The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-24
The Coon. story.

One evening as the coon was return
ing from the corn field. where he had
eaten his fill of green corn, he was
met by the rabbit, who said:
Look here, Mister Coon, but want
to know what is the matter? Every
time we meet you act as if had done
you a great wrong. In what way have
injured or offended you? You speak
to the possum and woodchuck and
squirrel, and even to the polecat, but
you never have word for me. Please
stop a minute and explain things"
Young rabbit" began the coon in
reply, as he climbed up on log and
took look arou d, cit is true that do
not feel right toward you, though
won't say that you yourself are to
blame. 1t was your father who played
mean trick on me, and if he wasn't
dead I should cuff his long ears at
least once day"
II never heard that my father play
ed tricks on anybody" protested the
rabbit.
"Well, you shall hear all about It,.
knew your father well. For over a
year he had burrow almost at the
foot Of the hollow tree in which
lived, and almost every night we were
out together. If the dogs got after US
he could take care of himself, and if
a fox came around was ready to pitch
into hin, and protect your father. One
afternoon when your father was out
alone, he stuck thorn in his foot.
pulled it out with my teeth after he
got back home. | told him to keep
quiet for day or two and he'd be all
right, but that. very night, when 1
was a mile away from my tree, who
should come hopping along but your
father? When scolded him for being
out he said that he was lonesome, but
that was a poor excuse. There were
men and dogs about, and lame rabbit
had no business so far away from his
burrow
81 think my father was wrong in
that" said the rabbit.
! "Of course, he was. We had scarce
ly begun to talk when we heard a
great hullaballoo in the cornfield
nearby, and at once started for home.
AS your father was lame we got along
at slow pace. The dogs soon found
our scent, and then knew that we
must run for our lives. Your father
did the. best he could, but the dogs
began to gain on us, and the men be-
hind them urged them on. i could
fhave got away alone easy enough, but
/ am a coon who sticks to his friends
to the last. When saw that we would
be overtaken before we could get hsme
4 told your father that we would make
for big oak tree. He couldn't climb,
Of course, but my plan was to take him
up on my back"
"That was kind Of you, I'm sure" re-
marked the rabbit.
.sWell, didn't want to leave him to
be eaten by dogs, you know. AS we
went along told him to jump on my
back and hang on as we reached the
tree. But did he do as told him? Not
at all. Instead Of springing on my
bnck he grabbed the tip of my tail in
his teeth, and as I>began to climb the
tree had to pull him up. He was so
heavy that I could only move inch by
inch. thought he would pull my tail
out by the roots, but was doing my
best to save him when his teeth bit
through and he fell down among the
dogs and was quickly killed. I got far
UP in the tree and saved my own life,
but never forgave your father"
But what did he do?"
"Do? Do? Haven't 1 been telling
you? He bit the end of my tail off and
for six months was bobtailed coon.
Yes, it took six months for the tip OF
grow out again, and during that time
was laughed at even by the crows.
Everybody yelled .bobtail!' at me, and
was so ashamed that hated to move
about. II the tip hadn't grown out
again should have committed suicide
by hanging myself with a grapevine. I
have now tyid you why feel ugly to-
ward all rjbbits. However. as my tip
grew out gain, and I'm no longer bob
tailed, pc maps ought to forgive them.
If you Wish you can come along with
me for \ walk. and If you want to
know where to find sweet apples and
chick-Feed I'll tell you and help you
to look out for the dogs"