Philious Frog

In the time of tall-masted ships that sailed the sea, there lived a frog who had seen it all.

Philious, who hailed from Buckmenshire, decided to seek his fortune on the high seas when he was just a tadpole. “I shall see the world and bring back a fortune in jewels,” he told his Nana.

When he turned of age, he went straight to the docks and signed on to the first ship he saw—a whaler bound for the Arctic.

Six weeks out, the ship encountered an enormous serpent that tried to smash the boat, sending its crew to Davey Jone’s locker.

Philious’s quick wits save the ship when he leaped onto the beast’s head and popped out one of its eyes with his rigging knife.

“Three cheers for the brave little frog,” shouted the captain after the serpent swam away, fearing another attack.

“I was just doing my duty for ship and crew,” Philious said humbly. After that, the sailors treated him as family.

He returned home with a bag of gold he gave to his family. “Philious, you brought me my favorite color,” winked his Nana.

After a week on land, the frog caught a clipper heading to the New World. “Nana, I shall bring you a mountain of diamonds upon my return,” stated the frog as he stepped out the door.

On the voyage’s return leg, the sea harpies attacked the ship off the coast of Greenland, driving the sailors mad with their screeching.

“I’ll not be bothered by you foul beasts,” hollered Philious, who fired flaming arrows into the harpy’s nest, diverting their attention long enough for the ship to sail to safety.

“Hip, hip, hooray,” cried the crew as they paraded the frog about the deck on their shoulders.

Philious entered his home and set two bags of gold and a jug of Jamaca’s best rum on the table for his family to enjoy. “Why, Philious, you brought me a tonic for my cough?” his Nana said with a wry smile.

Two days passed when the frog set off to sea again. So it went year after year until the Philious came home one day. Instead of being met with a cheer, he was told his Nana was fading and didn’t have long.

“Philious, you brought me my gem,” said his Nana with a twinkle in her eye.

“I’m afraid I only brought gold as usual,” said the frog sadly.

“Philious, I can see the gem clearly before me. You, child, have always been the most precious jewel Nana could desire. Thank you. Now I must go, but I will watch over you,” his grandmother said, then closed her eyes and was gone.

Philious kissed his Nana goodbye, strolled back to the docks, and caught a whaler to South America, where he lives, drinking rum and playing his guitar on moonlit nights near Corcovado.