Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-09
Noun tain With the Backache
By CARL HOLIDAY.

b1 tAttis dJi1i-iDAt.
Once upon a time a mountain grew very
tired OF having SO many trees and rocks
on him. He said his back aehed And 1
suspect it did, for some of the trees were
broad, heavy fellows. while many of the
rocks had rubbed great holes into him; of
course these holes must have hurt.
He thought about his troubles for long.
long time. and the more ne thought the
mere his great back ached. What business
had they his back anyway? he asked
himself. Why didn't they go down and
stand awhile Mr.. Valley and If he
liked 1t: Mr.. Valley had nothing to carry
but the light grass, which, of course, was
no bother and which besides served as q
covering in the cold winter.
The more he thought about It all the
more angry he became. Was he going to
be a rug all his days for trees to wipe
their feet on? Besides there were all those
animals lying on him, just as though he
were the barn floor. He made up his mind
to rid himself of the whole nuisance. trees,
rocks. animals and all.
Here. you fellows" he shouted. I'm
tired of this! Get off my back, every one
of your
The great calm trees stopped waving in
wonder. The rocks stared at him In aston
ishment. They had never heard of the
like!
We'll get off, tel your the old noun
tain beloved. Don't stand there grinning
at me; get off my back this INSTANT!
The helpless trees and rocks looked at
one another in silent amazement At length
an ancient oak spoke up and said;
How can we get off? We cannot walk;
no one has ever taught US how.
THAT is none Of my AFFAIR."! stormed the
angry mountain. Your parents ought to
have taught you Once more, are-you-
going-to- get-off?"
There was no answer, save the frightened
bleating of a lamb that stood at the foot
of the ancient oak.
VERY well, I'll give you three One!
Are you going? Two! You would better
go. Three! Here you 60
With that he gave his vast back tre-
mendous heave and shook it violently.
There was crash and roari Great stones
rolled through the forest trees fell broken
and crushed; the ocean near by dashed the
cliffs; and people rushed from their totter-
ing houses, crying: San earthquake! But
1t was only the angry mountain shaking
his back.
He looked over his shoulders again, but
most of the trees were still there. Again
he shook, and again. But the trees held
fast, and, with great roar OF disappoint-
ment, he gave up the contest.
While he was planning some further evil.
his attention was caught by the crying of
some children. He turned his head, and
there were a boy and a girl bending over
a, little dead lamb. A great stone had
rolled down and crushed it,
Our poor little lamb is dead sobbed
the children. "Oh. rough old mountain,
why did you kill t?"
The mountain blushed with shame He
had not thought of hurting anything! He
silently hid his head so that the boy and
girl and the setting sun might not see his
bushes and he answered never a word.
AT length, when the children had gone
weeping away, he looked up. The clouds
had passed and as he gazed far and wide
about him, he noticed for the first time
hill that the farmers had cleared of every
tree and stone. Its back was burnt to
blister.
what a lucky fellow I ami he suddenly
exclaimed. 81 wouldn't have those blisters
for anythingi No, sir. l would not"
Looking back toward the trembling trees
and silent rocks, he softly asked them to
forgive him, and told them that they might
stay there forever and forever. And to
this day the old mountain and the trees
and the rocks and the animals are the best
of friends.