Why do Frogs live in the mud?

Timothy asked his grandma, “Why do frogs live in the mud?”

“In the past,” She said, “A deer wanted to make a banquet for all the animals and birds. He invited them all save the tiger ‘because the tiger was his mortal enemy and many animals and birds feared him. All came to the deer’s house. He got perplexed and asked, “Who will head the banquet?”

“I’m the oldest one.” The raven said. “So I deserve to sit at the table-head.”

“No, I’m older than you.” The frog said, “It’s I who should sit at the table-head.”

The frog sat at the table-head. Before eating, they heard a loud roar. It was the tiger swearing that he would devour all the guests because they went to the banquet and ignored him. They were all afraid. Then, the deer looked to the fox saying, “We all know that you can make the tiger calm down. Hurry and go to him before he comes and devours us.”

The fox met the tiger who was angry. Thus, he said calmly, “Hello, my lord the tiger. Why are you sad today?”

“The deer invited all the animals but me.” The tiger said angrily. “I’ll go to avenge my dignity.”

“I wonder why you’re sad.” said the fox with a smile. “It’s because they honor you that they didn’t invite you. The deer prepared some herbs and plants. How can he then invite the ruler of the mountains to eat of it? We’re all your servants. How can the servants invite their master to such a poor banquet?”

“You’re right.” The tiger calmed down and said. He then went searching for a prey.

The fox returned to the banquet to find no one save the deer. When he asked him about the guests, the deer said, “They all escaped fearing the tiger.”

The fox went searching for them to invite them to return since he did his task successfully. However, he found the frog who headed the banquet diving into the mud and insisting on remaining there and not returning to the banquet.

She said that she did not trust the tiger. He might think again of taking revenge.

Thus, the frog, who wanted to be the leader proudly, descended into the mud by the spirit of fear.