The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-22
The Crafty Fox.

the shy animal soon cOntI1ved to secure
his acquaintance and even friendship.
One day as the, gosling (who was a
protege of the cock's), the cock himself,
and the fox were together, the converse
zion turned upon the subject of personal
faults.
Said the cock CT feel conscious that
I have very many faults, and nothing
would SO much value as some real friend
who would show them to me. Now, [
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 a great
many, indeed"
"Oh, have you % said the cock, coldly,
And what are they, pray5"
"Well, sir, you are abrupt in your
manners, and overbearing to your in
feriors.
cam I, indeed?" said the cock still
more coldly.
eyes, sir And then you are excess
lively quarelsome, beside being very
selfish"
"Hah p exclaimed the cock, angrily.
"Then, sir, not only do you treat your
children badly, but you neglect your
wife also. Beside all these"
rage, "What do you mean by charging
me with faults that I never possessed?
You are an insolent scoundrel and
sneak-you-you -" And, unable to
contain himself longer, he fell upon the
unhappy gosling and tore three bealzfuls
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 so 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 ruff1ed.
Did not know your extreme pa
tience under correction, should hesitate
to tell them, or rather 1t, for | have only
noticed one in my acquaintance with
you. You are, sir, I 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
courteous haughtiness, if / may so ex-
press it. It 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,
il, that, though humber, we are still
your fellow-creatures."
The cock stood upon one leg meditat-
ing for q long while upon this speech
at length he heaved sigh, and said
81 feel that you are correct; you have
acted the part of 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 to
hatter the vanity of the cock that, in
time, he became puffed up with pride
to such an extent that he would scarcely
deign to notice the other barn-yard
creatures.
One day the fox said ''It has always
been a subject of much wonder to me
why a creature of so much intellect, and
with such proper amount of self-respect
as yourself, should submit, as you do, to
the absolute rule Of human beings. Now.
here am I, a supplemented, jog-trot ami
NAL, with not one-half the wit and shrewd-
ness of the least one of you here in the
barn-yard, and yet [ am absolutely free
and untrammeled in my movements. [
owe allegiance to no one, and am my own
master, while you and your humber as
.sociates are dependent for the very nee
essaries of life upon the will of your mas
ters."
''That is very true," said the cock, re-
iectively.
"Now," continued the fox, 81 have
thought of q most excellent idea. know
of a delightful and secluded spot, where
little colony could be started far away
from the habitation of man, and where
you could soon show the world that in
telligent poultry need not be entirely
subservient to the will of these misera-
BILE human beings. Here are you with
blood, breeding and great natural dignity
Of 5 bearing q need hardly mention such !
gence), a born ruler, in fact. IF, now,
some of your mentally-advanced Great
ures-suc6, for instance, as the geese
and turkeys, and even the ducks -
would only be persuaded to start a
small community somewhere, you, sir,
have the very making of King or even
an Emperor in you, and might prove
yourself an excellent example of noble
and generous ruler"
This Y11o1, 7o1nocnd tho ooo1r oroo1;,,cr 1v,