Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-10

Once on time, the flea, the grasshopper,
and the wild goat, wished to see which of
them could jump highest, and they invited all
the world, and anybody else who wished to
come, to see the show; and they were three
proper Jumpers who met in the room.
''Indeed, l will give my daughter to him
who jumps highest, said the king, 'for it were
truly pity if these perSonages should jump
for nothing"
The flea came forth first he had elegant
manners and bowed on all sides, for he had
the blood of young lady in his veins, and
was accustomed to associate only with men,
and that makes a great difference.
Then came the grasshopper, who was in
deed noticeably larger, but he had fine fig
ure and wore green uniform which he had
inherited; people said of him that he belonged
to a very old family in the land of Egypt,
which had great reputation there; he was just
taken from the field, and had been placed in
a card house, which was built three stories
high, all out of figured cards with the painted
sides turned inwards; and there were doors
and windows cut in the very body of the queen
of hearts. II sing So" said he, ''that 16
crickets who have whistled from their child
hood and yet have obtained no card house, be-
came, from vexation, thinner than they were
before, when they heard me-
Both the flea and the grasshopper properly
made known who they were, and that they
thought themselves able to marry the prin-
cess.
The wild goat said nothing, but people said
of him that he thought so much the more
when the Watchdog only smelt of him, twas
certain that the wild goat was of good family.
The old senator, who by his silence had OBJ
tanned three orders, assured them that the wild
goat was gifted with prophecy; for one could
tell by his coat whether the winter would be
mild or severe, and that one could never tell
by the coats of those who make almanacs.
81 indeed say nothing" said the old king,
'but go on and think my own thoughts"
Now was the jump to be made The flea
jumped so high that nobody could see him, so
they declared he had not jumped at all; and
that was very wicked of them.
zaThe grasshopper jumped only half so high,
but he sprang right into the face of the king,
and the king said that was very unpleasant.
The wild goat stood still long time and
thought, so that, at last, people believed he
could not jump at all.
Il hope he has not become sick" said the
Watchdog, and then he smelt of him again.
All! then he jumped little sideways, jumped
right into the lap of the princess, who was
sitting on a low, golden cricket.
Then said the king, ''The highest spring is
that which springs up to my daughter, for
therein is subtlety; but wit is required for
that, and the wild goat has shown that he has
wit. He has brains in his head"
And then he received the princess.
81 jumped highest" said the flea. "But it
is all the same Let them have the goose
backed fellow, and bad luck to them! lump
ed highest, but in this world a body is neces-
sary in order that one may be scent"
And then the flea entered foreign military
service, and there people say he was killed.
The grasshopper sat down on grave and
thought how matters go in this world, and he
also said body is necessary! body is ne
cessary! and then he sang very sorroYtul
song; from which we have learned this story,
which we would gladly have invented, had it
been needful.