Evening star., 1903-08-01
THE Fox's STORY.

MANY people VINO nave seen a 1OX IN tne
capitol grounds this summer will be inter-
ested in the following autobiography:
When was tiny little fellow. not much
more than ball Of fur. rolled out of the
crevice in the ver-hanging cliff where our
home was. and must have fallen into the
road below-the very thing my mother had
often warned me I would do. If were not
careful. I was stunned by my fall from so
great a height. and when came to myself
young man was stroking me and telling
me not to be afraid. for he would take
care OF me.
At first was very much frightened. but
the people at the house where the young
man was spending his vacation were very
kind to me. and gave me milk to drink
and as grew Older. nice things to eat, so
began to feel very much at home with
them. and especially with my master. He
must have become fond of me- too, for
when he went back to Washington he said
he was going to take me with him. The
people where he was staying all remOn-
strated. and said 1t would be much bet
ter to leave me behind In the country. but
my master persisted in his purpose. so
that is the reason l am here
like to stay in Washington very much
except on very hot days. Then l think
OF the country and of the cool shade of
the mountains. and especially of a brook
that runs along the road below our clfH.
and 1 wonder II my mother and brothers
and sisters are wading in 1t and keeping
cool.
Sometimes. too, I wonder II they miss
me. whether they have forgotten all
about the little ball of fur that fell out
OF the hole in the rock.
The other night my master and friend
OF his took me out on the Capitol terrace
to get cool. 1t is wonderful to see how
many people go out there on warm nights
for the same purpose. I heard lady say
to a gentleman who was with her: Il
ina gine very few of the winter 1nha abftants
W. ,l~o ,t<~n "a rv{t hn
at the first approach Of spring realize what
a rendezvous the Capitol terrace becomes
on warm summer nights to those or US
who are left behind II there Is breeze
anywhere. 1t Is to be FOUND on some Sloe
of the Capitol"
My master and his friend sat down on
the step; and everybody stared at me as
they went by. did not think 1t very good
manners A lady and her husband sat
down on the steps not 80 very 1ar from
u.s. l am sure they had been married
quite awhile. and were not young lovers
or even a bride and groom on their we'd
ding Journey for she had book in her
hand and her husband cigar. and they
looked altogether too comfortable ana
contented for any but a long married
couple The lady looked over and spied
me. and heard her say to her husband
What funny looking little dog" Dog.
thought 1. Later why that niue dos
looks like fox" and then coming closer
Why. it really Is a fox I did not see
anything so very remarkable about that
and did not like so many comments upon
myself anyway. so l thought l would curl
down beside my masters feet on the step
and see what 1 could see and hear with
out being seen myself. First. some cadets
went by eight OF ten Of them erect, SOL
dierly and keeping step In true mlntary
style I heard some one say: AT thls
hour in the evening the cadets seem always
to be going toward the city and never
coming back. -
Mothers went by, pushing their little
ones in go-cartS or leading them py the
hand Whole series of girls passed. and
behind them groups OF boys. Inc girls
were always telling each other what he
said l wondered who that universal He
could be- or saying something like: All
the boys wished to dance with me- and l
wouldn't dance with one of them. or
When I went down to Marshal Hall
and the rest OF the sentence is lost in the
distance
1t is much too dark to read now, and the
lady who brought the book has closed 1t.
The stars are coming out. one by one and
l hear her say softly TO her husband:
and one bright star from out the west
Calls me away from work to rest"
And he replies:
.Silently one by one in the infinite
meadows of heaven.
Blossoms the lonely stars, the forget-me-
nots of the angels.
Soon all the daylight has faded and the
whole heaven Is bright with stars. "A fine
place to study astronomy, says my master
to his friend
But l am growing tired and sleepy. and
I think my master realizes 1t. for he IN
fastens the chain from my collar, takes
me In his arms and carries me home.
| have heard of some other little foxes
who live quite near here In a place called
the Zoo. hope my kind master will take
me to visit them some day. Don't you?