Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-04-07
The Cat and the EagIe--A Fable.
BY DIR. FRANKLIN.


Lord Spencer was a great admirer of DIR
Franklin, and never missed sending him card
when he intended to have quorum of learned
ones at his table The last time that our philos'
opher enioyed this honor was in 1775, just be-
fore he was driven from England by Lord North
The conversation taking turn on fables, Lord
Spencer observed, that it had certainly been q
very lucky thing, especially for the young, that
this mode of instruction had ever been hit on,
as there was something in it wonderfully calcu-
lated to touch a favorite string with them, l. O.,
novelty and surprise. They would listen, be
said, to fox, when they would not to father,
and they would be more apt to remember any
thing good told by an owl or crow, than by an
uncle or an aunt. But am afraid, continued
his lordship, that the age of fables is past. E-
SOD and Phedrus among the ancients, and Fon-
taine and Gay among the moderns, have given
us SO many fine speeches from the birds and
beasts, that suspect their budgets are pretty
nearly exhausted.
The company concurred with his lordship,
except Franklin, who was silent.
swell, DOCTOR" said Lord Spencer, "what is
your opinion on the subect9"
"Why, my Lord" replied Franklin, 81 cannot
say that have the honor-to think with you in
this affair. The birds and beasts have indeed
said a great many wise things but it is likely
they will say q great many more yet before they
are done. Nature, am thinking, is not quite
so easily exhausted as your lordship seems to
imagine"
Lord Spencer evidently confused, but still
with that oountenance of pleasure which char
aoterizes great souls when they meet superior
genius exclaimed-"Well, doctor, suppose you
give US fable9 know you are good at an
impromptu." The company all seconded the
motion. Franklin thanked them for the COM
plment, but begged to be excused. They would
hear no excuse. They knew, they said, be could
do it, and insisted he should crafty them
Finding all resistance Intellectual, he drew his
pencil, and after soribling few minutes, reached
it to Spencer, saying-"Well, my lord, since you
will have it so, here's something fresh from
the brain, but I'm afraid you'll not find Esop
in it,"
s.Read it, DOCTOR read it! |" was the cry of the
noble lord and his friends. In mood, spiteful
and pleasant, Franklin thus began-"Once up
on time-hem las an eagle, in the full pride
of his pinions, scared over an humble farm-yard,
darting his fiery eyes around in search of q pig,
q lamb, or some such pretty tit-bit, what should
he behold but plump young rabbit, as he
thought, squatted among the weeds. Down at
once upon him, he pounced like thunder, and
bearing him aloft in his talons, thus chuckled to
himself with joy-"ZounGs, what lucky dog l
am !-suoh nice rabbit here, this morning, for
my breakfastw
His Joy was but momentary; tor the sup
posed rabbit happened to be stout cat, who,
splitting and raging, instantly struck his teeth
and nails like any wild cat squalling with 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 shivering in the air with
very torment Hs
"Villian !" retorted the cat, with tiger-like
growl, "dare you talk of mercy after treating me
thus, who never injured you?"
20, bless you, Mr. Cat, is that youa" rejoin-
ed the eagle, mighty complaisant; n
"Pon honor, did not intend, sir. | thought
it was only rabbit had got hvld of-and you
know we are all fond of rabbits. Do you sup
pose, my dear sir, that if l had but dream't it
was you, would ever have touched the hair of
your head2 No, indeed; 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 60 with all my heart"
''Yes, you'll let me go, scoundrel, will you
here from the clouds-to break every bone in
my skin No, william, carry me back, and put
me down exactly where you found me, or I'll
tear the throat out of you in moment"
"Without word of reply, the eagle stopped
at once from his giddy height, and sailing hum
bly, down, with great complaisance restored the
cat to his simple tarm-yard, there to sleep, or
hunt his rats and mice at pleasure"
A solemn silence ensued At length, with q
deep prophetic sigh, Lord Spencer thus replied :
-a1h! DR.. Franklin, Isee the drift Of fyoar ia
bic and my fears haze already made the apph-
cation. God grant that Britain may not prove
the eagle, and America the cat" This fable,
parsphrased in the Wing papers of that day,
concludes in this way:
.''Thus Britain thought in seyenty-six
Her talons in hare to fix;
But in the scufie it was found,
The bird received dangerous wound,
Which, though pretending oft to hide,
Still rankles in the Royal side"