Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-01-11
The Foxes and the Bear.

cave. They lived together pcaceably for many
years, the foxes finding the bear of great adj
vantage to them, for he contributed more than
the foxes did to the common support, and he
did the most Of the fighting in a great battle
that they once had with the Lion. But at last
there arose family quarrel, and it came about
in this way When the winter came it was the
habit Of the bear to stop work and to spend the
whole of the time in the cave sucking his paws,
and in this way he enjoyed himself hugely
The foxes seeing how we'll the bear got on with
out work, and how ne enjoyed himself, COM
menced sucking their paws, but some how or
other they found that they could not make a
living in that way, as the bear could, and that
on the whole it didn't pay; so they had to give
it up and go out into the cold and forage for a
living as usual. Then they began to envy the
bear, because he appeared to enjoy himself and
TO live so much easier than they did, and took
up a violent hatred to him just because he suck
ed his paws They passed law that the suck
ing of pawsshould be abolished forever amongst
faxes, and then they began to demonstrate with
the bear upon the improperly of his conduct
and to petition him to give up the horrible
practice. But the bear said he would do no
such thing; that 1t was agreed upon when they
first went into partnership that he should be
allowed to suck his paws 10 peace that he had
a constitutional right to do so that it was ne
cessary for his comfort and happiness, and that
paw suck he would to the end of time, and the
foxes had no right to interfere with him. Then
the foxes got up anti-paw-s ucking societies,
which declared that paw-sucking was the SUN
of all villainles, aud they preached at the bear,
and petitioned him. and even went SO far as to
pull his paws out of his mouth, at which the
bear got into such violent rage that he declar-
ed that he would dissolve partnership with the
foxes and leave the cave, and go and set up
business for himself But the foxes told him
that he had 40 right to leave. and that he
shouldn't leave The bear said he would not
ask them any odds that be could whip thou
sand miserable little foxes, and one fine morn
ing he told the foxes goodbye, and proceeded
to walk out Of the cave and leave it forever
But he had hardly got out of the cave before
the foxes set up q tremendous howl and fell on
him, and there was such fight as was hardly
even seen before. The bear flung the foxes
right and left, slapped them over, crushed them,
and tore them to pieces, and oftentimes thought
that he had got rid of them, but the more foxes
he killed the more they seemed to increase in
numbers, for the foxes finding that the bear
was getting the better of them and was about
to get off. sent out and hired some foreign foxes
to help them, so that as fast as one set of foxes
was killed, other foxes were put in their place,
and the bear had no rest. But he stood at bay
and kept the foxes off as fast as they came up.
Finally the foxes, finding that they could not
whip him in a fair fight, determined to starve
him out, SO they surrounded hun completely,
so that he could get nothing to eat OF to drink
The bear then began 70 suffer severely and to
grow thin and weak, and in his distress he call
ed upon the eagle and the lion to come over and
help him, but they told him that he must do
his own fighting At last the bear became so
completely exhausted by hunger and fatigue
that he could scarcely stand up, and the foxes
thinking that they might now make venture,
collected together In great nunbers aud fell up
on the bear and walloped him so that he stop
ped fighting and cried Enough and said
that he would go back into the cave again and
carry ON business as before.
But the foxes told him to wait awhile, he
must have his abilities removed. So they tied
him hand and foot with strong cords, and mug
him, and then began to parey with him and
persecutc him. They told him before they
could let him go back into the cave again he
must take solemn oath Of allegiance to the
fox government. The bear took the preecrib-
ed oath. and said Now let me in. But the
foxes said not yet; you must take another oath
that paw-suoking is unconsti3A onal and swear
never again to suck your paws The bear took
that oath also, and even went SO far as to de
clare that he believed that paw-suoking had
been disadvantage to him, and that he was
glad that he had been forced to give up the
aboninabe practice, and after taking this oath
and making this confession, he said Now let
me in. " But the foxes said, not yet. you must
eat little dirt first At this the bear was in
dignant-he declared that he had never eaten
any dirt in his life, and that it did net agree
with him but the foxes said, no matter, you
must eat a little. just little ; and the bear made
a wry face and took a mouthiul Of dirt and eat
it, and said now let me in. But the foxes
said not yet you must eat more dirt and the
bear eat more dirt, and said, NOW let me in. >
But the foxes said, not yet; you haven eaten
dirt enough The bear then began to eat dirt
ravenousy until his abdomen swelled out like a
Digger Indian 5, and said, NOW let me in. y
But the foxes said wait a while longer, you must
become penltent, and learn to bear and forbear.
The bear was now in most miserable plight,
he was nearly starved to DEATH and was cover
ed with wounds and sores from the crown of
his head to the soles of his feet, and thousands
Of hungry blue bellied flies taking advantage of
his defenoeless condition had settls d upon him,
and were feeding on his sores and fattening on
his poverty; and every time the bear attempted
to shake off these flies, the foxes said that he
was still rebellious, and was trying to get away,
and took occasion to tighten his cords and to
peIsocuiS MN. ln6y tO!G Nlul tllist ne must
not disturb the flies, hut must love them and
let them eat. Aud the bear let the flies alone
and let them eat, and said ''now let me In +"
But the foxes said wait little longer. We are
afraid if we let you in. you won stay in, but
will rebel again and leave Us and get back to
your old practice of paw-sucking; you must
give US guarantees for your good behaviour. .
And so the foxes kept putting off aad tantsliz-
ing the poor bear, and he is outside Of the cave
to this day. and If he complains the foxes make
fun of him and call him OLD SORE HEAD
Richmond Enquirer.
The PEABODY PRESENTS Viotoria's per-
trait, with the autograph letter given to George
Peabody, the gold snuff box presented by the
tishmongers' Association of London, the gold
box in which Mr. Peabody received tue free
dom of the ciiey Of london, aal che gold medal
presented by Congress, are 4sermanently de-
posted In the Peabody Institute, at South
Danvers. They are intrinsically valuable be-
You'd their associations the Victoria portrait
alone cost &c, 600; and they are kept in safe
OF the best construction, while for further safety
and according to conditions made by Mr.. Pea
body they are guarded by 9 9atehman night
and day,
ANOTHER KEROSENE HORRoR.-Another of
those terrible accidents from kerosene, which
are OF almost daily occurrence, took place near
Moore Station, in Albemarle county, on Mon
t - n