Many hundred years ago in the forest, the animals lived together happily. There were no jealousy, no quarrels and no fights. They would often gather to hear stories, sing and dance. Each animal was talented in his own way. Among them was a frog. He was named Freddy.
Freddy was a young and handsome frog. He was also kind hearted. Everyone loved him. Freddy was good in everything. He was witty and perceptive. He could tell exciting stories. Make the sad laugh with his clownish ways. Make the weak be strong and lively again. Make the day full of sunshine and hope. But he was best with his voice.
Whenever Freddy sang, all the other animals were held entranced. The whole forest seemed to be spellbound by him. Those who were doing their work would stop and listen. Those who were talking and playing will stop too. Little babies would stop crying and smile with their eyes twinkling happily. The forest would be quiet, so quiet with peace and harmony in each heart. The only sound that whispered through the air would be the gentle breeze that accompanied Freddy’s singing.
(Freddy sings)
Song: I love to sing to you, my friends
As dawn breaks into day
And as I sing
Let there be peace in all the animals’ heart
Valderi, valdera, valderi
Valda ha ha ha ha ha ha
Valderi, valdera
Let peace be in our hearts
Let peace be in our hearts
As time went by, Freddy became very proud. He began to sneer at others’ talents and laughed loudly at the youngs’ efforts.
“Ha! Ha! You all are so stupid. Fools! Fools! Look at me, I can sing better than all of you. I am the most talented animal. I am the greatest one here.”
All the animals began to dislike Freddy. But still there would be charmed by his melodious voice and beautiful songs.
One day, while Freddy was asleep, the other animals gathered under the old owl’s home.
The pig snorted and said, “Something must be done”.
“Yes”, bayed the ass.
“What can we do?” squeaked the mouse.
“What do you suggest, old wise owl?” asked the dog.
The owl just shook his head in sadness. All the animals bowed their head in silence and despair. As night fell, each went home with sunken spirit.
The next day, the rabbit suggested that they have a party.
“What for?” hissed the snake.
“It could liven our spirit”, chirped the bird.
“Yes, yes, we will have a party and we will not invite Freddy!” all the animals cried in loud response.
Quickly the time and date were set. All the animals rushed home in excitement and full of plans for the coming party. The cat mewed to have his coat brushed. The lion roared to have his claws sharpened. The duck waddled in the pond all day to have his feathers cleaned. Each wanted to look his best.
Freddy was surprised at the rush and excitement. He went round asking everyone but no one told him anything.
Freddy shouted in anger, “You just wait. Whatever you are doing, it would be a failure.”
At last he got news of the party and that he was not invited!
The party was drawing soon but still Freddy was not given any invitation. Freddy hopped in mad anger.
“Wait, wait, you mean animals. You will pay for this. How could you all leave me out. Me! The most important animal”.
The animals ignored him. Poor Freddy! No one bothered about him. When the party started, Freddy stood hiding behind the bushes. He was ashamed and angry. He eyed at the food hungrily but no one seemed to remember him.
Suddenly, there was a fire.
A mother bird came shouting, “Help me! Oh, please come quickly, my nest is on fire and my little ones are in the nest”.
All the animals rushed to help the bird except Freddy.
“I will not help them, they deserve it. I shall eat all their food,” said Freddy.
Freddy gobbled up their food. He ate and ate and ate. He ate so fast and greedily that he did not realize that he had swallowed a bone.
The bone got stuck in his throat. But as he was so angry, he just continues gobbling up all the food. When he had finished eating, he sighed with deep satisfaction. Slowly he hopped back to his home. The bone in his throat starting to hurt him but he was so sleepy that he fell asleep.
When the animals came back, they were so surprised because there was no food left on the table. They knew that the greedy frog had eaten all their food. But they could not do anything because it was already too late.
The next day, the forest was very quiet. Freddy’s melodious voice was not heard that morning. Everyone was surprised.
“What happened to Freddy?” asked all the animals.
The owl and the badger decided to look for Freddy. They searched everywhere for him. His home? No Freddy. The pond? No Freddy. His favourite spots and still no sign of him. At last, after a fruitful search, they found him. Where do you think he was? In a rubbish dump! Freddy was looking sick, haggard, and worst of all his throat was swollen badly. He could not talk to them. He could not sing anymore. He just croaked when he wanted to sing or talk.
The animals felt pity for Freddy. One by one they brought him remedies but none could recover him. Freddy felt so ashamed that he jumped into the river. He would only appear when he thought he could sing again. But at last, till this day, he could only croaked. This is the reason why frogs croaked.
