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 Herman
the frog once lived in an ordinary pond with many of his
ordinary relatives. He croaked a very nice croak, about ordinary
for his size and age, and it blended with the great serenade of
frog voices that nightly filled the air. The sound was a
peaceful one, quite appropriate to the surroundings, and
indicative that all was well in the frog world.
But
Herman was not happy in the old home pond. There were too many
frog voices just like his. He longed for the attention given a
few patriarchs of the pond whose deep rich voices led community
sings. He tried to imitate the patriarchs, but when they were on
low do he did well to hit a fa below middle do. He tried a
psychedelic tenor — anything to be different — but even this
was drowned in the mighty frog chorus.
Grandfather
frog noticed red-faced Herman, puffing and blowing in his
efforts, and counseled wisely. “Sing with the rest of us,
Herman. Together we make a fine blending of voices. In time your
voice will mature, and practice will give strength, so that you
can croak like a patriarch.” Herman muttered, “Mind your own
business,” and kicked algae in the old man’s eye.
Over
the hill was a small new puddle, formed by recent showers. Only
a few young frogs lived there, and Herman decided to join
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them. In a small pond surely he could
be a patriarch. But Herman found that although he received more
attention there, he still had a fa croak. When he used his
psychedelic tenor there were not enough smooth voices to drown
him out, and he ruined the whole chorus. His cronies began to
mock, and to shun him.
There
are many ways to end this. Herman could learn much by youthful
experience and humbly take his place in the youth section. Then,
in due time, someone would notice the mellow smoothness of his
voice and suggest, “Herman, try a mi.” It would be easy! So,
he would try a re. Got it!! And then, half-fearful, Herman would
roll out a deep rich low do, and everyone would rejoice with the
new patriarch.
Or,
he could fret and fume, and die young in a dried up puddle.
Or,
Herman could learn to imitate a patriarch — slip into a
patriarch’s seat one night — and get sacked by a Louisiana
“Cajun” looking for supper.. (It ain’t all pie, this being
a great big fat patriarch of a frog.)
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