At this dreadful sight the dragon waited no longer : he flung down his sacks where he stood and took flight as fast as he could , so terrified at the fate that awaited him that from that day he has never dared to show his face in the world again . -LRB- Adapted from Rumanische Marchen . -RRB- THE TWO FROGS Once upon a time in the country of Japan there lived two frogs , one of whom made his home in a ditch near the town of Osaka , on the sea coast , while the other dwelt in a clear little stream which ran through the city of Kioto . At such a great distance apart , they had never even heard of each other ; but , funnily enough , the idea came into both their heads at once that they should like to see a little of the world , and the frog who lived at Kioto wanted to visit Osaka , and the frog who lived at Osaka wished to go to Kioto , where the great Mikado had his palace . So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that led from Kioto to Osaka , one from one end and the other from the other . The journey was more tiring than they expected , for they did not know much about travelling , and half way between the two towns there arose a mountain which had to be climbed . It took them a long time and a great many hops to reach the top , but there they were at last , and what was the surprise of each to see another frog before him ! They looked at each other for a moment without speaking , and then fell into conversation , explaining the cause of their meeting so far from their homes . It was delightful to find that they both felt the same wish -- to learn a little more of their native country -- and as there was no sort of hurry they stretched themselves out in a cool , damp place , and agreed that they would have a good rest before they parted to go their ways . ` What a pity we are not bigger , ' said the Osaka frog ; ` for then we could see both towns from here , and tell if it is worth our while going on . ' ` Oh , that is easily managed , ' returned the Kioto frog . ` We have only got to stand up on our hind legs , and hold on to each other , and then we can each look at the town he is travelling to . ' This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws on the shoulders of his friend , who had risen also . There they both stood , stretching themselves as high as they could , and holding each other tightly , so that they might not fall down . The Kioto frog turned his nose towards Osaka , and the Osaka frog turned his nose towards Kioto ; but the foolish things forgot that when they stood up their great eyes lay in the backs of their heads , and that though their noses might point to the places to which they wanted to go their eyes beheld the places from which they had come . ` Dear me ! ' cried the Osaka frog , ` Kioto is exactly like Osaka . It is certainly not worth such a long journey . I shall go home ! ' ` If I had had any idea that Osaka was only a copy of Kioto I should never have travelled all this way , ' exclaimed the frog from Kioto , and as he spoke he took his hands from his friend 's shoulders , and they both fell down on the grass .
Then they took a polite farewell of each other , and set off for home again , and to the end of their lives they believed that Osaka and Kioto , which are XXXXX different to look at as two towns can be , were as like as two peas .
At as before for into like of than to without