Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-15


river"
"a lara fatterer and a jackal were all
Matched ont of the same egg" said the
edjutant TO nobody in particular; 70,
he was rather fine sort of a liar on his
own account when he took the trouble.
Yes. the Envy of the River" the
jaekal repeated, raising his voice,
Even he. doubt not. finds that since
the bridge has been built good food is
more scarce. But. on the other hand,
though I would by no means say this
to his noble face, he is so wise and so
virtuous-as l. alas! am not
When the iacllal owns he is gray
how black must the iackal be- NUT
tered the adjutant, who could not see
what was coming
That his food never fails, and 10
consequence"
There was soft grating sound as
though q boat had just touched in shoal
water. The jackal spun round quick
~ and faced lit is always best to face)
the creature he had been talking about,
1t was q twenty-four foot crocodile,
boiler plate, studded and keeled and
crested: the yellow points Of his upper
teeth just overhanging his beautifully
1iuted lower jaw. 1t was the blunt
nosed mucgcr Of Mugger-G haut, older
than any man N the village, who had
given his name to the village: the
demon of the ford before the railway
bridge murderer. ulan-eatcr and
local fetish in one. He lay with his
chin in the shadows. Keeping his place
by an almost invisible ripping OF his
tail. and wen the jaclsal knew that one
stroke Of that same tail in the water
could carry the mugger up the bank
with the rush of steam engine.
"Auspiciously met, Protector of the
Poor" he fawned, backing at every
word. ~ dclcctable voice was heard,
and we came in the hopes of sweet con
ycrsution. My tailless presumption,
while waiting here. led me, indeed, to
speak of thee. Iii my hope that moth
ing was overheard"
Now, the iacl,al had spoken just to
be listened to, for he knew fattcry was
the best way OF getting things To eat,
and the murrcT knew that the iaclial
had spoken for this end, and the jacllal
knew that the mugger knew, and the
muggor knew that the jaclIal knew
that the muggcr knew, and so they
were all very contented together.
The old brute pushed and painted
and grunted up the bank, mumbling:
'ReSpert tie aged and infrmi" and all the
time his little eyes burned like Goals
under the heavy horny eyclids on the
top Of his triangular head, as he showed
his bloated barrel body along between
his criticized legs. Then he settled
down, and, accustomed as the jacllal
vas to his Ways, he could not help
starting. for the hundrcdth time, when
he saw how c-.actly the muggor imi-
tated log ad.ift on the bar. He had
even taken pains to lie at the exact
angle a naturally stranded log would
make with the water, having regard
to the current cfthc season at the time
and place. All this was purely me-
chanical, of course, because the mugger
had come ashore for pleasure; but
crocodile is never quite full, and if
the Jaclial had been deceived by the
likeness he would not have lived to
philosophizc over it,
My child, heard nothing" said the
muggor, shutting one eye. The
water was in my ears, and also | was
faint with hunger. Since the railway
bridge was built my people at my viii
lage have ceased to love me; and that
is breaking my heart
"Ah! shame!" said the jacllal. $50
noble 4 heart, too. But men are all
alike to my mind,'
NAY; there are very great differ
ences, indeed" the lnuggcr answered,
gently. "Sonc are as lean as boat
poles. Others. again, are as fat as
youn~ ia dogs. Never would cause
lessly revile men. They are OF all
fashions, but the long years have
shown me that, one with another, they
are very good. Men, women and chill
dren-I have no fault to find with
them. And remember, child, he who
rebulSes the world is rebullcd by the
world
"Flattery is worse than an empty tin
can IN the hclly- hut jAAb Wlllcn we
have just heard is wisdom" said the adj
jutant, bringing down one foot.
Consider, though, their ingratitude
to this excellent one" began the jackal,
tenderly.
Nay! nay! not ingratitude" the
mugger said. "Ihey do not think for
others, that is all. Bat / have no.
ticed, lying at my station below the
ford, that the stairs of the new bridge
are cruelty hard to climb, both for old
people and young children. The old,
indeed, are not SO worthy of considera-
ton, but l am grieved-I am truly
grieved-on account of the children.
Still, think, in little while, when
the newness of the bridge has worn
away, we shall see my peoples bare
brown legs bravcly splashing through
the ford as before. Then the old mug.
ger will be honored again"
But surely saw marigold wreaths
floating off the edge of the ghaut only