The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-04-08
The Cat and the Eagle--A Fable.
BY DIR. FRANKLIN.

BY DIR. FRANKLIN.
Lord Spencer was great admirer Of DR..
Franklin, and never missed sending him .
card, when he entertained a quorum Of learn.
ed ones at his table. The last time that our
phiiosoper enjoyed this honor was in ITS,
Just before he was driven from England by
Lord North. The conversation taking turn
on fables, Lord Spencer observed, that it had
certainly been 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 a favorite
string with them. !. e. novelty and SURPRISE
They would listen, he said, to fox, when
they would not to father. and they would be
more apt to remember anything good told them
by an owl or a crow, than they would an un-
Gle or aunt. But am afraid, continued his
lordship, that the age OF fables is past. Esop
and Phedrus among the ancients, and Fon-
taine and Gay among the noderns, have given
US so many fine speeches from the birds. and
beasts, that Isuspect their budgets are pretty
nearly exhausted.
The company coincided with his lordship,
except Franklin, who was silent. aerga
'sWell, DOCTOR" said Lord Spencer, "what
is your opinion on this snbiect?" rt
'Why. nv lord" replied Franklin, 'sr can
not say that I Lave 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 are done. Nature, am thinking,
is not quite so easily exhausted as your lord
ship seems 10 imagine"
Lord Spencer, evidently confused, but with
that countenance of pleasure which charac-
terizes great souls when they meet superior
genius, exclaimed-'Well, doctor suppose
you give us fable? know you are good at
an impromptu." The company all seconded
the motion. franklin thanked them for the
compliment, begged to be excused. They
would hear no excuse. They knew, they said,
he could do it, and insisted he should crafty
them. Finding all resistance Intellectual, he
drew his pencil, and after scribbling few
minutes, reached it to Spencer, saying-"Well,
nv lord, since you will have it so here's
something fresh from the brain, but Pm afraid
you'll not find Esop in it.''
"Read it. Doctor, read ito was the cry Of
the noble lord and his friends. In mood
splteful and pleasant, Franklin thus began:
"Once upon time-hem-as an eagle, in the
full pride of his pinions, scared over an hum
BILE farm-yard, darting his fiery eyes around
in search of a pig, lamb, or some such pret-
ty tit-bit, what should he behold but plump
young rabbit, as he thought, squatted among
the weeds. Down at once upon him he poun-
ced like thunder, and bearing him aloft in his
talons, .hus chuckled to himself with joy,
s.Zounds, what lucky dog am; what nice
rabbit here this morning for my breakfast!"-
His Joy was but momentary, for the supposed
rabbit happened to be stout cat, who, spit
ting and raging, instantly struck his nails and
teeth, like any wild cat squailing with fury,
into the eagles thighs, making the blood and
feathers fly at a.dreadful rate.
"Hold, bold, for mercy's sake, hold 20 cried
the eagle, his wings shivcring in the air with
torment.
'.Villainr' retorted the cat, with tiger-like
growl, "aare you talk of mercy after treating
me thus, who never injured you?"
so, bless you, Mr.. Cat, is that you?" re-
Joined the eagle, mighty complaisant; sspon
honor, l did not intend it sir. thought it was
only rabbit l had got hold of-and You
know we are all fond of rabbits. Do you sup
pose, my dear sir, that it had bu, dream't
it was You, Iwould ever have touched the hair
of your head? No, indeed: I am not such
fool as all that comes to. And now, my dear
Mr.. Cat. come let's be good friends again, and
| I'll let you go with all my heart.".
"Yes. you'll let me go. scouLdrel, will You
here from the clouds-to break every bone
| in my skin! No, villain, carry me back, All
put me down exactly where you found me, OF
I'll tear the throat out OF you IN moment"
without word of reply, the eagle ssoop-
ed at once from his giday height, and sailing
hunbly down, with great compiaisance re-
stored the cat to his simple farmyard, there to
sleep. or hunt his rats and mice at pleasure"
A solemn silence ensaed At length with
deep prophetic sigh, Lord Spencer thus re-
plied:--"Ah! DR.. Franklin see the drift Of
your fable. and, fears have already made the
application. God grant that Britain may not
prove the eagle, and America to cal.o This
fable, paraphrased in the Wing rapers Of that
day, concludes in this way:
"Thus Britain thought In sevsnty-six
Her taons in a hare to dx;
But In the scufne II was found,
The bird received . dangerous wound,
which, though pretending on 70 hide
Still rankes In his Royal side" ss.aa I
A sturdy-looking man in Clsysla6d. short
time since, while busily snkaked In eowhiding
A DANDY, who had jnsuIiSd his danxhter, wheS