Nikola Tesla - Pictures and Experiences from Childhood and Education Page 29

his waist. Little Nikola found this uncle terrifying because of such a long gray beard, so he clung to his mother and started pleading: “Mother, mother, let uncle leave soon, I am very scared of him. He is scarier than the gander and Sultan.”

Mateja Stijačić serves in the church where the late Milutin, Tesla’s father, used to serve. Mr. Stijačić is one of the great contributors to celebrating the name and deeds of Nikola Tesla in our people. Through his efforts, a memorial plaque was placed on the house where Nikola Tesla was born, and grand festivities were organized in Smiljan and Lika.

Little Nikola Catches Frogs

One day, some village boys went to a nearby pond to catch frogs with hooks. Nikola was still little, so they did not want to take him along. Little Tesla was sad because he had never seen frog-catching, nor did he know what a hook looked like, so he was very interested in this hunting. Therefore, little Nikola sneaked up and sadly watched from a hiding place how the older children were casting hooks.