟shou.

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“Iamallwet,”saidToad.

“Thedayisspoiled.”

“Havesometeaandcake,”saidFrog.“Therainwill

stop.

Ifyoustandnearthestove,yourclotheswillsoon

bedry.

Iwilltellyouastorywhilewearewaiting,”said

Frog.

“Ohgood,”saidToad.

“WhenIwassmall,notmuchbiggerthanapollywog,”

saidFrog,“myfathersaidtome,„Son,thisis

acold,graydaybutspringisjustaroundthecorner.‟

Iwantedspringtocome.

Iwentouttofindthatcorner.

IwalkeddownapathinthewoodsuntilIcameto

acorner.

Iwentaroundthecornertoeifspringwasonthe

otherside.”

“Andwasit?”askedToad.

“No,”saidFrog.

“Therewasonlyapinetree,threepebblesandsome

drygrass.

Iwalkedinthemeadow.

SoonIcametoanothercorner.

Iwentaroundthecornertoeifspringwasthere.”

“Didyoufindit?”askedToad“No,”saidFrog.

“Therewasonlyanoldwormasleeponatree

stump.”

“IwalkedalongtheriveruntilIcametoanother

corner.

Iwentaroundthecornertolookforspring.”

“Wasitthere?”askedToad.

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“No,”saidFrog.

“Therewasonlysomewetmudandalizardwho

waschasinghistail.”

“Youmusthavebeentired,”saidToad.

“Iwastired,”saidFrog,“anditstartedtorain.”

“Iwentbackhome.

WhenIgotthere,”saidFrog,“Ifoundanother

corner.

Itwasthecornerofmyhou.”

“Didyougoaroundit?”askedToad.

“Iwentaroundthatcorner,too,”saidFrog.

“Whatdidyoue?”askedToad.

“Isawthesuncomingout,”saidFrog.“Isawthe

birdssittingandsinginginthetree.

Isawmymotherandfatherworkingintheirgarden.

Isawflowersinthegarden.”

“Youfoundit!”criedToad.

“Yes,”saidFrog.

“Iwasveryhappy.

Ihadfoundthecornerthatspringwasjustaround.”

“Look,Frog,”saidToad.

“Youwereright.

Therainhasstopped.”

FrogandToadhurriedoutside.

TheyranaroundthecornerofFrog‟shoutomake

surethatspringhadcomeagain.

IceCream

OnehotsummerdayFrogandToadsatbythe

pond.

“Iwishwehadsomesweet,coldicecream,”said

Frog.

“Whatagoodidea,”saidToad.

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“Waitrighthere,Frog.

Iwillbebacksoon.”

Toadwenttothestore.

Heboughttwobigice-creamcones.

Toadlickedoneofthecones.

“Froglikeschocolatebest,”saidToad,“andsodo

I.”

Toadwalkedalongthepath.

Alarge,softdropofchocolateicecreamslipped

downhisarm.

“Thisicecreamismeltinginthesun,”saidToad.

Toadwalkedfaster.

Manydropsofmeltingicecreamflewthroughthe

air.

TheyfelldownonToad‟shead.

“ImusthurrybacktoFrog!”hecried.

Moreandmoreoftheicecreamwasmelting.

ItdrippeddownonToad‟sjacket.

Itsplatteredonhispantsandonhisfeet.

“Whereisthepath?”criedToad.

“Icannote!”

ran

by.

“Ijustsawsomethingawful!”criedthemou.

“Itwasbigandbrown!”

“Somethingcoveredwithsticksandleavesismoving

thisway!”criedasquirrel.

“Herecomesathingwithhorns!”shoutedarabbit.

“Runforyourlife!”

“Whatcanitbe?”askedFrog.

Froghidbehindarock.

Hesawthethingcoming.

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Itwasbigandbrown.

Itwascoveredwithsticksandleaves.

Ithadtwohorns.

“Frog,”criedthething.

“Whereareyou?”

“Goodheavens!”saidFrog.

“ThatthingisToad!”

Toadfellintothepond.

Hesanktothebottomandcameupagain.

“Drat,”saidToad.

“Allofoursweet,coldicecreamhaswashedaway.”

“Nevermind,”saidFrog.

“Iknowwhatwecando.”

FrogandToadquicklyranbacktothestore.

