Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-29
A WISE SILVER GRAY.

The little slver-gray fox had no
looking glass into which to peep in
his home on the prairie hillside.
And, when he saw himself in the
stream when he was drinking. the
glimpse was often quickly gone. as
one of his mischievous brothers
splashed his foot in the water, or
tried to push him into deeper pool.
So ne had no idea what beautiful,
precious coat he wore.
His wise mother had probably not
told him about it's worth, for she
seemed to have given her romping
children all the same words of ad-
vice. Perhaps she thought. 1T would
make him vain to tell him that he is
the only silver-gray fox for miles and
miles around on the praires, and
vanity might lead him into danger
more quickly than anything else"
At least the happy silver gray dart
ed out of one hole or the other which
led down to his nome with the same
air and qnickness CT his brothers. He
played with them with no hint, Pm
worth more than hundreds of young
foxes like you!"
But, when the young hunter saw
him he knew at a glance what rare
| fellow he was Come here Rem" he.
called to his chum, was was cooking
breakfast in the shack. Here's a
genuine silver-gray fox. Father got
over 5000 for one like him that he
trapped cut here"
"Oh. not" ne laughed. as Ben
quickly clutched at his rifle on the
wall. Well let him grow all he can.
He will be fine, glossy fellow by
the time we are through holding down
this claim. Well feed him with
meat. Well get him so tame that
when ] get ready to lay my hands on
him there will not be many hairs
missing on his fine coat"
And then Jimmy Lane went on still
further with his plan for capturing
the silver-gray. as the nimble fellow
darted away through the prairie
grass His plan seemed to work well
in the bright summer days which
followed, for all the foxes came to
like pieces of meat which were
H.. nnere they could easily get them
Their shyness wore off so much that
some days they did not run away fast
at all when they saw the two young
men moving about tho prairie. And
when Mother Fox shook iler head at
them in a warning way. they nodded
back as if they understood it all.
I'VE leave here in few days,
said Jimmy Lane one evening. AND
tonight III bring out from town that
bright dog of Neally's, and in the
morning I'll have young silver-gray
in Wonder box
The next day all the young foxes
We're up early for play in the grass
And when Jimmy Lane saw them rur
. over the little hill toward the coulee
ne thrust his big hat into one hole
which led down to Mother Fox:
home, and then raced to the Other
hole just as silver-gray came ovel
the hill in sight again.
IF he comes here, I'll have him.
laughed Jimmy, as he saS The dog
start in hot pursuit of the young fox
And if he tries to get in Where m!
hat is, it's the same story"
But to his great wonder the silver
, gray seemed to understand the mat
ter as well as he did. He would dasl
up toward one of the holes. as i
, he thought his only way of escape
, lay in reaching that. Then he would
, suddenly turn and scramble toward
the coulee again, while the dog came
painting on behind. Then the silver
gray would run toward the othe
hole and again escape from the wait
ing hunter and dog. And at last
when the dog was getting rattle
, tired of this sort of fun. the silver
: gray darted up the coulee as If HI
had had no hard run at ALL
What are you laughing at?" Jim
my Lane cried angrily, as he hear'
, the merriment of his chum at tn
door of the shack.
l AT the goodbye bow of the silver
/. gray" was answered. I'VE shall no
3 see him here again. While we hav'
, been feeding this whole family O
, foxes. they have been digging a new
hole upon these higher hills An
. when Jimmy Lane went there to es
: plore, he found the place. and nut
tered. "Silver-grays are not so easil
, caught after all,"-Charles N. Sir
, nett in The Christian Register.