The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-01-07
Baboon and Tortoise.


An English missionary, writing to
The London Standard from Africa, tells
the following story, which he says is
a favorite fable among the natives OF
the Lower Zambesi:
In the time long ago a Balloon,
swinging from bough to bough in the
great forest, espied on the ground q
Tortoise. Good morning, friend Tor
toise," said the Baboon; for long
time have been wishing to make
friends with you-will you come and
have dinner with me today?" with
pleasure" replied the Tortoise. as his
fishlike eyes blinked up at the great
Baboon; II shall be very glad to
make your acquaintance" When the
Tortoise arrived at the Balloons
house, he found the food spread out
upon a bamboo platform raised some
two feet above the ground. Just
help yourself to whatever you like"
once to eat UP the good things spread
before him. But the poor little tor.
toise was unable to reach the food, as
the platform was far above his head.
The greedy Baboon was not long be-
fore he had eaten up all the food there
was. Then he turned to the Tortoise
with a grin, and said, II hope you
have enjoyed your dinner. friend Tor
toise; you do not seem to have very
large appetite" Thank you," re-
piled the Tortoise, II am satisfied.
Pray come and dine with me to-mor-
row, and give me an opportunity OF
repaying your kindness" The greedy
Baboon, allured with the hope of an
other meal. said he would come. Soon
the Tortoise took his departure, and
on the way home revolved in his mind
a plan of revenge for the insult the
Baboon had put upon him. Now, the
home OF the Tortoise was near the
river, and the first thing he did when
he got to his house was to set fire to
the grass growing along the bank, SO
that, when the fire had spent itself.
there was long stretch Of blackened
stubble. On the morrow. when the
Baboon arrived, he found mat spread
on the ground, on which we're savory
articles Of food. 81 am so glad to see
you," said the Tortoise; dinner is
quite ready, as you see. Will you just
run down to the river and wash your
hands before We begin to eat?" Away
ran the Baboon. his mouth watering
at the thought Of the good things he
had seen. When he had washed his
hands he started back again across
the patch Of burnt grass. But as he
ran along on all fours. he soon found
that the burnt grass made his bands
as dirty as they were before. II can
not 20 to dinner with black hands
like these" he thought. So he re-
turned to wash them a second rlme.
Then again he attempted to cross To
burnt grass. but with no better success
than before. After washing his hands
for the third time. he sat down to con.
slider how he was to return. to the
Tortoises house without getting his
hands black. The only way seemed
to be to follow the banks of the river
until he reached the end of the burnt
patch. This he set out to do, and at
last, tired and hungry. reached the
home of the Tortoise. When he got
there he found. to his astonishment,
that the Tortoise was just eating the
last piece OF food. "Hullo!" exclaim-
ed his host, where have you been all
this time? waited a long while for
you; but. as you did not return.
thought you must have been dissatis-
fed with the food that Won saw and uo
had gone back to your own home
again. Now have eaten 1t all my
self. and have nothing left in the
house to offer you. hope you will
not feel any more hungry when you
get home than l did when l returned
from your home yesterday" Then
the Baboon went off. much annoyed
that the tables had been SO cleverly
turned on himself.