Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-10-05
THE FARMER AND THE
SNAKE,

1t looked very unpleasant for poo
Bill, but still l was bound to admit tina
there seemed to be some truth in wha
the snake said.
The farmer had big stick in hi
hand. He was standing near a cattle
pen made OF furze bushes, within tn,
enclosure of which stood q low olive
tree. The furze had somehow caugh
fire. The whole cattle-pen was in
blaze, and the olive-tree, too, was rap
idly being consumed.
Instinctively l knew al that ha,
happened.
Bloch Khan was walking towards
his home when lie was attracted by The
flames and cries which proceeded IRON
the tree.
As he approached he heard a voice -
"tor PHYS sake, get me down iron
here; 1 am being roasted allvel Quick
quick!'
The man looked up to the tree, and
when he saw the snake blandly asked
"Giye me your news, o snakel Is il
well with you?"
ooh, do not bother me for news,
answered the repti e, for once forget.
ting his manners. "Get me out OF this
and then we will talk about news"
Nay, nayl not so fast, was the reply.
"If help You, you will make return
by biting me.
"No," says the snake; 81 promise /
Will not Do be quick; | assure you
it is very warm here. The flames have
caught the end OF my tail. l can feel
It is quite Ilistered already"
"WIll you really promise me?"
"'les, yes; 1 will promise anything
Save mel"
On this, Bloch Khan relented, ana
saying to himself 1t must be rather un.
pleasant TO have ones tail roasted, he
held up his stick, and allowed the
snake to coil himself round and crawl
down. But not contented with the
stick, he glided from 1t on to the farm
sr's arm, and then settled round his
neck, as we have seen him.
He then said
"Now L will tell you my news: it If
that ! am going 10 bite you"
"Ohl but, pleaded the man, 'tyou
said you would not. You promised
most faithfully"
Il know l did" returned the ser
pent, "but 1 have changed my mind. "
But you cannot \ promise is a
promise. and you made me very sol
mn one"
Then said the snake, as we have al
ready seen
"That is downright nonsense OF
course I have a perfect right to change
10Y mind, if 1 wish.
~ dispute that, was the reply; "for,
II the first place, you have no mind to
change, aud in the second p ace, ii You
had, 1t is privilege that belongs to
ladies only"
''Ila, ha" laughed the snake; 81 nc-
cept what you say, but L am the ex-
ception that proves the rule. This Is
what men themselves say, and though
| do not know what it means, l cup
apply it to my own case.
well" said Bloch Khan again,
after brief period of reflection, 1T is
an awkward position, for, You see, We
differ so completely in our notions of
what is right. I can only make one
suggestion, and it Is that you do not
bite me yet, but that we submit the
matter to a Judge to decide for US"
agreed, SAID the snake.
Ii seemed to be a very queer pro
ceeding, and yet off they started In
search of someone to decide their case.
1t must have been very awkward for
the poor flrmer, for the snake stretched
out about two feet of its length from
the mans shoulder, and then turned
his head round and brought his fangs
within about half an inch of the
wretched fellows nose.
They had not gone far before they
saw fox crossing the road.
"Here Is the umpirel" exclaimed the
man, snd then he cried out, "Welcome.
oh, fox! you are come in the 1lck Of
time"
'SaIaam." returned the fox; "give
me yOUr news"
"My news" said the man, ''1s that
this snake aud [ have difiicult dispute
which We cannot settle. We wish you
to be umpire"
''How Is thIs?' asked the fox. 81
cannot decide this matter while the
plaintiff and defendant are thus, one
sitting on the other. Before / hear
the case, yOu, o snake, must come
down, and SIT like a reasonable being
on the ground.
There, said b Bloch Khan to him.
self, Il said the snake had no mind
ard the fox ears me out"
TIE snake then came down and com.
posed himself on the ground.
Now, continued the fox, address
ing Bloch Khan, ''tell me your story"
"Ny story" said he, sis as follows
on fire. l heard cries from a tree
within the enclosure. They came from
the snake, vi was being roasted. !
saved him after he had promised not to
bite me. When he was safe he settled
on my neck, and said he would bite
me. Then We agreed to go to a Judge.
All else is WE'LL
''And your account, please, blandly
smiled the fox, as he turned to the
snake.
"My account, he snid, sis the same
as Bloch KLAUS. His facts are cor
rect, but L ciaim my right to allow my
opinions then frll and natural devel-
opment. 1 made the promise in good
faith, fully intending at the moment L
made 1t to carry it out. / did carry it
out until circumstances changed so
much that l felt bound IN conscience
to bite Bloch Khan. 1t is Just the nat
ural development of thought which
some people call change of mind. AL
else is we'll"
"Bless you bothp" said the fox. He
took two minutes to consider the case.
lie then ccntinued:-''ln this weighty
case 1t is needless that l should make
Lnown the grave considerations which
Lave led to my decision. As you have
both agreed to abide by what / say, I
give my decision at once. 1t is this
turning TO the farmer; that you,
Bloch Khan, take your stick and
-nOvk the snake on the head"
yllocL Khan did so, and the snake
lied.
l thought the fox was another excep-
ion, and ha5 to his evil race. But
shota er nc proved any rule or not I
'ou.d NOT fiod out,