The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-07-01
FOXY JUDGMENT.
How Far the Right to Change Ones
Mind Goes.

/
Mind Goes.
Again I was conscious of seeing my
farmer friend, Bloch Khan.
This time he had huge snake coiled
up in an uncomfortable sort OF way round
! his neck. / heard the beast say, ''That is
\ downright nonSensei Of course l have a
perfect right to change my mind, if ]
WISH"
| 1t looked very unpleasant for poor Bill,
| but still was bound to admit that there
seemed to be some truth in what the
snake said.
The farmer had big stick in his hand.
| He was standing near cattle-pen made
| of furZe bushes, within the enclosure OF
which stood low olive tree. The furze
had somehow caught fire. The whole
cattle-pen was in blaze, and the olive
tree, too, was rapidly being consumed.
| Instinctively l knew all that had hap
pened.
Bloch Khan was walking toward his
| home when he was attracted by the
| flames and cries which proceeded from
the tree.
As he approached he heard voice
For PHYS sake get me down from
here; | am being roasted alive. Quick!
quicl<p
The man looked up to the tree, and
when he saw the snake he blandly asked:
Give me your news, 0 snake! Is it
well with you ?'
ooh, do not bother me for news" an
swered the reptile, for once forgetting his
manners. sect me out of this, and then
we will talk about news"
Nay, nay not so fast," was the reply.
eff l help you, you will make a return
by biting me.''
NO." said the snake, 81 promise will
not. Do be quick; l assure you it is very
warm here. The flame have caught the
end of my tail. / can feel it is quite bis
tered already
will you really promise me?'
Eyes, yes; L will promise anything.
Save metz
On this Bloch Kahn relented, and say
ing to himself it must be rather unpleas-
ant 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 rap
then settled around his neck, as we have
seen him.
He then said
snow l will tell you my news: it is
that / am going to bite you"
"Oh! but" pleaded the man, ''you said
you would not. You promised most
faithfully"
Il know did, returned the serpent.
''but L have changed my mind"
but you cannot. A promise is a
promise, and you made very solemn
one"
Then said the snake, as we have already
seen
THAT is downright nonsense! OF
course l have perfect right to change
my mind, if | wish"
81 dispute that" was the reply, ''for in
the first place you have no mind to
change, and in the second place, if you
had, 1t is privilege that belongs to
ladies only"
''Ha, hap laughed the snake, 81 accept
what you say, but l am the exception
that proves the rule. This is what men
know what it means. / can apply it to
my own case"
swell" said Bloch Khan again, after
brief period for reflection, lit is an
awkward position, for, you see, we differ
so completely in our notions of what is
right. L 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 u.s."
Agreed" said the snake
1t seemed to be very queer proceed
ing, and yet Off they started in search of
someone to decide their case. 1t must
have been very awkward for the poor
farmer, for the snake stretched out about
two feet of his length from the mans
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 umpirer' exclaimed the
man, and then he cried out, "Welcome,
oh fox! You are come in the nick OF
time"
''Salaam," returned the fox, ''give me
your newS.o
My news" said the man, sis that this
snake and l have difficult dispute
which we cannot settle. We wish you to
be umpire
How is this?" asked the fox. 81 can
not decide this matter while the plaintiff
and defendant are thus, one sitting on the
other. Before l hear the case, you, O
snake must come down, and sit like a
reasonable being on the ground"
There" said Bloch Khan to himself,
L said the snake had no mind, and the
fox bears me out.'
The snake then came down and com
posed himself on the ground.
Now" continued the fox, addressing
Bloch Khan, tell me your story"
My story" said he, lis as follows: 81
was going home. | saw a cattle-pen on
fire. | heard cries from tree within the
Enclosure. They came from the snake,
who was being roasted. l saved him
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 well. -
And your account, please blandly
smiled the fox, as he turned to the snake.
My account" he said, lis the same as
Bloch Khan's. His facts are correct, but
| claim my right TO allow my opinions
their full and natural development. |
made the promise in all good faith, fully
intending at the moment [ made it to
carry it out. L did carry it out until cir
cumstances changed so much that [ felt
bound in conscience to bite Bloch Khan.
1t is just the natural development of
thought which some people call change
of mind"
BLESS you BOTH" said the fox. He
took two minutes to consider the case.
He then continued: I'm this weighty
case it is needless that I should make
known the grave considerations which
have led to my decision. As you have
both agreed to abide by what / saw,
give my decision at once. 1t is this
turning to the farmer: That you, Bloch
Khan, take your stick and knock the
snake on the head"
Bloch Khan did so, and the snake
died.
thought the fox was another excep-
ton, and that to his evil race. But
whether he proved any rule or not L
could not find out. - Casselps Family
Magazine.
1T is not what its proprietors saw. but
what Hoods Sarsaparilla does. that tells