The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-05
THE TORTOISE AND THE DEER.

mails and their ways were better under
stood and appreciated than they are
now, an ugly, low-bred tortoise, in his
wandering through the wood, found
himself in the neighborhood of beau
tiful, heightened deer. Now the deer
could spring further on his slender legs
in a minute than the clumsy tortoise
on his short, fat paddles could waddle
in day. 1t would seem as if the tor
toise ought to have remembered his
own shortcomings sufficiently to have
bowed himself in the grass, and kept
silent until the noble deer passed by.
But that is not the way of the ignorant
and low-lived. They are always fore
ing themselves in brazen way into the
company of their betters.
''Eh, deer" said the tortoise, impu-
IDENTITY and familiarly, ''what are you
hunting for here?"
The deer paying no heed to the rude
ness of little Hard-Shell, answered
politely:
81 am seeking something to eat. But,
tortoise, whittier do you travel?"
81 90 little in all directions" said
the tortoise, tossing his head, ''and
seek water when l am thirsty"
The deer looked down upon the little
animal, who had to work so hard in
his coat of mail to drag himself even
short distance, and his heart was filled
with compassion for the toiler.
"How long may it be-" said he in
sympathetic tone, " before you will find
water?"
This question and its tone vexed the
pride of the tortoise, and he was not
sufficiently well-bred to conceal it.
why do you ask such a question:"
demanded he, in a snarling manner
Because" said the deer, smiling
benevolently upon the indignant one,
"you have such short little trotters."
With this open-hearted explanation,
the deer just Knocked the bottom out of
the tub, as people say. The tortoise
was so angry he nearly jumped out of
his armor.
"My legs are quite Short" said he,
sharply, but | can run as fast with
them as you with your long ones.''
This greatly amused the deer. He
threw back his head and laughed hearth
ly. As soon as he could speak he said
to the tortoise:
eff it be true that you are so swift
footed, 1 suppose it wouldn't be unfair
to propose that we try race together,
just for little friendly SPORT,
"Suit me to a Tn' said the brazen
tortoise. "When will we run?''
"To-morrow,n said the deer.
cat what timer" screamed Clumsy.
"ln the early morning" replied His
Grace.
Eng, eng" Eyes, yes), snapped the
tortoise, and waddled off to the wood
without even as much as a parting nod
to the deer, who good-naturedly stepped
aside to let him pass.
Once in the wood, the tortoise called
on all his relatives, a hundred or more,
and collected them together. They
were not little surprised, as he, in the
most excited tones, gave vent to the fol-
lowing words:
THE deer, who lives in the forest
not mile from here, that stuck-up,
hateful beast, has got to die. myself
will kill him!' ........ .'. ..
Such bold design from such little
fellow made the relatives tremble for
his fate, and shaking their heads dis
approvingly, they murmured, chow
will you bring it about?'
"Pay attention, now" said the surly
creature. 1.-The deer and | met to-
gether, and he at once picked quarrel
with me, as he does with every one.
He passed remarks about the shortness
of my legs, and treated me with great
scorn. The upshot of the business was
| offered to run race with him"
ITO run a race with the deern' broke
in his companions, eXcitedly. ''Hear!
hearr'
The tortoise strutted before them for
minute or two, filled to the top of his
shell with vanity. Then looking down
upon his little black propellers, he said,
loftily:
"My legs, it is true, are much shorter
than the deer's, but what does that sig
Nifty? If fair means won't win the day
for me, then / will resort to trickery."
Aud he gave wicked, cracking,
significant laugh.
''To trickery. Eng, eng' Eyes, yes),
applauded the whole tribe of tortoises,
splitting excitedly on their fore paws
and rubbing them together. ITO
trickery, I'm! umr' good, good.)
Elated by their comments, the tor
toise proceeded to unfold his plan.
Come tomorrow morning, early"
said he, land place yourselves on the
outskirts of the woods close to the
open field but sufficiently concealed.
Don't stand too near together GER
tain number of yards apart; and don't
crawl about-remain quietly in your
places, and don't whistle or sing, or
even dare to catch flies. But when the
deer passes by, and asks, where are
you, Tortoise?' the one that stands just
ahead of him in the woods must then
answer for me, 1 am already here"
Then all the tortoises broke out into
a coarse laugh, threw handsprings fol-
very joy, and looked wickedly into each
other eyes.
Already here; already here. Eng
eng" (yes, yes,) said they, and thrust