The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-13
THE PROBLEM OF THE DRUG STORE.
REX, THE BLACK FOX.

TT was early in the morning when
Rex awoke. In fact, the stars still
shone and the earth was very quiet,
but over in the east could be seen a
faint light which foretold the dawn
Rex was a fox, a beautiful black fox,
and was very vain for why shouldn't
he be? Hadn't he been appointed !
of all the regions around about?
After having bathed his face in a
pool he brushed and brushed his coat
it shone like silver; then he peered
closer into the mirror. a pool. to see il
those lines he had noticed a few days
before were still in his forehead. He
turned away with a sigh. for they were
there. Then his thoughts turned
toward other things and he started into
a long, swift lope over the rocks and
bushes. The sun arose and still on Rex
loped.. He began to scent smoke ana
knew he was nearing civilization. The
lope slowed to a walk, the walk to a
stealthy tread. Rex dropped fiat among
the ferns and peered over the rocky
leGge down into the valley below. Yes,
it was true. men were down there. lie
cooked one ear and listened sharply.
He could almost ear what they said
Rex's hair bristled and his crest rose in
majestic fury. What was that awful
yillainous black thing down there that
sent out such puffs of smoke? 1t u
be one of those things his father had
told him about, what was the name
now?-that's it, an engine. All day
Rex watched from the heights and at
dusk turned back up h mountain, his
crest dow and his beautiful black tail
dropping.
Back. back through the great silent
forest he crept, now and n stopping
to eat a berry or root, until he came to
his own home. All night long he tossed,
bordering what to do. Should he go
over the hills and consult his old friend,
the red fox? No, he must fight it out
himself. His instinct told him to leave
his kingdom if he valued his life, for
black fox fur is precious and Rex knew
it. His min drifted back to his cub
hood days, when, full of fun and frolic,
he strayed just a little too far from the
home den. How he had trembled at
the sight and scent of the hunter, who
came crashing through the forest, look
ing for just such little cubs as he. That
WdS tQt OILY lliliC lhtA 6tLt q AiitAAs
but the hatred that welled up in his
cub heart then was more fierce now.
Would his subjects follow him If he
went farther into the forest? He must
try and persuade them to, but If they
shouldn't wish to come with him--Rex's
heart ached and two great tears stood
in his soft brown yes. The heartache
told him to stay, but instinct to go,
and go quickly, before the hunters
heard of the beautiful black fox of the
hills, who was king of all the regions
around about. Why should these men
come to his kingdom? Wasn't it his
and his only? He was the king of the
hills.
The next morning, as the stars be-
gan to disappear, he loped through the
forest again to his hiding place upon
the heights. Yes, he was sure those
black dots down there were men, and
that they had come to stay. Soon they
would come to his kingdom and all his
subjects would be killed. What was
the right thing for a good, wise king
to do?
That night at dusk Rex loped through
the forest home, and after brushing
his beautiful black coat and washing
his paws, he went upon a hill back of
his palace, a place called the council
hall by the animals. There he sat in
the moonlight I'M sent forth his long
drawn melancholy yell. Soon all the
animals began to come. The deer were
the first to appear. and finally they
were all there, even the little baby
squirrels.
sfLr-s~-l- ~ Aatl 41A lI4-l~ g. fs1w-a~
yonder"-pointing with his paw-"are
men and great black things that send
forth smoke, which they call engines.
I have ruled you long, my friends, but
now l go to a wilder land, where no
man can come in my day. You have
been a faithful band and 1 give you
warning. As many as wish to come
with me may. / start at sunrise
Such a wall as went up. but Rex re-
manned firm, and the mex morning
at dawn he peered at himself for the
last tim in his pool mirror. After
taking one farewell look at the sur
rounding country he started out, with
that long. easy lope, for his new home.
All the animals were there to bid him
goodby, some promising to follow him
in a little while. Away back in the
great, deep forest Rex found himself
a palace. with a brook in 'front.' and
the most delicious ~sassafras growing
behind. He was quite happy and be-
came sfriendly with the new wood folks,
but often, when he was older and his
beautiful black coat became tinged
with gray and his muzxle became pure
white. he would sit outside the cave
door at dusk. with his dim old eyes.