Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-02
BlssE1 < HOLLAND.
BABooN AND TORTOISE.
How Each Animal Played a Trick
 Upon the Other.

How Each Animal Played a Trick
 Upon the Other.
 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 Zambezi:
 In the time long ago baboon, swing Ing from bough to bough in the great forest, espied on the ground tortoise. "Good morning, Friend Tortoise" 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 hshlike eyes blinked up at the great baboon. T shall be very glad to make your acquaintance"
 When the tortoise arrived at the baboon's house, be found the food spread out upon a bamboo platform raised some two feet above the ground. Just help yourself to whatever you like" said the baboon, who com menced at once to eat up the good things spread before him. But the poor little tortoise was unable to reach the food. as the platform was far above his head The greedy baboon was not long before he had eaten up all the food there was. Then he turned to the tortoise with grin and said: sI hope you have enjoyed your dinner, Friend Tortoise. You do not seem to have very large appetite" Thank you" replied the tortoise, II am satis- fed. Pray come and dine with me to- morrow and give me an opportunity of repaying your kindness" The greedy baboon, aIlured 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 plan of revenge for the insult Hhe 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 P long stretch of blackened stubble On the morrow, when the baboon ar- rived, he found mat spread on the ground, on which were savory articles of food. T am so glad to see you," said tha tortoise. Dinner is quite ready, as you see. Will you just run down to the river and wash your bands before we begin to eat?"
 Away ran the baboon, his mouth wa terin2 at the thought of the good things he had seen. When he had washed his hands, he started back again across the patch of burned grass But as he ran along on all fours he soon found that the burned grass made his hands as dirty as they were before. 'I cannot go to dinner with black hands like these," he thought. So he returned to wash them, a second tinIe Then again he attempted to cross the burned grass, but with no better success than before After washing his hands for the third time he sat down to consider how he was to return to the tortoise's 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 burned 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. "Hellor' exclaimed his host. Where have you been all this time? I waited long while for you; but, as you did not re- turn, I thought that you must have been dissatisfied with the food that you saw and so.had gone back to your own home again. Now have eaten it all myself and have nothing left in the bnuSn fN offer vo11 IT hoYNo vO11 mill mt feel any more hungry when you get home than did when I returned from your home yesterday" Then the bab- con went of, much annoyed that the tables had been so cleverly turned on himself.
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