Thentheysatintheshadeofalargetreeandate

theirchocolateice-creamconestogether.

TheSurpri

ItwasOctober.

Theleaveshadfallenoffthetrees.

Theywerelyingontheground.

“IwillgotoToad‟shou,”saidFrog.

“Iwillrakealloftheleavesthathavefallenonhis

lawn.

Toadwillbesurprid.”

Frogtookarakeoutofthegardenshed.

Toadlookedoutofhiswindow.

“Themessyleaveshavecoveredeverything,”said

Toad.

Hetookarakeoutoftheclot.

“IwillrunovertoFrog‟shou.

Iwillrakeallofhisleaves.

Frogwillbeveryplead.”

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FrogranthroughthewoodssothatToadwouldnot

ehim.

ToadranthroughthehighgrasssothatFrogwould

notehim.

FrogcametoToad‟shou.

Helookedinthewindow.

“Good,”saidFrog.

“Toadisout.

Hewillneverknowwhorakedhisleaves.”

ToadgottoFrog‟shou.

Helookedinthewindow.

“Good,”saidToad.

“Frogisnothome.

Hewillneverguesswhorakedhisleaves.”

Frogworkedhard.

Herakedtheleavesintoapile.

SoonToad‟slawnwasclean.

Frogpickeduphisrakeandstartedhome.

Toadpushedandpulledontherake.

Herakedtheleavesintoapile.

SoontherewasnotasingleleafinFrog‟sfrontyard.

Toadtookhisrakeandstartedhome.

Awindcame.

Itblewacrosstheland.

ThepileofleavesthatFroghadrakedforToadblew

everywhere.

ThepileofleavesthatToadhadrakedforFrogblew

everywhere.

WhenFroggothome,hesaid,“TomorrowIwill

cleanuptheleavesthatareallovermyownlawn.

HowsurpridToadmustbe!”

WhenToadgothome,hesaid,“TomorrowIwill

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gettoworkandrakeallofmyownleaves.

HowsurpridFrogmustbe!”

ThatnightFrogandToadwerebothhappywhen

theyeachturnedoutthelightandwenttobed.

ChristmasEve

OnChristmasEveToadcookedabigdinner.

Hedecoratedthetree.

“Frogislate,”saidToad.

Toadlookedathisclock.

Heremembereditwasbroken.

Thehandsoftheclockdidnotmove.

Toadopenedthefrontdoor.

Helookedoutintothenight.

Frogwasnotthere.

“Iamworried,”saidToad.

“Whatifsomethingterriblehashappened?”said

Toad.

“WhatifFroghasfallenintoadeepholeandcannot

getout?

Iwillneverehimagain!”

Toadopenedthedooroncemore.

Frogwasnotonthepath.

“WhatifFrogislostinthewoods?”saidToad.

“Whatifheiscoldandwetandhungry?”

“WhatifFrogisbeingchadbyabiganimalwith

manysharpteeth?

Whatifheisbeingeatenup?”criedToad.

“MyfriendandIwillneverhaveanotherChristmas

together!”

Toadfoundsomeropeinthecellar.

“IwillpullFrogoutoftheholewiththis,”said

Toad.

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Toadfoundalanternintheattic.

“Frogwillethislight.

Iwillshowhimthewayoutofthewoods,”said

Toad.

Toadfoundafryingpaninthekitchen.

“Iwillhitthatbiganimalwiththis,”saidToad.

“Allofhisteethwillfallout.

Frog,donotworry,”criedToad.

“Iamcomingtohelpyou!”

Toadranoutofhishou.

TherewasFrog.

“Hello,Toad,”hesaid.

“Iamverysorrytobelate.

Iwaswrappingyourprent.”

“Youarenotatthebottomofahole?”askedToad.

“No,”saidFrog.

“Youarenotlostinthewoods?”askedToad.

“No,”saidFrog.

“Youarenotbeingeatenbyabiganimal?”asked

Toad.

“No,”saidFrog.“Notatall.”

“Oh,Frog,”saidToad,“Iamsogladtobespending

Christmaswithyou.”

ToadopenedhisprentfromFrog.

Itwasabeautifulnewclock.

Thetwofriendssatbythefire.

Thehandsoftheclockmovedtoshowthehoursof

amerryChristmasEve.