The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1903-04-03


A box-elder bug got fat on his back
by mistake His feet waved frantic.
ally in the air and his legs were as
useless as Curly Locks old basque
pattern. His acrobatic founderings
for stable position made his organs
Of propulsion ache to the marrow. His
back vas chafed and shiny ransacking
around the glary plane on which he
struggled, for the terra frma on which
he lay was a polished oaken window
sill. The artisan and the inisher had
done their work well; there was no
crack or kopje In which he might
catch his toes or wiggle up against
and tip over to his natural poise. He
was upside down TO a frazzle Ever
and anon he would begin again, spas
medically, to save himself from rush
Of blood to the head He would get
propped up on one leg bent over back
wards and then his foot would slip.
Every time his foot slipped he bumped
his anatomy until he saw. stars. Once
he almost stood on his head, intending
to keel an end-for-end somersault, but
Just at the vital moment the fatal foot
slip interfered and he came down
like hod OF brisk from a seven-story
Y NJ. c. A. building.
Finally when the box-elder bug was
almost gone. waYering between life
and the huzzing Of the bug-anesl, a
friendly Fate softened the heart OF
an onlooker. At first the observer
was merely observant OF the topsy
turvy trangression from Natures law
as exemplihed by the box-elder bug.
Curiosity to see If the struggler could
win against odds was the next motive
that held his attention. Then pity, like
a white dove. sailed into the situation
and was about to influence the power
behind the throne to turn Ais bugship
upright
It's only a box-elder bug" said the
devil, lookirg over his shoulder. "A
box-elder bug is OF no account. There
are millions Of box-elder bugs. TIA
none Of your business; let him die"
y know there are myriads Of the lit
tie pests here" answered the man
"One Of them crawled into my ear this
morning and spoiled my beauty sleeF
but this bug is alive, it is one Of
Gods creatures and it suffers"
Wait a minute" interjected tha
devil, you are too hndhearted. much
like a woman. This bug had just az
good a pair Of legs as the other bugs
his wings we're as strong and his bal
last as well arranged as those of hii
fellow bugs. 1t Is his own fault that
be blundered. He transgressed the
law OF self-preservation; he is an in
iQuitous sinner against the divine pow
er that formed him thing Of beauty
and put red on his wings. What he is
where he Is. is his own fault.
Give him a bi II lift" suggested
Fair Play. who 4srived at this mo
ment.
I'll do II" broke in the man. for
it may be the bug will profit by exper
ience and after all, his father may
have been a drunkard." SO saying tht
observant man tossed a slip OF paper
beside the box-elder bug. Bugs think
OF course they do. That box-eIder bug
wriggled and twisted toward that pa
per, put his foot against it and with
one superhumRn effort threw his body
from this brace to an upright position
For a moment he seemed dazed, thef
he began rubbing the benumbed feel
ing from his limbs and antennae
Pluming his wings he few away JOY
fully, once more upright before the
world
Man Is like this box-elder bug. OF 4
ten he gets on his back by the trans
gression Of the physical or moral law
oversight, over confidence
self assumption, desire for that which
s not his, may throw him. like the box
elder bug. fiat on his back. Unless he
wins in the struggle to right himself
he dies and men look upon his memory
briefly in pity Then he is forgotten
L is not necessary to compare the fig
ire. Its suggestions are many. Man
8 as much Fate as Fate Is abstract
Though low and repulsive every mar
n whom the heart beats is a living
hing worth helping. To speak a word
o lend a hand, to smile instead Of
rown at the box-elder buG man is the
rue spirit Of doing unto others as W
would be done by "All men are
,rothers" From Adam and Eve We
prang They we're our common par
'nts and although Ii " monkeyed With
he apple, we should revere thelf
lame. Honor thy father and thy
mother that thy days may be long II
he land which the Lord thy God Civ.
tn thee" Rescue the perishing:
are for the dyingl"