The Portland daily press., 1875-05-19
THE IMPROVED ESOP.
For Intelligent Modern Children.
H, The Fox aad the Cranes.
BY BRET HARTE.


A thirsty fox one day, in passing through a
vineyard, noticed that the grapes were hanging
in clusters from vines which were trained from
| such height as to be out Of his reach.
"Ah," said the fox, with a supercilious smile,
| ''Pve heard of this before. In the twelfth CEN
tury an ordinary fox of average culture would
have wasted bis strength aud energy in the vain
attempt TO reach y0nder sour grapes. Thanks
to my knowledge of vine culture, however, | at
o0ce observe that the great height and extert
OF the vine, the drain upon the sap through
the increased number of tendrils and leaves
must, of necessity, impoveFish the grape and
render 1t unworthy the consideration of an in
tellgent animal. Not any for me, thank you"
WIN these words, he coughed slightly, and
withdrew.
MoRAL-This fable teaches us that an intel
| ligent discretion and some botanical knowledge
are OF the greatest Importance in grape culture.
n. The Fox and the stork.
A fox one day invited a stork to dinner, but
provided for the entertainment only the first
course-soup. This being in a shallow dish, of
course the fox Tapped up readily but the stork,
by means of his long bill, was unable to gain
mouthful.
''You do not seem fond of SOUP" said the
fox, concealing a smile in his napkin. "Now,
1t is one OF my greatest weaknesses"
"You certainly seem TO project yourself out
side of large quantity, said the stork, rising
with some dignity, aud examining his watch
with great enlpreSSDleRt; 'but L have an APP
Pointment at O'Clock which had forgotten, L
must ask to be excused. Au rer0ir. BY the
Way, dine with me tomorrow"
The fox assented, arrived at the appointed
time, but found, as he fully expected, nothing
on ihe table but a single long neckeo bottle,
containing Olives which the stork was-e6m-
placently extracting by aid of his long bill.
~ by, you do not seem TO eat anything"
SAID the ssork, with great naivete, when he had
finished the bottle.
mo" said the fox significantly, 81 am wait
ing for the second course"
"What is that?" asked the stork blandly.
"Stork stuffed with olives" shrieked the fox,
10 very pronounced manner, and Immediately
dispatched him.
MoRAL.-True hospitality obliges the host to
sacrifice himself for his guests.
EEG. The Wolf ana the Lamb.
A wolf, one day drinking from a running
stream, observed lamb also drinking from the
same stream, at some distance frnm him
II have yet to learn" said the WOLF address
ing the lamb with dignited severity, what
light you have to muddy the stream from
which l am drinking"
Your premises are incorrect" replied the
lamb, with bland politeDess, 'for if you will
take the trouble to examine the current critic.
ally, you will observe that it flows from you to
me, and that any disturbance of sediment here
would he, so far as you are concerned, entirely
local."
Possibly you are right" returned tie wolf,
'but if | am not mistaken, you are the person
who, two years ago, used some ibfiueuce
against me at the primaries"
Impossible" replied the lamb; "Iwo years
ago | was not born"
"Ah, wellp' added the WOLF composedly, 81
am wrong again, But it must convince every
intelligent person who has listened TO .his con-
versation that l am altogether insane, and con-
sequently not responsible for my actions"
With this remark, he at once dispatched the
lamb, and was triumphantly acquitted.
MoRAL-This fable teaches US how erroneous
may be the popular impression in regard to the
distribution of alluyium and the formation of
river deltas