Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-25
FUNG0 AND THE LION.
A CHRISTMAS STORY WITH MORAL FOR
BOYS.

Christmas in Kafir land, my BOYS, is a diff
ierent aiiair from yours, but among the Eng
hsh regiments at the Kat River settlements
there Is an effort to keep the day.
fungo, little Hottentot bow had no MEM
oriea OF Christmas trees or gifts to make it a
red-letter day to HIM, but he was wide-awake
to the prOsrect of feast.
lie was bright lite fellow, with A great
talent for mu-ic. He could whistle pretty
tunes through wheat stalk, and he made
nules out OF the reeds that grew in the river
But one day he got into trouble, for he cut OF
tne END OF one Of the officers long bamboo
whlp-sucks, ana though he made a very fine
mute as good as one OF the band instruments,
ne was punished for spelling the whip.
But they tod the hand-master TO make A
ougier OF him. How proud he was He soon
learned all the bugle calls and notes, and
played beautifully. He ALWAYS wore his bugle
At his belt and kept it as bright as gold, and
ne ne might have been as happy as King but
The soldiers, who We're fond of him. would
give him Cape brandy to drink Ii is made
from the juice of the grape by the Beers. aud
smoke" P'
Cape smoke came near being the ruin of
tungo. He would keep sober until after
parade and maLage to bugle all right every
morning, but after that he was taking what
long. III uA'
1t was Christmas dav, not cold and claa-
but hot. Imagine hot Christmas dayf but
mats how things are in Kaffir land.
Ihey were going to boil a thumping big
pudding IN the mess kitchen and Fung0 was
amazed at the size of the monster. like a great
cannon ball specked with plums and citron.
he went out gladly with party 10 chop down
the mlm1sas and wild olive trees to make A |
great fire for it.
This took half a day. and when the oxen |
we're put IN the yoke once more and they were |
halt way home, so melody said.
where's Fungo, the bugler 2"
Oh, the lazy little Hottentot," said another.
he would not help with the wood, and 1 ex- |
pect he Is curled up asleep somewhere"
fupgo was asleep. it Is true, but not in any |
OF the wagons. He had been taking little sips .
OF Cape smoke from tin canteen that was |
slung across his shoulder for the purpc "a of .
holding water, and he had lain down under
some brush while waiting for his party to go
back to the IT. o.
By and by great lion, attracted by the
scent OF the meat that had been cooked Tor
the mems luncheon on some great stones
made hot in the fire, came that way to see
what he could pick up for late dinner.
He began to sniff round.
surely he could smell something very good
near him. 49,
He walked softly about and suddenly came
on Fungo. 0'''--'
They say if white man and black are w.
ing side by side, lion will always prefer the
black man.
lion thought he was going to have rich trent
him. '''-''4 4o'
He walked all about the boy, aud smelt him
and convinced himself that he was alive for A
hon never takes dead game.
"Whst delicious pickings for Mrs. Lion and
the CUBS, he thought as he gently took him
up by the waistband of Ills trousers TO balance
MIN, holding his head up in the same way
cat does whtn she carries mouse.
But, do what he would. Fungo's feet at one
END and his arms at the other would keen
knocking the ground, and this soon woke him
up.
At first Fungo thought he was dreaming.
then that one of the men was carrying him 10
the wagon, and, he called out TO him NOT IN
pinch his back so awfully.
VI course, he soon found out his mistake.
Ior he Jaw the great paws of the lion The
thought OF the fate in store for him made poor
.Iluo I ungo more sober than he had been for
many long day
What could he do? II he kicked and
screamed the lion would only take firmer
His hands were at liberty lie must do
something. lie felt for the knife he usually
wore at his belt. Z. was gone
Alas he rememb5 red he had left il where be
mad been eating his mutton chops
nc. NO. ne had no knife but the bugle hung at
his belt.
He wonld sound that and some one might
come 10 help him.
Ioot-toot-toot-telu-t Toor-TOOTm
each note shriller and louder than the last.
1t was enough. The hin had probably
never heard such uneatthy sounds in his
life. Al "''
For once he was terrified.
lie dropped his prey and ran off into the
WOODS Fungo jumped up and ran in another
airechon never stopping till he was safe in
side the fort
AT nfst his companions would not believe
MIS- story, but he showed the marks of tho
Teeth OF the lion visible IN his flesh.
But Fungo kept Christmas after all, and
never forgot his adventure or the taste Of the
plum pudding.
And the best of it all was, he learned use
inl lesson From that day he could never be
TO taste liquor.
mo, no" Fungo would say; 'the cd
Lord delivered me out of The lions mouth,
and the devil himself sha'nt tempt me to taste
Cape smoke again"
- Why s it written Xmas ?" asked one little
OIL City hoy OF an0ther. 81 guess lis be