The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-28
CFrom the Charlottesville Chronicle
THE BAT.

i Once upon time fierce quarrel arose between
the birds and the beasts. The dispute was upon
this point: that The birds claimed the right of
roosting and flying in certain subterraneah caves.
The Magpie, The Blackbird, the Cockatoo, and
the Kite urged in number Of public meetings
the rights OF the birds; while the Fox the Hyena,
the Cur, and the Beaver were strenuous in urging
upon the beasts that the claims Of the birds should
not be allowed. The quarrel resulted in war, in
which prodiges Of valor were performed on both
sides and much blood was shed. But the beasts
were finally victorious This mainly owing
to the fact that the Jacka, the Wolf the Hound,
and the Rhiuoceros, who had promised 10 main
tain the pretent ntions of the Birds deserted their
allies when the battle commenced, and fought
against them The Jacka especially acted with
The most shameless peifdy, for he had warmly
pressed the birds to take up arms, and pledged
them the support Of all conservative beasts; he did
not distinguish himself on the field until the fight
was concluded, but he roamed among the wound
ed and dead with unexampled rage, stripping
them oftheir plumage, and plundering the camp.
The beasts laid very hard terms upon the birds,
who had been completely overwhelmed that
| they surrendered in discretion. The Eagle, the
Cock, the Falcon, the Robin, the Partridge, and
many Others among the birds fought with the
most conspicuous gallant,y, and continued to
| i4ht even after it evident that fighting was
| hopeless. Their plumage torn, covered with
wounds, they the last to surrender. The
Buzzard did not take part in the fight, but sailing
high in the air, he urged the birds never to give
up, and reproached them when exhausted nature
could fight no more. The Magpie grew silen, as
soon as the firing commenced. and was early
compelled 10y fatigue to take refuge in the top Of
"A tall poplar, from which, however, he did not
ia il to watch the combat with great sympathy
The Cuckatoo was disgusted with the dust,
that he too climbed up wall to avoid soiling his
brilliant coors. The Blackbird was prevented
from his position a member of the Ornithian
Assembly from going to the army. The Kite
fought with great bravery, and was as furious on
the field as he had been violent in council. The
Bat did not do any fighting, but exerted greatin-
fuence from the beginning of the war by series
of lectures which he delivered on the resources Of
the Ornihian Kingdom, and subsequently by
some admirable criticisms on the Art IF War.-
He delivered very fine discourse after the
Eagle had surrendered, to the effect that the
cause was so far from being lost, that the struggle
hnd just commenced-and that when the birds
were driven from the fields and the groves they
could take refuge in the air. lie manifested a
more unyielding spirit than any other bird, and,
indeed, it was suspected that he circulated reports
rejecting in very severe terms on both the Eagle
and the Cock for what was termed their dastardly
behavior.
The great mental activity Of the Bat continued
to make itself felt on the birds after the whole
thing was over, in keeping ~ tEeir courage, and
dssuading them from eating dirt. The first
proposal of he beasts as a basis Of peace, was
that the wings of the birds should he clipped
The rv spirit Of the Bat resented this with great
warmth and bis views made such an impression
on the birds that they positively refused to sub
init to any such operation. But unfortunately
the Bear was sent down into the realms Of tho
birds with considerable force, and with orders
not only 10 clip their wings. but to pull out
number of pumes from their tails. The Bat OF
course had no plumes to lose, and his peculiar
habits made it difficult TO draw bead on him
when the military arrived.
The beasts, irritated hy the bitter invective Of
the Hyena, avaied themselves Of the delay on
the part Of the birds in closing up the pacifcation,
to impose conditions. one of which was that
the Magpie should have his tongue cut out, and
tha, the Bat should not fly about the Towers Of
State The Bat induced the binds TO give a per-
emptory rejection to this, the ground that it
would be a Stigma upon the honor Of the birds to
sign any such article. The Parliament of the
Beasts took this re- lection in great dudgeon, and
made i, the prrtexr for the mott violent meas.
ures. They sent the Bear back TO take military
possession Of bird land, di-persed the Ornihian
Legislature, and uprooted their whole civil poty.
Now said the beasts-"Submit to these terms
ard If you do not submit TO this, we will come
and cut down your groves, and break up your
nests, and give your land to the Bugs"
The Bat counseiIed inacion. His idea was
this; that the Elephant, who was Chief Justice OF
the Beast, would enj"in the Bear from carrying
out the order Of he Beast. Congress The Eagle
and the Cock recommended earnestly TO the birds
| 10 take the best terms they could get, and TO
close the matter speedily as possible, as the
| Jackal and llyena were stirring up the beasts
| to confiscate bitdsnd with more ado, and give
it TO the bugs.
! But. said the Bat, II urged you to go to war
in the beginning; urged You to reject the terms
| Of peace offered before the battle was ended;
urged YOU to take refuge in the air after you
driven from the trees; urgei you not to allow
your wings TO lie clipt: urged you not to agree
! that the magpie aud myself should be singled
out for punishment; and now | urge you to-let
them give your land to the Bugs"
| "And what will become OF you 7" said the
Kite.
As for me-" said the Bat, Il am PhiIoso-
pher, and my fayotte haunts are amid ruins and
the desnlat- places Of ear,h-snd, besides, on my
mothers side [ am Mouse, one Of the most in.
fiuen,ia families in Beast land"
A man in Indiana who had been overpaid Eve