Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-17
THE SNAIL AND THE CATERPILLAR

THE SNAIL AND THE CATERPILLAR.
On fine, bright, sunny day, splendid
red-and- black hairy Caterpillar and Snail,
carrying her beautifully striped house on
her back, met together on cabbage leaf
At first they were both so intent on eating
q hearty dinner that neither of them took
much notice OF the other. But at last the
Caterpillar said
&" You eat more than your share, Mrs.
Snail, and you pick out all the tender,
juicy green bits"
There is no harm in having good ap-
petite, l suppose" answered Dame Snail,
land, besides, there is plenty for US both. F"
90 Perhaps So. grumbled the Caterpillar,
81 but l ought to have the choice.
Why so, Miss Caterpillar p asked the
Snail
"Why? Because if nourish myself
well I shall change into a beautiful red
and-blaok butterfly, whose beauty will
charm Everybody, whilst you will always
be black, ugly, Shiny snail.
Thank you for the compliment" said
the Snail, s. but good looks are not ecery-
thing in this world besides, you may not
live to be a butterfly at all. am of as
much use as you.
Prove it" sneered Miss Caterpillar.
"Well, in the first place, l and my
brothers and sisters are the favorite food of
blackbirds and thrushes. And l suppose
you viii admit that everybody likes to
hear them sing and then. again, am a
dainty rnorsel for duck.
90 a fine ambition, truly, to wish to be
swallowed up alive, said the Caterpillar,
sarcastically.
I'VE are all appointed different lots in
this world" answered the SnsiI il 1
were eaten by duck, that duck might be
eaten by some great personage- think of
that What glorious lot TO help to
make dish for crowned hesd %
al don't see anything at all glorious in
being eaten, said Miss Caterpillar. just
look at me. When I am butterfly shall
fly from flower to flower, enjoying the
sweets Of all, and perhaps shall be caught
by some clever man aud put in glass case
for folks to examine"
Yes, and he'll stick pin through your
body first" retorted the Snail and
leave you to die lingering death. Better
to be swallowed by duck at once and have
done with it. Besides, what good viii it
do you to be examined after you are
dead ?"
And what good will it do yoa, +" said
the Caterpillar, - to help to fatten duck
that ia to be eaten by king? Besides,
how DO you know, if you are swallowed by
a duck that that particular duck will be
eaten by king?' and the Caterpillar
laughed tauntingly.
u only said the duck might be eaten by
a king, returned the Snail, rather taken
aback by the question.
"0h, yes, might, snapped the Caterpl-
lar; but it is just as likely that it might
be stolen and eaten by tinker"
This SO exasperated the Snail that the
dispute got high. Both she and Miss Ca
terpillar lost all further appetite for their
dinner. And when they had all but come
to blows fine large white Aylesbury duck
that had strayed from neighboriug yard
espied them on the cabbage leaf and put
an end to their quarrel and their lives at
the same time, by swallowing them both.
Learn from this never to boast. You
are not bit more use in the world than
your neighbor. Whatever may be your
abilities, it is quite possible, nay, certain,
that he is OF just as much use in his sphere
as you are in your own.