Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-02-26
THE MOSES MISTAKE.

The antlered head was thrown back
proudly, the nostrils were dilated, and
Asel shifted the crisp air with delight.
The snow lay white on wood and glade,
and he looked about on wide stretch of
country unbrokon BY, any track but his
oltn Tic sun sinking low i'll iho west
threw a rosy glow over the scene, and
the keen eyes scanning it all discovered
away in the south a steel-blue line that
marked stream of water.
(Which | will taste" said Alse.
Those others have no genius for dis
covering
The "others' were his companions
from whom he had strayed, or rather
who had halted in their course as the day
drew toward its close, while he pressed
forward alone.
"Stay with us, Alse,p urged wise old
moose, 80 shall you keep out of danger"
Danger" Alse' S head tossed in deris-
ion as he repeated the word, glorying in
his own superb strength "What danger
can there be for one like me, to whom
the other animals are mere pigmies?'
1t was glorious freedom to be alone,
to press forward and feel monarch Of all
tho solitude. The clear air made dis
tancc illusyc, and the stream he sought
was farther away then it had first ap-
peared but that fact did not change his
determination to reach it. The sun had
dropped out of sight, and the pink glory
of the sky was fast fading into dull
gray. From dark line of woods came
the distant howl of a wolf.
cone of the dangers against which
was warned, suppose" commented
Alse. CAS- if could not easily master
any of those creatures! Let it howl, It
dare not come near me"
Another voice took up the doleful
'woo-oo' but Also, disdaining trifes,
did not motto that the single cry was
changing to a chorus. Dark forms stole
out of the woods and began to follow
him cautiously at first, but growing
bolder rs their numbers increased. Their
cries grew sharper and so near that Alse
finally looked back to see dozen or
more dark bodies skuIking along in tho
edge Of the wood.
'Cowardly creatures" sneered Alse.
yet with the next breath he added but
thore are SO many of them!" And he
quickened his pace. His increased
speed seemed at once to increase tho
yalor of his pursuers. They left the
shadows and chased eagerly after him.
and where he had counted a dozen be
might now have seen a score. There
hungry voices rent the air and sounded
omnous and fearful. They were draw.
ing nearer, too, though Alse, no longer
careless, was exerting his utmost power
in the race.
81 could easily vanquish any one of
them, he painted, "but alp
Alas. twas all Of them he had TO fight
when he was brought to bay at last
Nearer aud yet nearer they drew until
the sharp swapping Of their jaws could be
distinctly heard amid their cries. Also
felt that his strength was spent. The
stream was still far away, and his
enemies were closing in around him
lie lifted his head despairingly TO the
darkening sky, and realized too late. the
folly Of treating with contempt the dan
ger he might will have avoided. His
foes were insignificant singly, but to-
gether they were u force against which
his boasted strength was weakness
They sprang upon him on every side
and the unequal contest was soon ovar
Poor Alsel he was only one of many who
learn too late the power of small evils
neglected to grow into great one. aud
that life may be wasted by desnis;na
so-called trihes. ~ Forward.