1781
THE FROGS OF WINDHAM
by Samuel Peters
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
The Frogs of Windham
STRANGERS are very much terrified at the hideous noise made on
summer evenings by the vast number of frogs in the brooks and
ponds. There are about thirty different voices among them; some of
which resemble the bellowing of a bull. The owls and whippoorwills
complete the rough concert, which may be heard several miles. Per-
sons accustomed to such serenades are not disturbed by them at
their proper stations; but one night, in July, 1758, the frogs of
an artificial pond, three miles square, and about five from
Windham, finding the water dried up, left the place in a body, and
marched, or rather hopped, towards Winnomantic river. They were
under the necessity of taking the road and going through the town,
which they entered about midnight.
The bull frogs were the leaders, and the pipers followed
without number. They filled a road 40 yards wide for four miles in
length, and were for several hours in passing through the town,
unusually clamorous, The inhabitants were equally perplexed and
frightened some expected to find an army of French and Indians;
others feared an earthquake, and dissolution of nature. The
consternation was universal. Old and young, male and female, fled
naked from their beds with worse shriekings than those of the
frogs. The event was fatal to several women. The men, after a
flight of half a mile, in which they met with many broken shins,
finding no enemies in pursuit of them, made a halt, and summoned
resolution enough to venture back to their wives and children; when
they distinctly heard from the enemy's camp these words, 'Wight,
Helderken, Dier, TStS' This last they thought meant treaty; and
plucking up courage, they sent a triumvirate to capitulate with the
supposed French and Indians. These three men approached in their
shirts, and begged to speak with the General; but it being dark,
and no answer given, they were sorely agitated for some time
betwixt hope and fear; at length, however, they discovered that the
dreaded inimical army was an army of thirsty frogs, going to the
river for a little water.
THE END
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