The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-11
CAT, TME COCK
AND THE Rabbit

When Thurio was a little boy, before
his head rose much higher than the top
of the rough deal table In the kitchen, he
romped all day long round the little cot
tage and in the woods nearby. He never
went far, it is true, for way in the deep
forest lurked hungry wolves, and bears
and what not. But then he did not wish
to go far, because he had everything to
play with by the side of his home. Yes,
those were happy days, when Thurlo was
a little boy, and he and his mother lived
together on the edge of the great forest.
But one can't always remain little, you
know, and before his mother could hardly
h~realize 1t the wee boy had grown into a
big, strapping youth. And, of course,
long before this he had explored further
into the outside world. Thurlo was a good
son, however, and rather than leave his
mother he curbed his impatience and hid
these thoughts from her.
Still, mothers are wise, and she knew
what was passing through her boys mind.
So. after many a sigh, she called Thurlo
to her one day, and said to him:
MY boy, | know you are anxious to go
out into the world to seek your fortune.
You have been b good son to me, but l do
not wish to keep you here always. Sup
turn to me at the end of that time. Per-
haps you may then be able to decide what
you wish to do for a living
.Thurlo protested, saying that 1t was not
pr VI aAa " y 00S 6hS AA
sisted, and at last he set forth.
A long distance he Travelled through the
forest. Just as he imagined he would
reach its border he found that he had
lost his way. With but little food left, he
pushed forward desperately. To his re-
lief, as twilight was falling. he came in
sight of a great cleaning wall.
Hurrying his steps, he finally gained
the outside of the walls. On either side
Of him. they stretched, seemingly without
n break. Apparently there was nothing
! for him to do huf To climb over This
feat he accomplished with great difficulty.
When he gained the top, his head
whirled at the scene which lay before him.
For, 10! he had entered Fairyland. So
overcome was he by surprise that he
tumbled forward and dropped to the
ground. Immediately there rose by his
above Thurlo's head. and in place of the
handsome youth there stood an animal.
A fortnight passed, and still Thurlo did
not return to the little cottage. His mother
determined to go out in search of him,
Fortunately, she took much the same
road that Thurlo had Travelled, SO that
she, too, came in sight of the walls Of
Fairyland. She found a path that led
directly to the gate.
Rapping at a little lodge by the gate.
She was greeted by a fairy FORTRESS. At
once she poured forth the tale of her er-
rand. Thereupon the fairy called in her
musical voice, and a cat, a cock and a
rabbit ran to her.
My good woman said she, your son
climbed over our walls. For SO ~trespass-
ing he has been changed into an animal.
Indeed, he Is either this cat, that cock or
the rabbit yonder. You may take all of
them home, When there, you must say,
Change again!' and the proper animal
will once more take the shape of your
SON."
Joyfully the poor woman gathered the
three animals under her arm and walked
homeward as swiftly as she could.
But hardly had she covered a mile be-
fore the rabbit escaped from her and sped
into the depths of the forest. She went on
her way weeping. What If the rabbit
There was still a great distance to go,
when a robber stopped her and demanded
the cock. In tears she begged him not to
take the fowl from her, but the robber
roughly snatched 1t and killed Ii with a
twist of the neck.
Almost beside herself, she fastened to
the cottage, reaching it without further
incident.
As soon as she had entered the house
she stood the cat before her. and cried,
Change Hgaini' Instantly, the cat dis
appeared and her own Thurlo threw him
self into his mothers arms.
Thurlo lived with his mother after that
until her death-several years later. The
once more he journeyed forth, but you
may be sure that this time he did not
go toward Fairyland.-Seattle P~ost-Intel-
ligencer.