The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-19
has been thrown over his disappearance.
Ladies' Home Journal.
The Muskra,s and the Terrapin.
tBy the late Edward Lorraln

tBy the late Edward Lorraine)
A wealthy muskrat. who occupied
rooms on the margin Of n mill pond, had
a lovely daughter, who was about TO DC
married. Great preparations were being
made for the wedding. and new rooms
had 10 be excavatcd In order TO accommo-
date the large number OF guests who
were expected at the wedding, besides a
bridal chamber for the new couple, who
were TO live with the old folks untfl the
bride could learn something more about
housekeeping, her education IN that re-
spcct having been sadly neglected as IS
generally tbs case with children or
wealthy parents. There was 10 be a sup
PEI and a dance, and a large ballroom
had 10 be dug out and beaten down for
the dancers. The party was 10 be very
select. and nobody was TO be invited bur
first-class muskrats. except one buli-frog.
who was a +. +. V. and was asked chief
" because he had a very fine voice and
was expected 10 sing a great many
neghbors had assembled to ss2ist IN the
preparations: the bridal chamber had
been dug out in beautiful oval form,
and the sides and floor lined with rushcs
and green corn blades. 1t Was SAID TO he
the most elegant apartment that had ever
been seen on the mll-pond.
Unfortunately in excavating the ball
room they had come 10 a large fiat stone
near the centre OF the room. which the
combined ingenuity Of all the muskrats
failed TO remove. and the most experience
ed architects were employed. but they
could do nothing with Il. Some proposed
that it should be left there as a stand for
the musicians. that'it would be a good
centre to waltz around. Others proposed
10 send for the beaver, who was UP t.
anything in the building or digging line,
but the beaver lived fourteen miles on,
and it was doubtful II he would come. and
so they were ar their wits end.
At this juncture large shagtat terra
pin. who was loahng around happened
10 hear the hubbub. and peeped in 20 see
what was going on. lie soon saw what
was the situation Of affairs. and said to
himself:
III 1 help them out with the stone. ]
will certainly get an invitation 20 the
wedding and will have Jolly time OF IT,"
50 he walked in with much dignity. and
told the muskrats that be knew how 10
remove the stone, and would do Il with
pleasure.
The master OF the house was profuse In
his thanks, and vowed that he would be
under eternal obligations 10 him ~ lie
would only relieve him from the difficulty
The terrapin then told them all TO 20
and fetch water and pour It around the
stone until they made SAT- mud, and they
all went down 10 the pond ana curled up
their tails into cups. and brought the wa
ter and poured IL around the stone and
worked the earth around the stone until
Il became soft mud. The terrapin then
began 10 burrow through the mud and
under the stone until he got il exactly
poised on the middle of his back. and
then by his great strength he loosened II
and lifted g. and carried it of slowly
and carefully. the musIrats looking on IN
mute amaZemcnt at such a wonderful
exhibition OF strength and science. They
escorted him in procession TO the mol1h
OF the hole and assisted him asslduously
in balancing the stone on his back. When
he got TO the edge OF the hole. he gave the
stone a tilt and it Sided of his back into
the pond. with a great splash. whereat
tho muskrats ravo three cheers and
crowded around the terrapin and congrat
ulsted him. and the master Of the house
took him by both hands and thanked him
I'm the most impressive manner, although
he was never known 10 have shaken
hands with a terrapin before. But he
never asked him back into the house and
didn't say anything about his coming to
the wedding but left him there standing
on the bank OF the pond a more melan-
choly. muddier. but wiser terrapin than
he had ever been before.
lie saw the crowds OF neighboring
muskrats vending their way TO the we'd
ding, some walking and some gaily swim
ming and all merry as "a marriage-bell
He saw the bull-frog hop in dressed up in
a new suit OF yellow and green, and after
awhile he heard the sounds Of revelry
and merry-making. the munchng Of
"a
mussels and snails. aid the singing Of the
frog. and he said to himself
Wed I have learned a lesson. The
next time / offer my professional services
I'll wait until 1 am asked, and then be-
fore I'll give them III demand fee
equivalent to their value" And he
plunged into the pond and went home
But he said nothing TO his wife about
what had happened He could not bear
that she should know how he had been
snubbed. But the next day when they
were about taking their usual snooze
upon their accustomed log, his wife said
10 him:
"Why. good gracious, dear, what in the
world is the matter with you? I never
saw you look so muddy before. and de-
clare your back is all scratched. Where
in the world have you been. and what
have you been doing 10 yOurseIfT
So he was obliged to tell her all about it,
and then he got such another log lee
ture" as he never had before. Torraplns
wives take advantage Of the hours OF re-
pose to deliver log lectures 10 their weary
husbands. as mems wives do curtain lee
lures. If any reader is anxious 10 know
what Mrs Tcrrapin said, he is respect
fully referred To- Mr. Terrapin, No. Il
Mud alloy, Basement room, Moseley's
Pond, "a.