Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-10-03
Our Young Folks.
THE SToRK's

THE STORK'S RETENGE.
yERs1PIED FRoA -EsoPs FABLES -
There was a Fox lived on Tue nih'
With reddish locks,
n there was a StOrk liveo ns tnu "A"s
And one was idle and tat ana gay,
Al NEW how a cunning trick to play,
While the other was long and lean Away.
Gay Lady Fox lived by her wit,
But her friend, the stork'
Was forced to work..
And q tedious time he had OF 1t;
For the little green frogs were quick TO
And the shoals of minnows swift to sweep
Out OF the shadows into the deep.
The Fox on Il ligh-perched, stately shelt
Close to her den.
Was, now and then,
Won't to lie down and sun herselr.
Only the wind her habit Knew,
And nm TO her slender muZzle blew
The scent of the grass-tields and the dew,
And up to her cars, so keen to hear.
Brought everything ~
OF news, and sounds from far and near
Tho tree-toad's chirr, the piowboys strain,
me bay of the hound and his hindering
While the hillside echo bayed again.
And there was much for her eyes to see.
From the haZy blue
OF mountains to
The nearer grace of rock and tree;
And by puddle, or pool, or rivulet,
One lone, gaunt figure always met
Her gaze, knee-deep i'll sedge and wet
The storS. She unused, that from the peep:
OF dawn till noon.
And from noo2 til raaen--A-~>~-
He was always standing there knHe-oesp.
So, once she sent a small gray Bee
With a message wordcd graciously:
kla 81. fainpl pNNsp " ltrn r.H ~ Ntif1 mr. "
Che made a soup. The breast of a wren,
A robins egg, 4
A sparrow's leg,
And the whole OF the little fat red hen,
She boiled together. with sprigs of rue
With thyme and anise and onion. too,
And, seasoned thus. in a skillfu1 way
-. She stirred it well,
Till the Stork could smell
The steam from it half a mile away.
So, when the gray Bee buZZing near
Droned her kind message in his ear.
His heart leapt glad and light to hear.
Out he stepped from the mud and ooze.
With eager speed.
Through rush and reed,
And away he stalked in his scarlet shoes.
That savory smell his footsteps led;
And there was the Fox's table spread:
And the pot was boiling fast, she said. Co.
| Two large fiat plates were on the board,
And, the stew completed,
They soon We're seated,
And from a gourd-ladle the mess was poured
Then out of her wide aud shallow pan
The Fox with little red tongue began
10 lap. lap, lap, as foxes can.
But the stork could only touch the tip
OF his long bill in;
The soup was thin,
Aud try as he would, he could only sip.
And while with a relish his hostess ate
Saucers full, platters full. plate on plate,
He sat, half-starvcd, disconsolate.
What a dinner it was, food drop by drop!
Just taste enough
or the tOothSomc stuff
To make him linger and loath to stop.
And he bitterly sighed: at may be . fit,
Fine way for a lady to show her wit,
But Ill be even with her for it,"
And the time came soon; one day he sent
BY a messenger
A note to her
OF f1attering flourish and compliment:
Come. dow to the fen from your LOFTY
And brighten my marsh with your sun-ret
And feast with me, dear Lady Fox"
Swift-footed adown the hill she crept,
russell shadow
Along the meadow,
The grass scarce r~ustling where she stepped
She found at the Storks the table out;
Hoped i'll the frying-pan about.
And what were the dishes. do you suppose?
Why, eweTs and jugs,
And bottles and mugs.
Each one with q narrow neck and nose.
And the Lady Fox she looked askance,
With a half-dismayed. uneasy glance,
And q gathering cloud On her countenance
For how could a lady eat-dear me-
From pitchers so tall,
With necks so SMALL, )
And the W so deep within, Won see?
She could pick a bone, or rob u nest;
She would steal the bait from a trap witt
But here she was bafled, she confessed.
She shifted in this jar, peereu in that; -
She smiled. she simpered,
She even whimDcred,
But the StOrk as grave as a deacon sat,
And ate, by thrusting his long bill
Way down to the pottage and pudding, I'm
til
He had eaten all-had had his till.
Slow-footed the poor Fox homeward crept,
A russell shadow
Along the meadow,
The weeds scarce ruStling where she stepEed
And hungry she went to bed that night,
Mutterlng: 1.-THE StOrk was not polite,
right!'
Mrs. Clara Doty Bates, In Wide AaUake.