The simple message from this story is be humble and do not be hasty.
Freddy was a young and handsome frog. He was also kind hearted. Everyone loved him. Freddy was good in everything. He was witty and perceptive. He could tell exciting stories. Make the sad laugh with his clownish ways. Make the weak be strong and lively again. Make the day full of sunshine and hope. But he was best with his voice.
Whenever Freddy sang, all the other animals were held entranced. The whole forest seemed to be spellbound by him. Those who were doing their work would stop and listen. Those who were talking and playing will stop too. Little babies would stop crying and smile with their eyes twinkling happily. The forest would be quiet, so quiet with peace and harmony in each heart. The only sound that whispered through the air would be the gentle breeze that accompanied Freddy’s singing.
(Freddy sings)
Song: I love to sing to you, my friends
As dawn breaks into day
And as I sing
Let there be peace in all the animals’ heart
Valderi, valdera, valderi
Valda ha ha ha ha ha ha
Valderi, valdera
Let peace be in our hearts
Let peace be in our hearts
As time went by, Freddy became very proud. He began to sneer at others’ talents and laughed loudly at the youngs’ efforts.
“Ha! Ha! You all are so stupid. Fools! Fools! Look at me, I can sing better than all of you. I am the most talented animal. I am the greatest one here.”
All the animals began to dislike Freddy. But still there would be charmed by his melodious voice and beautiful songs.
One day, while Freddy was asleep, the other animals gathered under the old owl’s home.
The pig snorted and said, “Something must be done”.
“Yes”, bayed the ass.
“What can we do?” squeaked the mouse.
“What do you suggest, old wise owl?” asked the dog.
The owl just shook his head in sadness. All the animals bowed their head in silence and despair. As night fell, each went home with sunken spirit.
The next day, the rabbit suggested that they have a party.
“What for?” hissed the snake.
“It could liven our spirit”, chirped the bird.
“Yes, yes, we will have a party and we will not invite Freddy!” all the animals cried in loud response.
Quickly the time and date were set. All the animals rushed home in excitement and full of plans for the coming party. The cat mewed to have his coat brushed. The lion roared to have his claws sharpened. The duck waddled in the pond all day to have his feathers cleaned. Each wanted to look his best.
Freddy was surprised at the rush and excitement. He went round asking everyone but no one told him anything.
Freddy shouted in anger, “You just wait. Whatever you are doing, it would be a failure.”
At last he got news of the party and that he was not invited!
The party was drawing soon but still Freddy was not given any invitation. Freddy hopped in mad anger.
“Wait, wait, you mean animals. You will pay for this. How could you all leave me out. Me! The most important animal”.
The animals ignored him. Poor Freddy! No one bothered about him. When the party started, Freddy stood hiding behind the bushes. He was ashamed and angry. He eyed at the food hungrily but no one seemed to remember him.
Suddenly, there was a fire.
A mother bird came shouting, “Help me! Oh, please come quickly, my nest is on fire and my little ones are in the nest”.
All the animals rushed to help the bird except Freddy.
“I will not help them, they deserve it. I shall eat all their food,” said Freddy.
Freddy gobbled up their food. He ate and ate and ate. He ate so fast and greedily that he did not realize that he had swallowed a bone.
The bone got stuck in his throat. But as he was so angry, he just continues gobbling up all the food. When he had finished eating, he sighed with deep satisfaction. Slowly he hopped back to his home. The bone in his throat starting to hurt him but he was so sleepy that he fell asleep.
When the animals came back, they were so surprised because there was no food left on the table. They knew that the greedy frog had eaten all their food. But they could not do anything because it was already too late.
The next day, the forest was very quiet. Freddy’s melodious voice was not heard that morning. Everyone was surprised.
“What happened to Freddy?” asked all the animals.
The owl and the badger decided to look for Freddy. They searched everywhere for him. His home? No Freddy. The pond? No Freddy. His favourite spots and still no sign of him. At last, after a fruitful search, they found him. Where do you think he was? In a rubbish dump! Freddy was looking sick, haggard, and worst of all his throat was swollen badly. He could not talk to them. He could not sing anymore. He just croaked when he wanted to sing or talk.
The animals felt pity for Freddy. One by one they brought him remedies but none could recover him. Freddy felt so ashamed that he jumped into the river. He would only appear when he thought he could sing again. But at last, till this day, he could only croaked. This is the reason why frogs croaked.
The simple message from this story is be humble and do not be hasty.
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