The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-23
The Crafty Fox.

The Crafty Fox.
A certain fox was extremely DESTROYS
of gaining admission into poultry-yard,
the lord of which was a cock OF good
blood and extremely aristocratic ways, so
the shy animal soon contrived to secure
his acquaintance and even friendship.
One day as the gosling (who was a
A. protege of the cocks, the cock himself,
and the fox were together, the converse
ton turned upon the subject of personal
faults.
Said the cock : Il feel conscious that
I have very many faults, and nothing
would L SO much value as some real friend
who would show them to me. Now, L
dare say, gosling," continued he, turning
to that humble creature, and smiling
blandly, 81 dare say, gosling, that even
YOU have noticed the presence of some
few small faults in me. Is it not so?
Speak frankly, my little friend"
The gosling was immensely elated at
this chance of proving himself the true
friend desired.
ooh, yes, SIR" he said, eagerly 81
have noticed the presence OF great
many, indeed"
"Oh. have you ?" said the cock, coldly,
"And what are they, pray"
"Wel, sir, you are abrupt IN your
manners, and overbearing to your in
feriors."
cam 1, indeed?" said the cock still
more coldly.
eyes, sir And then you are excess
lively, quarrelsome, beside being very
selfish.
"Hah - exclaimed the cock, angrily.
"Then, sir, not only do you treat your
children badly but you neglect your
wife also. Beside all these"
"Stop y cried the cock, III a violent
rage, "What do you mean by charging
me with faults that | never possessed?
You are an insolent scoundrel and a
sneak-you-you -" And, unable to
contain himself longer, he fell upon the
unhappy gosling and tore three beakfuls
from his head.
81 marvel" said the fox, as the
wretched gosling made his escape,
screaming loudly with pain and terror,
81 marvel that one 80 constantly asso-
ciated with you could thus malign you
to your face. Those are not your
faults"
"Well, what are they, then ?" said the
cock, still somewhat ruffied.
odd | not know your extreme pa
thence under correction, / should hesitate
to tell them, or rather ii, for / have only
noticed one in my acquaintance with
YOU. You are, sir, grieve to say it,
but you are, sir, extremely naughty and
exclusive in your manners. Your blood,
your aristocratic breeding, your culture,
and your refinement all tend to cause
YOU to look upon your more vulgar yet
still honest fellow-creatures with a
courteous haughtiness, if L may SO ex-
press it. 1t is fault to which your SUI
perior station may plead some eXtenua-
ton: still it is fault. Let me beg you,
honored sir, TO correct this one failing,
and so render yourself the model of per-
lection you would then be. Recollect,
If. that, though humber, we are still
your fellow-creatures.
The cock stood upon one leg meditat-
ing for long while upon this speech
at length he heaved sigh, and said:
81 feel that you are correct You have
acted the part of a true friend. Yes,
confess that you are correct"
From that time the cocks friendship
for the fox greatly increased, while his
overbearing manners toward the Other
creatures in no wise diminished.
The crafty fox frequently turned the
conversation, in their subsequent inter
views. upon the subject of family dis
tinction, and cunningly contrived so tc
fiatter the vanity of the cock that, IL
time, he became pulled up with pride
to such an extent that he would scarcely
deign to notice the other barn-yarC
creatures.
One day the fox said 1t has always
been q subject of much wonder to m'
why a creature of so much intellect, ant
with such proper amount of self-respec
as yourself, should submit, as you do, t.
the absolute rule OF human beings. Now
here am /, a supplemented, jog-trot ami
NAL. with not one-half the wit and shrewd
ness of the least one of you here in TIN
barn-yard, and yet am absolutely fire.
and untrammeled in my movements.
owe allegiance to no one, and am my owl
master, while you and your humber as
sociates are dependent for the very nee
essaries of life upon the will of your mas
tiers.
"That is very true, +" said the cock, re
hectively.
CHOW" continued the fox, "I hav
thought of q most excellent idea. kno'
OF uellgnulul anu secluueu Spot, Wnef
little colony could be started far ava
from the habitation of man, and wher
Won could soon show the world that il
teligent poultry need not be entirel
subservient to the will of these miser;
bile human beings. Here are you wit
blood, breeding and great natural dignii
of bearing q need hardly mention such
well-known quality of yours as INTEL
gence), a born ruler, in fact If, nov
some of your mentally-advanced crea
ures-such, for instance, as the gees
and turkeys, and even the ducks
would only be persuaded to start
small community somewhere, you, 81
have the very making of a King or eve
an Emperor in you, and might pro
Yourself an excellent example OF mob
and generous ruler"
4 L Il --.--- - 4