Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-12-18
From the Lutheran and Visitor

all fond OF stories, know, O: ii have
concluded to tell you one or two in
this letter.
I Did you ever see fox expect
some of You have not, especially some
of my little city friends, for foxes dc
not live in cities Il but out in the fields
and woods, where geese, and ducks
and pigs, and chickens, and lambs
are plentiful.
Well now for those who have not
seen fox, will try to give yoa Nh
idea how ono looks. Did you ever
see small dog of q reddish-yel,
low color, with a sharp nose and
bushy tail? "Certainly" you say, 81
have seen many q dog like that, why
is not that for all the world, the way
our "Fido" or "Carlo,' looks ?''
Well then you have pretty good
idea of how the "red fox" as it is
called, looks.
There ia the red for, TIE gray for, and
! have seen it somewhere stated that,
In extreme southern latitudes, the fox
becomes almost black through the in
| fiucnce of the climate.
Foxes are fond of good things; be-
lieve children arc TOO, and so arc some
6t9 people, especially preachers, at least,
that is the general notion about them.
Well, foxes are great lovers Of poul-
try of all kinds, and breakfast on n
nice fat pig, Or young lamb, with
evident satisfaction.
But you say, "all this is Natural
History" and we get sick enough of
that at school. thought you promis-
ed to tell. us story OF two" Well, l
am going to tell you real story, a
for story, but wanted you to know
something of the cunning fellow be-
fore I gave it. BY the way, whom
did our Saviour call fox in scripture,
and why?
But stop, or I will get off the sub
ject, or story again. Listen then.
A few days ago, 1 was returning
when reached tho stage depot, about
day light, and found that delightful
conveyance was not due for nm hour,
l concluded to walk on in the diroc-
tion Of Staunton, as 1 would get
enough of the fun of riding in the
sage, any way. So I travelled on and
home from visit to my mother, and
had made 6 miles when the stage
came numbering up.
"But what about tho fox story ?'
Oh yes, nm wandering again. We'll
as vas walking along, enjoying the
bracing air of that frosty morning,
just as the first golden strealss of the
sun began to peer over the hills, saw
fine red fox start, very much frigh-
tened, out Of fence corner on my
right, not moro thnn twenty feet
ahead of me. ..
watched for long distance, as he
ran in real torly gruee over the field.
Then I determined to reconnoitcr,
as general would say, to see what
Reynard, for this is what tho fox is
sometimes chilled, was doing there
that time in tho morning, and why
he let me get so near him before he
ran. And what do you think I saw?
A nice little pig, that some of my lit
tie readers would have been 80 glad
to have had for pet.
But Mr.. Fox wanted it for his
breakfast, and so he stole it from it's
nice warm nest, and took it there to
eat. Though it was quite dead and
bloody, yet he had not eoten much of
it when came sauntering along, and
sent him off hungry I expect.
"What. thief" you say, "he was"
Yes, and his conduct on being discov.-
cred, reminded me of something's I
have seen, not among the foxes.
Hoseemed to feel guilty, and SO ho
scarnpored of at great rate; when
he was discovered. Do any Of my
little readers know any thing of
which this fox's conduct reminds
them2 Can't you. think ?, Well I
think can tell them Of something
very much like it. Don't you renem-
Der, Fannie, we'll no, I expect Fannie
g u = 4.