Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-10-12
A Triplet of Indian Tales.

Hastily putting on his clothes tthey
we're scanty enough, he proceeded in
The direction of the noise Cautiously
he made his way through the thick
jungle. The cries became louder and
louder. Presently he fancied he heard
muttered In very deep tones
Cant you stop that noise? You
will rouse the whole neighberhood."
In 8 few moments he came into an
open space, and there he saw before
him a huge lion holding down one
jackal with his paw and crunching the
remains of another in his mouth. while
here and there, peering through the
underground, the farmer could see IN
the moonlight the terrified faces of
some of the pack who were watching
the fate of their illstarred companions
at a respectful distance.
There, did / not tell you so, you
horrid little beastl' said TIE lion AS he
saw Bloch Khan break through the
bushes. Here is that farmer .ellow
come to disturb my repast. 1t Is most
incODsiderate OF you to make that ridic-
ulous fuss"
''Blll, dear Bill, cried the jackal es
the man approached, edo help me.
This hon is hurting me-"
''Salaam, :" sad Bloch Khan, address
ing the lion, 81 hope / see your
Majesty WE'LL"
"Pretty well, l thank you, returned
his Majesty. "But should he better
If you would lei me have my dinner in
peace"
ooh" groanel the jackal; che has
already eaten my brother and sister.
How much more can he want?'
GgTs that truap' aGEad tba man
turning to the lion.
"Yes; but they we're miserable lite
things: not SO big even as this one in
my hand.
(Which is his hand | wonder?"
thought the farmer, tn hough he was not
so impolite as to say so. He then added
aloud
1--WE always consider, you know.
that the line must be drawn some
where. | suppose your Majesty would
agree to that. And as you have already
had two iackals for dinner, may | make
so bold as to inquire where you would
draw it2"
"Well, replied the lion thoughtfnlIy,
while he wiped his mouth with his
pock ct handkerchief, II do not know
much about it you know, because |
have never been to school, but | think
l should be Inclined to draw it where
L once saw 1T on a map. 1t was all
round the globe, at equal distances
from the north and south poles. But
i confess that / do not see much con-
nection between that and my dinner
"You mistake me, dear sir, an
swered Bloch Khan. Il meant that
We ought always to live by strict rule,
on a regular system My inquiry
simply amounted to this: do you place
fixed limit to the quantity you eat2
/ was always told when 1 was boy
that it was a good thing to get up
from table feeling little. even though
very little. hungry"
''1es, that Is very well for you, said
the lion, quite mournfully, and he
wiped a tear drop from his eye as he
added, But we poor lions, you see,
have no tables to get up from. "
While this conversation was proceed
ing many of the jackals in the bushes
became bolder when they saw that
they had friend in the new arrival.
Some of them came to within about
ten yards of the central group, while
the foremost, who spoke for them all,
said
"Weicome, Q Biloch Khanl you are
important dispute between his Majesty
the lion and us If his Royal High
ness will agree, We will lay the facts of
the case before you, aud faithfully
abide by your decision.
What does your Majesty say5"
asked the farmer.
"Oh well, it is much ado about moth
ing. or, to use your beautiful and po.
etical language, a storm in teacup
Still, it suits my dignity to condescend,
and so | viii agree"
Proceed with your account" SAID
Bloch Khan to the spokesman jackal.
''1t is simply this" was the reply;
We iackais, as you, Sir Farmer, very
well know, lived in peaceful and un-
distur bed possession of this land until
three days ago. Then for the first time
mis- Royal Highness came here, whom
We welcomed right royalty For We
sent him for dinner on the night of
his arrival two of our number who were
convicted criminals. The next morning
he said he wanted breakfast and before
we could make any provision he came
down upon one of our bands and killed
three iackals. The same thing hap
pened again at night. We nave been
hunted about from bush to bush, or as
you say, ! think, from pillar to post
Not one of our lives is safe You
yourself saw what happened tonight.
Having eaten two, he is not now salts
fed, but he holds another, as you see.
We want TO regulate his diet for
him"
Certainly" meditated the farmer;
lit is most important for his own
health. Too much iackal diet is most
pernicIous for the system. All medi-
cal men say So" After time he said
MY decision Is this: that the lion
must be contented with one jackal a
day, to be administered IN the morn
ing for breakfast. The jacksls must
draw lots among themselves as to which
of them shall have the honor"
"Agreedi" shouted all the jackals.
"Agreed!" muttered the lion; "but
1t is precious little"
The lion therefore released the
jackal he was holding, and Bloch
Khan retired once more to rest, feel
ing that he had really done a good
work.
week passed by, and no more dis
turbsnce was heard. On the eighth
day, however, at dawn, there came
tap at the farmers door, and on OPEN
ing 1t, there stood the lackal who had
SO narrowly escaped the liens jaw on
the night when the case was decided,
He had merry twinkle in his eve
as he answered to the mans salutation
and inquiry for news.
''All is we'll. 1t is my turn to be
breakfast for the lion. 4 drew the lot
last night.
well, you do not seem 10 be very
much distressed at your impending |
fate. suppose the honor outweighs |
the pain"
''Not quite, /" returned the iackal, |
erd he winked again; 'but thought