Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-01
a Well Told Fable,

piled fable, will be Instructive aaA amusingt
to our young readers; and as big boys are
sometimes with a profit sent back 10 take
turn with the small boys, our adult readers
will lose nothing by joining the juveniles
in looking over the sable with its salutary
moral:
A rabbit reposing beneath hawthorn,
made this soliloquy: Dangers threaten
me on every side. am pinched with hun
ger, yet know not by what means to salts
fly it. If 60 forth into the field in quest
of nourishment the sportsman is there bent
upon my destruction; should he be absent
himself, his dogs are prowling about ready
there, dangers still impend; snares spring
up beneath my feet and traps offer decep-
tive invitation to decoy me in. But should
|, to avoid these threatening evils, direct
my steps to the retired shades of the noun
tain, there too, dangers await me; the wolf,
the fox, and all other carniverous beasts of
the desert are in motion ready to spring
upon me. Even should / escape these,
still In the dark solitude Of the cavern in |
which dwell, l am insecure; the feet that
carry me homo leave ATRIAL which will
lead the enemies of my life to the place of
my abode. Thus, wherever / am, destruc-
tion threatens to overtake me, and robs
me of my happiness whilst it fills me with
anxiety and grief. How different is my
lot to that of others! No one has SO ma
ny evils to ercounter-all have abundant
means for the enjoyment of happiness; all
are gay and joyful. Surely | am the most
wretched being in existence. See Rey-
nard as happy as happy can be. He, un-
acquainted with danger, has the means of
satisfying all his desires in perfect safety.
Before the peep of day he sallies forth in
quest of food, and ere long meets some
roost from which he is supplied with the
choicest fowl that ever wore feather
Then laden with his booty he retarns
home just as the beams of the morning
sun are playing in the dewy drops. If
weary, he can now repose in security if
, disposed for pleasure, he can now roam
over the plains, or through the forest re-
gardless of any danger. Were the hounds
to espy him, his feetness would soon carry
him far beyond the reach of their power; !;
if the sportsman, or traps, or snares are in
wait for him, his cunning will deliver him,
and he passes s-unharned. Thus free from
: misfortunes~he lives in the enjoyment of
uninterrupted happiness.
t The squirrel too, springing from tree to
, tree, and from branch to branch, riots in
! pleasure, and finds food on every bough
: clustering AROUND him. He apprehcnd.
# no aangef; the dog may bark at him, bui
G he barks in vain; the sportsman is easily
Il stunned; unceasing felicity attends him
Look around at every other creature, the
deer, the bear, the wolf, &C., happiness j.
their portion. am the only one who en-
joys no pleasure and whois filed with solici
itude. Twill, therefore, arise and travel tc
ascertain if | can, the secret of Others hap
n piness; and the lesson of experience which
l shall learn L will turn to my own advan.
J tage.
Accordingly, on beautiful morning in
% June, ere the sun had risen far above the
horizon, he left his lair, passing through
q thickets and open praries where many
blushing flower "wastes its sweetness on
. the desert air." As he journeyed, he cast
an anxious eye about, endeavoring to FIND
the dwelling of some tenant of the forest
At length, in secluded spot, he discover
, ed the habitation of fox encompassed by
tk92TTsring k2TSs g oaks and eyergreens Of yariou,
;, plant branches and hung in festoons, giving
to the whole scene charming aspect
Reynard had just awokc from nap h'
" had been taking after his mornings scout
when the rabbit entered. As soon as tn
~ customary civiIities and remarks upon tn
- state of the weather had passed, desul
tory chat commenced The rabbit, how
" ever, without making known his objec
;, artfully led the conversation to the snbjec
of the relative happiness and misery az
!, portioned to every mortal. This subjeC
> was not long continued until the rabbit re
= quested the fox to teach him the most ce
:" tain way of avoiding trouble and securin
!, happiness. To which Reynard replied
~ :" believe you could not have applied f
!. information on that subject to one lie
~ qualified TO ogiveitthan myself, not knowir
:. by experience what pleasure is, and new
- having been able to avoid trouble. kno
!. not how it is that | should be the most II
~ happy being in existence. With diffic,
'on ty can obtain sufficient supply Of foe
- When in search of it am in perpetu
~ dread of nay adversaries. Should in a
preaching roost, or flock of geese,
cape the vigilance of the snaF4ing cur, tn
rtv themselves by their gabbling apprise h
on of my visit, and thus am l driven aw
Lii. without nv booty. When go abroad
ing the sake of a little relaxation, either trs
uld that would crush me in amoment beset
EN- path, the gunner levels at me hisyeap
ms, !,h, of death, or the hounds pursue me to
hav sav very den. | am frequently hunted for
! ls- mere qualification of the sportsman, thou
esofEmy flesh is unfit for food. Calamities,
hey fine, threaten me whether at home or abro
ized Rejecting upon these things | am apt
ters despond, particularly when | contrast
the unfortunate condition with the happy {
nee 11e: of you and of every other animal t
.nd roams through the wild wcodss, For y
II = part you have every reasoH'to be conte
ran ed. Your wants are limited; you can P
. in unebsersed through grass and bramb
and thus enjoy perfect security no
molests you; you can repose in safety.
dent alone it seems am unfortunate. Yet
IS an ways endeavor to wear the appearance
PSln perfect happiness" Astonished at