a steamboat； and his teeth would uncover and shine like the furnaces。
And a dog might tackle him and bully…rag him； and bite him； and throw him
over his shoulder two or three times； and Andrew Jacksonwhich was the
name of the pupAndrew Jackson would never let on but what he was
satisfied； and hadn't expected nothing elseand the bets being doubled
and doubled on the other side all the time； till the money was all up；
and then all of a sudden he would grab that other dog jest by the j'int
of his hind leg and freeze to itnot chaw； you understand； but only just
grip and hang on till they throwed up the sponge； if it was a year。
Smiley always come out winner on that pup； till he harnessed a dog once
that didn't have no hind legs； because they'd been sawed off in a
circular saw； and when the thing had gone along far enough； and the money
was all up； and he come to make a snatch for his pet holt； he see in a
minute how he'd been imposed on； and how the other dog had him in the
door； so to speak； and he 'peared surprised； and then he looked sorter
discouraged…like and didn't try no more to win the fight； and so he got
shucked out bad。 He give Smiley a look； as much as to say his heart was
broke； and it was his fault； for putting up a dog that hadn't no hind
legs for him to take holt of； which was his main dependence in a fight；
and then he limped off a piece and laid down and died。 It was a good
pup； was that Andrew Jackson； and would have made a name for hisself if
he'd lived； for the stuff was in him and he had geniusI know it；
because he hadn't no opportunities to speak of； and it don't stand to
reason that a dog could make such a fight as he could under them
circumstances if he hadn't no talent。 It always makes me feel sorry when
I think of that last fight of his'n； and the way it turned out。
〃Well； thish…yer Smiley had rat…tarriers； and chicken cocks； and tomcats
and all them kind of things； till you couldn't rest； and you couldn't
fetch nothing for him to bet on but he'd match you。 He ketched a frog
one day； and took him home； and said he cal'lated to educate him； and so
he never done nothing for three months but set in his back yard and learn
that frog to jump。 And you bet you he did learn him； too。 He'd give him a
little punch behind； and the next minute you'd see that frog whirling in
the air like a doughnutsee him turn one summerset； or maybe a couple；
if he got a good start； and come down flat…footed and all right； like a
cat。 He got him up so in the matter of ketching flies； and kep' him in
practice so constant； that he'd nail a fly every time as fur as he could
see him。 Smiley said all a frog wanted was education； and he could do
'most anythingand I believe him。 Why； I've seen him set Dan'l Webster
down here on this floorDan'1 Webster was the name of the frogand sing
out； 'Flies； Dan'l； flies！' and quicker'n you could wink he'd spring
straight up and snake a fly off'n the counter there； and flop down on the
floor ag'in as solid as a gob of mud； and fall to scratching the side of
his head with his hind foot as indifferent as if he hadn't no idea he'd
been doin' any more'n any frog might do。 You never see a frog so modest
and straightfor'ard as he was； for all he was so gifted。 And when it
come to fair and square jumping on a dead level； he could get over more
ground at one straddle than any animal of his breed you ever see。
Jumping on a dead level was his strong suit； you understand； and when it
come to that； Smiley would ante up money on him as long as he had a red。
Smiley was monstrous proud of his frog； and well he might be； for fellers
that had traveled and been everywheres all said he laid over any frog
that ever they see。
〃Well； Smiley kep' the beast in a little lattice box； and he used to
fetch him down…town sometimes and lay for a bet。 One day a feller
a stranger in the camp； he wascome acrost him with his box； and says：
〃'What might it be that you've got in the box？'
〃And Smiley says； sorter indifferent…like； 'It might be a parrot； or it
might be a canary； maybe； but it ain'tit's only just a frog。'
〃And the feller took it； and looked at it careful； and turned it round
this way and that； and says； 'H'mso 'tis。 Well； what's HE good for。
〃'Well；' Smiley says； easy and careless； 'he's good enough for one thing；
I should judgehe can outjump any frog in Calaveras County。
〃The feller took the box again； and took another long； partiular look；
and give it back to Smiley； and says； very deliberate； 'Well；' he says；
'I don't see no pints about that frog that's any better'n any other
frog。'
〃'Maybe you don't；' Smiley says。 'Maybe you understand frogs and maybe
you don't understand 'em； maybe you've had experience； and maybe you
ain't only a amature； as it were。 Anyways； I've got my opinion； and I'll
resk forty dollars the he can outjump any frog in Calaveras County。'
〃And the feller studied a minute； and then says； kinder sad…like； 'Well；
I'm only a； stranger here； and I ain't got no frog； but if I had a frog；
I'd bet you。
〃And then Smiley says； 'That's all right0…that's all right if you'll hold
