The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15
FORTY FABLES
nv GEORGE ABE.

TIC f.,,,. has always been the most
difficult as we'll as the most Satisfactory
means known to literature, whereby
might point Il moral or adofn q taie, ell.u
the public of America, Where vi. ~
language is especially spoken and unoer-
stood is under many obligations to that
keeu-sighted gentleman for his views on
modern life and its foiSles and talilnss
as given in his fables.
1t is hopeless to try to quote from the
fables without feeling that the best mas
been left out His description OF the
General Manager of the Love Affair
who Demanded a Furlough is a dellgnt-
full account of what cupid promised tne
Groom in matters of stag fare"ell ui'-
ners, and how the Bride had to STAND pc
ing paved over by lots Of Uncles and
Alnts. to say nothing of Cousin Charlie.
The final advice from Cupid was II
can get the Cooperation of a good Cook
[ think I can SHOW you q choice quality
of Connubiai Bliss but | am OH the
Contract until you get through with TINS
Splurge'' And Cupid faded away until
the tired Bride and Groom came back
from covering before head Walters and
running the Gauntlet in Strange Hotels.
Moral: If it were not for the presents
an Elopement would be Preferable.
The Americans who spend the best part
may spend their old age in peaceful rest
will do we'll to read The Fable Of the
Man who was going to Retire. This
man spent his life in toiling so that he
could put something aside for a rainy
day. ''He put it aside as if exporting ar
other Deluge." His expectations gradual
ly increased from ten thousand dollars
at twenty years until at fifty, he wanted
to! make the zElkins-Widener Syndicate
\ ~, Ty.I dor
to get ready for his lay off he built d
Home in the Country. He told the
architect to throw himself on something
compared with which Windsor Castle
would be a Woodman's Hut. He decided
on a Deer Park, a Poultry Farm and An
cestral Oaks SO as to have something
Ancestral. When the Place was COM
pleted he handed the Business over to
the Junior Partners and went out to rest
FIc turned on all of the Fountains ana or
dered the Birds to strike up. All that ne
had to do was to sit there and watch the
grass grow. He enjoyed it for nearly
twenty-five minutes ana then ne peSai
to iidget =
Gee. but this is Tame" said the re-
tired Muster, Il think I had better take
a little run into Town to be sure that
the Under StrapperS are not making
Botch of it,
At Eleven O'clock he was back at the
old Stand lowering about like an uneasy
Spirit He looked over the Correspond
ence and dictated 4 few Letters and Sot
the Noise in his ears and began to feei
good again When he was told to go back
to play with his Deer and Chickens, he
said: 1T is all Tommyrot for a Man of
sixty-eight just entering the prime of
Life to talk Of retirinS.'
When the Reaper finally came the old
Gentleman was found in the Tread Mill.
But he was still counting on making use
of his Country Place the next Year, or
probably the Year after.
Moral: Ono cannot Rest until after
Steady Practice
There are forty fables in all. gotten up
with rough edges and board covers. with
q special design. Published by r. II.
Russell, at 81 80 the volume.