The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-25
The Fox.
BY MISS L. M. Won FINKELsrEIN.

A fox, closely pursued Dy nOunuSs
took refuge in the hollow of tree.
When he found himself in safety, out
of the reach of his pursuers, he be-
gan to question of what use his diff
ferent members had proved in the
preceding chase.
"Eyes," said he, "what part did
you take in my escape"
"We," answered the Eyes. "looked
sharp to see which were the shortest
and smoothest roads to place of
safety"
"And you, Ears, how did you aid
to eIude the enemy ?"
"We," said the Ears-"listened to
hear how far or how near the pursu-
ers were behind"
eyoo. Braiu, how were youdccus
pied during the chaser"
"I'' replied the Brain, calculated
by the information given me by Eyes
and Ears, and decided not only the
proper rate of speed for the Feet, but
also the path safest to choose"
"What has the Nose to say for him
self?" continued the Fox.
a." said the Nose, "what / did ?
Why, of course, while the Ears and
Eyes were informing the Brain of the
state and length of the different roads
before us and the distance of the enc
my behind, / was scenting the air in
front, to feel if there were no danger
ahead. as WE'LL"
"And the Mouth, what help did it
afford ?" queried the Fox.
"While the Heart was sending its
life and action, supplying blood
through the whole body, I was aid
ing the Heart by supplying it with
air inhaling the fresh zephyrs."
"What have you. little Feet. to say
for yourself?" questioned the Fox,
looking at the pretty, little. tired
limbs stretched on the soft moss that
had grown in the old hollow of the
friendly oak, which had given its
timely shelter.
"We," replied the weary little Feet
tive ran and ran, as fast as we
could, to carry away little Fox from
the Dogs, and, at last, jumped into
this tree and got out of their reach"
"AhW sighed the Fox, with great
relief. "Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth,
Brain, and Feet deserve to be saved,
as you all did your duty to aid the
escape from the cruel hounds. But
stop! Here is the Tail. What haye
you to say for yourseIf?"
a." said the poor Tail, who unfor.
tunately lived in the age when the
use of tails, as an equilibrium oi
power, had not yet been discovered,
as he skunk down behind the hind
legs. II don't really know what use
was, perhaps only a hindrance
swaying up and down against the
legs"
sob! yes; that is it !" exclaimed
the Fox and all the members, who full
ly appreciated their own usefulness
and consequent right to existence and
safety. 1.-The Tail is a useless ap-
pendage, hindrance, dead weight.
whom it does not pay to support or
uphold. Let us get rid of him."
So the council was held; and for
getful, even could it have been PROV
ed beyond doubt that the Tail was
but an incumbrance, yet, as being one
of themselves, that he was entitled to
their charity. if not their ri hts of
safety, the members not only voted
him as useless member, but dam
gerous hindrance to progress, and
sentenced poor Tail to be delivered
to the common enemy, the hounds
who were still to be heard yelping
and barking round the tree.
"There, Dogs, take the Tail, and let
his fate bea warning to all members of
any towns. kingdoms, communities.
or families, that he who cannot fully
prove his usefulness to the other
members has no right to exist"
So saying, the poor Tail was hung
out of the hole In the tree. and dan
gled Just within reach of the Hounds,
by whom it was Immediately seized,
and the Fox by it pulled out of its
place of safety and torn to pieces.
"Alas J" all the members moaned
in unison, while being torn asunder
by the Dogs, "if we had only but
learned this lesson, before it was too
late, that union and consideration for
the safety of all our members, even
If of no apparent use, is indispensable
for the existence of the community"
-Ihe Independent.