my box a minute； I'll go and get you a frog。' Any so the feller took the
box； and put up his forty dollars along with Smiley's； and set down to
wait。
〃So he set there a good while thinking and thinking to himself and then
he got the frog out and prized his mouth open and took a teaspoon and
filled him full of quail…shot…filled him pretty near up to his chinand
set him on the floor。 Smiley he went to the swamp and slopped around in
the mud for a long time； and finally he ketched a frog； and fetched him
in； and give him to this feller and says：
〃'Now； if you're ready； set him alongside of Dan'l； with his fore paws
just even with Dan'l's； and I'll give the word。' Then he says； 'One…two…
threegit' and him and the feller touches up the frogs from behind； and
the new frog hopped off lively but Dan'l give a heave； and hysted up his
shoulders…so…like a Frenchman； but it warn't no usehe couldn't budge；
he was planted as solid as a church； and he couldn't no more stir than if
he was anchored out。 Smiley was a good deal surprised； and he was
disgusted too； but he didn't have no idea what the matter was of course。
〃The Teller took the money and started away； and when he was going out at
the door； he sorter jerked his thumb over his shouldersoat Dan'l； and
says again； very deliberate； 'Well；' he says； 'I don't see no pints about
that frog that's any better'n any other frog。'
〃Smiley he stood scratching his head and looking down at Dan'l a long
time； and at last he says； 'I do wonder what in the nation that frog
throw'd off forI wonder if there ain't something the matter with him
he 'pears to look mighty baggy； somehow。' And he ketched Dan'l by the
nap of the neck； and hefted him； and says； 'Why blame my cats if he don't
weigh five pound！' and turned him upside down and he belched out a double
handful of shot。 And then he see how it was； and he was the maddest man
he set the frog down and took out after that feller； but he never
ketched him。 And〃
＇Here Simon Wheeler heard his name called from the front yard； and got up
to see what was wanted。＇ And turning to me as he moved away； he said：
〃Just set where you are； stranger； and rest easyI ain't going to be
gone a second。〃
But； by your leave； I did not think that a continuation of the history of
the enterprising vagabond Jim Smiley would be likely to afford me much
information concerning the Rev。 Leonidas W。 Smiley； and so I started
away。
At the door I met the sociable Wheeler returning； and he buttonholed me
and recommenced：
〃Well； thish…yer Smiley had a yaller one…eyed cow that didn't have no
tail； only just a short stump like a bannanner； and〃
However； lacking both time and inclination； I did not wait to hear about
the afflicted cow； but took my leave。
Now let the learned look upon this picture and say if iconoclasm can
further go：
＇From the Revue des Deux Mondes； of July 15th； 1872。＇
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
THE JUMPING FROG
〃Il y avait； une fois ici un individu connu sous le nom de Jim Smiley：
c'etait dans l'hiver de 49； peut…etre bien au printemps de 50； je ne me
reappelle pas exactement。 Ce qui me fait croire que c'etait l'un ou
l'autre； c'est que je me souviens que le grand bief n'etait pas acheve
lorsqu'il arriva au camp pour la premiere fois； mais de toutes facons il
etait l'homme le plus friand de paris qui se put voir； pariant sur tout
ce qui se presentaat； quand il pouvait trouver un adversaire； et； quand
n'en trouvait pas il passait du cote oppose。 Tout ce qui convenaiat
l'autre lui convenait； pourvu qu'il eut un pari； Smiley etait satisfait。
Et il avait une chance！ une chance inouie： presque toujours il gagnait。
It faut dire qu'il etait toujours pret a'exposer； qu'on ne pouvait
mentionner la moindre chose sans que ce gaillard offrit de parier la…
dessus n'importe quoi et de prendre le cote que l'on voudrait； comme je
vous le disais tout a l'heure。 S'il y avait des courses； vous le
trouviez riche ou ruine a la fin； s'il y avait un combat de chiens； il
apportait son enjeu； il l'apportait pour un combat de chats； pour un
combat de coqs；parbleu！ si vous aviez vu deux oiseaux sur une haie il
vous aurait offert de parier lequel s'envolerait le premier； et s'il y
aviat 'meeting' au camp； il venait parier regulierement pour le cure
Walker； qu'il jugeait etre le meilleur predicateur des environs； et qui
l'etait en effet； et un brave homme。 Il aurai rencontre une punaise de
bois en chemin； qu'il aurait parie sur le temps qu'il lui faudrait pour
aller ou elle voudrait aller； et si vous l'aviez pris au mot； it aurait
suivi la punaise jusqu'au Mexique； sans se soucier d'aller si loin； ni du
temps qu'il y perdrait。 Une fois la femme du cure Walker fut tres malade
pendant longtemps； il semblait qu'on ne la sauverait pas； mai un matin le
cure arrive； et Smiley lui demande comment ella va et il dit qu'elle est
bien mieux； grace a l'infinie misericorde tellement mieux qu'avec la
benediction de la Providence elle s'en tirerait； et voila que； sans y
penser； Smiley repond：Eh bien！ ye