The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-08
THE RiTTERN AND THE MussEL
Very Ancient Fable From chnese-FabIe the Crow


pleasing in most Chinese fables which
them highly readable application serves
as sugar-coating to the pill crops
first fable which any record 1t is to
be found in the Histories Contendn states where
certain prince used it illustration of the
wholesome unity those tho entertaining
necine feuds have against foe.
"A mussel was basking the river says
fable when big bttern by Seeing it move,
its head it, it drew near
and pecked at the mussel that clapped
jaws together like trap
said the bittern If don't open to-day you
turn me loose tomorrow will find dead
lying about here To which reply
don't to-day and you morrow they
will see dead btern holding up his
TINS point fisherman by and seized pair of them
Most Chinese fables point wholesome moral. Another
quaint little story Illustrates similarity
mind to that OF more enlightened
of satire the habit borrowing certain rich
old man OF the Chi state his party
memorate his birthday invited grandsons
to grace the occasion. ofca TONS how
ever ne was observed sitting
his face Being the matter he replied
l was only thinking what inviting all
my guests when two birthday around
The fable which is least likely of hand
ling in China clearly gives the advice Never
put faith in deserter the owls havng
respective colonies adjoining were 60 and
TO each other that there love
They hated each other with passing neigh
them and by night, the owls were not
found irresponsible in this neighboy saugh
counting the slain and
said that the only peace
and pull most of his feathers They was
most badly handled looking put head on one
side and wnked his and strutted off play game
upon the OWLS Arrived at their dwelling
take pity on him. he sorry plight, the Yer
million Bird forgave him having up crow
degraded creature that attacks pecks
~ s' 70 ue.'n ana tnen turns 1t out They heard his
tale and ped him Very he comfortably lodged
IN the Owls dom1ce where he lay low till his
grown again. Then one morning as the winter coming
on he set to work and piled
the mouth Of the owls dwelling saying
heavy snowstorm protect them When every
thing was complete the willy watching his opportunity
when the owls within, snatched burning
nre and set the funeral pyre in blaze Then
they flew out and scorched, his legs
apart holding his sides with dying strug
giles. This fable, very much used by the
Chinese, probably derived IN Indian source
Another, which is purely Chinese it's
subety. tiger making preparations devour fox
when the SLY claimed fact
that he superior to all other animals
want proof of the continued with me
and will show YOU They then walked together
forest and all the other animals fled before tiger
seeing this glanced at his companion and struck with
the lofty manner in which he waved the
Verify. he said this beaoss; and being too
stupid to that he himself
spect, he decided not to attack the fox.
To show how difficult it is alter
contracted the Chinese An emperor
who pennywise in time
of peace all chargers should be employed mills
While lasted all well; the horses
less round, flour cheap broke out
and the horses ridden into the fight
scribe circles, they grinding
that they useless, were slain
There is perfect collection of Chinese They
be sought may anywhere in the voum-
inous literature writings Chuang Tse for
instance fairly brste with fables is
which illustrates evils
Use fishing in the when the Prince two
high officials to ask him to take administration
of the state. Chuang Use fishing
ing his head, said: IT sa-
cred tortoise which has been dead
that the prince keeps this tortoise
chest the altar of his ancestral this
tortoise rather be dead and have his
be alive and waggng its tail in the mud?
replied the officials,
the mud "Begone said Chuang Tse Il too will wag my
tail in the mud" Many point did Chuang by
of
from ancient literature.
casion went to Hin Use, the
Liang state, said Chuang come He wants to
minister place. At this
country nights with
to find him. Chuang Tse hearing this,
Tses presence and remarked I'm the south there
brda phoenix do know it? It started
to fly to the North the -tung
would not alight 1t would nothing the
bamboo drink but the purest spring
of a rat