The elderly parish priest had just turned seventy-five and was enjoying his retirement and his one great passion which was fishing.

He was sitting is his boat on the lake when he heard a voice cry, “Pick me up: pick me up!”

Looking around he couldn’t see anyone. He thought he was dreaming until he heard the voice again.

“Pick me up.”

He looked in the water and floating on a lily pad was a frog.

The bewildered priest said, “Are you talking to me?”

“Yes,” the frog replied. “Pick me up, kiss me, and I’ll turn into the most beautiful woman you’ve even seen. I’ll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because I’ll be your bride.”

The priest looked at the frog, reached over and picked it up carefully. He then dropped the frog into his front pocket.

From the depth of the pocket the frog cried out, “Are you mad? Didn’t you hear what I said? Kiss me and I’ll be your beautiful bride.”

The priest opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said, “Nah! At my age it’s too late. I’d much rather have a talking frog.”

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