The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-02
FOR THE MADIsoNIAN.
A WESTERN FABLE.

The Tiger, the Rat, the Monkey and the Nice.
twenty six mountains, and exercised dominion
three hills He held all the beasts of the forests in
subsection, but had attached te his household an enor
nous Norway Rat. This destructive creature had rem
dered important services to the Tiger in advancA
ing him to power and authority particularly after his
advancement in carrying distant messages, und finding
passages places than bigger creature could do
For the Norway Rats pry into every bodys business
and get into ships and steamboats, and carried to
all points with the commercial intercourse Of nations
This creature found his way TO every mountain and
hill Of the Tiger. But the Tiger having possess
cd himself Of power he thought, sufficient to dis
pense with the Rats forces withheld his usual noursh
ment for the Rat and his litter of sucklngs and pro-
cured and placed away, for friend and successor,
number of pies which the Rat and litter devoured--
This enraged the Tiger who caught and squeezed the
rat to death, and killed all his litter of young ones.
The Tiger that he must call to his aid a
Counsellor, to be his successor, and employed a
Monkey, who collected about 800 mice to watch over
the mountains and hills to keep the Kings Treasure
and things in order But at length the Tiger had be-
come old and infrm-rctrcd to valley to enjoy re-
pose in old age, and left the Monkey to succeed him
in the administration of public affars--when the
Monkey had his pies also prepared by his Coutiers
and placed away for safe keeping; and not having fed
the Mice they deserved they found their way into
his deposit, and nbbled holes into all his pics Fol-
lowing in the footsteps of his lusrous predecessor
the Monkey caught and devourcd onc-half the Mice
10 death; the others escaped with their tails OIL
This cnraged the Monkey, that forthwith he made
decree That for the future the duties entrusted to
the Raj and the Nice, should be performed by short
tailed animals and that he would carry his pies in his
own pockets" But before the decree was promugat-
ed he thought it most prudent to hold council of his
Counters, consisting of Bear WOLF and Fox
The decree had gone FORTH declaring the preference
the short-taled animals made known to the Coun-
Gil, and the Bear looking up in great expectation OF
taking the high station and there jealous
looks passing between the Wolf and the Fox, when
Renard whispered in the VOLTS the best method
of extricating the company present from all difficult
ties and having made the suggestion, seconded the
VOLTS proposition, that the Mice that escaped having
been defaulters all had short tails and could be
taken. The Monkey supposing this suggestion had
reference making the dangerous pcrsonages present
arbers in this matter, he therefore chose the RABBITS
they having short tails by nature and not by defaca
ton, could not be excepted to by the company present
keep his treasure and the pies were all confded to
their care; and Immediately being installed into
Office, and possessing themselves Of the spos," Re
nard gave significant ,ehisie, and all the Receivers
General Of Rabbits with short tails fed in all drcc
lions, carrying their plumber with them, leaving thu
poor foolish Monkey scratching his head and bewalng
his condtion---pieless and pennylessl When tn,
beasts OF the Mountains and Hills assembled ant
chose another to administer their affairs
Explanation. late President of the Unite,
States having by his veto crushed the Bank Of tn
United States employed State Banks to perform tn
necessary duties of deposit and disbursement Thcs
had been particularly patronrcd by the present ncum
bent and these having failed to effect the object,