The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-04-03

10 Wnlcn the laDnrerS had Set ire, there
rose up a slender column Of smoke. Medic
Pollito drew near, and saw tiny flame
Pickering from time to time among tht
ashes.
'.Dear Medic Pollito," said the littl,
Flame, thou art come in the very nick O.
time to save my life. am at my last gasI
for want OF fuel | cannot think whal
has become of my cousin, the Wind, for il
is he who always helps me out Of my trou
bic. Do bring one or two little straws tc
revive me"
'.What business is itof mine replied
Medic Pollito. "You may go out if you
like, and welcome. | don't want YOU"
Who knows but you may want me
some day." answered the Flame. enc
one can say, There shall be nv harm hap
pen unto mt"
Now, then said the cross creature,
Unjust You always be preaching? Take
that, then y
And SO saying. he covered him with
ashes; after which he began to crow, as
usual, as though he had done some great
deed.
Medic ollto at last reached the capt
tai, and passed in front Of church, which
they told him was St. Peters. There
upon he posted himself in the door
way, and crowcd until he nearly cracked
his voice, for nothing in the world but to
annoy the Saint and to nave the pleasure
Of dlsobeying his mother.
When he came to the palace he wanted
to goim and see the King and Queen but
the sentinel cried out to him, keep off.
Thereupon he turned aside and went
through buck door into !, large room,
where he saw a great many people passing
to and fro. He asked who they were,
and was informed they were his Ma
jesty's cooks. Instead of running away,
as his mother had advised him to do, in
he marched with head and chest erect.
Immediately one Of the solutions laid
hands on him, and wruny his neck in a
twinkling.
Halo, there, said he, bring me some
hot water, thai | may pluck this fowl"
Water, my beautiful crystal LADY,
cried Medic Pollito, do not scald me, /
ertreat you. Have pity on me"
''Hadst thou pity on me, when asked
thy help, ill-natured bird z replied the
Water, boiling with indignation, and
splashing him from head to foot, while
the solutions left him without single
feather to cover him.
+ Then the cook laid mold Of him and
put him Oh the spit.
Fire, brilliant Fire !" cried the IN
happy bird, .'thou who art SO powerful
and SO glorious, have pity on my state,
draw in thy flames, and burn me not.
Wretch! p replied the Fire, show dar-
est thou appeal to me, after having tried
to smother HE on the pretext that thou
coudst never need my help? Come near
and see what can do! =
Aud not content with browning him,
he burnt him as black as a cinder.
When the cook saw him in this state
he took him by the leg and slupg him out
Of the window.
Immediately the Wind caught hold of
him.
"Wind!' cried the Medic Pollito, s'my
dear and much honored Wind thou who
reignest over all and obeyest none, might
lest among the many, have compassion Oh
me, and leave me alone on this ru Dish
heap!'
'.Leave thce!" roarcd the Wind snatch
ing him away in an eddy and whirling
him through the air Ikea shuttle cock Z;
No, never as long as live !"
lie sat Medic Polito down on the top
of steeple. St. Peter stretched out
his hand and fastened him there From
that time forth he occupies this post, black
ened, fattened, and teatherless, flashed
by the rain, aud pulled at by the Wind,
from whom he is always trying to protect
his TAIL
He is no longer called Medic pollito,
but Weather cock. But be it known to
you all, that there he still is, reaping the
just reward for his disobedience, his pride,
aud his Immature