Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-12-16

BY BRET HARTE.
1.-The For oa,d the Grapes.
= Athirsfy sfoxo6es IN passing fhrougi,
gineyard, noticedtiat the grapes WereAhang-
ss e s'ssss yl Bss s'f9 hsssse snsd
''Ah," said the fox, with supercilious
smile, "Tve heard of this before. In the
twelfth century an ordinary fox of average
culture would have wasted his energy aud
strength in the vain attempt to reach yonder
sour grapes. Thanks to my knowledge of
vine culture, however, at once observe that
the great height and extent of the vine, the
drain upon the sap through the increased num-
Der of tendrils and leaves must, of necessity,
impeverish the grape. and render it unworthy
the consideration of an intelligent animal
Not any for me, thank you" With these
words DE coughed slightly, and withdrew.
B M6RAL-This fable teaches us that an in.
telligent discretion and some botanical knowl-
edge are of the greatest Importance in grape
culture.
u.-The For and the Stork.
A fox one day invited stork to dinner,
but provided for the entertainment only the
first course, soup. This being in shallow
uiou, vi COuioC thC IVA IdppCu up fCdNlly, Uul
The stOrk, by means of his long. bill, was I'm.
able to gain mnuthful.
"You-do not seem fond of SOUP" said the
fox, cohceaing smile in his napkin. "Now
| it is one of my greatest weaknesses"
'You certainly seem to project yourself
outside Of large quantity" said the stork
| rising with some dignity, ard examining his
| watch with considerable enapressenae'at 'but
have an appointment at eight o'clock which
had forgotten. must ask to be excused
Au reuosr. By the way, dine with me to
| morrow.
The fox assented, arrived at the appointed
time, but found, as he fully expected, nothing
ON the table but single long necked bottle
complacently extracting by the aid of his Ions
bill
'Why, you do not seem to cat anything,
said the stork with great naivete, when he hat
! finished the bottle.
NO" said the fox, Significantly. II an
waitingfuE thegecond course"
"Whatis thse as~asked the stork
''Stork, stuffed with olives" shrieked tn.
| fox In very pronounced manner, and instant
ly dispatched him.
MoRAL.-True hospitality obliges the hos
to sacrifice himself for his guests. e,
lH.-TAe Wolf and the Lamb.
A wolf one day, drinking from a running
stream, observed lamb also drinking from
the same stream at some distance from him.
Il have yet to learn" said the wolf, ad
dressing the lamb with dgnifed severity
what right you have to muddy the stream
from which am drinking"
''Your premises are incorrect" replied tn
lamb with bland politeness, ''for if you viii
take thestrouble to examine the current criti
,calIy you will observe that eit+fows from yo,
70 me, and that any, dissnrbance Of sedimsn
here would be, % hT y yop afe eoncsrned
POSSIBLY you are right, =" returned the wolf
''but, If l am not mistaken, you are the per
son who, two years ago, used some inf1uenc
against me at the primaries"
Impossible" replied the lamb "two year
ago was not born"
"Ah! WE'LL" added the wolf, composedly
81 am wrong again. But it must convinc
every intelligent person who has listened t.
this conversation that l am altogether insane
and consequently not responsible for my &C
TONS"
With this remark, he at once dispatche,
the lamb, and was triumphantly acquitted.
MoRAL.-This fable teaches us how erro
neous may be the popular impression in re
gard to the distribution of alluvium and tn
/ formatiQR Of river deltas.