The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter
The Frogs Who Wished for a King
The Frogs were tired of governing themselves. They had so
much freedom that it had spoiled
them, and they did nothing but
sit around croaking in a bored
manner and wishing for a government that could entertain them
with the pomp and display of
royalty, and rule them in a way
to make them know they were
being ruled. No milk and water
government for them, they declared. So they sent a petition
to Jupiter asking for a king.
Jupiter saw what simple and
foolish creatures they were, but
to keep them quiet and make
them think they had a king he
threw down a huge log, which
fell into the water with a great
splash. The Frogs hid themselves among the reeds and
grasses, thinking the new king
to be some fearful giant. But
they soon discovered how tame
and peaceable King Log was.
In a short time the younger Frogs
were using him for a diving platform, while the older Frogs made
him a meeting place, where they
complained loudly to Jupiter
about the government.
To teach the Frogs a lesson
the ruler of the gods now sent a
Crane to be king of Frogland.
The Crane proved to be a very
different sort of king from old
King Log. He gobbled up the
poor Frogs right and left and
they soon saw what fools they
had been. In mournful croaks
they begged Jupiter to take
away the cruel tyrant before
they should all be destroyed.
![[Illustration]](http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/gold/books/winter/aesop/winter_aesop_zpage029.gif)
"How now!" cried Jupiter
"Are you not yet content? You
have what you asked for and so
you have only yourselves to
blame for your misfortunes."
Be sure you can better your condition before you seek to change.
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