The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-05

emerald eyes; wished to have pair; and
from that time I have lost my sight, Icannot
even tell whether they are as pretty as people
say. Would you be so good a. give me your
opinion on the subject? Just look at me, and
say il you think these real emeral eyes suit
the charactf- of my face?" s.
] Almeric was abort to reply that hei eyes
were very beautiful, in order to console her
for her loss Of sight; but the medicant was
fpitiless. as8 sei,ilst
"Your eyes are very ugly" he said, in !
harsh tome
s.Impossible!' the cat replied, 'sthey must
be most brilliant" f.s Na
II "Not at ALP said the old man, ssnothing is
brilliant out Of place. Take my advice; hide
them; put on a pair of spectacles; and if ever
you have emeralds you want to wear, make
rings Of them, and not eyesf' h4 g
And the yorng stranger could not forbear
laughing at this reflection. ..
i, THE EAGLE. -. I
1 On leaving the dining hall, they entered q
superb court, paved in mosaic, and surrounded
with elegant columns.
In this place they observed bird. whose
plnmage was that Of an eagle, but whose timid
manners bore very little the appearnce Of a
bird Of prey.
s.'There's an eagle now, ''said The mendicat
ssthat dosen't seem particularly wise. Who
are you, old feilow?" he ad led, addressing the
bird. "I am al eagle bird Of prey former.
ly turkey cock, a domestic bird. Iwi.hed
to rise higher in the scale. and leave the old
farmyard behind, where contempt was cur,
rent cry; but repent having made the change
can't make up my mind to devour them"
"Whom?" cried eric,-sdeyour who?'
"Alas, those simple hens; who were alway.
so kind and attentive to me-"
.Stupidp' cried the mendicant, "why did you
change into an eagle?-be1ter be turkey that
it loved than timid eagle"
And the young stranger could not forbcai
laughing at this reflection.
THE BEAR.
In one Of the corners Of the court there was
bear, seated on a bench, his head buried in
his chest; and wrapped into deep meditation.
@Look at that fellow now,n said the mendi-
cant; .she dosen't give me at all the idea Of
knowing his trade OF a bear any better than
the rest. How came be into this place? What
sort Of vanity could have induced him to adopI
the profession of a bear? warrant you he
had better one before"
The mendicant drew near the melancholy
beast. s.E
.sBear," said he. tswhat were you before
your metamorphosis?-bsf you were a bear.
I mean?"
81 was an apothicary's boy"
"An aporheeary's byp' repeated Almeric
and The mendicant together.
'Yes, doctors boy" answered the bear;
'but that position was a perfect laughing
stock. Mankind pursued me with irony; jeer-
ed at me in songs, laughed at me upon the
stage. i wished to escape from it all: Ibecame
bear; hut am bored to death; was never
intended for solitude"
aDonkey?n cried the mendicant in rage;
'why dio Won give up your old positionp You
might, at least, throug h its means, have aveng-
ed yourself on men you hated; for you DON'T
appear remarkably learned. and nigh, have up-
set half the universe with your drugs aid
draughts y
The mendicant was still talking when gi-
gantc elephant attracted his attention in the
neighboring comt.
"Aa elephant'' lie exclaimed; "who could
have wished to be changed into an elephant?
What will you bet that he was not an an. be-
fore?''
Ard the young stranger could not forbear
laughing at this reflection. ~ I'd
THE ELEPHANT. la nr
The old man, however. made mistake; it
was not an ant which HAD wished to be chan.
ged into an elephant, it was rabbit. He had
jnst obtaired this INNER ce favor, with which
he was still pnfFedup. II
He stalked heavily along with an important
look, and received with an air Of superiority
the c. mpliments which each addressed to him
on his last promotion.
The mendicant, having learned his story
went up to him in familiar way. {
sHow dye do little rabbit, he said; show
do you fad yourself in your great coat?"'' "
The elephant was shocked at this tone Of
levity, but being as yet unsccustomed to make
use Of this trick he did not think Of resenting it
go verv we1l,3 he renlied Gas vou aee.,,