Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-03-31
THE CAT AND THE EAGLE
FABLE.


Lord Spencer was q great admrsr Of
Dr.. Franklin and never misssl sending
him a card when be intended = qu"rurn OF
learned ones at his table. The last time
that our philosopher enjoyed bis honor
was in I779. Just before he was driven
from England by Lord North. The con
versation taking turn on fables, Lord
Spencer obser,el, that i had certainly
been a very lucky thing, especially for the
young, that this mcde Of instruction hai
ever been hIl on, IS there was something |
in 4 wonderfully calculated 10 touch
favorils string with them, I. G., novelty
and ssfprise. They would listen, he said.
10 FIX. when they would not TO f.thef,
aud they wo"ld ht more apt TO remember
anything good told them by an owl or
crow, tilsn by an unels or an aunt. But
[ am afraid, continued his lor'lship, that the
age Of fables is past. Enp and P,elrus
among the anciehts,and Fontsine aud Gay
among the mndems have gwen US ~
many fine speeches from the birds and
beasts, that | suspect their budgets aIe
pretty nearly exhausted,
Tie company Concluded With his lord
ship. except Franklin, who was silent.
aWen. Ductor," said Lord Spencer.
"wha. is your opinion on tins suhjec1F
why, my lord" replied Franklin, "l
cannot saw that | have the honor to tb'nk
with YOU in this affair. The birds and
beasts have indeed said a great many
wise thing; but it is likely they will say
more vet before they are done. Nature,
am thinking, is not quite 80 easily ex
hausted as your Ioldsnp seems to imsg'
me"
Lord Spencer, evidently confused, bui
still with that countenancs OF PLEASURE
~hlch ,harac:elzes great suls When thel
meet superior gehious, exclaimed:
~WeIl, uoctOr, suppose you give US
fable | know you are goOd at an im
prumptu."
The company all seconded the motion
Franklin thanked them for the colnPIl
ment, but begged to be excused. Ihe'
would hear no excuse They new, the,
said, he could do it, and insisted he shonl'
yralifiy them. Finding all resistance IN
!, ,tfectusl,he drew bis pencil, and after scrlh
bling few minutes, reached it to SPeS
cer, saying:
# @Well, my lord, since you will have
y 50. here's a something fresh from the brsll
!. but I'm afraid you'll not hud A'oP
+ It,"
: &Read II, doctor, read itl' WAS the CT
a Of the nobls lord and bis friends. In
- mood, spitefuI and plearaut Franklin Ih'
n began:
- "Once upon time-heml-as an e
40 glp, in the iul pride of bis opinions. .soar'
!; over an humble faru-yard, dartng b
:. fery eyes around in search Of pigs lam
i or some such pretty ut-bt, what should
ef behold but a plump young rab't, as
:. thought, squatted among the weeds,
:, Dowr at once upon him, hs pounctd II
.. thunder, and bearing him alott in his u
,,o ons thus chuckled 10 himself with j
POUNDS, what a lucky dog am :-su
81 nice al b here, this lnOrnlDg, for
IN breakiustP
:" ;" "His Joy was but momentary; for
% Ia supposed rabbit happened to he stout c
ls who, splitting and raging, instantly stru
'.J no. his teeth and nails,Iike asy wild cat squ'
81, a. lug With fury, into the eagles thighs. T"
~ ~ king the blood aud feathers fy at DIRE
ne. full rate:
Us Hold! hold for mercy's sake, hol'
~, ~, cried the eagle, bis wings shlVerlug IN
ro air with very torment.
al ~ ~VllIiau! retorted the cat, with tlg
an w like gtowl, 'daIe YOU talk for mercy I"
%j ~. treating me thus, who never injured 20
w. -" 40, bless you. Mr.. Cat. is that yc
On, On reioined the eagle, mighty comPISls'
oh pun honor, l did hot intend sir.
thought it was only a rabbit hsd
= hold of-aud YOU know we are all ton'
l. rabbits. Do you suppose. my dear s'r'
- If / had but dreamt 1t WIS you, w
ever have touched the hair Of your he
No indeed; am not such fool Us all
but comes to. And now, my desr Mr. :
and come let's be-gooi friends again, ana
the let you go with all my heart.
'nce ayes, you'll let me go, scoundrei'
vou-here from the clouds - To break
nent " bone in my SKIN! No, william carry
o back, and put me down exactly whs;e !.
! in. found me, or LII tear the throat out o'
pom in II Inomeht:'
* Of "Wthout word Of reply, the e
men stopped at once from its giddy heights
con sailing humbIy down, with great con
gen sauce restored the cat to his SIMPLE L
] be yaro, there to sleep, or hunt bis rats
lber- uise at pleasure"
balls, A solemn silence ensued. AT le
:es of with deep prophetic sigh Lord 0P'
rn ln thus replied: -,
the "Ah! DIR. Franklin, I see the drif
'rthy your fable: and my fears have s''
II ef. made the application. God grant
sness Bririau may not prove the e"gle'
America the Cat" ,.
ID le, This fable paraphrased in the VIII
who pers of that day, concludes 10 this WI"
mong thus Brlta tt ought ID sesen' '>s'
: a.r. Her tslons in hare TO tx;
Rut in the scuffe it was fOud,
',e " The birI received dangerous Wou
eiorln Which, though pretending oit 70 u
under Still rankess in his Royal side'
; way,