Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-04-09
The Cat ard Eag!C.


last time that our philosopher enjoyed this
honor, was in 1875, just before he was
driven from England by Lord North. The
conversation taking a turn on fables, Lord
Spencer observed, that ii had certainly
been a very lucky thing, especially for the
Young, that this mode of instruction had
ever been hit on, as there was something
in it wonderfully calculated to touch . IA
vorte string within them, /. c. novelty
and surprise. They would listen, he
said, to a fox, when they would not to 4
father, and they would be more apt 10 re-
member any thing good told them by an
owl or a crow, than by an uncle or an
aunt. But am afraid, continued his lord
ship, that the age Of fables is past. Esop
and Ph@drus among the anclents, and
Fontaine and Gay among the moderns,
have given us 50 many fine speeches from
the birds and beasts, that | suspect their
budgets are pretty nearly exhausted.
The company concluded with his lord
ship, except Franklin, who was silent.
We'll, doctor said lord Spencer, what
is your opinion on this subject!'
why, my lord replied Franklin, |
cannot say that have the honor to think
with You in this affair. The birds and
beasts have indeed said great many wise
things but it is likely they will say
great many more yet before they arc done.
Nature, | am thinking, is not quite SO en-
sily exhausted as your lordship seems TO
imagine
Lord Spencer, evidently confused, but
still with that countenance Of pleasure
which characterizes great souls, when
they meet superior genius, cXclalmcd-
We'll, doctor, suppose yOu give us a IA
bic | know that you are good at an I'M
promptu.' The company all seconded
the motion. Franklin thanked them for
the compliment, but begged to be excused.
They would hear to no excuses They
knew, they said, he could do it, and Insis-
ted he should crafty them. Finding all
resistance Intellectual, he drew his pencil,
and after scribtIing few minutes, reach
ed it to Spencer, saying-'WeIl, my lord,
since YOU will have it so, here's some. /.
thing fresh from the brain, bat | am afraid
you'll not find Esop IN IT,
Read it, doctor, read it,! was the CRY
of the noble lord and his friends. In a
mood, spritcful and pleasant, Franklin
thus began-'Once upon time-hem!-I
as an Eagle in full pride for his plrlons,
scared above an humble farm yard, dart
ing his fiery eyes around in search OF
PIC, a lamb, or some such pretty tit bit,
what should he behold but plump young
rabbit, as he thought, squattcd among the
weeds. Down at once upon linn, he .
pounccd like thunder, and bearing him
aloft in his taIons, thus chuckled to him
self with ioy--Zounds, what lucky dog
| am! Such nice rabbit here, this NOR
ming, for my breakfast!
His Joy was but momentary: for the
supposed rakbit happened to be a stout
cat, who, splitting and squaIing with rage,
Instantly stuck his teeth and nails, like
fury, into the Eagles thighs, making the
blood and feathers fly at a dreadful rate.
Hold hold for mercy's sake hold :
cried the Eagle, his wings shlyerlng IN the
air with very torment.
'Villainn retorted the cat, with tiger
like growl, dare YOU talk Of mercy after
treating me thus
%. God bless you, Mr.. Cat, is that
YOU !? rejoiued tho Eagle, mighty com
pIaisant; pom honor, did not intend sir.
| thought it was only q rabbit had got
hold of-and you know we are all fond
of rabbits. Do you suppose, my dear sir,
that if | had but dreampt it was you,
would ever have touched hair Of your
head! No, indeed, am not such fool
as all that comes to. And now, my dear
Mr.. Cat, let us be good friends again and
I'll let YOU 90 with all my heart.
Yes, you'll let me 90, will you-herc
from the clouds-to break every single /
bone in my skin No, villain, carry me
back, and put NE down exactly where
YOU found me, or | will tear your throat
out Of you in moment
Without word of reply, the Eagle |
stopped at once from his giddy height, and
sailing down, with great comPlaisance.
restored the cat to his simple iarm-yard. ,
there to sleep, or hunt his rats and mice
at pleasure
A solemn silence ensued. At length,
with deep prophetic sigh. lord Spencer
thus replied: 'Ah, DR.. Franklin, | see
the drift of your fable; and my fears have
already made The application. God grant
that Britain may not prove the eagle, and
America the cat This fable paraphrased
in the whig papers Of that day, concludes
in this way:
Thus Britain thought in seveniy-siH,
Her taIons in hare TO tx;
But in The scufle il was found,
The bird received dangerous wound.
Which, though pretending oft 10 hide,