Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-05-02
rApIEOF THE LION AND THE
ASSES.

Once upon a time the smaller beasts were sci
upon by the Iarger ones, and we're IN danger Oh
heipo DESTROYED. WhereupoR council OF all
the beasts efithe field was held for their mutual
safety When tie lions saw this great con-
course of all beasdom, their heai ts failed them'
and they weekly Joined the council. But Inc
fox, seeing the tylans of the forest turn Phllan'
thrUnists. suspected treachery and slipped away
the more sensible beasts followed bis exam
nlc till none were left but the lions and the
ssses. who were wonderfully taken with the
rnagnsylVnty al the masters OF Inc he4u' he
lions then proposed that they should enler lh'o
between the lions and the asses for their mutual
protection, and the vindicatlon OF the Ights OF
all the beasts of the forest. To this the asses
gladly ussented-but the jov was somewhat
ebatcd when the lions reserved 70 themselves
the right of eating all the Bufaldes, as they
were an ugly race Of beasts, with very peculiar
hair about their heads, which made 1T plain that
nature had marked them for ruin The asses
looked grave, the force of the reasoning not
being apparent-besdes if they feline great re-
morse of conscience, they could not suppress
some sensations OF shame for the inconsistency
oftheir professions and act. The council was
about to be dissolved, without any satisfactory
result, when an old lion reneneTed his proies-
sons OF philanthropy, and conceded hy saying
that nasmuch as the asses lived IN cold coul-
try. they were entitled to all the skins OF The
buffaloet for clothing. With this concess on
then consciences OF the asses were qulled' ii
was further agreed: that II buffalo esctpes
, North into the pastures OF the asses, that hc
should be returned by the lions'-but when an
, ass venture South into the domml9nS OF lhe lions
he was also 70 be eaten under the pretence that
he was interferin with the RuHaloes, and making
them a less easy prey to the lions
This went hard with the kindred and friends
r If the asses who were eaten, for they could MOI
u well perceiye the advantage of being destroyed
> bv lions rather than other beasts -bnt the che
: asses who had monopoIized ak the skins, lal'
= book their long ears, and loudly talked OF lh'
n glorious union. ...t...I
I" ,Bv and by it came to pass, that notwi !hstand
inc lie large nnmber of bufaloes eaten the.
!, greatly ,pcrcased-so much so as to endange
" the safety. of the lions And the lions were sore
a " afraid-for wrong can make towards even o
- lions And the lions said to themselves, Their
=, are immense pasture west, owned by the deer
!" let us make war and take them. But lest IN
!. beasts NAV unite against US, let US pick quar-
rel with the deer-and as IN the old story OF IN
,rI lamb. we will swear that they " muddied tn
10 water"
- And they made war upon the deer, and man
~ asses and some lions were slain-but the dee
=. we're driven of aud the land taken. Now ther
was controversy as to who should occupy IN
i. new conquests, the lions and the Buttaloes,
of the asses-and great council was again he
=. The lions contended that they had right to OF
a. cupy the common lands with their property, III
% buffaloes; tkat the buttaloes were as good I
be asses--at least that large portion Of them wi
, made the skins into clothing for the chief asse
I'm The asses reioired the admission of the OF
or was the exclusion of the other; that the buff
lie oes could live upon short grass and fare tn
he would turn the stomach of an ass and beside
ar. the insolence of lions was nsufferabie, even
m an ass. The lions had already claimed il
ed mense sastures, bought by common blood al
llv treasure, and the working asses began alreat
= to weary of an alliance with brought nothiI
ler but burtheGs and blows aud insults.
inc The lions appealed to the bowels of compa
his sion Of the asses; the butfal0es were getting
be numerous for safety; their feeding groun
Dns must DO enlarged, or bulfalodom must come
Cd. an end.
These asses did not care; it was wicked
of eat buffaloes. The lions: it is right. The a,
for es: it is curse. The lions 1t is blessir
but The asses it shall not extend. The lions;
and shall. The lions: it shall live. The asses
ion shall die.
ous The war of words waxed warm; blows We
ay- fercely threatened, and the Union was in de
ito ger" -,
.ov. Now there was one old lion, who was not