El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-16

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"AT LAST I DISCOVERED A CURIOUS SHAPED
BOX"
ism of a trap, for its business is to
spring surprises on one, and the sur
prise Is usually of the unpleasant
order.
THAT reminds me of the time l was
caught in a trap. l shall never forget
it. and in order to enlighten your mind
in regard to the dangers of these things
l will tell you about it L had started
out one night for a ramble and to
forage for myself and having satisfied
nv hunger thought / would climb a
tree and go to sleep. l had started to
climb one, when all at once a most
delicious odor struck my noStrils,
which were very sensitive at that time,
owing, no doubt, to the fact that l was
always on the lookout for some dainty,
and, although the odor was strange to
me, and | could not recollect of ever
having scented anything like it before,
yet the smell of il was so good that L
determined to find the source of il.
You see, il was on account OF my
always being on the watch for some
choice tidbit that got me into trouble.
and | will tell you, my son. it is better
to be satisfied with that which you al
ready have within your grasp than al
ways to be wanting something more
just out of your reach. If you adhere to
this rule your peace of mind will be
greatly enlarged. and you will be more
contented than otherwise you would
find it possible to be.
well, TO go on with the story,
hunted around to find whence the odor
came and at last discovered n curious
shaped box, from whose mouth it
seemed to issue. | was long time
venturing into the box, but at last
plucked up courage and stepped inside.
1t was an oblong shaped box and not
very wide, but paid no particular at
tention To any of the other arrange
ments, as | should have done, and
started TO eat at the bait. for the box
was nothing but trap, a thing
would have discovered ut once had l
investigated fully before entering. AL
ways remember this. my son. never go
into anything until you have made n
thorough investigation from the out
side and have satisfied yourself that
there is no danger. and even then 1t is
seldom safe to do so, for there may be
hidden dangers lurking inside, of which
you know nothing and are unaware of.
And above all things. never follow the
dictates OF your appetite. for they are
in the majority of cases misleading and
will bring you TO an evil end. as mine
came near To bringing me, as you shall
hear, for | had not taken more than n
mouthful or two when | sprung the
trigger of the trap and as n result
found myself Il prisoner.
Il was in total darkness and upon
turning around to ascertain my where
abouts l bumped my head on the side
of the trap. | was thoroughly fright
ened by this time and so daZed that
l could hardly think, but at last n
fortunate idea entered my head. 1
determined to gnaw my way through
the wood of which the trap was COM
posed. and as. luckily for me. the wood
was soft and my teeth were fairly
sharp, ii was not long until l had
gnawed hole in the board which
made one of the sides. Then l en-
larged the hole until it was large
enough in diameter TO allow me to
squeeze through, and having stretched
my cramped limbs and taken n roll on
the ground. l started for home, n COM
pietely pidyeu out anu nucH ldtlSueu
but wiser possum than when l tarted
out.
'And now think you had better take
n nap" and, suiting the action to his
words. the Father Postum curled up
and went to sleep. while his son fol-
lowed his example.
Moral.-Never NEEDLE with that of
which you know nothing. no matter
hnxk n ,t
pear. for oftentimes under the guise of
innocence Turk the greatest Sanger and
harm.