The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-06-03

( 4 miller wi, who ., had ..T. an ass; ass
RON which like other nsses, had
very long ears, thick lips and a voice
that made the whole country resound.
His fare was so poor and mean that he
was but skeleton, and could no longer
bear his burden. Then he was beaten
every day by the miller. who tried to
make him do what was beyond his
power. At last he ran away from his
master, and went long and far, It'll he
came to the foot of q mountain, so
verdant and pleasing in all things, that
he resolved to remain there for the
remainder of his days.
He looked all around him to see II
there was anything to be feared and
then boldly ascended the mountain,
where at his pleasure he grazed upon
the fine grass before him. thanking
God that he had been delivered from
the hands of the wicked and cruel
tyrant of a miller and put in sweet
grass up to his knees to sustain his
miserable life.
While he was satisfying his appetite.
a proud lion approached, who marvelled
greatly at the boldness of the ass In
having come to feed upon the noun
tain without license. And having never
before seen such an animal, the lion
was afraid Of him and dared not pass
him at first. ...-..... -....-.. .
On the other hand, the ass, seeing
the lion, was so much alarmed that his
hair bristled and stood up. He no
longer dared bend his neck to eat the
grass. nor even move from his place.
Finally, the lion, growing confident,
approached the ass and said to him:
"What are you doing here, comrade?
What has made you so bold as to come
here? Who are your"
To whom the ass replied:
"And who are you yourself that ask
me this?"
Then the lion. astonished at this
proud reply, answered:
81 am the king of all the animals"
"what is your name?" demanded the
ass.
"They call me lion. And what Is
your name"
The ass with restored confidence, re-
piled:
"They who know me call me Branca-
lion."
Then the lion said to himself:
''Truly, here is something cannot
comprehend. This person must be
something more than am" And ad-
dressing the ass, said:
axI lie
show clearly that you ought to be
more powerful, robust and courageous
than I am. Nevertheless, am of the
opinion that we would better prove
each other"
These words so puffed up the ass that
he turned his back upon the lion. threw
his hind legs into the air and brayed
very furiously to the great surprise of
the lion.
The evening now being at hand, the
lion said to the ass:
Eve will repose now, brother and 10,
morrow morning prove our strength
and skill. He who then shows himself
best able to do three things which
shall propose, shall be lord of the
mountain"
To which the ass agreed.
The morning came, and they arose
and went forth in company till they
arrived at n deep and wild ditch. Ther
the lion said to the ass:
'Brancalion. am your friend but
shall never be at rest till know you
power and skill. Do me the pleasure
beseech you. now that the occasion
presents itself, TO let me see which OF
as can best leap this ditch" Saying
this, he bounded to the other side.
The ass did his best to follow him
nut leaped so awkwardly that he fel
1pon great log in the middle of thu
ditch. where he was In great danger O
death, his forefeet and head on on
side, and the rest of the body on tn,
other,
The lion. noticing the perilous con
dition Of the ass. cried out:
"What are you doing, comrade%
But the poor ass was past answering
So the lion, fearing he would die l
left to hang there upon the log, de
sceneded into the ditch and drew hin
out. r
The ass, finding himself out OF dan
ger. turned to the lion and heaped upol
him all the abuse in his power. Tn
sion, astonished ntthis ungrateful con
duct, asked why he thus upbralded hir
, when he had so kindly saved his life.
The MSS, pretending to be angry, N
piled with insolence;
You vile and malicious creature