The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-05-01
From tho Atlantic Monthly for May J
Shall We COmprOsmi

In that period OF remote antiquity whe'
all birds Of the air and beasts Of the fielt
we're able to talk. it befell that certain
shepherd suffered many losses through the
constant depredations Of . wolf. Fear ine
at length that his means Of subsistence
would be quite taken away, he devised I
powerful trap for the creature. and set i
with wonderful cunning. He could hardly
sleep that night for thinking of the matter
aud early next morning took stout club in
his hand. and set forth to learn of his success
when, 10 I on drawing near the spot, there
he saw the wolf, sure enough, huge saw
age. fast held in the trap.
"Ah," cried he. with triumph, "now l
have got you -
The wolf held his peace until the other
was quite near. and then in a tone Of the
ssverest moral rebuke. and with a voice
that wss made quite low and grave with its
weight Of Judicial reprehension. said,-
"lsi it you, then Can il be one wearing
the form OF man, who has laid this wicked
plot against the peace. nay. as infer from
that club, against the very life. of sn inno-
cent creature -? Behold what suffer, and
how uniuslly IL Of oil animals, whose life.
--Ihe sad state l am now in constrains me
against uodessy to Say it, whose life is
too, uugrateful biped. who have watched
your flock through SO many sleepless nights,
lest some il-disposed dog might do harm
70 the helpless sheep and lambs r.
The shepherd, one Of the simplest souls
that ever lived. was utterly confounded
by this reproof. and hung his head with
shame, unable. for a season, TO utter q
word in his own defence. At length he
managed TO stammer,-
II prsy your pardon. brother. but but
in truth | have lost a great many lambs
lately. and began to think my little ones at
home would starvc."
How harder than stone is the heart of
man. r murmured the wolf. as if to him
self.
Then raising his voice, he went on to
say.--I despair of reaching your conscience
nev vssthelsss will speak as if had hope |
You never paid me anything for protecting
your flock it was on my part pure labor
{ love; and yet. because l cannot quite
scceed in guarding it against all the bad
sgs that are about. you would take my
kr
And the creature put on such look Of
NIX suffering innocence that the shepherd
~ touched to the very heart. aud felt more
gty and abashed than ever. He there
fo said at once
Brother. I fear that 1 have done you
Mg: and if You will swear to mind your
o. affairs, and not prey upon my dock,
wat once set you tree" G+
MY character ought to be q sufficient
gun,y." answered the qusdruped, with
m, dignity a but submit. since must.
tour inject suspicious. and promise as
yoequire."
Sitting up his paw, he sworc solemn
ly. all the gods that wolves worship. t.
kesis pledge. Thercupon the other Sc,
hiuse, with many apologies and profess !
siotf confidence aad friendship. Oily a
fewys, however. hal passed before the
sherd, happening 10 mount a knoll. saw /
At ale distance the seli-same volt eager
" ouriug the warm remains of a lamb |
.llAin villain T. he shouted, in great
wr, :" is this the way you keep your
oa, Did not you swear to mind your
owusiness 2"
am mindiug it," said the wof. with a
pri.it is nv business to eat lambs it
shl be yours not TO believe in wolves
prses."
saying. he seized upon the last frag
m Of the lamb. and ran away as fast as
hsgs would carry him.
foyai.-Shepherds who make compro-
rs with wolves sell their mutton at an
efedingly cheap market.
.Jow just saoh short witted shepherds are
re. the people OF these free American
States, invited by numbers of citizens to
h-.-~-- .hss such. do say? A thous-
ari .u.-s nJrs silly than such. Our ma
ti.. .. wolf meets US with jaws that drip
blood and eyes that glare hunger for more
Instead Of protesting sanctity aud in ,ocence.
i. only howls immitigable hate and steadfast
resolution to devour. "Give me, ii howls.
Z" half the pasture and flock for my own,
with, Of course. . supervision over The rest.
and Q child or two when l am dainty; and
I will be content,-until want more l.
In speaking Of our national WOLF" We
are using no mere rhetoric, bu, are. in
truth. getting at the very heart Of the mat
ter. This war, in It's final relations to hu-
man history. is an encounter between cp
posing tendencies in man,-bstween the
bess.. Of prey that is in him and is always