Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-06-27

graceful bow! The Cat listened
eagerly at the kcyhOle, and by hear
ing him spell each word aloud slowly
| (for the Ape was not good speller)
he easily gathered what each animal
was expected to do. He resolved to
tell nobody, however; he had bet
ter scheme behind his whiskers.
When the evening was come and
supper was over, the King, the Court
and all the animals assembled in the
great hall. The Kings only daugh-
ter, the beautiful Princess. Squisita,
occupied a stool Of honor next to the
throne as a gracious spectator.
Great was the surprise Of all, save
the Ape and the Cat, when the King
announced how the evening would
be passed, and pulled from behind
the throne a gold crown filled with
many tightly folded papers.
But before his Majesty could open
the very first, the Cat stepped mod
estly forward and said pleasantly {:
"May it please your majesty and the
Court, l have heard this plan for to-
nights sport. Whatsoever shall fall
to my lot to attempt, gladly will |
undertake. But do you not think
it ought to be also commanded that
whatsoever shall succeed in his task
shall be given a prize; while, should
any of us fail in the contest, he shall
be driven out from the palace in dis
grace and never be permitted to look
upon your royal face again."
"Well suggested !" exclaimed the
King; "and, moreover, if any other
beast present accomplishes it instead,
why, he shall receive the reward.
This is just"
To these rules all the courtiers
agreed. The Ape had listened laugh.
ing wickedly. The King arose and
unfolded the first paper. Inside il
the Ape had written, "To my Lord
Stag, Let him leap boldly to the
floor, head first, from the golden bal
cony above the throne"
The poor Stag, in utter fear, adj
vanced timidly. He looked first up
then down. For the golden balcony
was more than fOurscore feet above
the hall pavement, and one JUMP
thence would undoubtedly smash t.
bits his beautiful horns, and break
every one Of his four thin long leg,
to say nothing Of his neck.
? "Alas, my Lord King" he wa
fain to falter out, 81 cannot attemp
this thing"
"Can you, my Lord Bear? or you
Lord Ape? or you, my noble Cham
berlain Cat?" inquired the King,
= Both the other two creatures coulC
not but decline. But the Cat, eX
claiming merrily, 'With pleasure
your royal Majestyr darted dow
l the hall and up into the balcony, anC
, had leaped down and landed upon al
; four feet unhurt (after the fashion 0
e all cats from the beginning of tn
: wOrld), before the King and the cOur
e could realize what had occurred. TIL
i hall rang with applause. The APP
angrily muttered to himself.
n Presto! The King unfolded an
: other paper. "To my Lord Bear"
e ran. "Rm around swiftly enough
t catch your own tail"
d A stifled laugh arose. OF cours
l. the poor Bear, in addition to all hi
), clumsiness, had no tail worth speak
q ing about to pursue. He blushe
: and begged to be excused, reflectin
N sOrrOwfUlly on his exile. But if h
" was 50 unfortunate, neither did tn
:, Stag nor the Ape possess Il tail Ion
II enough to catch. The Ape frowne
angrily, indeed, as the Cat, upon til
>, royal nod, bounded before the thron
g and began 50 merry race, ending i
h the capture Of the flying tail, that a
a the court laughed till their side
,e ached. The Princess Squisita's col
o fure shook down, a total wreck, froI
It her vigorous clapping, and the King
enchanted, was obliged to gasp on
4 "Chamberlain, Chamberlain, pra
1t cease, or | shall expire with laugh
v ing, The Ape secretly shook h
d Withered fist at the Cat as the latte
lie received the rich gift the luckIe,
Lord Bear had lost.
,e "To the Chamberlain Cat" rea
le his Majesty, from the third pape
d "Lct him sing a beautiful and swe,
,e song"
if Now up to that time the eat tril
Sc had been able to merely new, an
III that very gently, save when CONVEX